| Bulldog | |||||||||||||||
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| Other names | English Bulldog, British Bulldog | ||||||||||||||
| Origin | England[1] | ||||||||||||||
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| Notes | National animal of United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||
| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||
The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is a medium-sized, muscular dog of around 40–55 lb (18–25 kg). They have large heads with thick folds of skin around the face and shoulders and a relatively flat face with a protruding lower jaw. The breed has significant health issues as a consequence of breeding for its distinctive appearance, including brachycephaly, hip dysplasia, heat sensitivity, and skin infections. Due to concerns about their quality of life, breeding Bulldogs is illegal in Norway and the Netherlands.
The modern Bulldog was bred as a companion dog from the Old English Bulldog, a now-extinct breed used for bull-baiting, when the sport was outlawed in England under the Cruelty to Animals Act. The Bulldog Club (in England) was formed in 1878, and the Bulldog Club of America was formed in 1890. While often used as a symbol of ferocity and courage, modern Bulldogs are generally friendly, amiable dogs. Bulldogs are now commonly kept as pets; in 2013, the Bulldog was the 12th most frequently registered breed worldwide.[2]
- ^ Wilcox, Charlotte (1999). The Bulldog. Capstone Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-7368-0004-4.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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