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The Bulldog, colloquially known as the British Bulldog or English Bulldog, is a medium-size breed of dog that originated in England. Its shape results in an unusual gait (dog), often called a "rolling gait". Bulldogs are known for their short muzzles and the saggy skin on their faces, creating the apparent "frown" that has become a trademark of the breed. Bulldogs come in a variety of colours and ideally have a smooth, short coat. The only disqualifier for the breed in the show ring is a liver colored nose, although black-coated bulldogs are not preferred. In the US, the size of a typical mature male is about 50 pounds; that for mature females is about 40 pounds. In the United Kingdom, the breed standard is 55 pounds for a male and 50 pounds for a female.
Appearance: The Bulldog is a relatively small but
stocky breed, with a compact body and short, sturdy limbs.
Their shape results in a waddle-like gait. Bulldogs are known
for their short muzzles and the saggy skin on their faces,
creating the apparent "frown" that has become a
trademark of the breed. Bulldogs come in a variety of colours
and ideally have a smooth, short coat.
The size for mature dogs is about 50 pounds (23 kg); for
mature bitches about 40 pounds (18 kg). Though stout, the
adult Bulldog measures only about 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) tall
at the shoulder.
Temperament: Contrary to classic cartoon parodies
and nicknames of the breed, such as 'Sour-Puss', that depicted
the bulldog as ferocious and wearing a spiked dog collar, the
bulldog is not a vicious dog breed and gets along well with
humans, including children, and sometimes other dog breeds.
The reputation of being ferocious was true during the days of
bullbaiting, but the aggressive tendencies were bred out of
them by the time of the Second World War. Bulldogs are very
friendly and playful, whilst also being stubborn and
protective.
Health: Bulldogs tend to have breathing problems as
their flat face restricts air; because of this they should be
closely monitored in hot weather as they can suffer heat
stroke easier than breeds with long noses. In addition, many
bulldogs also suffer breathing difficulties as a result of
their palate which can all too easily collapse into their
airway.
The collapsed palate can be fixed easily with surgery, but
if left untreated, it can yield trademark breathing and
snoring difficulties characteristic of the breed. They also
have problems swimming and can drown if left unattended near a
pool. Other common health problems include cherry eye,
allergies, and (among older bulldogs) hip problems and
cataracts. Because of the large heads in proportion to body
size, baby bulldogs are usually delivered by Caesarean section
as most pups get stuck in the birth canal during natural
birth.
History: The term "bulldog" was first used
around 1500 and might have been applied to various ancestors
of modern bulldog breeds. In the 1600s, bulldogs were used for
bullbaiting, a wagering sport popular in the 17th century in
which trained bulldogs leapt at a bull lashed to a post,
latched onto its snout and attempted to suffocate it. The
practice of bullbaiting was banned in England in 1835.
After bullbaiting was banned, the breed began to die out
(known as the Old English Bulldog) until fans turned to
conformation dog shows. The first show to have a class for
bulldogs was in Birmingham. Just a few years later, in 1864, a
club was organized to enhance the breed. Unfortunately, this
group never picked a specific breed standard, and in 1891 the
two top bulldogs, King Orry and Dockleaf, were greatly
different in appearance.
King Orry was reminiscent of the original bulldogs --
lighter boned and very athletic. Dockleaf was smaller and
heavier set -- more like modern bulldogs. Dockleaf was
declared the winner that year. Although some argued that the
older version of the bulldog (known as the Old English
Bulldog) was more fit to perform, the modern version’s looks
won over the fans of the breed.
Recently, many people have tried to recreate a breed more
akin to the original bullbaiter. Examples of the trend are the
Olde Englishe Bulldogge, Renaissance bulldog, Victorian,
Continental and Dorset Old Thyme bulldog.
Bulldogs in the Arts:
Mr. Beefy from Little Nicky
Hector the Bulldog, and Spike the Bulldog are animated
cartoon characters in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and
Merrie Melodies series of cartoons.
Marc Antony, an animated cartoon character in the Warner
Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons.
Spike, Tom's nemesis in the theatrical cartoon series
Tom and Jerry Sometimes Spike had a puppy, his son Tyke.
No mother bulldog was ever shown.
Francis from Oliver & Company
Bandit from Jonny Quest
Carface from All Dogs Go to Heaven
Angus from the 1997 Mr. Magoo movie
Ripper and many others belonging to Marjorie Dursley in
Harry Potter.
Frog from the TV series "MacGyver"
Butch, Droopy's nemesis in the theatrical cartoon series
"Droopy"(MGM)cartoons.
Max, from Jake and the Fatman
Robert in Everybody Loves Raymond brings a stray bulldog
in as a pet in Episode 19 ("The Dog").
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