FYI:
| HOW TO CHOSE THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOU
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BULLDOG HEALTH
English Bulldogs have unique health needs. Bulldogs are wonderful pets and companions who can live happy healthy lives well into the double digits. Quality bulldogs that are properly cared for do not tend to have as many health problems as those that are poorly bred or cared for. It is very expensive to breed a quality bulldog. Bulldog bitches need to be bred by AI or implantation and mostly deliver by cesarean section. The pups need human care for the first few days until the bitch has healed enough to care for them herself. Proper vaccination, deworming, diet, grooming are necessary and a clean, safe habitat is essential for healthy dogs. They also need daily attention and exercise. Bulldogs are very social dogs, requiring human contact and interaction. They form strong bonds with their humans and are very loyal. As bulldogs age they tend to exercise less, but a healthy dog always requires some exercise. Bulldogs are very sensitive to extremes of temperature. Never leave your bullie outside in cold or hot weather, they are not meant as outdoor dogs. Bulldogs cannot
swim and should be carefully supervised around water. Kiddie pools are
fun for them, but lakes, ponds, pools and other deep water can be
deadly. If you take your bulldog around water be sure to use a well
fitted life jacket on your pal.
WHAT IS A QUALITY BULLDOG? A champion dog is one that has won enough points in the show ring to earn a Champion title. This is based purely on the individual dog and not on it's ancestor's titles, as these are not seen in the show ring. A champion dog has shown to be a good representative of the breed standard, and has been awarded as such. This being said, a quality dog is not necessarily a champion. If the dog has not been shown, for whatever reason, it may still be a good representative of the breed standard. A quality English Bulldog, then, is a dog that meets the breed standard well with minimal variances and is in good health and without genetic defect. Not all registered dogs are quality dogs. Registration is purely a way to prove parentage, not a guarantee of quality or health. The AKC breed standard | BULLDOG STANDARD  Overview of standard (click on links above for the specifics from the AKC and BCA)
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THE COLOR DEBATE
Contrary to popular belief, the AKC recognizes 20 different colors in English Bulldogs. Although the most common colors are fawn, fawn and white, brindle, brindle and white, red, red and white, red brindle, red brindle and white, white. Although rare, gray brindle is also recognized as a standard color. I have read many websites where people have erroneously stated that any other color is not rare but is actually inferior and thus has been bred out. While it is true that some colors have not been as popular in the show ring, this does mean that they are inferior any more than a person with brunette hair is inferior to a person with blonde hair. There are many high quality dogs, that meet AKC breed standards beautifully that are alternative colors. As a matter of fact, brindle itself is considered alternative! High quality dogs can be found in all colors. When I put rare, it means that these colors are not as common. Are they worth more? I suppose that depends on the demand for them. If more people are realizing the silliness involved with the color debate and desiring unusual colors, whether for show or pets, then maybe. If not, it may just be a marketing ploy by breeders. In my days as a Realtor in MA, my broker once told us that value is comparative. Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. So, if a gray bulldog is desired, and someone has one for a high price, and the buyer is willing to pay that price, then it is worth what the seller is asking for it. There is no sense knocking down other breeders for having something someone wants.
That being said, let's look at color genetics. The DNA creating black coat color in dogs carries an extra gene that is also involved in cortisol production. Cortisol is produced when the body responds to stress and regulates blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and insulin release. It also helps set off inflammatory and immunity responses. Cortisol over-production is linked to high blood pressure, decreased immunity, glucose imbalance, decreased bone density, and weight gain. Not all black or brindle dogs have these conditions, but they do carry the gene responsible. (Poltorak, K. (2007, Dec) Showing Their True Colors: Dog Coat Gene Does Double Duty. Facts on File News Service, http://www.2facts.com/articles/s1500171)
Okay, so if dogs that carry the black gene are more prone to these conditions it would make sense that they have traditionally been seen as inferior. Keep in mind, however, that brindle dogs carry the gene responsible for these conditions as well, and red brindle is a highly prized show ring color. Personally, I feel that if the dog is of good health, conformation and temperament, and has a history of such within it's family, then I am not prejudiced against it due to its color. Make your own judgments based on your desires and preferences.
Colors of English Bulldogs
Standard
- brindle & white: medium tone brown with black "tiger stripes" with white markings
- fawn: can be anything from a light cream to a medium brown, light ones are aka champagne or fallow
- fawn & white: fawn with white markings
- fawn brindle & white: light tone brindle with white markings (rare)
- gray brindle: light to dark gray or blue toned brindle (rare)
- red: red to mahogany color
- red & white: red with white markings
- red brindle: red tone brindle
- red brindle & white: red brindle with white markings
- white
- black (rare)
- black & fawn: black with fawn points (rare)
- black & white: black with white markings (rare)
- black, fawn & white: black with fawn points and white markings aka black tri-color (rare)
- black, red & white: black with red points and white markings aka black tri-color (rare)
- brindle: medium tone brown brindle
- bronze: a deep chocolaty brown aka chocolate (rare)
- fawn & brindle: fawn with brindle points (rare)
- gray: aka blue, may be solid or roan (rare)
- gray & white: gray with white markings aka blue (rare)
BULLDOG HISTORY
In the long ago times of our ancestors, in the 1200s AD, bull and bear-baiting were popular sports. England banned these sports in the 1800s. Bulldogs were bred for this purpose. Winners were bred to winners to create features that would ensure success in the arena. Low, outward shoulders were desirable to protect the dog from horns and allow it to creep along the ground. Well muscled forequarters aided the dog in attaching to the bull while finer hindquarters allowed the dog to endure tossing and shaking without injury. The angled jaw allowed the dog to reach up and attach to the neck or nose of the bull and hold on while still being able to breath. Facial wrinkles furrowed the bull's blood away from the dog's eyes and the loose jowls blocked the bull's airways. No matter how injured, if it was told to re-attack by its master, it would give it's best. This loyalty remains strong today, yet the fierceness and urge to fight has been bred out of the bulldog's we know today.
Some regard the beginnings of the bulldog as crossed between the Pug and Mastiff, however this is uncorroborated.
Some regard the Alaunt, a large mouthed muscular dog used by butchers to keep oxen stalled, as the ancestors of the bulldog.
All
agree that these dogs baited and fought bulls. At one time, when these
dogs were used for baiting bulls, fighting them was not their only
use. It was believed that baited bulls produced a tastier, healthier
meat.
Most of the original breeding of bulldogs was done in London, Birmingham or Sheffield, England.
In 1800 the Cynographia Brittanica gave a physical description of the bulldog.
In 1864 the first bulldog club was formed by breed lovers who didn't want the breed to die out with it's uses all but gone. The bulldog then became a companion dog rather than a fighting dog.
In 1875 the original Bulldog Club was formed, predating the UK Kennel Club. They formed a breed standard still in use today.
The first bulldog recorded in stud books was Adam, owned by Jacob Lamphier. Other foundation dogs are: Berrie's Rose, Crib, Lampier's Meg, Rusts Miss Smiff, and Becketts Kit.
In1860, in Lowell, MA, H. D. Kendall founded the Bulldog Club of America.
Famous Bulldogs
Mr Graves Handsome Dan was the first mascot for Yale University... Chesty is the U.S. Marine Corps mascot... Uga V is the University of Georgia mascot... Mr. Beefy in the movie Little Nicky... Spike from Tom & Jerry... Tyson of Lords of Dogtown and Undiscovered (the famous skateboarding dog)... Meaty from MTVs Rob & Big (also the model for Dick van Patten dog food)... Today many famous bulldogs exist in cartoon, cinema, as mascots and the show ring.
Celebrity Bulldog Owners (link: houndbound.com for pics)
- Adam Sandler: Babu, Meatball, Matzo Ball
- Howard Stern's wife Beth Ostrosky: Bianca (Beth dove into a pool to save Bianca from drowning and Bianca served as bridesmaid in their wedding)
- Pink: Elvis (sadly Elvis drowned)
- Ozzy Osborn: Lola
- Ashley Simpson: Rigby
- Brad Pitt
- Michael Phelps: Herman
- Jessica Biel
- Daisy Fuentes
- Ron White: Tater
- Hugh Jackman: JJ
- John Legend: Puddy
- Gloria Estefan
- Kim Clijsters
- Fred Durst
