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What Two Breeds Make an English Bulldog?

| Updated September 26, 2017

The English bulldog is a medium-sized dog with short legs. It is a short-haired breed with a smooth coat. English bulldogs are known for their wide, pug-nosed snouts and their stocky bodies. The name "bulldog" comes from the fact that they were once used for bull baiting, and because they look like miniature bulls.

Origin

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The English bulldog is known to have come from the British Isles. They are believed to have descended from the Asiatic mastiff and the pug. The original bulldogs were fearless dogs and were insensitive to pain. They would attack the bull from underneath then go for the jugular in the neck, making it nearly impossible for the bull to fight back. When dog fighting became illegal in England, the English bulldogs were bred for domesticity.

Description

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English bulldogs are around 45 to 55 pounds and are approximately 12 to 16 inches tall. Their coloring can be brindle, white, red, washed out red, pale yellow or a combination of these. They have muscular bodies and small heads. English bulldogs have short legs and a large jaw. The features that the bulldog inherited from the pug were its short snout and short legs. The bulldog inherited its muscular body, large head and fearless personality from the mastiff.

Temperament

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English bulldogs are gentle dogs, despite their intimidating appearance. They make good pets and are easy contented. American bulldogs are known to be affectionate and good with children. They have a lot of energy when they are puppies but tend to slow down as they age. English bulldogs snore and tend to drool frequently.

Health Problems

English bulldogs have breathing problems due to their short snout. They also have bad eyesight, which gets worse as they get older. The bulldogs can get heat stroke easily, so it is best they are kept out of extreme heat. They also have hip and knee problems, as well.