There are several breeds of bulldogs out there, like the American, the Australian, the French and, the subject of this post, the English Bulldog. The latter has its origins in the British Isles and it is a descendant of the ancient Asiatic mastiff.
The name “bulldog” has been given to it as it was used in bull baiting, a practice which was declared illegal in the 19th century. It was indeed an aggressive and powerful dog, well trained to be ferocious in arena combats with full grown bulls. Its combat style involved attacking from the bottom up, with movements that would bring it underneath the bull so that it could go for the neck, while it would have been difficult for the adversary to fight back. The temperament of todays bulldog is different to that of its ancestors, but its typical strong determination is still there. Also, its robust look can remind one of a little bull, standing true to the breed's name.
To describe the appearance of the English Bulldog a bit, it is a medium-sized dog, with short legs and wide, compact figure. Both its body and its head are massive and extra skin that falls in folds is developed on its skull as well as on its forehead. Its muzzle is wide and short and its black nose is broad, presenting large nostrils. The eyes are dark and deep set, the ears are small and placed high on the head and the jaws are broad, with the upper lips hanging down. It has a tail that can be straight or screwed and it carries it low. Its short, smooth and glossy coat can be colored in shades of brindle, solid red or fallow, solid white, pale yellow, fawn and it can also have spotted patterns. Temperament-wise, despite its intimidating appearance, it is one of the gentlest dogs. It will chase intruders away, but it is very affectionate with its family and gentle with children. This dog is a good guard, one that is very tenacious. However, it will enjoy human attention and seek it from its masters, as human attention is really important for this dogs happiness. It should be known though that English Bulldogs can be dominating in their behavior, which means that they will need a firm, authoritative master, one who can replace the alpha-male of the pack in their perception. Where the interaction with other family pets is concerned, they will usually get along well with them; however they may become combative when meeting strange dogs.
The health of this dog breed may be affected by breathing problems, poor eyesight, skin infections and also by heart problems, as the bulldog is susceptible to heatstroke when it is exposed to strong heat. It is also very sensitive to cold weather. It is often the case that puppies must be delivered by means of caesarian section.
The English Bulldog can be a trustworthy family member: it will serve its role as a guardian when necessary, but it will be very friendly and affectionate to its masters.
