{"id":1913,"date":"2020-10-21T10:44:33","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T10:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/dogs\/?p=1913"},"modified":"2021-06-02T16:00:34","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T16:00:34","slug":"british-bulldog-utility-breed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/dogs\/utility-dogs\/british-bulldog-utility-breed\/","title":{"rendered":"British Bulldog – An English Icon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bulldog – Utility<\/h3>
\"British

Image:Lunja\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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British Bulldog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nBulldog - Utility Breed<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Size<\/th>\nMedium<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Grooming<\/th>\nEasy<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Training<\/th>\nModerate<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Exercise<\/th>\nAn hour a day<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Origins<\/th>\nEngland<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

British or English Bulldog - The Great British Mascot<\/h3>\n
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The British Bulldog, fancy a dog breed that has been around a bit - think over 700 years, who is a great companion dog and looks a bit like a famous British Prime Minister. Well look no further than the Bulldog, they may no longer be able to bring down Bulls like its ancestors but they remain strong dogs, but ones who like a bit less exercise making them good town dogs. Anyway read on and see if they tick all or most of your boxes.<\/p>\n

\"English

Image: everydoghasastory\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Quick Overview<\/h3>\n

Name:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Bulldog<\/p>\n

Size:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Up to 15 Inches tall<\/p>\n

Weight:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Up to 50 lbs<\/p>\n

Training:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bulldogs can be trained with work<\/p>\n

Grooming:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not a lot<\/p>\n

Exercise:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 About an hour per day<\/p>\n

Origins:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 England<\/p>\n

Lifespan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Up to 10 Years but 6-7 is more common<\/p>\n

Breed Type:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Utility (working dog)<\/p>\n

The history behind the British Bulldog<\/h2>\n

Bulldogs were bred in England circa the 13th<\/sup> century. Back then, bull baiting was a popular sport. The sport involved a tethered bull fighting off a full pack of Bulldogs. We wouldn\u2019t dream of such a thing nowadays, and even though we know they didn\u2019t have television back then, we still don\u2019t accept that this was once considered normal.<\/p>\n

Bull baiting died out in the 18th<\/sup> and 19th<\/sup> centuries in Britain. A ban on blood sports in 1835 meant that any fights immediately moved to cellars and basements. This underground movement changed the course of dogfighting in Britain. The Terrier became more favourable and could be set against rats in a pit. The Bulldog was too large to go underground and was subsequently bred to be smaller.<\/p>\n

The ancestor of our modern Bulldog was big enough and strong enough to take down a bull\u2026 Let that sink in.<\/p>\n

The ancient Bulldog was bred with smaller dogs until we were left with breeds like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. They were smaller, nippier, and allowed the Bulldog itself to become a companion dog and retire comfortably. It wasn\u2019t until 1886 that it would be registered with the AKC though, and this was only due to a concerted effort of breeders. How do you turn a vicious fighting dog into a companion breed? Hundreds of years of refined breeding.<\/p>\n

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Image: Olga Popova\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The modern Bulldog is a mascot\/logo\/name all over the world. During WWII, the British Prime Minister<\/a> (Winston Churchill) looked a bit like and acted with the determination of a Bulldog, so the media gave him that nickname. Over time, this breed of dog has become synonymous with ferocious bravery, not letting go till the bitter end, and loyalty. To be fair, it is just as well\u2026 because other fighting dogs from days-of-old got banned instead of revered. The media really can make or break a breed!<\/p>\n

Facts about the Bulldog<\/h2>\n

Every breed has special or fun facts to them that set them apart from all others\u2026 and the Bulldog has more than 700 years\u2019 worth of time to develop some. Here are the Five Minutes Spare<\/a> favourite facts about the British Bulldog, for your entertainment:<\/p>\n