English Bulldog - breed description and dog character

The modern English bulldog only vaguely resembles its distant ancestor, who in the XII XIII centuries made anyone who came in his way trembling with horror. In those days, they were formidable ferocious dogs that could defeat the bull. As proof of this, the name of the bulldog was fixed, the first part of which means “bull” in translation from English. Mastiffs and Alans are considered their ancestors.

They raised English bulldogs exclusively for fighting, selecting from the litter the most aggressive and powerful, with powerful jaws. They boldly fought not only with bulls, but also with bears and lions in the arena. It can be argued that in this way natural selection occurred, the most agile, strong and agile survived. They were involved in procreation. But these dogs, intended only for fighting, had different sizes and colors, the structure of the jaw of many significantly differed.

But this was until 1835 - then it was considered that this sight was too cruel, and officially the fighting ceased to exist, and with it the breed, being unclaimed, began to die out.

However, the adherents of the breed did not allow her to disappear, moreover, they tried to draw a new line from the evil and blood-thirsty hereditary fighters, fundamentally changing their character. In the mid-50s of the XIX century, active breeding work began, aimed at repaying malice in the breed and thirst for blood. To do this, the calmer dogs were strictly selected in the litter, and the most aggressive were sent to the plantations as watchmen, guards, mainly as outbred individuals.

Already in 1860, breeders were able to present an updated breed at a popular exhibition in Birmingham, which some dog handlers classified as decorative. But more often than not, English bulldogs performed their service, guarding the English aristocrats. These dogs were officially included in the list of legalized breeds of England in 1873, and seven years later, English bulldogs began to leave their homeland, gaining owners in many parts of the world.

Now in a friendly calm bulldog it is difficult to recognize the former mobile warrior who was able to attack a large animal and defeat him. A modern dog is also powerful and self-confident, but still more calm and good-natured. But, if the owner is in danger, the bulldog will be able to protect him without hesitation.

Brief information about the breed

These dogs are of average size, the average height at the withers reaches 35 - 40 cm, weigh:

• males - up to 25 kg;
• bitches - up to 23 kg.

The most original of the bulldog is its face, and especially the jaw. They protrude forward, due to which the teeth are exposed. The head is round in shape, long muzzle. The ears are medium in size, located on the sides of the head and drooping. Skin folding should be present on the head. The skin hidden in folds helped the dogs during the battle: even if the enemy grabbed the folds, the dog could still continue the fight. The folds also helped to warn the eyes: if the animal was injured, their blood did not flood. The nose is strongly depressed, and other brachycephalic dogs are different.

The body is wide and massive, squat. The shoulders are wide, but the pelvis is much narrower, which adversely affects the birth of puppies, and often the owners are forced to seek help from a veterinarian to have a cesarean section.

All limbs are placed apart from each other at a great distance. The coat is hard and short. The color may be different, but the main thing is that a black mask is indicated on the face.

English Bulldog as a homebody and companion

The English Bulldog is not quite simple in character. He is not a fan of not only frisky, but also walking. He better sit at home with the owners, soak up in its rightful place. He is stubborn in nature, and if he does not want to do something, convincing the pet will be quite problematic. But all these difficulties are compensated by funny behavior that improves the mood of all households.

The English Bulldog is very attached to children, likes to spend time with them, having fun taking part in their games and pranks.

These dogs are very fond of tasting the home things of their owners. Therefore, you need to hide everything in a securely closed place, and so that the pet does not get bored, get him special toys for chewing.

They endure very hot times very hard. Therefore, in the summer, the owners should worry about creating comfortable conditions.

For urban conditions, the bulldog is ideal, as it does not need many hours of walking, running and physical activity. On average, it is enough for him to visit the air twice a day for 30 minutes, but the puppy needs to be given small loads, forcing him to move more actively.

The structure of the nose makes the dog breathe with his mouth open, while making loud noises. And due to the fact that you have to swallow a large amount of air, gases are often formed that go out accompanied by a strong odor. If the apartment in which the pet lives is small, you should always have an air freshener or the ability to ventilate the room.

An unpleasant odor appears in the folds of the animal, and saliva flows from the mouth. Those who are not frightened off by these unpleasant facts will receive a wonderful friend, a loyal defender.

Health

These bulldogs live on average about 10 years. Of all the breeds, they are most disposed to diseases, among which many are inherited, and many are acquired. The most common pathologies associated with:

• musculoskeletal system;
• cardiovascular system.

Bulldogs are prone to obesity, as they like to eat hearty foods, and move a little. Their body has a negative property - a very slow metabolism. If we recall that almost all members of the breed suffer from weak joints, then a overfed pet can be susceptible to various diseases and injuries. With serious injuries, owners turn to veterinary clinics quite often. A balanced diet, in which there are vitamins and minerals, will help maintain the necessary weight and health.

Bulldogs often have allergic reactions. Anything can become a source of trouble:

• plants;
• the annoying rays of the sun;
• pollen of flowers.

If an allergy occurs, you should seek the help of a veterinarian to prescribe a course of therapy. Modern tools allow you to quickly get rid of the problem.

Educational procedures

For those people whose time is always scheduled, the good news is the fact that you don’t have to pay a lot of attention to raising English bulldogs. It is important to find mutual understanding with him immediately, to educate and instill basic skills. They learn quickly, and spending time on training at the very beginning, you can not be afraid that the dog will be capricious, stubborn and naughty. Only by building a normal relationship with a dog of this breed can one achieve perfect obedience.

This breed has no desire to jump out without demand to the street, and rush, not taking the road, in search of adventure. The bulldog quickly gets used to new conditions, understands where its place of rest and feeding.

The dog should be aware that the owner is not only a source of a satisfying and comfortable life, but also a good friend. Therefore, putting on a chain or sending an animal to an aviary is not recommended. The dog must always be near people.

English bulldogs have a desire to prove to the household that it is he who is the main in the family. Professional trainers advise in this case to prove that the dog is wrong, and not to allow him to rest on the bed, spoil things. It is worth taking a lead, and more problems will appear in the future. Do not forget that the jaws of the dog can cope with any furniture, not to mention things and shoes.

Advice! For a pet, you need to immediately equip a convenient place so that it is comfortable there, and did not want to find the best by spotting the master's bed.

Do not punish the bulldog, it is easier for him to explain what he did wrong, to encourage when the dog is obedient and performs all the commands clearly and correctly. Severe punishment will harm mutual understanding.

These dogs have a sense of leadership, so the other animals in the house, if they are smaller, may not be greeted. To avoid conflicts, it is desirable that the animals are under the same roof from a very young age.

An imposing and slow bulldog can become fearless and warlike if it is necessary to protect the owners. He is not afraid to be the first to engage in battle with an animal that is larger and stronger. Once the dog gets angry, the real battle begins, and the pet will defend its position until victory. And if you take into account the bite of a bulldog, then if it attacks a person, it can significantly injure him. In this case, law enforcement agencies may intervene. Therefore, the owner of the bulldog should not set the pet on people and animals, turn it into a feisty brawler. Those who have completed the necessary course of dog training are quite peaceful, and they will never rush to others, most often just stepping aside.

This breed has an average level of activity. Puppies like to play pranks, but in adulthood dogs are calm. The features of the respiratory system do not allow them to run fast, but they don’t want to do this, respectably following the leash near the owner. Due to breathing problems and a weak heart, the dog cannot be taken on long walking trips or even for short runs. Excessive stress can cause significant damage to health.

A puppy also should not be heavily physically stressed, despite the fact that at this age he is active and energetic. The anatomical features of the rock should always be considered.

Care

The dog needs to be cleaned periodically, especially during molting. This procedure is important because dirt, dead hair and dandruff are removed from the surface of the skin. There are special brushes that you can choose at the pet store. In the absence of this procedure, a bulldog may develop skin diseases.

During cleansing, an effective massage takes place, during which blood rushes to the skin and improves metabolism. To make the cleaning effect better, it is recommended to walk along the wool with a cloth brush. Many owners use a vacuum cleaner for this purpose, but not every animal can get used to the humming unit.

Swimming in the summer season is pleasant for the bulldog, the main thing is that after bathing it will not be in a draft. Wipe thoroughly. But when it’s cold, it’s better not to bathe the dog so that she does not get sick.

Fact! Bulldogs swim poorly due to the fact that their front part is very heavy, so you should not try to lure them into a pond.

When buying an English bulldog, you can come across different breed prices. If the pedigree is rich in champions, then puppies will be more expensive.

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