Bulldog
Bred for bull baiting until that was banned in 1835, then rebuilt as a companion. Front heavy enough that most cannot swim, which surprises new owners.
Photo by sabianmaggy, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Bulldog, called the English Bulldog outside the AKC, was bred for bull baiting until the practice was banned in Britain in 1835. Everything about the modern dog dates from after that: the exaggerated head, the shortened muzzle, the wide set front and the roached back were all bred in during the show era.
UK data gives a life expectancy at birth of 7.39 years, which is among the shortest of any breed and considerably shorter than dogs of comparable size.
Temperament
Placid, affectionate and stubborn. Bulldogs are gentle with children, tolerant of other dogs, and among the calmest breeds indoors.
They are not trainable in any conventional sense. A Bulldog considers a request and frequently declines. That is charming and it means training relies on food and patience rather than authority. They are also comic, dignified and genuinely good company.
Care and grooming
Short coat, weekly brush, and then the folds. Facial wrinkles and the tail pocket need cleaning and drying several times a week or they develop infections. That is routine work rather than an occasional job.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, hip dysplasia, skin problems, eye problems and heat intolerance are all common. Most Bulldogs are born by caesarean because the head does not fit through the pelvis, which is worth understanding about how the breed reproduces.
Living and exercise
Twenty to thirty minutes a day, split, in cool weather only. Heat kills dogs of this shape, and a Bulldog can overheat on a warm day in a garden.
They cannot swim, because the head is heavy and the body is dense, and a Bulldog that falls into a pool sinks. That is worth taking literally if there is water on the property.
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