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this is written for those considering enriching their lives by adding a bulldog to their family, owners of their first bulldog who want to learn more about the breed, those who haven't had a puppy for a while and want to be reminded what it's like and for those bulldoggers everywhere who will see in these experiences reflections of their own lives.

this is not intended to be the definitive statement on bulldogs - that probably will never be written. this is intended to contain information, useful advice and practical solutions to the everyday problems run into in raising our breed and keeping them healthy. the experiences of breeders who have shared their comments and ideas should make this a helpful, informative, realistic and enjoyable introduction to the world of bulldogs.

bulldogs are high maintenance animals. there are no economy models. they are difficult to breed; they frequently can't deliver their own puppies; they usually need lots of help raising puppies; and they need more frequent and knowledgeable medical attention throughout their lives than many other breeds. it's cheaper to buy a beagle. that aside, they're funny, intelligent, eccentric companions who will fill your home with lots of love and laughter.

the bulldog is an old and highly specialized breed, with unique physical characteristics developed to be used in bull baiting through hundreds of years of selective breeding. the result was a man-made dog perfectly suited for a sport that has now been banned for more than 150 years. these dogs, and the traits we find so appealing, exist because breeders decided to save the breed at that time, rather than let it die out. they took the aggressive bull fighter and bred it into the friendly bulldog that we find today.

people made the bulldog what it is and the dogs need people to ensure their continued survival. however, in looking at the standard for the ideal bulldog many characteristics are those needed for success in the bull ring. the deep stop, wide nostrils, undershot jaw, and low slung body were all desirable for approaching the bull, holding onto it and helping breathe while blood is flowing from the bull. similarly, the general appearance and attitude suggesting great stability, vigor and strength were desirable in a fighter. some characteristics, like kindness and courage without viciousness or aggressiveness reflect the changes caused by breeding dogs after bull baiting stopped.

each breed has structural peculiarities that predispose it to develop different strengths and weaknesses form other breeds. bulldogs' structural differences from other breeds may lead to more frequent visits to the vet for a number of problems. these and other health issues in dogs are discussed in the section on health and medical care.
bulldogs are among the brachycephalic breeds - those whose heads are comparatively short and wide, with noses that do not extend far in front of the face. these breeds, and bulldogs in particular, have a higher incidence of problems breathing.

these traits are congenital; they may be inherited or may crop up in a line of dogs with no known carriers. although the problems involve breathing, it consists of at least four separate traits that are independent. each trait exists on a continuum, resulting in a wide range of possible combinations. the four areas that combine to affect breathing are the soft palate, the tracheae (windpipe), the adenoids and tonsils, and the nostrils and nasal passages.

similarly, bulldogs have shallow hip sockets, leading to some slight degree of hip dysplasia in most dogs - this contributes to the characteristic "roll" required in the standard. it is not usually a problem for them, nor does it usually require surgical correction, but it will show up in x-rays in a way that would be abnormal for other breeds and may confuse a veterinarian who is not familiar with the characteristics of the breed.

other breed characteristics may result in the possibility of some dogs developing "cherry eye," extra eyelashes, entropion, ectropion, cruciate ligament weakness or tearing, hot spots, interdigital cysts, impacted anal sacs, osteochondritis, or panosteitis. while no dog is likely to exhibit all or most of these faults, they do crop up with varying degrees of frequency in some lines.

all of this makes it important that you not only have a veterinarian who is knowledgeable, but who is knowledgeable and has experience with bulldogs. your veterinarian's understanding of the breed and their unique characteristics will make the successful treatment of your dog more likely and reduce the dangers should he or she need to undergo anesthesia for surgery at some point.

there are both local and national bulldog clubs that have meetings and shows where you can ask questions and learn more about the breed.

the major clubs in the northeast (bulldog club of america [bca] division i) are the bulldog club (bc) of philadelphia, the lower susquehanna bc, the bc of new jersey, the long island bc, the bc of connecticut, the bc of new england, the bc of maine and the bc of pittsburgh. each club meets monthly, publishes a newsletter, and has at least one specialty (just bulldogs) point show and two specialty match shows (informal competition, primarily for puppies) each year.

the bulldog club of america (bca), the parent club for the breed in the united states and in the american kennel club (akc), has a quarterly publication, the bulldogger, which contains useful and informative articles and is free to members. membership in bca or local specialty clubs is inexpensive. it's a great way to learn about the breed and meet people with a common interest in the breed.

if you want to know more about the breed, several other good books on the history and breeding of bulldogs are available. they include the book of the bulldog by joan mcdonald brearley (t.f.h. publications, inc., 1985) and the new complete bulldog by col. bailey c. hanes (howell book house, 1973.). an excellent book on bulldogs and breeding kennels in england is the 20th century bulldog by marjorie barnard [life president of the bulldog club, inc.] (nimrod press ltd, 1988). incidentally, howell book house also publishes excellent books on a range of dog topics: nutrition, breeding, genetics, etc.

adults can make wonderful pets. they usually are housebroken and socialized, although you may have to retrain them to the specific rules of your house. adults are available from rescue groups, shelters, and individual breeders. bcnj has a rescue affiliation with heavensent bulldog rescue.

breeders may want to place an older puppy or an adult that they were evaluating for show who didn't quite make it as a show dog. some breeders place their bitches at age four or five when they will not breed them any further. owners will sometimes find it necessary to part with an adult dog. this can be a good source for a dog that will fit into your family easily. some people think that the dogs will miss their lives with their former owners. our experience is that dogs love their new homes. rescue usually tries to match the personality of the dog with the family situation it moves into. the dog will frequently get more attention in its new home and will quickly adjust to its new environment. it is unusual to have a dog go to a new home where the rescue, the dog and the new owners weren't happy with the situation.

rescue groups started as a response to irresponsible ownership on the part of some people. some owners would tire of a dog and abandon it or would give up a dog because it became an inconvenience. each breed developed groups which specialized in placing dogs of that breed in good homes. these dogs can range from easy adoptions to those which, for a variety of reasons, are harder to place. dogs which have been subject to animal abuse or have been poorly socialized as pups are always harder to work with and, therefore, harder to find suitable homes. on the other hand, some dogs are placed because their owners are too old to take care of them adequately. either type can make a great pet for the right home. the bulldog club of america has a rescue network, with each group handling a specific part of the country. more information can be found on the bca web site under rescue