Bulldog

Bulldog - Breed Profile:

Origin: British Isles
Colors: Red, fawn, white, brindle, piebald
Size: Medium
Type of Owner: Novice
Exercise: Moderate
Grooming: Regular
Trainability: Somewhat difficult to train
Combativeness: Tends to be very dog aggressive
Dominance: Moderate
Noise: Not a barker

Physical characteristics

The Bulldog is a compact and massive dog. It has a large broad head with a flat wrinkled face, wide shoulders, sturdy legs that look a bit bowed even though the bones are straight. The lower jaw is "undershot", but the upper lips completely cover it. The eyes are set low and wide. The large nose is black. The tail is sometimes docked but it can be left natural, and in this case it is short and is either carried low or curled. The skin is soft all over the body and loose under the neck; it has typical folds on the face and shoulders. The lips are dropping. Like other short-muzzled dogs, Bulldogs tend to snore.
The heigtht of Bulldogs is 14 ti 17 inches, the weight is about 50 pounds for males and 40 pounds for females.

Temperament

Even though Bulldogs look kind of severe, they are very sweet and devoted dogs with a peaceful, quiet, gentle and docile temperament. Occasionally wilful. They are good with other pets and patient with small children, but sometimes are not aware of their own strength, so can hurt the skin even with a playful bite. Do not leave a Bulldog alone for too long: they do need human companionship. Proper socialization is necessary at an early age, otherwise Bulldogs may become very dog-aggressive. If necessary, a Bulldog will protect its owner courageously. Love and reward will play best when you train the dog. They do need regular walks but without excessive exercise.

Coat and grooming

The coat of Bulldogs is short and sleek, it sheds constantly. The dogs come in brindle, white, fawn, red or piebald colours. Even though Bulldogs do not require much brushing, taking care of the skin folds (washing the dog) should be regular, otherwise the dog can get skin infections. Use a quality shampoo to avoid skin over-drying. Wrinkles and eyes should be cleaned every day with a damp baby wipe or wash-cloth.