English bulldogs were first breed in England as a working dog breed. They herded cattle and guarded flocks. Later English bull dogs were breed to bull bait, but this practice was outlawed in 19th century in most places in England. The modern English Bull dog is not very athletic and even has a disdain for exercise.

English bulldogs today are smaller in stature and have a thick and large skull. The skin on the skull and head falls into folds thus giving the English bulldog its unique look.  English bulldogs have short muzzles and short legs that give the English bulldog a unique gait.  It is a very compact breed and is suitable for apartment dwelling.

The temperament of the English bulldog is one of gentleness and passivity. They are not a breed athletic and make the ideal indoor dog. English bulldogs do make good watch dogs as they are very loyal to their families and will chase away an intruder that tries to enter the owner’s home. 

English bulldogs do not tolerate temperature extremes well at all and should mostly live inside. They will tolerate an urban apartment lifestyle without complaining. They can as a breed tend to develop weight problems. Bulldogs should be exercised daily going on walks even if they resist you taking them. English Bulldogs are definitely not outdoor dogs; in warm climates or during summer heat. They are more susceptible to heat stroke than other breeds of dogs that are the same size.

The coat of the English bulldog is easy to groom. Their fur is short and fine and they can be easily brushed or combed out. The wrinkles or flood of the breed’s skin need to be cleaned regularly of the debris from the house or yard that may have gotten stuck in the fold’s of the English bulldog’s skin. The down side of this breed is that the English bulldog drools and tends to also snore very loudly.

The term bulldog was applied to this breed around 1568 because the breed resembled a bull a bit and was used for bull baiting. The breed was bred to be less sensitive to pain. The dog was also breed to be fearless as in bull baiting the dog had to be brave enough to leap at the bull and latch on to the bull’s snout. The English bulldog was used for bear baiting as well. 

In 1835 bull baiting was outlawed in England. The purpose for the breed no longer existed so the number of English bulldogs bred started to seriously decline. Bulldog fanciers decided to preserve the breed and took what was left from original English bulldog lines and cross bred them with a pugs. This cross breeding led to the modern English bulldog’s laid back temperament and stout appearance.

Taking an English bulldog out for an afternoon stroll can be a challenge. They tend to sit down or head back home after a few minutes. Like all dogs they can be taught to walk on a leash, but it might take you a little extra effort to get your English Bull dog to be corporative. Remember, the English bulldog’s tendency to want to eat and sleep more than other breeds can lead to obesity so walking your English Bull dog regularly is something you must do no matter how much they resist. English Bulldogs are the mules of dog breeds when it comes to engaging them in activities. When your English bulldog is feeling their version of bulldog frisky they will be as curious as a cat and are likely to drool on your newspaper while you are trying to read it.

English bulldogs as a breed are more inclined to respiratory problems and hip problems. They also tend to have vision problems, such as cherry eye.  Still the breed tends to be good with children and tolerates cats.  I suspect most English Bull dogs have decided it is too much effort to chase a cat. Given the right medical care, diet and exercise ; English bulldogs make an ideal pet for an urban dweller or less active older couple.