Bulldog

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Bulldog, which is also known colloquially as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog, is a medium-size breed of dog that originated in England.

[edit] Appearance

The bulldog is a stocky breed, with a compact body and short, sturdy limbs. Its shape results in a peculiarly unique gait. Bulldogs are known for their short muzzles and the saggy skin on their faces, creating the apparent "frown" that has become a trademark of the breed. Bulldogs come in a variety of colours and ideally have a smooth, short coat. In the US, the size for a mature male is about 50 pounds; that for mature females is about 40 pounds. In the United Kingdom, the breed standard is 55 pounds for a male and 50 pounds for a female.

[edit] Temperament and characteristics

The temperament of the Bulldog is generally docile, friendly and gregarious but are known to be fiercely loyal. Breeders have worked to breed aggression out of the breed, and as such the dog is known to be of generally good temperament. Bulldogs can be so attached to home and family that they will not venture out of the yard without a human companion. Due to their friendly nature bulldogs are known for getting along well with children, other breeds of dog and any house-broken pet in general.

A bulldog is suitable for houses as well as apartments due to their size and comparative lack of energy, but puppies may be destructive until they reach maturity.

[edit] Health

The bulldog is prone to some health issues but no more so than most other pure breed dogs. Breathing issues can be prevalent in the breed due to the shape of the lower jaw and the shortness of muzzle - bulldogs are known to snore. In the United Kingdom, some dogs can be prone to interstitial cysts, that is cysts which form between the toes. These cause the dog some discomfort, but however they are treatable either by vet or an experienced owner. Other problems can include cherry eye, certain allergies and amongst older bulldogs, hip issues.

Because of the large heads in proportion to body size, puppies are frequently delivered by Caesarean section as they can get stuck in the birth canal during natural birth, however it is not uncommon for a bulldog bitch to whelp naturally and successfully.

Bulldogs require daily cleaning of their face folds to avoid unwanted infections caused by moisture accumulation. Daily teeth brushing with a regular human soft toothbrush using a vet approved toothpaste is also recommended.

Like all dogs, Bulldogs require daily exercise. If not properly exercised the bulldog could gain weight, which could cause health problems relating to the lungs and heart. Bulldogs are extremely sensitive to heat and great care should be given to the dog during overly warm periods. During these times, ensure the dog has plenty of shade, water and should be ideally kept out of standing heat.

As the breed has developed, the tail in some dogs can be tight to the body and can cause infection if not treated or cleaned underneath regularly.

[edit] History

The term "bulldog" was first used around 1568^[1] and might have been applied to various ancestors of modern bulldog breeds.

The oldest single breed specialty club is The Bulldog Club (England), which was formed in 1875. Members of this club met frequently at the Blue Post pub on Oxford Street in London. There they wrote the first standard of perfection for the breed. In 1891 the two top bulldogs, Orry and Dockleaf, competed in a contest to see which dog could walk the farthest. 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 was more fit to perform, the modern version’s looks won over the fans of the breed because they proved they were equally as fit and athletic in the walking competition.

Recently, many people have tried to recreate a breed more akin to the original bullbaiter. Examples of the trend are the Olde Englishe Bulldogge, Renascence Bulldog, Victorian, Continental and Dorset Old Tyme Bulldog. The AKC does not recognize any of these newly "recreated" breeds of dogs.

[edit] Popular mascot

Main article: List of Bulldog mascots

Because of its tenacity, the bulldog is a symbol of the United Kingdom and is a popular mascot of American universities, such as University of Georgia, Alabama A&M University, Mississippi State University, Louisiana Tech University, Fresno State University, Drake University, Ferris State University, The Citadel, Yale University, Butler University, University of Minnesota Duluth, Georgetown University, Truman State University, North Carolina A&T State University, South Carolina State University, Bryant University, Gonzaga University, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Canton McKinley High School(Ohio), and Queen Creek High School (an Arizona high school).

It is commonly accepted that Handsome Dan, the Bulldog mascot for Yale University, is the oldest-running traditional live mascot in the United States, since some incarnation of Handsome Dan has served at Yale for more than a century.

In addition, a bulldog, named Chesty, is widely recognized as a symbol of the United States Marine Corps.

[edit] Notable bulldogs

Some bulldogs and bulldog characters are notable for their accomplishments or cultural cachet.

• Hector the Bulldog, Spike the Bulldog, Butch the Bulldog and Marc Antony are animated cartoon characters in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes Merrie Melodies and Disney series of cartoons. Spike is also the name of Tom's nemesis in the MGM theatrical cartoon series Tom and Jerry. In this series, Spike was often accompanied by a puppy, his son Tyke.
• Butch is Droopy Dog's nemesis in the theatrical Droopy Dog cartoons.
• A bulldog named Cyril is the titular character in Connie Willis' Victorian time-travel comedy, To Say Nothing of the Dog.
• A bulldog named Regi starred in the feature film About a Dog, along with dog expert Ian Dickinson. Regi played a dog named Sprinkles, and two dog-mad rivals fought over Sprinkles' love.
• Dribble in Wario Ware
• Tech XIX is Louisiana Tech University's mascot.
• Uga V, a former University of Georgia mascot, was the first live college mascot to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine ( April 28, 1997 ) and he was also named College Mascot of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine. Uga V also earned a co-starring role in the feature film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, directed by Clint Eastwood. Uga V also gained notoriety in the media when during a football game on November 16, 1996 he lunged at an Auburn University receiver ( Robert Baker, #21 ) in an apparent attempt to bite the rival player and bring him down. Uga V, March 6, 1990 to November 22, 1999, was buried in Sanford Stadium with the epitaph "Defender of his Turf."
• The K-Dog - a loud-mouthed, vicious little animal whose middle name is punishment
• Meaty from the MTV show Rob and Big
• Jack the Bulldog is Georgetown University's tenacious mascot.
• Handsome Dan, a bulldog, is the athletics mascot at Yale University.
• Winston, the English commander's pup on a beach (Sword?) at Normandy in "The Longest Day"
• Tyson, the famous skateboarding bulldog. He also made a cameo appearance on Rob and Big.
• Eric Byrnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks owns a bulldog named Bruin (as Byrnes is a UCLA alum). The bulldog accompanied Byrnes in McCovey Cove during the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco's AT&T Park.
• Matilda, who was the mascot of the British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) in the World Wrestling Federation
• Winston, who Davey Boy Smith often brought to the ring during part of his singles career in the World Wrestling Federation.
• Meatball and Matzohball, of Adam Sandler
• "Mr. Beefy" from Little Nicky
• Boomer from Scrubs, Dr. Kelso's new dog after the death of Baxter.
• Sluggo, who is owned by Ron White and is referred to in some of his comedy routines.
• also, Pete Wentz has a bulldog Hemingway