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english bulldog

English Bulldog information, characteristics, pictures, and facts

When choosing a pet to have around the house, you have many options when it comes to dog breeds. Among the most popular breed of dog for someone to go for today, though, is the bulldog. This particular breed of dog has become a common choice for almost anyone who wants to have a happy dog around the house that they know is easy for family and friends to fall in love with.

If you are struggling to choose a canine for your household, then the bulldog is definitely one that you should think about finding more about. These are friendly dogs that are great around kids, but also tend to be great for those who want a companion for all of their day-to-day activities.

So, is the bulldog the right choice for you today?

The basics of a Bulldog

The bulldog is a breed of dog that was most commonly used to drive cattle to the market. They also were involved in harsh blood sports known as bullbaiting. These are often quite small dogs that carry a kindness that belies their more stocky, powerful builds. They are typically noted as being dogs that can work well as a friendly, loyal companion to someone who leads a more sedentary life. At the same time, their history in being active makes them great dogs for just about anyone who wants to bring a new dog into the family home.

Some studies, though, point to how many unhealthy attributes now exist within bulldogs that did not previously. How though, generally, is the bulldog going to grow and develop?

·       In terms of height, you can expect the average bulldog to reach a height of around 14-15” regardless of the gender; this is the typical height to expect of an adult bulldog.

·       In terms of weight, you might see an adult bulldog reach a weight of anything from 40lbs in a female to 50lbs in a male, depending on how they are raised and what they tend to eat.

·       In terms of age, you should expect to see a bulldog live for anything from 8 to 10 years. This can be longer or shorter depending on all manner of factors, not least a little luck along the way.

So, if you want to find a dog that you know is not going to be too big to handle nor too heavy to keep up with in terms of weight and eating needs, the bulldog is definitely a good choice. They are small-ish dogs with plenty of power and ample lifespan for most family dogs.

Bulldogs around others

When you bring a dog into your home, you want something that you do not have to worry about being aggressive around others. If you intend to get a bulldog, then you should keep an eye out on their personality traits because they can be quite hard dogs to read at times.

·       If you have other dogs, then you might want to keep an eye on the bulldog. They are OK with other dogs but have no problem in asserting their authority or throwing their considerable power around if they feel threatened in any way, shape, or form.  

·       If you have a family, you should not have too much to worry about. The bulldog has an unfair reputation of being aggressive, but it really could not be further from the case. Around most people whom they know and grow to love, there is no issue.

·       If you have children, then you should keep a vigilant eye out on how they tend to act and react to certain situations. They are playful dogs, yes, but they do have a habit of getting a little bit aggressive around kids, so try and keep that in mind.

In general, a bulldog is a playful dog that can be very easy for you to live with. They are adaptable dogs, too, so they can be just as happy in a calm lifestyle as they can in a hectic, always-busy household. They also tend to be good around other strangers, as they don’t really act out in an aggressive or overly protective manner if someone, they do not know approaches them.

That being said, if anyone is silly enough to throw a sense of aggression around near a bulldog they will be met with a pretty strong riposte. Though it takes a lot to anger a bulldog, they will not stand by as their family or their loved ones, or their property is put under any kind of potential risk or harm.

So, if you are worried that a bulldog might not be suited to being in a busy place, do not worry. So long as you watch their behavior around young children, you should have precious little to worry about.

How does a Bulldog grow physically?

Over the years, you will get used to your bulldog having quite an interesting physical style. For one, their short and smooth coats look adorable and to the untrained eye are low maintenance. However, the regular shedding of their coat as well as the need for regular grooming and care can become a bit of a headache. These are not dogs that worry about drooling, too, so just watch for your dog slobbering all over the place as it runs around!

The thing to note, too, is that as your bulldog grows it might become a bit less energetic. At their youngest, these can be quite demanding pups that want a lot of exercise and assistance (see below). They can also need a lot of stimulation, so you might need to find them something to do during the day when you are at work, so you don’t come home to a moody or aggressive little dog.

As your bulldog grows, it will typically become more comfortable in its own skin. Younger bulldogs tend to be very eager to please you, but an older bulldog can become quite easy to just relax and do things at their won pace. Energy levels do drop a bit as they age, too, so don’t expect that bulldog to be running around at 100mph for every year of its life.

They also tend to be quite good dogs if you want a canine that does not spend too much time barking. Barking can be highly annoying for a dog owner, but these tend to only bark when you need to be drawn to something for further attention and inspection. Keep that in mind, as many dog owners are not aware of just how important it is to pay attention to the bark of a bulldog.

Do Bulldogs need much exercise?

In terms of getting your bulldog out there and exercising, you probably want to focus as much as you can on consistent low-key exercise. They like going on walks and having a bounce around the house, but you can find that a bulldog (especially in older ages) enjoys just lying next to you on the couch, or even at your feet. As such, you should remember that a bulldog is not one of the most demanding dog breeds when it comes to their exercise needs overall.

They only really need a regular ‘diet’ of moderate exercise to avoid large weight gains. However, please note that they tend to struggle to breathe on hot and humid days, so you might wish to keep them well aired and ventilated on hot days whilst avoiding needlessly strenuous exercises.

Also, avoid them running around stairs and swimming pools as these often represent a bit of a hazard for this breed of dog. They quite like shallow water, but it has to be very shallow for them to be safe. If you see them struggling even a little in the heat or near the water, it is advised that you get involved to help them out.

Do Bulldogs need training?

As social dogs, the bulldog is an animal that tends to want to do everything that it can to gain your favor. They love to have the positivity of their master, so you should be expectant that a bulldog will be pretty happy to follow your lead. They should, though, be introduced to other dogs as soon as is possible as this can play a key role in helping them to become more sociable from a young age.

You should also, look to take puppy training classes for a bulldog if they show even slightly unsuitable behavior at a young age. It is best to curb poor behavior in a bulldog at a young age as they can otherwise become a bit of a headache to deal with. The sooner you can take control of their moods and behaviors, the better.

Training, though, is typically not something you have to worry about too much. One thing they love to do, though, is chew; so, it is important to train them to chew on their toys as opposed to clothes, shoes, upholstery, and the like. Note too that bulldogs tend to love a tug of war, so you should try to focus on praising them for ‘tugging’ on items that are suitable for you both as opposed to fighting over the couch!

You might also need to spend a bit of time getting your bulldog used to food being taken away from his bowl. This is important as many bulldogs can be overly protective of their food. So long as you train them to know that there is more where that came from, though, they should soon grow to accept that their food being taken away is not a punishment, but simply to stop them from over-eating its food.

How healthy are Bulldogs?

Health always matters in a pet, and bulldogs are sadly quite prone to overheating. Their small muzzles can make it tough for them to breathe in the tightness of the heat. So, you should never leave your bulldog (french or english for that matter) out in the sun without regular supervision, as they can begin to overheat and struggle a lot quicker than you might expect. Try to build a spot with shade and water outside so that they can easily retreat to a safe spot when the heat builds up.

Always try to look out for your bulldog in terms of their health; if your bulldog is under physical duress, check their tongue. Their tongue should change to a blue-ish color as opposed to the pink that it should be. When you spot this, you need to do something about it. It also depends on your choice of bulldog, though; some bulldogs, like the English Bulldog, can have various health issues.

Other common issues for bulldogs involve their eating habits. These tend to love food, so you should be pretty cautious about how much grub your bulldog is getting its paws on. Try and avoid it overeating as this is a breed of dog that really has no problem with eating too much; this paired with their exercise habits makes weight gain an issue.

What do Bulldogs eat?

There is a specific dietary need for every bulldog that should be discussed with the breeder and with a vet. Given how the bulldog is born it might have some issues that you need to watch out for in terms of what they can and cannot eat. So, try and work with a vet to come up with the dietary needs of your dog specifically.

There is no right or wrong diet at the start, but there will be a right or wrong diet for your specific bulldog. Like most dog breeds, though, it often comes down to the individual.

In conclusion

As far as having a family pet goes, the bulldog is one of the finest additions that you could bring into your family. They are adorable pets that are easy to be around; pure social creatures that know how to have fun, how to let loose, and how to simply make life easier for you.

However, with the details above, you should also be aware that raising your own bulldog is not the walk in the park that some assume. With some responsibility and some vetting, though, raising a bulldog to be a happy and well-loved family member is not a challenge at all.

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