Appearance:

Smooth-coated, thick-set, rather low in stature, broad, powerful and compact. Head massive, fairly large in proportion to size but no point so much in excess of others as to destroy the general symmetry, or make the dog appear deformed, or interfere with its powers of motion. Face short, muzzle broad, blunt and inclined upwards. Dogs showing respiratory distress highly undesirable. Body short, well knit, limbs stout, well muscled and in hard condition, with no tendency towards obesity. Hindquarters high and strong but somewhat lighter in comparison with heavy foreparts. Bitches not so grand or well developed as dogs.

Link to AKC Breed Standards

Temperament:

Contrary to classic cartoon parodies and nicknames of the breed, such as 'Sour-Puss,' that depicted the bulldog as ferocious and wearing a spiked dog collar, the bulldog is not a vicious dog breed and gets along well with humans, including children, and usually other dog breeds. The reputation of being ferocious was true during the days of bull baiting, but the aggressive tendencies were bred out of them by the time of the Second World War. Bulldogs are very friendly and playful, while also being stubborn and protective. These lovable canines will be your friend for life if you gain their trust. Be careful around kids though, bulldogs tend to want to show people who's boss. A bulldog is great for houses as well as apartments, due to the little exercise they require, especially as adults. Nonetheless, puppies may be destructive until reaching maturity. In apartments Bulldogs are well adapted they cause no harm and protect the owner risking their lives. They are notorious for snoring and their drool.

Physical Eccentricities

The Bulldog is beset by a bevy of health issues that need to be remembered when breeding or buying a puppy. Elbow and patellar dysphasia are not uncommon and all breeding dogs should be screened for these two diseases. Hip dysphasia can occur but it is difficult to screen for and score accurately in Bulldogs due to their unique anatomy. Due to the massive head and relatively narrow hips the Bulldog usually delivers by caesarian section. Another breeding problem plaguing Bulldog breeders is the male dog frequent inability to mate. As a result, many litters are conceived via artificial insemination. Mange is a further problem that seems to attack Bulldogs. Also worth mentioning is the fact that Bulldogs are not tolerant of heat.

Nutrition

Nutrition plays an important part in the development of a puppy into adulthood. Care must be taken to be sure that your Bulldogs are fed proper nutrition to meet their developmental needs at the various stages of their lives. Nutrition encompasses the proper diet combined with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that will help dogs fulfill their life span. Bulldogs are generally a healthy breed, with much dependant upon the breeder from whom they came. A good start will usually give you years of fun and love. A Bulldog should see a vet for shots and checkups regularly. You should also consider spaying or neutering your pet. Nutrition encompasses the proper diet combined with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that will help dogs fulfill their life span. Bulldogs are generally a healthy breed, with much dependant upon the breeder from whom they came. A good start will usually give you years of fun and love.

Breeding

PheniX Bulldogs has an entire section on the WEB about breeding. This is some general information that may give you some idea of breeding bulldogs. English Bulldogs Breeding is not a good choice for the average family pet owner. Breeding is very difficult and expensive with the english bulldog. It's best left to those who have devoted a lifetime to the breed and know what to do and how to do it. Breeding will not improve the health or happiness of a dog and in some cases breeding is fatal. Caesarian deliveries are needed. Life Expectancy The average life for a Bulldog is around 10 or so although there are many who live years beyond that.

Veterinarian

Since not all veterinarians are knowledgeable about the health problems Bulldogs may have, find a veterinarian who knows and likes Bulldogs. This is one of the reasons it is a good idea to join a local Bulldog Club. The members can usually refer you to a veterinarian who is familiar with Bulldogs and who likes them. Some veterinarians don't like Bulldogs, and no matter how good a veterinarian is, he's not right for your Bulldog. Any veterinarian who will be doing surgery on your Bulldog should have previous experience with putting Bulldogs under anesthesia. This is of great importance, some will kill Bulldogs.

Environments & Home

Heat Sensitivity Bulldogs are extremely intolerant of heat. Good ventilation and air conditioning are essential with this breed. Wire crates are best for air circulation. Your Bulldog must be kept in an air-conditioned area with limited trips outside when the outside temperature is over 80 degrees or the humidity is high. Close supervision is required during outside activity, especially in spring and summer to prevent over-exertion leading to over-heating. They also are not usually capable of prolonged physical activity whether the temperature is very warm or cold: a Bulldog is not for someone who enjoys taking a dog for long walks through the countryside. Bulldogs can't swim well at all and extreme caution should be taken when a Bulldog is around water to avoid drowning. Although they should be kept out of deep pools, a few inches of water in a kids pool outside is a welcome site to most Bulldogs.

Maintenance

Bulldog Wrinkles The English Bulldog's face is covered with wrinkles. This is a trademark that requires daily care to keep him comfortable and healthy. Mild soap will work for cleaning out between the wrinkles. Get a damp wash cloth with soap and clean well around and under the wrinkles making sure not to get any in his eyes. You should dry the area well and apply gold bond (or similar) powder to the area. If it is irritated you may want to consider using Desitin cream. It may be required for you to clean the wrinkles up to 2x daily if needed depending on how dirty or irritated they may be. Cleaning the Tail Area It is very much a part of bulldog hygiene. When cleaning the tail area or tail pocket make sure to use a soft cloth and get in there real good to clean it, you should get out lots of hairs and keep this area clean and powdered as well. A bulldog tail may be tightly screwed against his back side and can be a real problem if not taken care of and cleaned daily. A severely infected tail is painful and may need to be removed in some cases, so it is important to keep this area cleaned well. Tear Stains There are a few products on the market that are made for cleaning tear stains. You can use these products, but take care in using it near his eyes. You can also check with your vet for additional suggestions. You should also keep the area around your dogs eyes wiped off and cleaned, to keep any debris from getting into his eyes and irritating them. Dry Nose If his nose is dry a light coat of vaseline will help soften it and protect it from cracking.