Pet Profiles: English Bulldogs
Posted on Oct 16, 2012 4:10pm PDT
English Bulldogs are compact dogs with short legs and wide bodies. They have large heads with extra skin on the skull and forehead which falls in folds too give them a wrinkled appearance. These dogs have short muzzles with wide, black noses. English Bulldogs are short-haired canines that have a characteristic under bite. They also have a curly tail or a straight, short one. A healthy English Bulldog weighs about 49-55 pounds. These dogs are known for being very gentle, and are sweet with children. Still, they function well as a guard dog because they have an ability to sense intruders and are willing to attack. They can be very persistent and love to be with their families at all times. They can be combative with dogs that they don’t know, and should be carefully monitored when around other animals. While the bulldogs are playful as puppies, they normally grow up to be lazy and lackadaisical. Bulldogs don’t typically like to exercise, and probably won’t keep up with their owners if they try to take them for a run.
English Bulldogs have the innate instinct to guard things. They may choose a piece of furniture, toy, or treat to guard from others who pass by. If you have a bulldog you should try to correct this possessive behavior right away to avoid running into dangerous situations later on when your dog will nip at those who try to take his or her toys. Because these dogs have a compact head, they are prone to breathing problems. As a general assumption, bulldogs snore when they sleep. They have small windpipes which makes it difficult for them to get a deep breath of fresh air. These dogs are also prone to poor eyesight as they age, and are one of the breeds most at risk to heat stroke in the summer. You should never leave your bulldog in a hot room or car because these dogs may be overcome by the temperature and faint.
These pups are also sensitive to extremely cold temperatures. The best way to keep your English Bulldog comfortable is to keep him or her in a moderate temperature room whenever possible. Don’t leave the dog in a garage or a room without any temperature regulation. As well, bulldogs may obtain mast cell tumors. These are tumors that originate in the bone marrow and can be malignant or benign. A pet may have to undergo surgery to remove the tumor, because it may release high levels of histamines into the body. These pups can also obtain hip and knew problems as they age. Because they have short hair, they are more prone to skin infections. Some English Bulldog lines are prone to birth defects, so you will want to carefully research what line your pup is from before you put a payment on one of these dogs from a breeder.
To care for your bulldog, you should take him or her out on a daily walk. Dogs that are not given adequate exercise will get bored and antsy. You should also groom your dog’s short coat regularly with a firm brush to get rid of any dander. These dogs are also exceptionally messy. You may need to tote a cloth around to wipe up the slobber that these pets tend to leave when they chew on a toy. An average English Bulldog will live 8 years long. If you have more questions about your English Bulldog or are concerned about a health issue, make sure that you have an excellent veterinarian on call to help. Contact a local vet on this directory today to set up a checkup appointment or put your dog in the system so that if an emergency arises you will know who to call.