WHO IS SUITED TO THIS BREED?
The English bulldog, the pride and symbol of Brittan. Nowadays, a great companion with a gentle/docile demeanour, but a few centuries ago it was bred for Bull baiting and a very rugged and tough customer indeed. This aggressiveness has thankfully now been bred out, and the Bulldog has become more appealing on the eye, especially for the show ring. Unfortunately, this breeding has caused health problems, which makes it not an easy nor cheap breed to own and always some money is needed to be set aside for vet consultations (cherry eye, skin problems, dysplasia issues, patella luxations...). What I am saying here is that it is probably not suited to those on a tight budget. Bulldogs do not need a great deal of exercise especially as they get older (they can be very playful as pups), so suited to lazy indoor coach potato lifestyle such as in an apartment. Elderly people like them for this and may just take them for one leisurely stroll once a day around the block or let them play in a small yard for a bit. A little downside to this inside living is that they can be messy eaters and snore. With considerate kids Bulldogs are great, so make excellent family companions. Bulldogs are best suited to temperate climates and not very hot/humid weather where they can overheat fast, especially if expected to run or walk in it. If looking for a “lifetime companion” you should note that this breed on average lives til only 7-10 years. Bullies range from 600 – 6000 USD upwards. We do suggest you go for quality and not price as what you save in price at the beginning, you may make up for in vet visits later if you catch my drift (we do not suggest to go under 1500 USD for your Bully). This is one breed you must truly have a passion for to appreciate it and spend quality time with. It thrives on human attention.
MALE OR FEMALE
Usually, this breed gets on well with other dogs whether male or female. Sometimes can be a little scrappy with strange dogs, but the secret here is good early socialization in the puppy hood. Males are going to be bigger/grander and will show the true Bulldog traits more, which is a big draw card for some. On the other hand, females are likely to be a little more relaxed and cleaner as they do not mark their territory with sent everywhere.
COLOUR AND SIZE
- Brindle
- White (can be patched/pied with this list of colours too as the adult above)
- Light fawn through to a rich red (can have white markings as the below pictured pup)
- Black (not usually kennel club accepted, but people like it because it is rare and unique)
The average size for a Bulldog adult is around 23–27 kg (50-60 lbs). Although not so high of the ground (31-36 cm) it should be classed as a medium sized breed, so if you wanted a small dog, it might not be the one for you. It’s not a bad idea to keep around the average and make sure you at least see photos and know the weights of the parents before your purchase. There is also a new hype called the Miniature Bulldog (same look, just bred smaller but not mixed) and the weight is ranging from 11–18 kg (25-40 lbs).
CONFORMATION OVER COLOUR!
Conformation (shape) is sadly often overlooked and colour/markings takes precedence, which is wrong and should only play a part if 2 dogs are similar in build and you have to choose between them! On the contrary to the bow legged cartoon Bulldog in Tom and Jerry, the legs should be straight and set wide apart by the chest and shoulders. Facial wrinkles are great but can mean more health issues as cherry eye and extra work cleaning between them to avoid skin irritations. These furrows are not always favoured by show judges either. A flat/squashed nose with one big thick hotdog nose rope is a real trademark of the breed, along with a massive square head. The body should be stocky, with a low to the ground profile, supported by dense bones (fore and hind legs) as thick as tree trunks so to speak. Also look for some loose folds of skin as easily seen on the gorgeous puppy below. A short bun-looking tail is usually preferred, to a longer one as Bulldogs often can have. A useful tip to judge conformation is to start at the head and work your way along the body. Although a young puppy is changing fast, these are early traits to look for, as likely to be carried through.
It’s worth noting that there is a tendency that the best ones come from Europe and from European lines. Please feel free to contact Euro Puppy to ask us questions and check out our quality English Bulldog puppies for sale.
Do feel free to leave any comments and your thoughts on this article? Since there is so much to write about this breed, a 2nd part is coming soon.
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