How to Identify an English Bulldog

The English Bulldog almost certainly began in England. It was used in the sport of bull baiting which required the dog to be vicious, courageous and almost insensitive to pain. In 1835 dog fighting was outlawed in England and the dogs were taken by people that loved the breed, had the fierceness bred out of them and had the finer qualities accentuated. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Feel the coat of the dog. The skin should be loose and the coat soft, shiny and glossy. The skin on the head and shoulders should be wrinkled and the area below the mouth to the chest should have two pronounced folds.

2. Watch the dog walk. The walk is more of a shuffle from side to side that is almost like a roll. It also appears a bit loose-jointed.

3. Examine the legs of the dog. The hind legs should be short, strong and muscular. They are longer than the front legs to raise the hind above the level of the shoulders. The back feet are distinctly turned to the outside on the English Bulldog.

4. The body of the dog should be thick and broad. The chest has a filled out set of ribs and gives the dog a short-legged broad appearance.

Tips & Warnings

• These dogs are kind and pacific. They hold themselves in a rather dignified manner and are very amiable. They make one think of Winston Churchill in looks and demeanor.

Resources

• The American Kennel Society English Bulldog page
• History of the English Bulldog