English Bulldog

Quick Take

• The English Bulldog looks like a fighter but behaves like something completely unexpected, and that surprising contrast reveals a lot about what actually makes them tricky to own. Explore their true temperament →
• A short, smooth coat sounds low-maintenance, yet English Bulldog grooming has one daily requirement most new owners aren't prepared for. See the daily wrinkle care →
• Walking your English Bulldog on a warm day seems harmless, but there's a temperature threshold where it becomes genuinely dangerous for the breed. Check the heat safety threshold →
• English Bulldogs need surprisingly little exercise, though skipping one specific type of early training can turn that easygoing nature into a real problem. See why early training matters →

The English Bulldog is full of love and cuddles for the entire family, but don’t expect much more out of them. Although this dog breed was created to participate in a spectator sport called “bull-baiting,” they now have a much tamer role — the family favorite. They seem quite aggressive from their physical appearance, but they’d be happy to simply lie around and love their family. English Bulldogs are a low-energy breed and often tire after short periods of activity, with many needing a break after about 15 minutes of moderate exercise. Even though they are rather close to the American bulldog, the English bulldog can be distinguished from the American bulldog by two main differences: agility and size.

The English bulldog is simply a working-dog-turned-lapdog at its finest.

3 Pros and Cons of Ownership

Here are a few facts that may help you decide if a purebred English bulldog is the right pet for you.

Size and Weight

English bulldogs range between 12 and 16 inches tall for both males and females. However, their weight is slightly different. Males tend to weigh more at 53 to 55 lbs. when they are fully grown. Females, on the other hand, are 49 to 51 lbs. An English bulldog puppy is nearly 75% of its adult height by the time it is just six months old.

Common Health Issues

For the most part, breeders focus on creating the healthiest puppies possible, though dogs adopted from a rescue may not have the same health guarantees. Due to their history of genetic diseases, the English bulldog can be hard to take care of without the right medical care. For instance, mothers with the Demodex mite can pass it down to their puppies, causing demodectic mange.

When adopting from a breeder, check for health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Eye Registry Foundation. These clearances aren’t provided to any dog under two years old because some of the issues they face will take that long to arise.

The eyes of an English bulldog have many possible complications. Cherry eye — or a protrusion in the corner of the eye — is the most common, but the gland that causes it can be removed. If the dog’s tear production is inhibited, they may also suffer from dry eyes. Entropion, which causes the eyelashes to turn towards and rub against the eye, is also common, requiring surgery to fix.

Because of their short head, long soft palate, and narrow nostrils, English bulldogs commonly suffer from brachycephalic syndrome, which can obstruct the airway. Their build also puts them at risk for hip dysplasia and patellar luxation.

Temperament and Behavior

The temperament of the English bulldog is rather gentle, despite their intimidating physical features. With their affectionate nature, these pets are a great fit for families, especially considering how they use their physical appearance to their advantage to protect their family. They are persistent, and they aggressively defend their family from intruders.

This dog breed thrives on attention from their humans, and they have quite a dominating personality. This can lead the dog to assert dominance over its family, which is a behavior that needs to be trained out. The only way to prevent this issue is through early training that establishes the owner as the dominant one in the house. Without this assurance, dogs will start to guard furniture, toys, and food as their own, becoming aggressive with anyone who comes near them.

One of the most well-known traits of these bulldogs is their tendency to snore. They also have messy eating habits and tend to drool and slobber. They also tend to become lazier as they get older, so this messiness may worsen.

Care

There are many considerations that you need to make to keep your English bulldog healthy. Their activity level, breeding, and age all play a role in the type of care you provide, even while your bulldog is still a puppy.

Food and Diet

The English bulldog is a stocky animal, requiring a diet that offers between 1.5 and two cups of high-quality dog food a day. To manage their intake, separate this total amount into two smaller meals. Still, this amount is simply a guideline — their metabolism, size, age, and amount of activity will play a role in the diet they require. Dogs that use more energy will need more food than lazier pups. Since this dog breed is at risk of obesity, don’t leave food out for them to graze on throughout the day.

Puppies have about the same routine in their diet, though you should seek out a dog food meant for puppies.

Maintenance and Grooming

With a smooth and glossy coat, you should need to brush them only once a week, using a firm bristle brush that can remove the excess fur that they shed. They don’t shed much, but brushing an extra time or two during the week will reduce this issue significantly.

Another notable feature in their identification is their wrinkled body. Despite minimal brushing, cleaning inside the wrinkles daily is crucial, including drying completely afterward. Using a wipe with lanolin and aloe vera can make this task much easier. They’ll also need to have their nose washed, moisturizing it with petroleum jelly to prevent dryness.

If you can’t brush your dog’s teeth every day, make sure to brush their teeth at least three times a week.

Training

You must establish yourself as a pack leader for your dog as soon as possible. Without proper socialization and training, English Bulldogs may develop behavioral issues, including aggression toward other animals or humans. They take a little time to learn commands, but it is worth the effort. Have a little patience and make sure to socialize them with other animals and humans to prevent conflict.

Exercise

Although many dogs require a lot of physical activity to keep them from becoming restless, that is not true of the English bulldog. It would much rather remain inactive indoors, relaxing the day away indoors. Even just 15 minutes of activity is sometimes enough to exhaust it for its frequent naps. Since it doesn’t require much area for play, this dog breed is ideal for families in smaller living spaces like apartments. Even if you just take it on a walk around the block, it will be perfectly content.

Don’t take your dog outside for a long walk when weather conditions are uncomfortable. The heat is not its friend, and even half an hour of walking in temperatures of 85°F or higher can be potentially fatal for this breed. The English Bulldog is generally unable to swim well due to its body structure, including a broad chest, short legs, and brachycephalic (short-nosed) head, so it should always be supervised near water.

Puppies

Make sure to start grooming these puppies at an early age to get them used to brushing teeth, wiping wrinkles, and other tasks. A puppy cannot leave its family until it is eight weeks old, but it is never too soon to socialize them. To ensure a positive adoption experience, look for a puppy that is outgoing but not rough with littermates.

Children

Part of the reason that English bulldogs are so popular is that they love children and are quite gentle with them. Although every breed should be supervised with young kids, their maternal instincts make them patient with young children. Socialization plays a major role in how comfortable the dog is with a child, but they will be wary of any stranger.

Similar Dogs

If the English bulldog doesn’t have the temperament or size that you want from your pet, there are always other options. Some of the alternatives you might consider include the Staffordshire bull terrier, the American pit bull terrier, or the American bulldog.

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier: The Staffordshire bull terrier — also known as a Staffie — is incredibly intelligent and loves children.
• American Pit Bull Terrier: The American Pit Bull Terrier is very loving and social. Although it is a bit bigger than the English bulldog, it is very gentle.
• American Bulldog: The American Bulldog has much greater speed and girth than the English Bulldog.

Famous

English bulldogs have easily found their way into the hearts of celebrities as their own pets and as companions on-screen. Adam Sandler, Olivia Wilde, Brad Pitt, Joe Jonas, and Ozzy Osbourne have all adopted English bulldogs for their families.

The presence of an English bulldog is so welcomed that they’ve been featured in many movies and television shows. They’ve made appearances in Van Wilder as Colossus, Sherlock Holmes as Gladstone, Mannequin as Rambo, and The Game Plan as Spike.