English Bulldog: Right For You?
Bulldog Characteristics to Consider Before Purchasing a New Puppy
There are some things prospective owners should be aware of before getting an English Bulldog. Here are tips to help decide whether a bulldog is for you.
With the English Bulldog hitting #10 in the AKC registration last year, their popularity is on the rise for many good reasons. However, with this increase in popularity comes an increase in bulldog abandonment numbers and untimely deaths from lack of proper care.
Prospective bulldog owners should be aware of some personality traits and characteristics of the bulldog breed, however, before bringing home a new puppy or adult bulldog. Here are some considerations to think about when deciding whether an English bulldog is the right breed for you.
Bulldogs Prefer Temperate Climates
The English bulldog is a breed that does not tolerate very cold or very hot weather. In fact, heat stroke is one of the single most common causes of untimely death in bulldogs. If you cannot provide your bully air conditioning during high summer heat, do not get a bulldog. If you plan to house your dog outdoors during wintry weather do not get a bulldog. English bulldogs should be considered indoor dogs.
Bulldogs Have Lower Activity Levels
Their heavy front ends and overall stocky build make them more likely to be couch potatoes than marathon runners. Light daily activity is required to help them maintain their weight but a leisurely walk to a few laps around the yard is sufficient. If you are looking for a dog to go jogging or biking with you on your mile long run in the morning you might look elsewhere. If you want to walk with the kids around the block a couple times for fun and exercise an English Bulldog might be perfect for you!
Space Requirements of an English Bulldog
Despite their large and impressive appearance, English bulldogs make good apartment dogs with light, daily exercise, of course. Bulldogs are generally sedate and do not have the high exercise requirements of even smaller sized terrier breeds.
Bulldogs are Great Family Dogs
Despite their bloody origins, bulldogs have been selectively bred over the past 200 years to be loyal, affectionate and friendly members of the family. English bulldogs are good with children, usually tolerate cats and other animals and watchful of the family surroundings. Bulldogs will bark to alert you of newcomers to the area but do not usually bark incessantly or without purpose.
Bulldogs' Unique Look and Maintenance Needs
A bulldog has a short, rather coarse, coat that does not need daily brushing like some longer-haired breeds. However, their unusual face wrinkles, nose rope and loose jowls should get daily attention to prevent skin irritations. For a well-bred and healthy bulldog this can be as easy as using a soft, cloth diaper to clean the skin folds of the face, as well as checking the paws and tail area.
Trainability and Service Abilities of Bulldogs
There is a reason why stubborn humans are often referred to as being “bull-headed”. Bulldogs are notorious for their determination. This means if you want a "push-button pet" devoted to performing cute tricks on command, you may want to consider a different breed. English bulldogs can certainly be trained, and the fact that they would rather be fed, than jump through hoops, has no bearing on how smart they are. In fact bully fanciers point to this trait as a sign of their intelligence!
Providing your bulldog with the right environment can make the difference between a happy, well-adjusted pet and a disappointment who ends up abandoned as an adult.
More Resources:
About the English Bulldog Breed
