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Bulldog |
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Description... |
 The
Bulldog is medium in size with a smooth coat. The body of the
Bulldog is heavy, thick-set and low swung. The short faced head,
wide shoulders and very sturdy limbs make this breed of dog
visibly distinct. The appearance of the Bulldog suggests vigour,
stability and strength. The Bulldog usually displays courageous
but not vicious demeanour.
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History...
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Originated in England as a bull fighter and is
often (mistakenly) called the English Bulldog. There is no such
thing as an English Bulldog. They are simply called Bulldogs. When
their bull fighting days ended, fanciers of the breed worked to
breed out the ferociousness that had made them tenacious bull
fighters. Now, they are considered a courageous but not vicious
breed.
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Traits...
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Go for slow walks in cool weather, or stay inside
on very hot days and enjoy the air conditioner. The Bulldog is
also commonly used in advertising, watch for it on commercials or
your favourite program.
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Good aspects...
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 Bulldogs
have a low exercise requirement. No trimming or clipping required
with this short-haired breed. The Bulldog has a peaceful demeanour
and does not bark, but still makes an excellent watchdog. Bulldogs
are good with other pets, but sometimes aggressive with strange
dogs. Sensitive and responds to obedience training that does not
include hitting or jerking. High memory capacity. They are good
with children and a good choice for the novice owner.
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Health...
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Elbow dysplasia and cherry eye (also known as
"haw"), are common in bulldogs. Surgery may be required to fix
these. Mange (skin mites) and skin allergies are also common. The
extremely short tail of the bulldog can predispose some of them to
have spinal cord disorders near the tail end of the spinal cord. A
few will have urinary or faecal incontinence.
Those who breed bulldogs find that most bulldogs must
deliver by Caesarean section, since the large round heads of the puppies
will no longer pass through the mother's birth canal.
Overheating is a serious health problem with Bulldogs.
Go for slow walks in cool weather to exercise your Bulldog. Keep this
breed inside on very hot days, preferably with an air conditioner.
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Be aware...
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The Bulldog sheds frequently and is a short-lived
dog. They are one of the most expensive dogs to buy, partially due
to their popularity. They are susceptible to certain respiratory
problems because of the flattened face, and often snore very
loudly.
Bull dogs are hard to breed, and often must be bred
using artificial insemination (AI). Puppies often must be delivered by
Caesarean section.
This breed can be hard to train at times.
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Summary...
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Good with children, and a great dog for the novice
owner.
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source: petcare information centre-
petcare.umn.edu
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