English Bulldog: breed description, life expectancy and content

The English Bulldog is a stocky, powerful dog with pronounced musculature. A dog of this breed is distinguished by a phlegmatic character, an exceptional mind and a love of cleanliness.

In the XVII-XIX centuries. in Britain, Old English bulldogs, originating from the North Caucasian Alans, as well as the Central Asian mastiffs, were widely used. These dogs became the progenitors of modern "English".

There is a great similarity between the modern dogs and their ancestors in the exterior, and the main difference is in the nature of the dogs. Old bulldogs were quite angry and aggressive animals that were bred everywhere for bullying during the hunt. It was these dogs that were exhibited for the amusement of the crowd, biting bulls, brown bears, and even lions. Among the first representatives of the breed there were dogs of the most varied colors and dimensions, dogs and jaw features were distinguished.

"Natural selection" was carried out by bulls, which in the course of the fight destroyed the weak and unsuitable for the fight animals. People watched the battle of dogs with large animals, and then developed in dogs all those characteristics that contributed to the formation of a perfect fighting breed. So, mastiffs at the very beginning of the struggle grabbed the opponent by the scruff, neck or ear, and then tried to knock him down. But because of their weight, dogs often fell under the hooves of enraged bulls or horns, which most often ended in the death of the dog.

But the “butcher dogs”, thanks to lengthy selection and selection, defended themselves against the enemy much more successfully. They used their “crown technique” and tried to grab the bull by the nose. The giant is perhaps the most sensitive place, so when the bulldog was captured, the will of his opponent was completely paralyzed. Most often, the bull in this situation lost the desire for resistance and he fled from the ring, at that moment the fight was considered over, and the dog was declared the winner.

In 1835, bullying was prohibited by law, and the large number of English bulldogs was "out of work", but this oblivion did not last long. Soon, the fighting qualities of the animals were re-evaluated, and the dogs turned from fighting dogs into reliable guards and watchmen.

In 1858, the scale of the problem reached such a level that English dog handlers began preserving typical bulldogs. At the same time, they set themselves one more task - to breed a less aggressive animal and eradicate their fighting characteristics. To implement the tasks throughout the UK, the selection of the calmest dogs has begun.

A year later, an exhibition opened in Birmingham, on which bulldogs of the "new" type were shown - in their temperament they were very different from previously known dogs. Numerous visitors to the event could not but appreciate the extremely high professionalism of geneticists and breeders, and reviews of these dogs were extremely enthusiastic.

In 1873, English bulldogs were finally recognized by the world cynological community, and in the very beginning of the 1880s, breeders from other countries drew attention to the breed. Nowadays it is difficult to say exactly what the secret of the rapidly growing popularity of new bulldogs was.

Perhaps the breeders were attracted by their funny appearance, or maybe a calm and balanced character, but the fact remains - The new breed was liked by breeders all over the world and today remains one of the most popular.

The English Bulldog is a medium sized dog. This is a smooth-haired animal, squat and very downed. The head is very large - its coverage is usually equal to the growth rate of the dog at the withers. The height of the animal varies depending on its gender. So, males usually grow up to 36-41 cm, and females up to 30-36 cm. The weight of males is about 20-25 kg, the weight of bitches approaches 16-20 kg.

If we compare the size of the head of the Englishman with the overall dimensions of the dog, then we can say that the head is very large, but in a striking way does not violate the existing proportions. Therefore, in general, the animal does not look deformed. The muzzle of the dogs is wide, depressed and blunt, slightly curved upward. The forehead for dogs of this breed is flat, while not particularly protruding above the muzzle.

The frontal bones of the skull in the projection are embossed and slightly convex, they differ in a square shape and a noticeable breadth. The jaws are strong. The lower protrudes slightly forward and slightly bent up. 6 incisors grow on it, which are located in a straight line between the fangs, while the latter have a fairly clear arrangement.

The eyes are located low, a short distance from the auricles, usually they are placed at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the groove. The setting of the eyes is expanded, while the outer edges are inside the outer part of the cheeks. Eye size is medium, shape is standard, round. They do not fall into the eye socket, while they can not be called convex.The iris, as a rule, is dark in color, almost black, proteins are not noticeable.

The ears of the "Englishman" are characterized by a very high landing at a distance from the eyes. Their shape resembles a bud - they are brought back and hang to the back, while the front upper edge has a pronounced curvature to both the outer edge and inward.

The nose in animals of this breed is usually large and quite wide, usually it is as if recessed between the eyes of the dog. The color is pure black, it does not have any specks of brown, reddish or sandy tint. The nostrils have the same characteristics, they are usually open, a vertically located furrow is clearly visible between them.

The lips are thick, at the same time sagging and very deep, thanks to this the jaw is completely closed on the sides, this is not in front, only the teeth of the animal overlap here.

The neck of an English bulldog is of medium length, but very thick, muscular and strong. A slightly convex fold around the neck forms the so-called sub-breast, in other words, the second chin, it stretches from the lower jaw exactly to the chest. In accordance with the official breed standard, the length of the neck should be harmoniously combined with the dimensions of the dog as a whole and the size of the head in particular.

The body of the animal is lean and squat. The top line in the lower part is slightly deflated, then rises slightly to the lumbar region, becomes slightly higher than the withers, then smoothly rounds and goes down near the tail. Due to such a peculiar structure on the top line, the so-called “sail arch” is visible - this has become one of the distinguishing characteristics of the English bulldogs.

The back of the dog is short, but very powerful. The bulldogs are wide in the shoulders; in the region of the lower back, the back is narrowed. The chest of the "English" is wide and rather deep, slightly rounded and slightly convex on the sides. The dog’s belly is tight, not saggy. The tail has a low landing, near the base is usually straight. The hind and front legs of the bulldog are very powerful, large, covered with muscles.

The outer line is slightly curved, but at the same time the bones are straight, they do not have any curvature and bends. The forelimbs are slightly shorter than the hind limbs, but the back of the dog does not look longer than it actually is. Also, such a structure does not interfere with dogs in the manifestations of their physical activity.

The shoulders are also wide, the muscles are well developed. Moreover, they are inclined and even sloping, the elbows are low and slightly separated from the ribs, metacarpus straightened, shortened and rather massive. Both front and hind legs are distinguished by the outward extension characteristic of this breed, the difference between them is reduced only to the fact that the front ones are usually medium in size, fairly straight, and the hind legs are round and compact.

The gait of the English Bulldogs is considered another sign of their difference - these dogs move with quick, small steps at their fingertips. The hind legs during movement, the animal never raises high, because the "Englishman" is a little blinking.

The fur of English bulldogs is short, smooth and quite tightly attached to the body, the texture is delicate. Coloring is characterized by the saturation of the shade, purity and usually monotony. Suits can be very different, most often there are dogs of tiger-red, as well as white, deer and piebald colors. A small whitish spot on the sternum is allowed in monophonic and tiger dogs.

As a rule, the face is a little darker, because many say that the animal has a “muzzle”. Any deviations from the above adopted standards are considered a flaw, defect or even vice.The depth and severity of these deviations are judged by the degree of their impact on the daily activity and health of the animal.

Usually, representatives of English bulldogs perceive people with whom they live as their own "flock." This dog is able to sincerely empathize with everything that happens in the house, showing exceptional devotion and sensitivity to its owners.

This animal is considered an excellent companion for a person, it sincerely loves kids, realizing that they are an object of endless love of adults and tries to imitate them, showing the same kind feelings for children. You can fearlessly leave the dog with children of all ages - the bulldog will become a reliable nanny, a faithful playmate and protector for children. This is a funny, gambling, but rustic animal. These qualities make the dog a truly indispensable participant in children's entertainment.

The animal strives in every possible way to demonstrate its sympathy for the owners and expresses it in a very original way - joyfully jumping on people. It is advisable to wean a dog from this habit at an early age, otherwise over time, when the dog grows up and becomes quite weighty, he can injure household members by jumping on them at the most unexpected moment.

Representatives of this breed need constant communication and do not tolerate loneliness, if they are forced to stay in the house for a long time, this has the most negative effect on the character of the pet - the animal becomes obstinate and gloomy. By the way, stubbornness is one of the main characteristics of the English Bulldog.

Don't even try to force your pet to do something with force or rudeness, you can only negotiate with these dogs. It is this quality of respectable English Bulldogs that has made them the mascots of many sports clubs around the world.

English bulldog is its owner loves unconditionally, perceiving it absolutely by anyone: joyful or sad, lazy or peppy, diligent or not very, that is, as he is. Dog in any situation is ready to protect its owner in case of danger. English bulldogs, despite their formidable appearance and difficult genetics, have a very gentle, affectionate and good-natured character.

Wherein the dog is distinguished by balance, self-confidence, independence and exceptional independence.

It should be noted that English bulldogs are desperate couch potatoes. If representatives of many other breeds love to frolic and walk, then our “gentleman ”’s favorite pastime is to lie on the master’s couch and doze off, a dog can devote it all day. Long walks are completely not in his taste, because he prefers to fulfill all his needs near the house.

Please note - English bulldogs love to chew on a variety of things in the house. Most often, house slippers, legs of chairs, tables and beds are affected. Therefore, from a very early age you need to equip your dog with all the necessary chewing toys, otherwise the damage to your property will be quite noticeable.

Like any other breed, English bulldogs have their advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of these dogs include the following.

• Friendly character. For a century and a half, genetics put in a lot of effort to breed a calm dog that showed no signs of aggression. These animals are characterized by devotion and love of love, they with incredible patience withstand all the games and pranks of children.Animals are easy to train and love to lie for days on end. Of course, you should not expect ideal obedience from this dog, but you can always agree with her, and this is an undoubted advantage of the breed.
• Owner protection. Of course, this dog can not be attributed to ideal watchmen, but when strangers appear in the field of vision, it always analyzes the situation, and if it seems to her that her beloved is in danger, the bulldog will never be left behind. In this case, the animal is quite capable of emitting a formidable roar or even rushing at the offender.
• Unpretentiousness. This dog is completely unpretentious to the conditions of detention. A four-legged friend will feel great both in a large private house and in a small apartment. He does not need a lot of space, in addition, in the absence of owners, the dog is not inclined to bark, and this is especially valuable for residents of apartment buildings.
• Friendly attitude to other animals. If other pets live in the house, then the English bulldog will never begin to sort things out with them, although this dog will certainly strive for leadership, which is easily achieved.
• Low activity. The breed is optimal for people with a sedentary lifestyle. Only a quarter of an hour a day is enough for this dog to walk, the animal does not need physical exercises and exercises on a specially equipped site.
• Unpretentiousness in nutrition. English bulldogs are famous for their excellent appetite, while they are ready to eat almost everything that the owner will offer them. However, you should not abuse this quality. Representatives of this breed are predisposed to allergies, so the animal's diet should be full and balanced. It is very important in this situation not to overfeed the dog from your table and abandon experiments in the field of nutrition.
• Accuracy. There is an opinion that these animals have increased salivation or unwillingness to put their needs into the tray. But this is not so - in this matter everything depends solely on the nature of the individual and the characteristics of upbringing. Usually animals of this breed are exceptionally clean.
• Strong immunity. "English" are distinguished by good health, but care for the pet's immunity must be shown from the very first days. If a dog was raised in comfortable conditions, in accordance with the vaccination calendar, on a balanced diet and with proper skin and hair care, then it will grow strong, strong, without a tendency to all kinds of pathologies.

The disadvantages of the representatives of the English bulldogs include the following points.

• Tendency to colds. The fact is that the structural features of the cranium have a strong effect on the respiration of the animal. Often, English bulldogs have problems breathing through their nose and do it by mouth, which becomes a common cause of respiratory diseases.
• Flatulence. Our "English" sometimes show not gentlemanly behavior. Since they breathe mainly through the mouth, they swallow too much air, which most often causes flatulence. The smell that can stand out can be very noticeable, because breeders need to either come to terms or keep a quality air freshener nearby.
• Low thermoregulation. Everyone knows that the skin of dogs does not have sweat glands, so they are cooled with the help of a protruding tongue. However, due to physiological characteristics, English bulldogs are not able to regulate body temperature in this way. If you do not follow your four-legged friend, then in hot summer weather he can get a heat stroke and even die from overheating.
• Tendency to allergies. Frequent cases of allergic reactions in some bulldogs lead to the fact that these animals are not suitable for natural feeding, so you have to feed the dogs with special therapeutic hypoallergenic mixtures.Keep in mind that in this case, the animal should have 24-hour access to the drinker with clean water.
• Reproductive system problems. As we have already noted, the traditional delivery of these dogs often ends in tragedy, since the small pelvis of the animals leaves little room for the natural appearance of puppies. Usually they are born in veterinary clinics using cesarean section. If you have no intention of breeding, then girls are best sterilized.
• Life span. In English bulldogs it reaches 10-12 years, but in practice there are few dogs that have crossed the 8-year age limit. Most often, oncological and cardiovascular diseases become the causes of early mortality in pets, in addition, older dogs often suffer from pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, which often leads to lameness or even immobilization of the animal.
• Increased need for communication. These dogs to a much greater extent than some other breeds need constant communication with the owners. In this case, dogs urgently require frequent manifestations of love on the part of man. If bulldogs do not receive such contact, they develop mental degradation, depression and other mental disorders due to nerve problems.

Over the past century, English bulldogs have spread throughout the world, which inevitably led to the emergence of new varieties of bulldog dogs. The most active work on the breeding of new breeds of these dogs was carried out by French breeders, many experiments were conducted in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, as well as in South Africa.

In many states, it was even decided to create their own national variety of bulldogs, as a result of which the English bulldogs turned into French, American and Australian.

However, these animals have quite serious differences with the English representatives, since each breed was bred for very specific goals and objectives, respectively, they created their own standard of exterior and character traits. From crossing the English Bulldog with other breeds, new varieties of the dog appeared: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Pit Bull and many others.

When purchasing a dog of this breed, you must do the following.

• Arrange for her a separate place — it can be a dog’s sofa or a special soft couch. It is necessary to place it where households cannot touch it with their feet, moving from one room to another. It is undesirable to equip a pet's sleeping place near the battery and in areas where drafts often occur.
• To purchase everything necessary to maintain the normal life of the dog: feeders, drinking bowls, brush, toiletries, muzzle and other ammunition.
• Buy toys, because these cute pets love to chew on something, because in the absence of toys they will entertain themselves by spoiling housekeeping shoes, clothes and furniture.
• Take care of the optimal temperature in the room.

Let us dwell in more detail on the features of caring for an English bulldog. In some ways, it resembles the care of young children. But be sure that all the efforts expended will return to you in the form of endless devotion and love of the animal.

The coat of dogs of this breed does not require any special care: a couple of times a week you need to comb it with a special brush. Shedding of these dogs starts from about 8 months, during this period the procedure should be carried out daily, removing all dirt and dead hairs.

Particular attention should be paid to the folds on the face of the animal - It is important to maintain their cleanliness and hygiene. To do this, they are wiped, alternating wet and dry disks.

From the very first weeks of an animal's life, you should accustom it to brushing your teeth. To do this, use special brushes and pastes. From time to time it is necessary to offer the dog special bones that help to remove plaque. In no case should you forget about the area between the toes. If you do not pay proper attention to them, diaper rash and redness form there. The English Bulldog is a real aristocrat, but any conditions of detention are perfectly suitable for him. The only thing that matters to the “Englishman” is coziness and comfort.

Buying a pet is always a very responsible step, which you need to take seriously. The acquisition of an English bulldog is no exception. At the stage of choosing a puppy, it is important to clarify all aspects related to the health of the pet. It is important to find out how many such dogs live, what they need to be fed and how they should be kept so that the four-legged pet is cheerful and healthy. Very important place pet vaccination.

When deciding on the type of feeding the English bulldog, it is better to give preference to high-calorie easily digestible food - representatives of this breed of dogs have a tendency to obesity, so the diet should be balanced and complete. When buying a puppy, you must definitely ask the breeder what the pet was feeding earlier. In the first weeks after the purchase, you should adhere to the diet familiar to the young dog and only after a couple of weeks gradually transfer it to your feeding system.

For little puppies you need:

• low-fat dairy products: cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir or yogurt, up to 2 months of age, the consumption of raw milk in small doses is permissible;
• milk porridge without oil, sugar and salt;
• meat: beef or veal, it is allowed to include poultry in the diet, but due to its high allergenicity, chicken and turkey should be dosed;
• vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, zucchini and cauliflower in raw or boiled form.

Puppies at the age of 1.5-2 months are recommended to feed about 6 times a day in small portions. By six months, the number of feedings is gradually reduced so that it stops at around 3 times a day. Due to the physique of the English Bulldogs, cereals, as well as vegetables and unsweetened fruits, should prevail in the diet of young dogs.

After a year, the dog is transferred to an adult diet. During this period, at least 70% of the food offered should be lean meat, a couple of times a week it can be replaced with high-quality offal (liver, heart, jelly from chicken legs).

When feeding natural products to the dog, vitamins and minerals are required. Veterinarians recommend purchasing ready-made preparations in pharmacies that contain the necessary additives to the diet of the English Bulldog. Some breeders prefer to feed dogs dry food, however, in the case of English Bulldogs, this decision can not be called right.

The fact is that due to the physiological features of the structure of the jaws and the chewing apparatus, it is difficult for these pets to grab the feed pellets, so they simply swallow it,which has the most negative effect on the digestive processes in the dog’s body.

English bulldogs are easily trained, but it is better to practice it from a very young age, otherwise natural obstinacy makes dogs extremely intractable. Keep in mind that Only a strong person with a very firm and at the same time patient character can teach representatives of this breed the rules of behavior. Otherwise, you simply will not be able to cope with the "Englishman", who is unlikely to want to voluntarily overcome his laziness.

The upbringing process usually begins with training on a leash - it should be neither long nor short. Many inexperienced owners believe that the shorter the leash, the easier it will be to keep the dog near you, but this is a common misconception.

The optimal leash length is 2-2.5 m. Putting it on the dog, it is necessary to begin moving forward, giving the dog a command “next”. In this case, the bulldog should go on the left side, not lagging behind you and not running away. As soon as your pet learns to move correctly in a straight line, you can begin to study the turns and then to a full turn.

When you stop, you should teach the animal to sit down. To do this, they give him the command to "sit", accompanying her with a light push of a hand on the dog’s croup. Usually, a bulldog has enough lessons to understand: as soon as the owner gets up, you need to sit down immediately, even if the person does not pronounce the command. In addition, the course of education and training includes building blocks for studying aporting and prohibiting teams.

English bulldog boys are most often called: Ernie, Rudolph, Hardy, Casper, Adrian, Roquefort, Cliff, Norman, Olympus, Bim, Parker, Pike, Clyde, Diesel, Rudy, Justin, Manny, Alvin, Tyson, Zeus, Troy, Rex, Chester, Chuck, Tiberius, Onyx, Dante, Walt, Toby, Butler, Mac. Nicknames are suitable for girls: Lex, Chelsea, Sheila, Nick, Adele, Amber, Dana, Penny, Dean, Jesse, Richie, Molly, Chloe, Bella, Lucky, Zlata, Assol, Gloria and other noble and sonorous names.

Since the beginning of the last century, English bulldogs have been strongly associated with the image of good old England, a little prim and patriarchal. The inhabitants of foggy Albion themselves consider the dogs of this breed their unofficial symbol of the nation, along with the Scarlet Rose, the Robin bird and the Lion, personifying the English throne.

The similarity of the traits of the bulldogs with the traits of the classic English gentleman - calm, restraint, decisiveness in combination and incredible courage in self-confidence made popular the image of dogs on propaganda posters and patriotic pictures. By the way, it was in the form of a bulldog that they usually depicted one of the most famous British politicians - Winston Churchill.

For example, in the films about Sherlock Holmes, the English bulldog acted as a detective's pet. In the domestic film about the famous English detective, there were also bulldogs - in the film adaptation of the story “Treasures of Agra”, even a personal pet of the lead actor Vasily Livanov nicknamed Baul took part.

It was the dog of this breed that played a truly key role in J. London's White Fang. He became the only dog ​​who managed to defeat the main character. In detective novels K.Brand also became one of the characters in the English Bulldog, who helped his master to take an active part in the search for criminals. These dogs also acted as detectives in the book “Sisters of Lies” by K. L. Taylor.

A bulldog named Rvun takes the main place in the work of M. Rawlings “Peers,” June’s pet became the hero of one of the small works of the domestic writer I. Tsareva, dogs of this old breed were noted on the pages of Kern’s book “Ferdinand the Magnificent”, D. Steele “Second attempt ", As well as J. Grabowski" A fly with whims. " Leo Tolstoy also mentioned bulldogs - in the work “The Third Russian Book for Reading,” readers get acquainted with the charming Bulldog Bulka.

Over the past decades, the image of these animals has firmly entered the mass culture. Sports teams, computer games, and music bands began to be named after them. English bulldogs are used in the name of some types of weapons, the names of certain brands and brands.

A significant role was given to the bulldogs by painters. Especially many works were dedicated to them at the end of the 17th century. So, the picture of G. Clowes “Portrait of a Bulldog of Pain in a Landscape” gained great fame.

Bulldogs have always been an inspiration for pop singers, for example, the legendary Beatles even included Hey Bulldog on their Yellow Submarine album, and one of America’s most popular punk bands is even called Bulldogs. These animals often become cartoon characters. It was they who appeared before the audience in “The Life of this guy”, “Styles”, the films “Trezor” and “Mr. Magu”.

According to the reviews of the owners, English bulldogs are exceptionally smart, intelligent dogs, however, they need constant and continuous development of their abilities. These are very stubborn and at the same time extremely phlegmatic pets who require a little patience, attention and delicate perseverance from their owners.

The appearance of these unusual dogs often makes the owners "flinch" and "give slack." This can’t be done, because the animal instantly feels it and immediately “sits on the neck” of its owner, beginning to manipulate it. That is why it is so important. constantly show who is the head of the house, however, this must be done tactfully and delicately.

This breed is very popular, but many owners do not take into account the nature and temperament of animals when buying. Meanwhile, the voice of the ancestors makes itself felt. The result of such thoughtless breeding was a sharp increase in the number of aggressive representatives of the breed. Especially often this happens in unknown nurseries, therefore When buying an English bulldog puppy, you must make sure the seller is reliable and talk to the dog personally.

No matter what the breed characteristics are in general, Each animal always has its own characteristics. The cost of puppies depends on their class. So, pet-class dogs that will become beloved pets, loyal friends and reliable companions, but at the same time will not be able to participate in competitions and be used for further breeding, are estimated at 10-20 thousand rubles (2019). For this price, a dog usually does not have a pedigree.

If you need a pet of a show class, then you need to be ready to part with a much larger amount - from 30 to 60 thousand rubles (2019). It must be said that the times when the English bulldogs were considered dangerous fighting dogs have passed.

About the features of the breed, see the next video.