Where the English Bulldog came from
The English Bulldog has been around in England for hundreds of years. The original Bulldog was a tough, muscular dog used in bull-baiting, where dogs were set against a bull as a spectacle. England banned bull-baiting in 1835.
After the ban, breeders kept the bulldog as a pet and show dog. They worked for a calmer nature and a wider, shorter body, and the Bulldog Club was formed in England in 1875.
The AKC recognized the Bulldog in 1886. Today they are gentle, couch-loving companions with many health challenges caused by their shape.
- Centuries ago Bulldogs are used in bull-baiting in England
- 1835 England bans bull-baiting
- 1875 The Bulldog Club is formed in England
- 1886 The AKC recognizes the Bulldog
The job a English Bulldog was bred for
The work was to grab and hold a bull, which took courage, a strong bite and a low body. When the job ended, breeders kept the loyal, gentle side. At home you see a calm, independent dog who loves their people and sleeps a lot.
Sports that fit a English Bulldog
- Trick dog. Easy, low-impact and fun for them.
- Scent work. A slow, calm way to use their nose.
- Therapy work. Their mellow nature suits it.
- Platform and fitness work. Easy ways to build body awareness.
Training tips for a English Bulldog
- Use food and keep sessions short. They think for themselves, so make it worth their while.
- Keep exercise gentle and in the cool of the day.
- Teach calm greetings and leave it, since they are strong.
- Use a harness to protect the neck and airway.
Body and health
Bulldogs are flat-faced and heavy, so heat, jumping, swimming and hard exercise are risky. They need cool places and a close eye on breathing.
Fun fact. Yale's mascot Handsome Dan is a Bulldog. Yale credits Andrew Graves with buying the first one in 1889, though a Yale archivist found records of a Dan as mascot only from 1892.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your English Bulldog is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.