Personality

When you look at the short, droopy face of an English Bulldog, you couldn't possibly imagine him bringing an actual bull to its knees, but that's exactly what this breed was originally designed to do. English butchers in the Middle Ages would send the Bulldog out to assist them in catching bulls for slaughter. Their short faces and powerful jaws could latch onto a bulls' neck and literally bring it to the ground.

Today, however, the Bulldog has a reputation for being a gentle lover of belly rubs more so than a herculean hunter. They are playful, lovable and loyal. Good with kids, Bulldogs will exhibit the patience of a saint when children want to hug and climb on them. They are one of the most amiable breeds, laid back and never high-strung. While puppies are energetic and rowdy, adult Bulldogs mellow out quickly and prefer an afternoon nap to a long walk in the park.

Activity Requirements

Bulldogs don't need a lot of vigorous activity, and in fact should not be exercised too hard in hot weather. Despite their love of relaxation, Bulldogs should be walked regularly to keep them in shape, as obesity can be a problem. Apartments and condos can make a Bulldog just as happy as a house with a big yard. They are easygoing creatures and are highly inactive when indoors, so the size of the home is never an issue for Bulldogs, as long as they have a nice place to sleep.

Trainability

Bulldogs are stubborn and can be a challenge to train. Food and positive reinforcement are the only two methods that should ever be employed with this breed, as a heavy hand will get you nowhere.

Behavioral Traits

Despite their general easy-going attitude, food aggression is a problem with many Bulldogs. They love to eat and no one should ever mess with a Bulldog and his dinner. Children should be taught to stay away and other animals should not be fed in the same area as a Bulldog.

Dog aggression can be another problem with Bulldogs. If raised along side another dog, they should be fine, but males tend to exhibit aggression as adults, especially toward other males. Bulldogs should be socialized around other dogs as early as possible.

If snoring, grunting, snorting, drooling and flatulence bother you, then a Bulldog is not right for you. They exhibit all of the above traits – to excess.