The breed of the English Bulldog is a popular one and makes for an ideal family dog. Nevertheless, some information about this lovely four-legged friend is necessary if you're considering buying an English Bulldog.
As an owner of an English Bulldog you have no regulations in regards to their keeping to worry about. Its past as a "fighting dog" does not burden your life together with this four-legged friend.
This dog can have a mind of its own. With patience you this hurdle can be overcome though. If you give your English Bulldog a lot of love and trust, it is easy to train. Clear rules make living together easier. The favourite place of this furry friend is the sofa. Nevertheless, it is easy to motivate them to go for walks. This is important because otherwise they will quickly become overweight.
This relaxed and friendly dog is an ideal playmate for children. They will always act careful around them. There are no biting incidents known about this breed. When they see a threat to their family though, they might turn up the heat for a bit. For example, they might shoot towards the garden gate to bark at an "intruder" in a deep tone. The English Bulldog does not become aggressive in any way though and will turn away after a short time.
What is the origin of the English Bulldog?
This ancient dog breed has long been known as "English Bulldog". The ancestors of this British breed were bred and used as fighting dogs by the Celts. They had to fight for their lives already in ancient Rome. At that time animal fighting was carried out for the amusement of the people. The field of application for the English Bulldog was fighting with bulls.
In the 16th and 17th century this "entertainment" breed was also popular in England. From their activity as "bull biters" the name of this dog breed developed. Queen Elizabeth I was a great advocate of this dog breed. In 1835, this "sport" was finally banned in Great Britain.
The number of dogs of this breed decreased rapidly. In 1864 and 1875 breeding clubs were founded, which established a breed standard and shifted the focus of the breeding goal. The purpose of the English Bulldog's life changed. In the beginning, they were popular as companion dogs of the English gentleman. Later, the use as a family dog came along.
This British dog breed has been recognised by the FCI. The Standard No. 149 is documented in Group 2, Section 2.1.