English Bulldog Dogs Information

Written by: Debbie Moore

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.

Alternate Names: Bulldog, Bull Dog, British Bulldog

Common Misspellings:  English Bull Dogs, Englishbulldogs,

Learn all about English Bulldog Dogs and Puppies through our indepth guide to the English Bulldog dog breed. You'll find solid information about English Bulldog dog history, English Bulldog life expectancy English Bulldog dog appearance, English Bulldog temperament and personality, English Bulldog health problems, English Bulldog puppy care, training English Bulldog puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information about choosing a responsible English Bulldog dog breeder.

There's no dog breed with a more distinctive mug than the English Bulldog. This is a dog breed like no other - combining a solid, muscular frame with an adorably wrinkled face and somewhat compressed snout. To gaze upon the English Bulldog, one would expect him to be tough as nails, but in reality, this dog breed is a real "pussycat", at least where humans and other pets are concerned. These comical and endearing dogs are highly affectionate companions that love children and require little exercise or grooming, making them an excellent choice for families, singles, the elderly and even disabled dog lovers. If you are thinking about adding an English Bulldog puppy to your family or household, read on!

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English Bulldog Facts

The English Bulldog Dog Breed In Brief

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

English Bulldog Height: 12 to 15 inches at the shoulder

English Bulldog Weight: Males: 50 pounds
Females: 40 pounds

English Bulldog Color Variations: Brindle Bulldogs
Red Bulldogs
Fawn Bulldogs
White Bulldogs

English Bulldog Size Variations:

English Bulldog Exercise Needs: Minimal

English Bulldog Grooming Demands: Reasonable

English Bulldog Trainability: Easy

English Bulldog Life Expectancy: 8 to 12 years

Average English Bulldog Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on Pedigree

Good With Children: Yes

Good With Other Pets: Yes

Breed Group: Non-Sporting

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English Bulldog Dog History

The Bulldog is a breed that definitely earned his name. He received his name in the 1700’s when he was placed in a bullring with bulls and was expected to fight them while people placed bets on who would win, him or the bull. This was strictly a form of entertainment at the time.

When he pinned the bull in the least amount of time, compared to other breeds, he became a prize as he did it over and over again, even while injured.

If a Bulldog won over and over again, it was bred to another repeat winner to make even tougher prize pups.

In the early 1800’s animal fighting was outlawed in England, so the Bulldog was then forgotten.

In 1860, dog fanciers decided that the Bulldog should return to the spotlight. He was entered in the England dog shows. By 1862 he had different weight classes.

Breeders eliminated his fighting instinct by selective breeding and his first breed standard was drawn up in 1875. At this time, he had a long tail, long legs, and no pushed-in face.

Breeders interbred him with the Pug which shortened his legs and brought in his muzzle. He was then bred with the Toro, which was a breed that was imported from Spain. This made him heavy. He weighed as much as 100 pounds.

The original Bulldog lovers hated to see the Bulldog bred to the very large Toro, so they joined up and formed “The Bulldog Club”. It only lasted long enough to form the Bulldog’s first breed standard.

In 1880, the Bulldog entered the first US dog show which was held in New York City, and by 1890 “The Bulldog Club of America (BCA) was formed.

By 1891 there were 50 Champion Bulldogs. Today, the Bulldog is one of the top 20 breeds registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). He is in the Non-Sporting group.

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English Bulldog Dog Appearance

The Bulldog is a medium sized breed, weighing at 40 to 50 pounds max. He has a deep chest, round eyes, high set ears, and a large black nose. If he has a brown or liver colored nose, then he is not of show quality. He should have a massive broad square jaw, large undershot teeth and a short, thick neck. His tail should be straight or screw. He has a short, smooth, glossy coat. He should have loose, heavily wrinkled skin all about the head and face. His colors are red, brindle, solid white, solid red, fawn, solid black is not a desirable trait in the show ring.

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English Bulldog Grooming

Little coat care is required, but he should be given special attention by keeping the folds of his skin clean, especially around the face. They should be cleaned daily to avoid your Bulldog developing a condition called skin fold dermatitis.

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English Bulldog Exercise Needs

English Bulldogs need very little in the way of exercise. A short daily walk will suffice where this meaty fellow is concerned. English Bulldogs are not able to tolerate heat and humidity, so special considerations need to be made if you live in a hot climate or in summer months. Usually it's best to take your Bulldog out for a walk in the very early morning or very late evening on hot days to avoid heat exhaustion.

English Bulldogs are not runners, nor can them swim, so if you are a triathlete looking for a canine companion to keep you company, this is probably not the breed for you. However, if you are more couch potato than athlete, the English Bulldog will enjoy lying beside you on the couch as you watch the latest reality TV shows.

Jumping is also a no-no for English Bulldogs, since doing so can injure their knees, which can be prone to luxating patella. If your couch or bed is too high for your "big guy" it's a good idea to invest in a couple sets of doggie steps to help ease your Bulldog's ability to get up and down from his favorite sleeping spots.

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English Bulldog Temperament

He is very dignified, brave, and kind. He loves to snuggle and is considered a companion dog.

He is not a guard dog, even though he looks like one. He is way too loving and compassionate for that. He is really a laid back, carefree individual.

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English Bulldog Training

Don't let his tough guy looks fool you - the English Bulldog is a pushover that wants nothing more than to please his humans. This comical, gentle and easygoing dog breed is a snap to train, and will be willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy. That having been said, the Bulldog does have a slightly stubborn streak which can present itself on occasion. The liberal use of treats with training is a sure way to overcome any obstinate behavior your Bulldog may exhibit.

English Bulldog Health

He should be kept cool at all times. He is very prone to heat stroke. Giving him plenty of cold water and shade will prevent such an occurrence. Keeping him indoors if at all possible is best.

Most female Bulldogs have to undergo caesarean sections in order to give birth and are 10 pounds lighter than males. That is why the Bulldog has a very high price tag. If it weren’t for caesareans, there would be fewer Bulldogs in the world and their price would be much higher due to their rarity. A female Bulldog has an average of three puppies.

The breed has many breed prone problems. Like, hip dysphasia, elongated soft palate, entropion and ectropion (eyelid abnormalities), muzzle pyoderma and wrinkle dermatitis.

The Bulldog breed lives an average of 10 years. Keeping him from becoming overweight can add two to three more years to his life expectancy.

Bulldogs sometimes have trouble breathing, especially during hot weather. Do not take your Bulldog out for runs on hot days, and don’t leave him outside in the sun.

If your Bulldog snores or has noisy breathing, then he could have “soft palate”. This could cause respiratory failure after strenuous exercise. Surgery can fix this. Eyelid abnormalities can also be fixed with surgery. Hip dysphasia can become very painful causing a limp. A dog with this should never be bred due to genetically passing this trait on.

A female who has been spayed before her first heat has a 90% less chance of getting cancer. The statistics on cancer are better for males too, if they are neutered at an early age.

A Bulldog is considered a senior at age seven. At this time his food should be changed. His muzzle will become gray and he may develop cataracts. He may also have trouble holding his urine. He may have trouble getting around. If he is in a lot of pain, a baby aspirin may be given.

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Is the English Bulldog Right For You?

Although the Bulldog started out as a fighter, he is now considered a lover, a lover of people that is. Enjoy this sweet little bundle of wrinkles, for although they don’t live on average as long as other breeds, they make a bigger impact on your heart than most.

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English Bulldog Prices

Average English Bulldog Price: $750 - $1000

Price always varies when it comes to the purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy English Bulldog dog or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight on acquiring a great English Bulldog puppy from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the price as a secondary concern in making your decision.

Buying a English Bulldog dog or puppy at a cheap price from a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life, should your English Bulldog puppy have hereditary health problems or behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable English Bulldog breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized, healthy puppy of stable temperament.

English Bulldog prices also will vary according to the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will generally be less expensive as show-quality English Bulldog puppies intended to be shown in conformation.

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Finding English Bulldog Puppies For Sale By Reputable Breeders

If you are ready to add an adorable English Bulldog puppy to your family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of English Bulldog Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and information posted by reputable English Bulldog breeders. We actively screen English Bulldog breeders who wish to advertise on our service by asking that they meet and follow our Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and check - three references from each breeder.

By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible English Bulldog breeder near you. We cannot physically inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us, so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and interview.

Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores. Buy your English Bulldog puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home environment.

When you locate that perfect English Bulldog puppy - please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our growing gallery of English Bulldog dog and puppy pictures!

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Additional English Bulldog Resources:

• English Bulldog Wikipedia Profile
• AKC English Bulldog Breed Profile
• English Bulldog Pictures
• English Bulldog Videos

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