The English Bulldog, an unmistakable breed, and becoming more and more popular worldwide.

And with this popularity comes a bigger risk. Those who look to choose an English Bulldog can be faced with a tricky decision, but only if you don't know what to look out for.

More so with this breed than others, there is a vast difference in quality, and unfortunately there are a lot of not so good looking and healthy Bulldogs out there. To help your important decision, we’ve complied this guide.

WHO IS SUITED TO THIS BREED?

  • The English bulldog, the pride and symbol of Britain. Nowadays, a great companion with a gentle/docile demeanour, but a few centuries ago it was bred for Bull baiting and a very rugged and tough customer indeed.

This aggressiveness has thankfully now been bred out, and the Bulldog has become more appealing on the eye, especially for the show ring.

Unfortunately, this breeding has caused certain health problems become more prevalent.

This in turn has made it not an easy nor cheap breed to own and always some money is needed to be set aside for vet consultations (cherry eye, skin problems, dysplasia issues, patella luxations are some of the more common health issues...).

This is not to say that getting an English Bulldog guarantees you will face serious health issues; what I am saying here is that it is probably not suited to those on a tight budget.

ENGLISH BULLDOG CHARACTER

    • Though not always the completely lazy breed some would insist, Bulldogs do not need a great deal of exercise especially as they get older (they can be very playful as pups), so they are well suited to apartment lifestyle.
    • Older people like them for this and may just take them for one or two leisurely strolls once a day around the block or let them play in a small yard for a bit.
    • A little downside to this inside living is that they can be messy eaters and a little on the snorey side.
    • This is one breed you must truly have a passion for to appreciate it and spend quality time with. It thrives on human attention.
        • And with considerate kids Bulldogs are great, and can make
      excellent family companions

Key English Bulldog Fact...

    Bulldogs are best suited to temperate climates and not very hot/humid weather where they can overheat fast, especially if expected to run or walk in it. If you are looking for a “lifetime companion” you should note that this breed on average lives only 7-10 years.

HOW TO BUY AN ENGLISH BULLDOG

  • The English Bulldog price range is very wide and can realistically very from 600 – 6000 USD upwards.

We do suggest you go for quality and not price as what you save in price at the beginning, you may make up for in vet visits later if you catch my drift.

This is not the easiest and cheapest dog to breed, and a lot of time, energy, and money should go into successful breeding, so if you are looking for a strong dog, we do not suggest to go under 1500 USD for your Bulldog).

MALE OR FEMALE ENGLISH BULLDOG

Usually, this breed gets on well with other dogs whether male or female.

Sometimes they can be a little scrappy with strange dogs, but the secret here is good early socialization in the puppyhood.

Males are going to be bigger / grander and will show the true Bulldog traits more, which is a big draw card for some.

On the other hand, females are likely to be a little more relaxed and cleaner as they do not mark their territory with scent everywhere.

English Bulldog

ENGLISH BULLDOG COLOUR AND SIZE

Brindle

- (can be patched/pied with any in this list of colours too as the adult above)

White

- as simple as it sounds!

Light fawn through to a rich red

- With this reddish colour, they can have white markings as the below pictured pup.

Black

Again simply black! (not usually kennel club accepted, but people like it because it is rare and unique)

 

Sizes....

The average size for a Bulldog adult is around 23–27 kg (50-60 lbs).

Although not so high of the ground (31-36 cm) it should be classed as a medium sized breed, so if you wanted a small dog, it might not be the one for you.

It’s not a bad idea to keep around the average and make sure you at least see photos and know the weights of the parents before your purchase to ensure they are around.

There is also a new hype called the Miniature Bulldog (same look, just bred smaller but not mixed) and the weight is ranging from 11–18 kg (25-40 lbs).

CONFORMATION OVER COLOUR!

    • Conformation (shape) is sadly often overlooked and colour/markings takes precedence, which is a mistake.
    • Colour should only play a part if two dogs are similar in build and you have to choose between them! On the contrary to the bow legged cartoon Bulldog in Tom and Jerry, the legs should be straight and set wide apart by the chest and shoulders.
    • Facial wrinkles are great but can mean more health issues as cherry eye, and extra work cleaning between them to avoid skin irritations. These furrows are not always favoured by show judges either.
  • A flat/squashed nose with one big thick hotdog nose rope is a real trademark of the breed, along with a massive square head.

The body should be stocky, with a low to the ground profile, supported by dense bones (fore and hind legs) as thick as tree trunks so to speak.

Also look for some loose folds of skin as easily seen on the gorgeous puppy below.

A short bun-looking tail is usually preferred, to a longer one as Bulldogs often can have.

A useful tip to judge conformation is to start at the head and work your way along the body.

Although a young puppy is changing fast, these are early traits to look for, as likely to be carried through.

English Bulldog Puppy

        • It’s worth noting that there is a tendency that the
      best ones come from Europe and from European lines.
      Do feel free to leave any comments and your thoughts on this article? Since there is so much to write about this breed, a 2nd part is coming soon.