English Bulldog
英國鬥牛犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Bulldog is Britain's national mascot — the loose-skinned, furrow-browed, pushed-nosed, undershot symbol of courage that was bred in the 13th century for bull-baiting and remade as a companion after blood sports were banned in 1835. Bulldogs are friendly, courageous and calm: sweet, devoted, easygoing and dignified, eager to please, fond of children and happy to relax at your feet — though they enjoy brisk walks and need moderate exercise and a careful diet to stay trim. The short muzzle makes breathing laboured in heat and humidity, so summer afternoons belong in air-conditioning; stairs and pools are hazards; the wrinkles need regular cleaning; and both the AKC and the Royal Kennel Club flag conformation-related health concerns that every prospective owner should read about.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 36–38cm |
| Weight | 18–23kg |
| Life expectancy | 8–10years |
| Breed group | AKC: non-sporting FCI: 2 |
| Role | Companion |
| Coat | Short coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–90min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 4/ 5 |
| Barking | 2/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 1/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 2/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Brachycephalic airway syndrome
As a flat-faced breed, breathing difficulties and heat intolerance are commonly reported. Ask your vet to assess breathing, keep exercise gentle in hot, humid weather and use a harness rather than a collar.
Skin and allergy problems
Skin problems and allergies are commonly reported in the breed. Ask your vet if you notice itching, redness or recurring ear/skin infections.
Urinary stones
Urinary stones are reported in the breed; DNA tests exist for some forms. Ask your vet about diet and about any straining to urinate.
Cherry eye / eyelid problems
Eyelid and tear-film problems (cherry eye, entropion, dry eye) are reported in the breed. Ask your vet if the eyes look red, sore or weepy.
Anaesthesia risk
The parent club says Bulldogs have more difficulty with anaesthesia than other breeds because of their breathing configuration, and advises finding a vet experienced with the breed. Tell your vet before any procedure.
Breathing assessment (KC Respiratory Function Grading)
The Royal Kennel Club's Good Practice list for the breed starts with breathing testing for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome under its Respiratory Function Grading scheme, alongside eye testing, with hips, elbows and a hyperuricosuria DNA test as Best Practice. Ask your breeder about the parents' grades and your vet to assess your dog's breathing.
Behaviour
Sweet, devoted, easygoing
The AKC calls Bulldogs sweet, devoted and easygoing dogs that want to please their owner, recommends early socialisation and puppy classes, and notes that they love to chew and to play tug-of-war — so teach the puppy to release on command, and to accept people taking food from its bowl so it never becomes protective of it. The CKC says that for a dog that once faced bulls the Bulldog is calm and dignified with a steady, even disposition, resolute and courageous but not vicious or aggressive.
Brisk walks, cool rooms, no deep water
The AKC says Bulldogs are mellow and happy to relax at your feet but enjoy an occasional romp and brisk walks, and need moderate exercise and a careful diet to stay trim; very warm days are best spent in front of an air-conditioner because the short muzzle makes breathing difficult in heat and humidity, an overheated Bulldog's tongue hangs unusually far out with a bluish cast and needs cool water at once, and stairs and pools are major hazards — never in water more than elbow deep unsupervised. The CKC says the Bulldog has a relatively low activity level and adjusts to almost any environment, but that its facial structure means snuffling, snorting and snoring and it suffers in hot weather; the Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 1 hour a day.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 3/5 (moderate) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 4/5, barking level 2/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Bulldog
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Bulldog (Non Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Bulldog
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan under 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Bulldog (standard no. 149, group 2)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish. "English Bulldog" is the common name; AKC, CKC, the Royal Kennel Club and the FCI all register it as "Bulldog" — the catalogue's separate "Bulldog" entry is the same breed.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's 'Bulldog Maintenance' page says summer walks should be in the early morning or late evening and skipped on extremely hot days, that exercise should build gradually from about six months towards a solid 30-to-45-minute trot, and that although Bulldogs swim instinctively they should never be in water more than elbow deep unless closely supervised — they inhale water easily and can drown. It says to keep the wrinkles, especially over the nose, clean and the tail pocket clean and dry, to brush two or three times a week and clean the ears weekly, to keep the dog well padded but not fat with no ribs showing, that Bulldogs are great with children although puppies need supervision, that they are too large for an airline cabin, and that puppies have heavy front ends and no fear of falling, so watch them on stairs. The club's 'Preparing for Your Bulldog' page adds that you should find a vet experienced with Bulldogs because the breed has more difficulty with anaesthesia than others, use a crate in your bedroom at first, and avoid rawhide and soft rubber toys.”
— Bulldog Club of America — Bulldog Maintenance via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Bulldog — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Bulldog — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Bulldog — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Bulldog — FCI standard no. 149 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Bulldog Maintenance — Bulldog Club of America — Bulldog Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Preparing for Your Bulldog — Bulldog Club of America — Bulldog Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.