English Bulldog
English Bulldogs are lively, loyal and affectionate.
About the English Bulldog
They give an impression of determination, strength and activity, with a lively, bold, loyal and courageous personality. Despite their somewhat severe appearance, the English Bulldog is very affectionate with those it is close to.
In addition to some distinctive characteristics, English Bulldogs really distinguish themselves with their especially heavy and constrained gait. They seem to take short, quick steps on the tips of their feet, without their back feet even seeming to rise off the ground.
Source: key facts and characteristics sourced from Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
Breed specifics
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Group
- FCI Group 2, AKC Non-Sporting Group
- Size category
- Medium
- Avg life expectancy
- 8–12 years
Loving / Determined / Lively / Alert / Confident / Loyal
Key facts
A English Bulldog's life story
Find out more about the determined English Bulldog in each stage of their life.Up to 12 months
English Bulldog puppy
English Bulldog puppies are loving, alert and confident, with a naturally affectionate nature, making them lovable family dogs. Care must be taken in their first year to set ground rules and fully socialise an English Bulldog puppy so they can grow into well-rounded dogs.
Training
Due to their stubborn nature, it can take a lot of time and patience to train an English Bulldog puppy, but with frequent, consistent lessons they will learn and become more obedient.
Training of this breed must start as early as possible, at an age when your English Bulldog puppy naturally has an excellent capacity for learning. Ensuring your dog is well socialised and understands the basic rules of life from a young age will significantly impact their wellbeing as an adult.
From 12 months
English Bulldog adult
Adult English Bulldogs are smooth-coated, thickset and rather low in stature, with a powerful and compact appearance. This breed tends to be incredibly gentle with children of all ages, and loves to spend as much time as they can around their owners.
Exercise
Even as adults, English Bulldogs have a relatively low exercise requirement, content with short, regular walks.
Having said this, it's important that English Bulldogs are given enough exercise to keep them healthy, and avoid putting on any excess weight through overeating and low mobility.
English Bulldogs are prone to overheating due to their small nasal cavities so it’s important to moderate their activity in hot weather.
English Bulldog health and ageing
English Bulldogs are considered to be ageing dogs when they reach ten years old. With age, your English Bulldog may experience some hearing loss and vision impairment.
This is common in older dogs but will impact their lifestyle and how much they are able to do. You may also notice reduced motivation to exercise, often due to stiffer joints, so it is important to make sure your ageing dog is kept comfortable to ease any joint pains.
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