An
excellent pet, English Bulldogs love to be in the company
of family. They are wonderful with children because of
their gentle nature. An undemanding animal who makes a
great companion for the elderly who do not want to feel
guilty for not exercising their dog. The characteristics
of a perfect Bulldog include: medium size, smooth coat,
heavy, thickset, low-swung body, massive short-faced head,
wide shoulders and sturdy limbs. Uniform color or with
a black mask or muzzle; reds, red brindle, piebald; (black
is considered undesirable)
The
bulldog’s origin lies in the cruel sport of bull-baiting,
which originated in England around the 13th century. The
dog’s purpose was to attack and madden the bull by grabbing
it, usually by the nose, and not releasing its grip. Not
only was this considered entertainment, but it also was
believed that a bull’s meat was tastier if the bull was
baited before being butchered. Some bulldogs were also
set against bears for bearbaiting, purely for entertainment.
Bulldog owners set great store by their dog’s ferocity
and, especially, fortitude in the face of pain — so much
so that horrifying stories exist of owners proving their
dog’s toughness by demonstrating that it would hang onto
the bull despite being tortured or mutilated by the owner.
In 1835, bull-baiting was outlawed, and a new phase began
for the bulldog. Some efforts were made to have the dogs
fight one another, but this was clearly not the bulldog’s
forte. Now a dog without a cause, the breed’s popularity
plummeted. By all rights, the breed should have become
extinct, except that it had gained so many ardent admirers
that they set out to rescue the bulldog by selecting against
ferocity while still maintaining — and often accentuating
— its distinctive physical characteristics. So successful
were they that the bulldog became an extremely amiable
character, with a personality not at all like its “sourmug”
might suggest. Its tough steadfast persona led it to be
identified as a national symbol of England. It’s amiable
clownish personality belies its appearance, and the bulldog
is a popular pet.
English Bulldog
Height : 12 - 14 inches
English Bulldog
Weight: 50 - 55 lbs. |
