The English Bulldog: Fighting Dog to Companion Dog
Jun 04
The English Bulldog has a long history with humans. The first known references are from 1500 A.D. with an original spelling of “Bondogge” or “Bolddogge.” The modern name of “bulldog” was applied after it became popular to use these dogs for bull baiting. After the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835 ended bull baiting in England, the English Bulldog was cross bred with Pugs, which led to the shorter, wider appearance that we see today. Selective breeding has also reduced the ferocity of the breed that had been necessary as a fighting animal.
Today, English Bulldogs are considered excellent family pets as they are gentle and loving with children and adoring of people, in general. English Bulldogs are in the Mastiff family. English Bulldog puppies for sale in Ohio and Pennsylvania can be brindle, white, red, fawn, fallow, or piebald. Most are white and another color, you can discover more here. English Bulldogs have distinctive short, stocky (actually quite broad) shoulders, and large heads with wrinkled faces. They commonly have an under bite, as well. Another distinctive feature is that there is a particular wrinkle that crosses over the top of the nose, often referred to as a “rope.” These folds of skin are often quite pronounced and require regular cleaning to avoid infections. English Bulldogs stand between 12-16 inches and have an adult weight of 45 to 55 pounds, with those bred in the United States tending towards the lower weight scale.
Despite their strong, muscular build and fierce faces, English Bulldog puppies for sale in Ohio and Pennsylvania will grow up to be gentle, loving, and affectionate. While they are not prone to excessive barking, they will bark when they feel it is necessary and make good watchdogs. Due to their appearance and reputation for being stubborn or “bull-headed” they are great for scaring off intruders.
English Bulldog puppies for sale in Pennsylvania and Ohio make great pets for small houses and apartments, as they need very little exercise. Even when they have access to a large yard, they are often just as happy lying next to their owner or in a lap instead of chasing a ball. This low energy does mean that an owner needs to take care that the puppy doesn’t over eat, as their low exercise will not burn off the calories, making them prone to being overweight. They also do better indoors as they do not tolerate heat well because of their short faces (causing less effective panting) and do not tolerate the cold well either because of their thin, short coats of hair. However, their lack of long, thick hair also means that they require less frequent grooming.
