Two Types Of Bulldog And Their Characteristics
The bulldog is one of the symbols of the United Kingdom. Although its appearance is very different from its original ancestor, it is an easily recognizable breed and admired for its strong complexion and wrinkles.
His beginnings were tough, as a bull fighting dog (hence his name), but now he has grown into a gentle and affectionate companion animal. Its counterpart in France is smaller and comes from crosses bulldog English and French bulldogs. If you want to discover more about the types of bulldog , we encourage you to continue reading.
The history of the English bulldog: from fighter to national symbol.
The Bulldogs were created in the thirteenth century to the brutal spectacle of “fighting bulls” or bullbaiting , which was to lead the fight of a bull against a pack of dogs and bet on the outcome.
This means that the ancestors of the bulldog were massive dogs, with a very strong build, powerful jaws and great resistance to pain. They were larger and less compact than the ones we know today.
Once this type of event was banned, players continued to place their bets underground, but began to breed larger dogs, a result of crossing bulldogs and terriers . This is how bull terriers were born .
The Bulldogs went into the background, but fans of this race began the long process of turning this companion dog fighter. With this artificial selection it was sought to change the fierce appearance of the bulldog and soften its character.
Such was their success that in the 19th century the English bulldog was recognized as a breed for its distinctive physical features and personable character. Thus, it became the symbol of the United Kingdom and the mascot of many institutes in the United States, such as the famous Yale University.
The French bulldog: a Parisian aristocrat.
The French bulldog has its origin in Molossian dogs, such as the English bulldog . Despite this, its beginnings were not so crude. It is believed to be the result of crosses between small 19th century French Bulldogs with bulldogs from England.
He began as a companion of the workers of Paris, to quickly end up as a mascot of Parisian high society and the world of artists. The breed was not officially recognized until 1898.
Difference between types of bulldog
Although the two dogs have a common origin, we can name several differences between both types of bulldog .
The english bulldog
It is a short-haired dog, heavy, short, wide, powerful and compact. Their ears are small and set high on the head, which is rather large in proportion to its size. In general it is a symmetrical dog.
Its face is short and therefore it is one of the most typical examples of brachycephalic dogs, which can cause problems with breathing, snoring and panting with moderate activity. Its jaw is broad and strong and the lower part projects slightly forward from the upper one. Therefore, it is normal to see this dog with the lower teeth protruding from the mouth.
The most characteristic wrinkles are those above the nose and before the ears. The neck is very thick, deep and strong with loose, thick and wrinkled skin around the throat forming a dewlap.
E l body forms a curve that falls towards the tail, this is another characteristic feature of the race. The back and chest are deep and the abdomen is retracted. The tail is set low, rounded, short and smooth.
The Bulldogs English walk with short, quick steps, as if you will walk on your fingertips, without lifting heavy feet. The hair is always short, fine and smooth and can be unicolor, brindle, white or with spots.
The french bulldog
The French bulldog also has a molossoid body structure like its English relative, but it is much smaller, as it does not exceed 13 kilograms in weight, while the former exceeds 20 kilograms.
It is a compact but proportionate dog, also short-haired, but with a turned-back nose and large, erect ears. It may have wrinkles, but not as marked as English.
The head is broad, almost flat between the ears. In this case, the teeth are hidden by the lips, so there are no teeth left on the outside. The French bulldog also has a strong neck, but does not have a double chin.
The line of the body is raised progressively from the withers to the middle of the back. This conformation is called roach back and is distinctive of this breed. The hair is straight, short and shiny. The most typical colors are brindle, fawn and with white spots. The French bulldog is a sociable, active, cheerful and very playful dog, although it can be somewhat possessive.
As we can see, the two types of bulldog have various similarities and differences. Despite their distinctive characteristics, both varieties make great companion dogs.
