These stocky pups with their fierce expressions, jowly faces and noticeable underbite are instantly recognisable and becoming more and more popular for New Zealand families. While they may appear a little ‘grumpy’, they’re really loveable marshmallows.
Bulldogs are incredibly popular as a companion dog due to their loyalty and easy-going nature and are a great breed for people who don’t want to exercise their dog much (read more below!)
These charismatic couch potatoes are a breed bound to bring a smile to your face when you spot one on the street. They are just at home in a small apartment as they are in the family home.
English Bulldog Facts
They may be small and stocky, but Bulldogs can weigh up to 23 kilograms, which doesn’t prevent them from wanting to snuggle up on your lap.
- Breed Group: Non-Sporting
- Height: Female: 25-38 cm, Male: 25-38 cm
- Weight: Female: 18 kg, Male: 23 kg
- Life Span: 8 years
- Coat: Short, smooth and glossy
- Colour: Red, fawn, fallow, white and any combination of these colours, with or without markings like brindle and piebald
What Does an English Bulldog Look Like?
You’d be unlikely to confuse a Bulldog with any other breed; they are instantly recognisable thanks to their jowls, loose folds and their stocky, compact bodies. But they have many other unique features too. A Bulldog’s head should be big and look like it’s attached to the shoulders, giving the appearance that it doesn’t have a neck. They also have a flat forehead and a short, almost pushed-in muzzle with deep, broad chops and an underbite. Bulldogs also have unique ears, known as rose ears as they are slightly folded at their tips.
English Bulldogs are also known for their low-slung, stocky bodies, short, powerful legs and their wide chest. Bulldogs skin is soft and loose - creating adorable rolls especially along the head, neck and shoulders. Their coat is short, smooth and glossy, and it can come in many colours and markings including white English Bulldogs, red, fawn (a light brown), and fallow (a blondish colour) or any combination of these colours. Officially recognised Bulldogs can have a black mask or black tips and they can be brindled, piebald, ticked or have white markings.
English Bulldog
Bulldog Temperament: Charismatic Couch Potatoes
Known for their pleasant temperament, English Bulldogs are friendly with nearly everyone they meet, including children and other pets (however they can be a little less friendly with unknown dogs).
Bulldogs are intelligent breeds and prone to entertaining their owners; some will even figure out what amuses you and do more of it just to make you smile!
English Bulldogs are not an excessively vocal breed so barking is rarely a problem; you’re much more likely to be woken up by their snoring! Bulldogs have short, brachycephalic snouts so they not only snore, they can overheat very easily. This makes English Bulldogs a great choice for people who don’t want to exercise their dog much, and especially not in warm weather.
Usually happy with short walks, English Bulldogs tire out fairly quickly during play. They need to live in an air-conditioned home and shouldn’t spend a lot of time outdoors when it’s warm, anything hotter than a pleasant spring day can be too hot for an English Bulldog. This is important to note for those living in the warmer parts of New Zealand.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for a sociable canine companion who will enjoy hanging out on the couch with you, an English Bulldog could be a great choice!
Keeping English Bulldogs Healthy: 5 Issues to Watch Out For
Unfortunately, the English Bulldog is prone to several serious health problems which sadly means their lifespan can be much shorter than other breeds. We recommend only purchasing pups from registered English Bulldog breeders who willingly provide you with the results of genetic and other types of testing that they have run on your potential dog and their parents. If you choose to adopt, be sure to get as much of the dog’s medical history as the organisation is able to provide.
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome:
All English Bulldogs have a degree of brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS), which is characterised by a combination of the following anatomic abnormalities:
- Narrow nasal openings
- Narrow windpipe
- Long soft palate
- Outpouching of tissue into the larynx
The typical symptoms of BOAS include noisy breathing, working harder than normal to breathe, difficulty exercising, a tendency to overheat and gagging. In severe cases, dogs may collapse due to low blood oxygen levels.
Skin Problems:
English Bulldog skin problems are also frequent ailments, and are often a result of allergies. The most common signs of allergies in dogs are general itchiness and recurrent ear and skin infections. Another common English Bulldog skin problem to watch out for is skin fold dermatitis. As cute as all those wrinkles around a Bulldog’s face and body are, they can also be a breeding grounds for bacteria. Unless you keep them clean and dry, infections can occur.
Eye Problems:
English Bulldog eye problems are also quite common, including dry eye (poor tear production), fur or lashes that rub on the eye, abnormal retinal development and cherry eye. Cherry eye is the result of a tear gland moving out of place and visible at the inner corner of the eye. Cherry eye can usually be corrected with a simple surgical procedure, but it’s important to note that, like other brachycephalic breeds, anaesthesia can be risky for English Bulldogs.
Orthopaedic Problems:
English Bulldogs are at relatively high risk for many types of orthopaedic problems, including hip and elbow dysplasia, forms of joint degeneration that lead to arthritis. Patellar luxation (a kneecap that slips out of its normal groove) is quite common as well. Dogs with mild patellar luxation may just hold up the affected leg for a stride or two, but severe cases require surgery to allow the dog to walk without pain.
Heart Problems:
Heart problems also plague English Bulldogs with many conditions present at birth including aortic stenosis, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot and ventricular septal defects. Others like mitral valve disease or heart base tumors tend to occur later in life.
There are many other health issues that affect English Bulldogs many of which can occur with frequency. These include congenital deafness, hypothyroidism, bladder stones, gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat), spinal malformations, seizures, amongst other conditions.
Caring for Your English Bulldog Dog
English Bulldog care includes the basic attention that all dogs must receive, but there are some specific things potential pet parents should keep in mind when it comes to caring for this unique breed.
Grooming:
Are English Bulldogs hypoallergenic? No, but no dog breed is truly hypoallergenic. To care for their coats, English Bulldogs should be brushed a few times a week and bathed approximately monthly to keep them clean. English Bulldog shedding isn’t excessive, although you can expect to see a bit of their short hair littered around the house.
Skin folds may need to be cleaned a few times a week using wipes.
Brush their teeth daily to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath. Buy good quality dental toys and some healthy dental treats to aid in their dental health.
Nutrition:
English Bulldogs are prone to obesity, in part because they can’t tolerate strenuous exercise due to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. A high-quality diet that is not too calorie-rich often is appropriate. Products designed to help prevent or manage weight gain, like Royal Canin Medium Light Weight Care can be good options.
Because this breed can suffer from excess gas production, some pet parents elect to feed a diet formulated for sensitive tummies, like Royal Canin Medium Digestive Care. You also might consider breaking up your English Bulldog’s food into three or more meals to help reduce gassiness.
Breed specific foods that combine many of these attributes are available for adults, such as Royal Canin Bulldog Adult Dry Dog Food, and for puppies, like Royal Canin Bulldog Puppy Dry Dog Food. The best food for English Bulldogs depends on many factors, so it’s a good idea to discuss your options with the Pet Direct Customer Care Team. If you are concerned with your Bulldogs weight talk to your Vet. They can can help you determine how many calories to feed based on your dog’s current body weight, activity level and other factors for a well rounded and complete English Bulldog diet.
Exercise:
Most English Bulldogs benefit from regular, but not very strenuous, exercise. Lead walking when it is not too hot is ideal, but watch your dog closely for breathing problems and/or overheating during any type of exercise. Unless closely supervised, swimming isn’t a great activity for English Bulldogs because their bulky front end makes swimming much more difficult. Invest in a good quality harness and lead.
Training Your Bulldog
English Bulldog training can focus on basic skills such as sit, down and coming when called, but given their size and strength, it’s also important to teach these dogs to walk politely on lead. A good harness, can help prevent excessive pulling while your English Bulldog is learning how to walk on leash.
English Bulldogs are smart, thoughtful and strong enough to resist force, which has given them a reputation for being stubborn. If you try to make your English Bulldog do something, you may not get very far. English Bulldogs respond very well to positive reinforcement training, though, so make sure they get something good in exchange for doing the correct behaviour. Once they figure out that they can “make” you give them the good stuff, they’ll be much more interested in doing what you want. For best results, keep English Bulldog training sessions short (especially at first). Use high quality tasty treats, to help keep your English Bulldog’s attention throughout the training session.
While Bulldogs look distinctive, it’s that English Bulldog personality that makes them such a popular pet. If you’re looking for a laid-back, kind, courageous sidekick who’s just as happy lying next to you as they are walking by your side, you can’t go wrong with an English Bulldog.