In a contest between me and a bulldog, you would say the bulldog is cuter.
Sylvester Stallone
The human creation of the English Bulldog could be considered a human experiment gone wrong and even some people claim it is inhumane to breed them without serious testing and research. Unlike the friendly and silly English bulldog, we know today, bulldogs were originally bred to be fierce and aggressive in order to bait bulls in the 1200s. The cross between a mastiff and a pug created the perfect features for the dog to stay low to the ground and out of the way when baiting the bull, their large head, pressed in the face and sizeable underbite helped the bulldog hold onto the bull with force. Caesar Milan states “Over the course of 350 years, until bull-baiting was banned in 1835, bulldogs were bred for aggression, and an 80-pound dog could easily bring down a bull weighing close to a ton by corkscrewing its own body around its neck, tossing the bull over its own center of gravity” https://www.cesarsway.com/the-history-of-bulldogs/. Outside of the ring bulldogs had a different side, they were loving, obedient and amazing with children, which made them a sought-after breed once bull baiting was banned in 1985. Pet MD describes them as “devoted, obedient and patient, without fail, the Bulldog has remained a favourite animal companion throughout the years. Always willing to please, the Bulldog yet preserves its own independent brand of stubbornness, keeping its own counsel once making up its mind to do so” https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_bulldog.
Due to the modern creation of the English Bulldog, it is essential that any breeder educates themself and follows the guidelines of its national kennel club to meet current health standards. English Bulldogs are a favourite breed, yet very controversial. The breed comes with major hereditary health issues some of them consist of neurological disorders, eye diseases, hip dysplasia and obstructive airway syndrome. Due to these health issues, it is considered by many veterinarians and breeders inhumane to sell and breed bulldogs that have not followed strict breeder scheme standards. Although it is difficult to do it is important to the breed and the health of the dog itself to ensure your breeder is responsible and makes every effort to breed away from these health defects. A list from Pet MD of precautions to take when looking after a bulldog are:
- Keep facial and other body wrinkles dry and clean, to help prevent skin fold dermatitis.
- This breed commonly requires a Caesarean delivery for giving birth — consult your veterinarian before considering breeding your Bulldog.
- This breed commonly suffers from complications while under anesthesia because of their unusual airways — you will want to address this concern with your veterinarian should your Bulldog require any surgeries. https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_bulldog
