BULLDOG GROUPĀ
Breed Examples
AMERICAN BULLDOG | BOSTON TERRIER | BOXER | BULL TERRIER | ENGLISH BULLDOG | FRENCH BULLDOG | OLD ENGLISH BULLDOG | STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
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WHAT WE BRED THEM FOR
British board-mouthed mastiff type dogs trace their ancestry back to the large Roman guardians, once used for gladiator entertainment, and specialised for the sport of bull-baiting (bringing down a bull in a contest). Terriers were crossbred with these bulldogs to increase their tenacity.
Before you read on ...
These group pages introduce you to ten newly described dog groups based on the latest science. Knowing what type of 'job' is in your dog's DNA can offer valuable insights into the type of life they'd most enjoy.
Treat this as a guide and a starting point for further research into the breed of dog to best suit you and your lifestyle. You'll find information specific to individual breeds here.
Note: this isn't a guarantee of how any individual dog will behave in future.
WHY YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH A BULLDOG
Affectionate
They're generally very outgoing and friendly with people and other dogs.
Entertaining
Whether high octane or low, they are naturally amusing characters.
Outgoing
Their brave and gregarious approach to life can be a total blast.
WHY THEY CAN BE HARD TO LIVE WITH
All or Nothing
A zero-to-sixty design can catch you off guard at times.
Powerful
Their strength and force can overwhelm people and other animals.
Touchy-Feely
If you value your personal space, they may get on your nerves (and your lap).
YOU MAY NEED COACHING TO HELP WITH
- Destructive behaviour, especially when left alone or unsupervised.
- Unmanageability/excitability on lead combined with their great strength.
- Over-enthusiastic behaviour toward people – jumping, mouthing, rough-housing
- 'Protectiveness' of one or more family members
- General over-arousal in high stimulation circumstances
YOUR RELATIONSHIP SURVIVAL KEY
Take steps to keep your Bulldog in a 'low gear' so that his innate, high-arousal response to excitement doesn't get the better of them.
Make sure your bulldog is well managed but not overly confined.
Keep that brain learning and thinking by regulating excitement levels and impulses.
Relish their larger-than-life personalities.
