The English Bulldog is a wide, medium-sized, compact dog with short
legs. The body and head are massive with extra skin on both the skull
and forehead falling in folds. The cheeks extend to the sides of the
eyes. The muzzle is wide, short and pug with a broad, deep stop. The
black nose is broad with large nostrils. The dark eyes are deep set. The
rose ears are small, thin and set high on the head. The jaws are
massive, very broad, and square with hanging upper lips. The teeth
should have an under bite. The tail is either straight or screwed and
carried low. The short, flat coat is straight, smooth and glossy. Coat
colors include red brindle and other shades of brindle, solid white,
solid red, fawn, fallow, piebald, pale yellow or washed-out red or white
or a combination of these colors.
Despite its "sourmug," the bulldog is jovial, comical and amiable,
among the most docile and mellow of dogs. It is willing to please,
although it retains a stubborn streak. It is very good with children.
Most are moderately friendly toward strangers. Although some can be
aggressive with strange dogs, the breed is quite good with other pets. |
| The English Bulldog (or simply ‘Bulldog’) was bred in England in
the 1500’s for bull baiting, a popular gambling ‘sport’ in which one or
more dogs were matched up against a chained bull (or bear). These dogs
were bred for sheer fighting capacity, and they were famed for latching
onto their prey with an iron jaw which they refused to release—they
could even suffocate opponents this way. English Bulldogs fell in
popularity when bull baiting was outlawed in the 1830’s, but a committed
group of devotees kept the breed alive and selected away any trace of
ferocity. Easily recognizable by their distinctive and adorable
‘sourmug’, English Bulldogs serve as the mascots of dozens of sports
teams, most famously Georgetown University. Other famous English
Bulldogs include Handsome Dan, the Yale mascot, and Tyson, the
skateboarding Bulldog of internet fame. English Bulldogs are
simultaneously a symbol of British tenacity and an immensely popular
American pet. |
