BULLDOG

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Average height: 12-16 inches
Average weight: dogs - 50 pounds; bitches - 40 pounds

Appearance

The bulldog is heavy, thickset with a low-swung body, wide shoulders and sturdy limbs. The topline is distinctive, the spine rising above the loin. His massive short-faced head has massive jaws, the lower jaw  projecting considerably in front of the upper jaw and turning up. The head and face are covered with heavy wrinkles and there are loose folds at the throat. The gait of the bulldog is a loose-jointed, shuffling, sidewise motion giving the characteristic “roll”. His short coat of various colors is straight, flat, close, smooth and glossy.

Characteristics

The bulldog is calm and kind. He is resolute and courageous but not vicious or aggressive, he loves children. The Bulldog’s calm temperament makes him an ideal candidate to work as a therapy dog.

Origins and History

The Bulldog is believed to have evolved from the Molossian dog, first taken to England by Phoenician traders in the 6th century BC. The name “Bull” was used because of the breed’s use in the cruel sport of bull-baiting. The sport necessitated an extremely savage dog to compete with the ferocious bull, but the Bulldog has come a very long way since them, both its temperament and appearance having been modified considerably. Bull-baiting become illegal in England in 1835 and was eventually eliminated, so the breed’s usefulness was past.