English Bull Dogs

First mentioned in the British Isles the English bull dogs of today are very different than what their 16th to 19th century ancestors looked and behaved like. Nowadays this particular breed of dog appears with a muscular body, wrinkled face and a pushed-in nose. Besides this specific the bulldog family also includes the French and the American Bulldog.

In spite of their short stature, they are actually quite heavy, the standard in the UK being 55 pounds for males and 50 pounds for females. So, little kids should be careful when trying to lift them; otherwise, the English bull dogs are very friendly and patient. And that just goes to prove that you can't judge a book by its cover! In our case, you can see that a mean looking dog is actually all heart inside once you get to know him.

Unlike other dogs the English bulldog has a relatively short life span of 7 to 12 years with an average of 6 and half years in the United Kingdom. Also, it can be said that this breed is prone to many health problems like cancer, heart and breathing issues; an overwhelming proportion of bulldogs suffer from hip dysplasia, almost 74%.

English bull dogs are sensible to heat so extra care must be taken when in warmer climates. A key component to keeping a bull dog safe is daily exercises. Although they don’t require heavy workouts, lack of physical exercise will lead to overweight and joint problems. They can be quite a hassle to keep healthy and safe, but if you truly care for them all inconveniences will pass by unnoticed.

But they weren’t always like this. In the beginning they were ferocious and savage. They had to be, in order to be almost insensitive to pain, considering that they were used in the sport of bull baiting (hence the name). In some cases, bulldogs were used even in bear baiting. The usual method of attack was biting the nose, attaching to it and attempting to suffocate the target.

This was a popular sport in the 17th century England, as was dog fighting. The English bull dogs of that era were bigger, more powerful and with a longer muzzle designed for gripping. Eventually, all sports involving animal fights were banned in 1835 thanks to the Cruelty to Animals Act. After this, the original bull dog was crossed with the pug in order to produce a friendlier dog suitable for the role of a family pet. In time the old breed of bull dogs disappeared and was replaced by the modern looking ones.

Although still looking tough, today's bull dog is not at all capable of performing the role he was originally intended for. Breeders have made sure to remove any aggressive intent from this breed and, as a result, the dog is known to be docile and with good temperament.

Nowadays, the English bull dogs are very popular family pets and are even used in therapy, an outcome their original creators probably never had in mind.

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