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, characteristics which
have helped make the breed one of the unofficial symbols of
the United Kingdom.
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. 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[1] and might have been applied to various ancestors
of modern bulldog breeds. In the 1600s[2], 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
the 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.
