English bulldog, the facts every owner of this dog breed should know
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:
http://www.dogandcatfacts.com
By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2007
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