Bulldog Lovers Corner

Descended from the English Bulldog, the American Bulldog was nearly extinct after World War II. Thanks to the efforts of John D. Summerville, this breed has returned from the edge of extinction and flourished in America. This working dog has been described as fiercely loyal, an excellent hunter, and wonderful family pet. In fact, some American Bulldogs are known for their extraordinary acts of bravery and courage when defending their masters.

There are two types of American Bulldog: Classic (also known as Johnson or Bully) and Standard (also known as Scott or Performance); however, many of today's American Bulldogs tend to be a combination of both. Standards tend to be shorter and stockier, causing them to sometimes be mistaken for their cousin the Pit Bull, but otherwise Classic and Standard American Bulldogs look similar to one another. American Bulldogs are primarily white though some may have patches of brindle or red. Their coats are short and wiry, feeling bristly and rough to the touch. American Bulldogs require relatively little maintenance thanks to this short coat, and only need the occasional bath and regular brushing with a stiff bristle brush. Their strong jaws give their heads a boxy and strong-looking appearance.

Male American Bulldogs will reach an average height of 22 to 27 inches and average weight of 75 to 125 pounds. Females will reach average heights of 20 to 25 inches and weights of 60 to 100 pounds. American Bulldogs will live, on average, 16 years. English Bulldogs were bred as working dogs that helped herd cattle and the American Bulldog retains some of these characteristics, particularly the strong jaw and equally strong personality. Though American Bulldogs are known as fierce protectors of their properties and masters (making them excellent guard and watch dogs), they are very gentle and good with both children and other family pets.

However, an American Bulldog is sometimes unaware of its own strength and for this reason, children should always be closely supervised when playing with this breed. In general, American Bulldogs can be difficult to train, as they are stubborn, but once consistently trained, will obey. American Bulldogs are suited for apartment life, as they tend to be relatively inactive indoors. However, they should be exercised at least once a day. Some American Bulldogs are prone to hip displaysia, but otherwise, are a healthy breed of dog.

There is a website that has great information on America

There is a website that has great information on American Bulldogs and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Descended from ancient Asian Mastiffs, the English Bulldog was developed in Great Britain by crossing the bulldog descendants of the Mastiffs with Pugs. The result is a small dog that is wide and compact with a large head that has an intimidating look with a lot of folds in the skin. English Bulldogs will average only 12 to 16 inches in height but weigh anywhere from 49 to 55 pounds. They only live an average of 8 years. The English Bulldog has a short and smooth coat that needs minimal grooming and are considered average shedders. Baths are only given when necessary.

English Bulldogs are mostly brindle or red and it tends to be a uniform color, but there are also coats of liver, tan, black and white. English Bulldogs have a short muzzle and the lower jaw extends past the upper jaw. Because of this jaw structure, English Bulldogs have a tight grip when clamping down on anything. English Bulldogs make good watchdogs, alerting its family to an approaching stranger by growling and barking, but will not attack. They make good family pets and enjoy being in the company of humans as well as other animals. They are generally gentle with children but can be dominating at times. For this reason, obedience training is a must, as well as an owner who is not afraid to act as the alpha of the pack, as English Bulldogs can be stubborn and difficult to train.

Younger English Bulldogs tend to be full of energy while older ones tend to slow down. It is important to exercise an English Bulldog at least once a day to discourage obesity - sometimes a difficult feat since some English Bulldogs are content to not move at all (though almost all English Bulldogs are relatively inactive indoors). This choice of inactivity also makes it important to not overfeed an English Bulldog. Whatever their preferred activity level,

English Bulldogs will do well in apartment living. Most English Bulldogs tend to drool, slobber and snore. This is due to their small windpipes, which also makes them prone to breathing problems. English Bulldogs do not handle heat well at all and are susceptible to heat stroke. They are also sensitive to cold, so English Bulldogs are best in temperate climates. English Bulldogs also are prone to flatulence, hip and knee problems and skin infections. There is a website that has great information on English Bulldogs and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more,

the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

A Bulldog is much more than a pair of sad eyes and droopy jaws, but this dog's appearance is a major reason for its popularity. The other reason these dogs are so popular is that they have a sweet and gentle nature.

Suppressing our knowledge on dog breed is not our intention here. In fact, we mean to let everyone know more about dog breed after reading this!

This breed was originally created to help butchers slaughter bulls. Some people used the tenacious nature of the Bulldog to turn their dogs into bull baiters. When this ugly sport was outlawed, people that loved the breed began breeding only the sweetest dogs. Today, these dogs are sociable, friendly animals.

The Bulldog is a medium sized dog, but is still very powerful. These dogs weigh 40 to 50 pounds and stand 12 to 16 inches high. A Bulldog has a squat body, a flat forehead, and large jaws. This breed has dark, gentle eyes. Some Bulldogs have corkscrew tails, but they can also have straight tails.

The American Kennel Club classifies this breed as a member of the Non-Sporting Group. These odd looking dogs have one purpose, to be devoted companions. Luckily, they are well suited to their role.

We were actually wondering how to get about to writing about dog breed. However once we started writing, the words just seemed to flow continuously!

Bulldogs are the ideal pets for apartment owners. They are very low energy and do not need to spend a lot of time exercising. Of course, they still enjoy taking a leisurely evening walk with their owners.

Of course, like any breed, the Bulldog does have a few flaws. When you live with a Bulldog, you may feel as though you are living in a frat house, since this breed will snore, drool, and pass gas frequently. Sometimes, one of these normally sweet natured dogs will bully other dogs, especially if there is food involved.

Despite their size, Bulldogs can be quite powerful. Because of this, it will be much easier for you to start training your dog as a puppy. Luckily, these dogs are eager to please their owners, although they are not always quick learners. In fact, some Bulldogs cannot understand even the simplest commands until they are six months old.

A Bulldog has a bit of a reputation as a chow hound. This breed likes to eat. However, you will need to be sure that you do not let your Bulldog overeat, since obesity can lead to serious health problems. Other health problems these charmers face are allergies, hip dysplasia, eye pro

eye problems, and breathing problems.

Perhaps you may not have been interested in this passage on dog breed. In that case, please don't spread this feedback around!

Bulldog owners need to be especially careful to keep their dogs out of the sun. These dogs can overheat easily, which can prove fatal. Also, since this breed is prone to breathing problems, Bulldogs should never be walked using a choke collar. A harness will help you prevent their already small tracheas from being damaged. With their short coats, Bulldogs need very little grooming. However, the wrinkles on their face require careful cleaning. If you do not keep your Bulldog's wrinkles clean, he could develop skin infections, not to mention a nasty odor.

If you want a loving family pet and can overlook the fact that your little guy is a bit odoriferous, then a Bulldog may just be the right breed for you.

About the Author
If you are looking for more information on dog breeds visit Ralph and Liz's web site on dog breed information.

Buffy is now two years old. He has turned out to be a great friend and companion. All of our family love him greatly. Buffy loves to play all types of games. Some of his games include tug of war, playing football (soccer) with rocks, playing fetch, playing hide and seek, wrestling with his pals, going for car rides and long walks.

Being a white bulldog, Buffy's skin is a bit sensitive so we have to keep an eye on him so that he does not go too red. We often give him predmisone for this. Sometimes he gets an upset stomach because he will eat just about anything. I often say that he has a wider selection than a hyena. We have to keep an eye on that also.

With most dogs he is OK but some dogs he cannot stand and no amount of correction, will make him see the light. Our neighbours dog, chico, went for him while he was still a pup and that started a feud that has lasted till this day. As a consequense of this we cannot release him onto the communal lawn on his own. He is always on the leash. I often wonder if this would have been different had we castrated him.

Also when he was a pup he had a spot of ear infection which caused one of his ears to droop. The infection cleared quickly with prompt intervention but we have not been able to get his ear to stand since then. So poor old Buffy has one ear up and one down. This gives him a very characteristic look all of his own.

Look out for his picture which will be posted soon.