21 April: Bulldogs

Today is Bulldogs are Beautiful Day. 10 facts about bulldogs:

1. Typically, these dogs are 14-15 inches tall and weigh approximately 50 pounds for males and 40 pounds for females. They come in a variety of colours and are known for their short snouts and wrinkled faces.
2. Bulldogs are descendant of the fighting Mastiffs the Romans brought to Britain. In Britain they were selectively bred to be used in the "sport" of bull baiting, which was popular from 1206, for over six hundred years, until it was banned in 1835. Their stocky bodies helped them resist being tossed by a bull; their wrinkles diverted blood away from their eyes; short snouts and an undershot lower jaw helped them hold on to the bull. They were, essentially, bull baiting machines.
3. When the so called sport was banned, there was no need for these dogs any more. In fact, the breed almost went extinct. The bulldog was saved by a few people who loved them, and began breeding them to have less of a fighting temperament so that they could be companion Dogs. The Kennel Club recognised the bulldog in 1873.
4. They are considered a national breed in Britain and during the two world ward were often used on propaganda posters. Winston Churchill was often called the “British Bulldog” because of his demeanour, and let's face it, he even looked a bit like one! They are the fourth most popular breed in America.
5. Famous bulldog owners include two US presidents: Calvin Coolidge had one named Boston Beans and Warren Harding had one named Oh Boy; Ozzy Osbourne, Pink, Brad Pitt, David Beckham and Adam Sandler, whose bulldog Meatball was the best man at his wedding.
6. So much inbreeding in the past has contributed to a variety of health issues that bulldogs can be prone to. Their short noses can result in breathing problems. They are prone to eating too much too quickly which is why they fart a lot. Owners need to groom them regularly, including wiping their face wrinkles, which can become infected. Most of all, they have problems breeding on their own. They often need artificial insemination and because they have such large heads, births are usually by C-Section. Their life expectancy is therefore 8-10 years, often less.
7. Despite their violent origins, today's bulldogs are good companion dogs and are good with children. They're more independent than most breeds. When solving problems, they do so on their own without looking to their owners for approval. They don't mind being left alone, either. In fact, they are the couch potatoes of the dog world and will probably sleep all day. They don't need as much exercise as other breeds and may even have to be coaxed out for a walk. If they've a mind to, however, they can run at speeds up to 15mph.
8. A bulldog named Bud was a passenger on America's first road trip. He accompanied two humans, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker on the historic trip in 1903. Bud was supplied with a pair of goggles to keep the dust out of his eyes.
9. Bulldogs are popular as mascots for sports teams and universities. The University of Georgia has had a line of bulldog mascots dating back to 1956, all called Uga. Uga V appeared in a film and on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Uga IV was the first mascot invited to the presentation of the Heisman trophy. Yale, Drake University, and The Citadel are among the 15 or more US colleges which have bulldogs as mascots.
10. While they may not be fans of exercise and aren't great swimmers, some bulldogs do seem to have a talent for skateboarding. Two Guinness World Records for skateboarding dogs are, or have been, held by bulldogs. Otto the skateboarding bulldog attained the Guinness World Record for "Longest Human Tunnel Travelled Through by a Skateboarding Dog" in 2015 when he rode under the legs of 30 people in Lima, Peru. Another bulldog named Tillman scored a record in in 2009 at the X Games XV in California. He set the record for the fastest 100 meters on a skateboard by a dog – 19.678 seconds. Tillman loved surfing, as well, and appeared on the television show the Greatest American Dog and in the 2009 Rose Parade.

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