English Bulldog - The facts every owner of this dog breed should know
Sunday, 07.01.2007, 03:53pm (GMT)
Descended from ancient Asian Mastiffs, the English Bulldog was
developed in Great Britain by crossing the bulldog descendants of the
Mastiffs with Pugs. The result is a small dog that is wide and compact
with a large head that has an intimidating look with a lot of folds in
the skin. English Bulldogs will average only 12 to 16 inches in height
but weigh anywhere from 49 to 55 pounds. They only live an average of 8
years. The English Bulldog has a short and smooth coat that needs
minimal grooming and are considered average shedders. Baths are only
given when necessary.
English Bulldogs are mostly brindle or red and it tends to be a uniform
color, but there are also coats of liver, tan, black and white. English
Bulldogs have a short muzzle and the lower jaw extends past the upper
jaw. Because of this jaw structure, English Bulldogs have a tight grip
when clamping down on anything. English Bulldogs make good watchdogs,
alerting its family to an approaching stranger by growling and barking,
but will not attack. They make good family pets and enjoy being in the
company of humans as well as other animals. They are generally gentle
with children but can be dominating at times. For this reason,
obedience training is a must, as well as an owner who is not afraid to
act as the alpha of the pack, as English Bulldogs can be stubborn and
difficult to train.
Younger English Bulldogs tend to be full of energy while older ones
tend to slow down. It is important to exercise an English Bulldog at
least once a day to discourage obesity – sometimes a difficult feat
since some English Bulldogs are content to not move at all (though
almost all English Bulldogs are relatively inactive indoors). This
choice of inactivity also makes it important to not overfeed an English
Bulldog. Whatever their preferred activity level,
English Bulldogs will do well in apartment living. Most English
Bulldogs tend to drool, slobber and snore. This is due to their small
windpipes, which also makes them prone to breathing problems. English
Bulldogs do not handle heat well at all and are susceptible to heat
stroke. They are also sensitive to cold, so English Bulldogs are best
in temperate climates. English Bulldogs also are prone to flatulence,
hip and knee problems and skin infections.
There is a website that has great information on English Bulldogs and
most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds
health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the
website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:
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