The British Bulldog

Appearance

The general appearance of the bulldog is that of a smooth coated, thick set dog rather low in stature but broad, compact and powerful. The head is strikingly massive but should not be so large as to destroy the balance of the over all dog. The face is short with a broad muzzle, blunt and inclined upwards. His body should be short and well knit, with limbs somewhat lighter in comparison with heavy foreparts.
Bitches not so grand or well developed as dog.
Over all he should convey the impression of determination, strength and activity.

History

The bulldog can trace its ancestry back to Roman times. Bull and bear baiting as sports lead to the development of a dog with the bulk of his weight near the head so that when the bull or bear shook him there was less chance of his back being broken. The facial structure being designed so that the blood was deflected from the eyes by the wrinkles and with a broad strong jaw for holding of the bull or bear.
After such brutal sports were banned in the eighteenth century the bulldogs capacity for these , encapsulated in his size, strength and courage , continued to be of importance and he became well known for his grit and indifference to pain.
With these attributes he became universally acknowledged as representing the British national character

Temperament

The bulldog should be alert, bold, loyal, dependable, fierce in appearance but possessing an affectionate nature

Care / Grooming

A bulldogs face should be cleaned religiously daily. The creases and folds wiped out with a soft tissue or baby wipe. The nose can be kept clean and healthy with a dab of Vaseline massaged in. Ears , because they are rose shaped must be also checked daily and wax cleaned out with a cotton bud.
Nails should be kept shortened by clipping, though often in the older dog exercise keeps nails short and tidy but the dew claw still needs to be trimmed.
Bathing can be done but use a soft shampoo as some form of conditioner

Health

Most of the problems associated with the bulldog can be avoided with good diet, correct exercise and general good husbandry. This includes ensuring that he is regularly groomed, wormed, and inoculated, and that bedding, food and water bowls are kept clean. The bulldog’s shoulders are tacked on, that is placed on the sides of the chest and not underneath it. This means that the muscles are quite fragile and tender during their growing months so climbing and jumping should be controlled.
The bulldog has been under threat since its inception. His conformation compromises his physical abilities. Almost every part of his anatomy was bred for a specific purpose.
However by carefully selecting the puppy you buy, knowing what you are buying and how to care for him in th manner fitting you should have a pet who is trouble free and really good to have around.
As with other short nosed breeds, it is necessary to keep a watchful eye on your Bulldog in hot weather or in any stressful situation.
Bulldog health problems that may be encountered are: elongated soft palate, small trachea, ectropian and entropian (eyelid anomalies), stenotic nares, and hip dysplasia problems.
Not all veterinarians care to treat Bulldogs. It is best that you use a veterinarian that your breeder uses.
A Bulldog must have no cosmetic surgery - he faces life as he is born. His ears remain uncropped and tail undocked .

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