Breeds / Medium
Bulldog puppies
Alert, bold, loyal, dependable and courageous, fierce in appearance but possessed of affectionate nature.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 18.1 to 22.7 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 40 to 50 lb
- Adult height 36 to 38 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 8 to 10 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Bulldog
The Bulldog descends from the dogs used in the banned English sport of bull baiting, and once baiting was outlawed in 1835 breeders reworked the breed into a companion, keeping the low wide frame while breeding out the ferocity. This is a thickset dog with a short muzzle, heavy shoulders, a rolling gait and deep facial wrinkles. Modern Bulldogs are placid and affectionate, humorous with their families, stubborn about anything they do not fancy doing, and low key indoors.
Moderate exercise keeps a Bulldog trim, ideally walks taken in the cool part of the day, since the short muzzle makes heat and humidity genuinely dangerous. Brushing takes ten minutes two or three times a week, and the face wrinkles must be checked, cleaned and dried or they turn sore and infected. Stairs and deep water are real hazards. Above all, keep a Bulldog lean, because extra weight makes every breathing problem worse.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Bulldog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), graded by a vet on an exercise tolerance test
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for under the hip and elbow scoring schemes
- Hyperuricosuria (HUU), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Hereditary eye disease screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
Your Bulldog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Bulldog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 18.1 to 22.7 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 22.7 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other medium breeds
American Cocker Spaniel
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Aussiedoodle
Australian Cattle Dog
More on the Bulldog
Previous: Bull Terrier · Next: Bullmastiff
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Bulldog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bulldog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Unknown, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.