Pictures of Dog Breeds: Bulldog

Pictures of Dog Breeds: Bulldog - Kind but courageous, friendly but dignified, the Bulldog is a thick-set, low-slung, well-muscled bruiser whose “sourmug” face is the universal symbol of courage and tenacity. These docile, loyal companions adapt well to town or country.




About the Bulldog
You can’t mistake a Bulldog for any other breed. The loose skin of the head, furrowed brow, pushed-in nose, small ears, undershot jaw with hanging chops on either side, and the distinctive rolling gait all practically scream “I’m a Bulldog!”



The coat, seen in a variety of colors and patterns, is short, smooth, and glossy. Bulldogs can weigh up to 50 pounds, but that won’t stop them from curling up in your lap, or at least trying to. But don’t mistake their easygoing ways for laziness—Bulldogs enjoy brisk walks and need regular moderate exercise, along with a careful diet, to stay trim. Summer afternoons are best spent in an air-conditioned room as a Bulldog’s short snout can cause labored breathing in hot and humid weather.



National Breed Clubs and Rescue
Want to connect with other people who love the same breed as much as you do? We have plenty of opportunities to get involved in your local community, thanks to AKC Breed Clubs located in every state, and more than 450 AKC Rescue Network groups across the country.



The Bulldog (English Bulldog/British Bulldog) is believed to have evolved from the Molossian dog first brought to Britain by Phoenician traders in the 6th century BC. The breed was exploited in the sport of bull baiting, a practice that existed from Roman times.



Though the Bulldog may appear to be oddly made, each point of its structure was bred into the breed to aid or protect it while attempting to overcome a bull. When bull baiting was outlawed early in the 19th century, the future looked bleak for the Bulldog until a handful of breeders set to preserving this breed that had become a symbol of British courage and tenacity. When The Kennel Club (England) was organised in 1873, the Bulldog was among the first of the breeds to be recognised.


The Bulldog was first classified as such in the 1630s though there is earlier mention of similar types referred to as bandogs, a term reserved today for a type of fighting dog.





The Bulldog also fought its way through the dog pits but after 1835 began to evolve into the shorter faced, more squat version we now know. It entered the show ring in 1860 and the ensuing years saw a big personality change.




A delightfully ugly dog with a pugilistic expression, which belies a loving, affectionate nature to family and friends. One of the oldest indigenous breeds, known as the national dog of Great Britain, and associated throughout the world with British determination and the legendary John Bull.







Bulldog (English Bulldog)
Temperament: For a dog that once faced bulls, the Bulldog is calm and dignified with a steady, even disposition. He is resolute and courageous but not vicious or aggressive. Conveys impression of determination, strength and activity. Alert, bold, loyal, dependable, courageous, fierce in appearance, but possessed of affectionate nature.




General Appearance: Smooth-coated, fairly thick set, rather low in stature, broad, powerful and compact. Head fairly large in proportion to size, but no point so much in excess of others as to destroy the general symmetry, or make the dog appear deformed, or interfere with its powers of motion. Face relatively short, muzzle broad, blunt and inclined slightly upwards, although not excessively so.



Dogs showing respiratory distress highly undesirable. Body fairly short, well knit, limbs stout, well muscled and in hard condition with no tendency towards obesity. Hindquarters high and strong. Bitches not so grand or well-developed as dogs.