At a glance the quick version
FCI standard gives 25 kg for dogs and 23 kg for bitches. Purina gives 23-25 kg overall; Vetstreet gives about 18-23 kg (40-50 lb). Range combines these sources.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, fine and smooth
A low-slung, broad and thickset dog with a compact, fairly short body, strong muscular legs and hindquarters that sit a little higher than the shoulders. The head is large for the body, with a short face and loose skin that forms characteristic folds. The coat is short, close and fine, with a smooth, glossy feel. Bulldogs move with a relaxed, rolling, slightly sideways gait.375
Personality what they are like
Behind the tough face is a mellow, kind-hearted dog. Bulldogs are affectionate and deeply attached to their families, and they tend to be friendly with children, visitors and other pets. They are relaxed and fond of a good nap, with a goofy sense of humour, yet they still carry a quiet streak of determination. That same determination can show up as stubbornness in training, so patience and reward-based methods work best. They are too friendly to make serious guard dogs but will alert you to anything unusual.36457
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate. Two fairly short, steady-paced walks a day, up to about an hour in total, plus some play suit most Bulldogs. Keep exercise to the cooler parts of the day in warm weather.645
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat needs a brush or rubber-mitt session from once a week to a few times a week, and the breed sheds regularly. Wipe the facial folds, the area around the eyes and around the tail with a damp cloth and dry them thoroughly as part of routine care.645
Home where they are happiest
Happy in a flat or a house, in town or country. A cool, comfortable indoor spot is important. Bulldogs are not natural swimmers, so supervise them around pools and open water.765
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A complete, balanced dog food split into two meals a day, with fresh water always available. Keep an eye on body condition and adjust portions to keep the dog lean.4
Company who they like around
A true companion breed that bonds closely with its family and prefers to be near its people. It usually gets on well with children and other pets, helped by early socialisation.624
The story where it all began
The Bulldog takes its name from bull-baiting, a brutal spectator sport in England that has been traced back to the early 13th century, for which sturdy mastiff-type dogs were used. The FCI standard dates the breed as a distinct type to around the 1630s. When Parliament banned baiting in 1835, the old fighting dog lost its purpose and its numbers fell. Dog shows, which began in 1859, gave the breed a new future: fanciers started choosing dogs for looks and gentle temperament instead of ferocity, and the breed became shorter and more compact. A dog called King Dick, born around 1858, is counted among the founders of the modern line. In 1865 Samuel Wickens published the 'Philo-Kuon' standard, often cited as the first written breed standard for any dog. Bulldogs were entered in the Kennel Club's very first Stud Book in 1874, and the Bulldog Club was formed in London in March 1875, drawing up its own standard that year and becoming a legally incorporated club in 1894. In the US the breed was shown at Westminster by 1877, recognised by the AKC in 1886, and given its own club, the Bulldog Club of America, in 1890. Over time the Bulldog came to stand for British grit, and it was linked with Winston Churchill during the Second World War.89326
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The Bulldog Club, founded in 1875 and incorporated in 1894, is described as the oldest single-breed dog club in the world. Its early members met at the Blue Post pub on Oxford Street in London.9
- 2
The 1865 'Philo-Kuon' standard for the Bulldog is often called the first written breed standard for any dog.9
- 3
Yale University's Handsome Dan, first adopted in 1889, is a famous college bulldog mascot. Nineteen dogs have held the title so far.10
- 4
Bulldogs are also the mascots of the University of Georgia (Uga) and the US Marine Corps (Chesty).2
- 5
In 2015 an English Bulldog called Otto set a Guinness World Record in Lima, Peru, by skateboarding through a tunnel formed by the legs of 30 people.11
- 6
The FCI standard describes the Bulldog as Britain's national dog and links it with 'John Bull', the traditional figure who stands for England.3
- 7
The first Bulldog Club, formed in 1864, took the motto 'hold fast'.8
- 8
Kippax Fearnought, a British-bred Bulldog, won Best in Show at Westminster in 1955.8
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 149, Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs), Section 2.1 (Molossian type, Mastiff type); definitive acceptance 14 Mar 1955; current standard published 13 Oct 2010; country of origin Great Britain1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Utility Group; included in the first Kennel Club Stud Book in 1874, the Club having been founded in 18736
- AKC
- Recognised 1886 (Non-Sporting Group); Bulldog Club of America first met in 1890 and adopted its standard in 18945
- The Bulldog Club (Incorporated)
- Parent breed club in the UK, founded March 1875 and incorporated 1894; described as the oldest single-breed dog club in the world9
Popularity Ranked 10th of AKC-registered breeds in 2025 (9th in 2024, 7th in 2023); listed in 2013 as the twelfth most frequently registered breed worldwide12
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Bulldog. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- Face foldsWipe and dry the skin foldsevery 2 days
- Eye wipeGently wipe around the eyesevery day
- ExerciseAbout 45 minutes a dayevery day
- Heat care summerWalk in the cool morning and eveningevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI breed nomenclature: Bulldog (No. 149) fci.beused for recognition, origin
- Wikipedia: Bulldog en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, colours, mascots, worldwide popularity (secondary)
- FCI Standard No. 149 Bulldog fci.beused for history, appearance, temperament, coat, colours, weight, fun fact
- Purina UK: Bulldog purina.co.ukused for height, weight, lifespan, exercise, grooming, diet
- Vetstreet: Bulldog vetstreet.comused for weight, AKC recognition, temperament, exercise, grooming, gait
- The Royal Kennel Club: Bulldog royalkennelclub.comused for group, exercise, grooming, lifespan, temperament, history
- AKC: Bulldog akc.orgused for temperament, appearance
- AKC: Bulldog History akc.orgused for history, fun facts
- Bulldog Breed Council: Bulldogs Through Time bulldogbreedcouncil.co.ukused for history milestones, breed club, fun facts
- Wikipedia: Handsome Dan en.wikipedia.orgused for Yale mascot fun fact (secondary)
- Guinness World Records: Otto the skateboarding bulldog guinnessworldrecords.comused for record fun fact
- akc.org akc.org
- AKC: Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2025 akc.orgused for popularity
- AKC: Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2024 akc.orgused for popularity
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.