Bulldogs are one of the most known and popular dog breeds in the world. It is an ancient breed that has been modified throughout the centuries, especially since the 1800s. Some claim that this intense modification and selective breeding is not good for the animal. They say it can cause health problems that could be avoided if there weren’t so much breeding. The growing interest of the public over this breed of dog is what propels the accelerated breeding.

History

The original English Bulldog descends from mastiffs, old English hunting dogs. He is originally from medieval England and has spread to the world since then, originating in many different breeds. They were used in a practice called bull-baiting, very common in medieval England. The dog used to bite the bull’s nose and shake it roughly so to scare the animal. Back in those days, people thought that when the bull got scared, its blood would get thinner and the meat would be tastier. There was even a law stating that this practice had to be done before slaughtering the bull.

In 1835 this law was revoked and Bulldogs lost their reason to be. They were fierce and powerful animals and not supposed to be pets. The English Bulldog enthusiasts at that time joined and created a breeding club. The purpose of that club was to do selective breeding of the Bulldogs. Through selective breeding, they would become more calm and friendly dogs, suited to be pets.

Selective Breeding

The Bulldogs spread across the world, having new breeds everywhere. Every new breed had its defining characteristics and the English Bulldog was no different. The goal was to keep its fierce look while mellowing its personality. It was not only keeping but accentuating the best qualities. The English Bulldog got more bulky and large. The head got bigger and the chest got lower and rounder. The jaw got a square and massive look, with the lower set of teeth appearing, and the face got pushed back.

That was decided to be the proper look for an English Bulldog, and standards were set for the competitions.

Health conditions

Although the Bulldog may look stronger and bulkier than it was in the 1800s, it is actually less strong and slower than its ancestor was. Also, some health problems began to appear more often in the new Bulldogs. Its flat face is prone to cause bad breathing and its bones usually have some conditions. Up to 75% of the English Bulldogs have some issue with their hip bones.

A great way to have a healthy bulldog from the start is to care for her or him properly. A great thing that we did for our bulldog from the start was to buy her the essentials she would need. This kit that we purchased on Amazon, helped us with getting off to a great start with a healthy dog so we could love her for years to come.

A very common health problem caused by the excess of selective breeding in English Bulldogs is related to their jaws. There are two different conditions: Underbite and Overbite. But what are those? 

Overbite and Underbite

Bulldogs have what are called brachycephalic skulls. Yes, it is a very difficult term. But it means, in other words, that their face is pushed inward. The result of that is the upper jaw being shorter than under the jaw. The condition caused by that is called Underbite. When it is the other way around (the upper jaw is bigger) it’s called Overbite.

Bulldog’s flat face

It varies depending on the breed, but the English Bulldog is most affected by Underbite. It all resumes to his flat face. That trait has been passed on from generation to generation of English Bulldogs. It’s not a feature that benefits the Bulldog in any way. It can even be harmful, as the amount of Underbite problems shows.

A lot of English Bulldogs have trouble eating because of the misplacement of their jaws.

But breeders, since a long time ago, thought of it as a nice and pretty characteristic of the Bulldog. Because of that, the purebred Bulldogs have a squashed face with a prominent lower jaw.

Bulldog Standards

The official standard for English Bulldogs is what decides the best attributes for purebred dogs. It is what counts in a dog competition. The undershot jaw, that is when the lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw, is the set standard for the English Bulldog.

To breed a high-quality English Bulldog, maybe even one for competition, that characteristic is essential. It is what gives the English Bulldog the look of strength and fierceness the owners want.

The jaws should be very large, massive, square, and with that undershot quality. The lower jaw has to be way longer and turn at the end, over the upper jaw. That is the beauty standard of an English Bulldog.

Treatment

In the Bulldog’s case, there is really nothing to be done. It was made this way through selective breeding and there isn’t a will to change it. The standard for it is to have a jaw like that, even if it is not the ideal situation. Some animals suffer a little with that condition, but most can go through their lives happy and unaffected, with just a little more trouble to eat than other pets may have.

Maybe men are exaggerating a bit with all those modifications, but the bottom line is that Bulldogs are just wonderful animals. If the breeding brought up those bad physical problems, at least it got out the amazing personality of that dog.