What Unethical Breeding Has Done To Bulldogs
Over the past 100 years the Bulldog has gone from a great athlete to one of the unhealthiest breeds around. And despite numerous concerns about their health & overall well-being they continue to rise in popularity. And the problem, of course, is completely man made.
We’ve bred Bulldogs to be extreme; we shortened their snouts and legs, increased the size of their skull, and of yes, we’ve even made their underbite a desirable feature. But when it comes to the welfare of the breed itself we need to ask ourselves: what has unethical breeding done to Bulldogs?
Bulldogs Are Increasing in Popularity, Despite Prominent Health Concerns
We all know the Bulldog; with their stocky build, flat face, and underbite they’re one of the most recognizable breeds. And what once used to be a healthy, athletic dog is now a short, stocky breed plagued with health problems.
Despite numerous health concerns they’ve gained a lot of popularity amongst dog owners, rising from the 16th most popular AKC registered breed in 2003 to number 5 in 2014. And while Bulldogs make wonderful companions personality wise, the numerous health problems that plague the breed have left many owners heartbroken.
To some the Bulldog is an adorable barrel chested companion, to others they’re the poster child for what’s gone wrong with dog breeding.
The Original Bulldog Was Quite Athletic
Commonly referred to as the English Bulldog the term “Bulldog” can be traced back to the year 1568. They were originally bred in England to help control livestock.
The dog became widely used in the sport of bull baiting; dogs would be set onto a tethered bull and whichever dog brought the bull down would be declared the winner. The sport gained a lot of popularity but it didn’t last. Baiting was made illegal by the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835.
Dog show enthusiasts wanted to preserve the breed and decided to selectively breed out the aggressiveness of the original Olde English Bulldog.
After the outlaw on baiting many Bulldogs were exported to the United States & Germany. In Germany they were crossbred to eventually create the Boxer. In the United States they continued to work at herding livestock.
100 years of breed “improvement” Photo credit: Science of Dogs
What Unethical Breeding Has Done to Bulldogs Over the Years
Over the years the Bulldog’s physical traits have been bred to be more extreme. The face has become flatter, the legs have shortened, the head has grown larger, and the underbite has grown. These changes have been made to give the Bulldog a more expressive face, emulating the look of a human child.
It’s these extreme changes that have led to the many health problems facing the Bulldog today. And unfortunately new research suggests that improving their health at this point would be difficult due to their lack of genetic diversity.
The English bulldog has reached the point where popularity can no longer excuse the health problems that the average bulldog endures in its often brief lifetime. – Scientists Warn About Health of the English Bulldog, BioMed Central
Most Bulldogs Can’t Breed Naturally
Most Bulldogs can’t breed without human intervention, both in the actual mating & birthing process. If it weren’t for this intervention in breeding the Bulldog as it stands now would become extinct.
As many as 95% of Bulldogs are delivered by Cesarean section. Their head has been bred to become larger over the years, and as a result these dogs cannot birth them naturally through the pelvic canal.
Common Bulldog Health Concerns
The Bulldog has numerous health concerns, and I’m sure many Bulldog owners can sympathize. The annual veterinary costs for a Bulldog are twice as much as those for a Labrador Retriever.
They have problems with their breathing and respiratory systems due to the enlargement of the soft palate and narrowing of the oropharynx. They’re also known for problems with their heart, hips, eyes, and skin.
Bulldogs are extremely intolerant of heat due to their short snouts. They’re unable to regulate their temperature through panting as well as other dogs, and even normal activities in intense heat can cause heatstroke. It’s recommended that Bulldogs be kept in an air-conditioned area with limited trips outside when the temperature is over 80 degrees F, or when the humidity is high.
They have the highest rate of hip dysplasia in any breed. A study released in 2009 by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals found that 71.6% of the 564 Bulldogs they studied were affected.
A 2004 study from the Kennel Club found that the median life expectancy of a Bulldog is less than 7 years but a more recent study from UK vet clinic data puts the median at 8.4 years. Birth defects, such as flat chests, have led to high puppy mortality.
It is unbelievable that we need invasive surgery just to repair the basic needs of the dog. Breathing is the most basic need and this is no way acceptable from any ethical point we have today. – Dr. Oechtering
Documentary Exposes Unethical Breeding Practices
In 2008, BBC One aired a documentary called “Pedigree Dogs Exposed” which looked into the health and welfare of pedigree dogs in the United Kingdom. The film spawned three independent reports that all found that breeding for “extreme traits,” like the massive and short-faced head of the bulldog are detrimental to the health and welfare of the dogs. The program stated that most Bulldogs are unable to give birth naturally because their heads have become so large.
The film didn’t just focus on Bulldogs, they highlighted some drastic changes in other breeds such as the Pug, German Shepherd, Basset Hound, Bull Terrier and Dachshund. The BBC released “Pedigree Dogs Exposed – Three Years On” in 2012, and the sequel is currently available to watch on vimeo.
Kennedy says she thinks the breed has been debilitated by show standards that reward exaggerated features like the flat face and large head. She notes that Bulldogs can have such trouble breathing that many cannot exercise normally or even ride in a car that might get warm. – Veterinarian Speaks Out Concerning Bulldog Health Problems, Veterinary Information Network (VIN)
The Kennel Club’s Breed Standard for Bulldogs
The British Kennel Club issued new standards for Bulldogs in 2009. The new standard calls for a “relatively” short face, “heavy, thick-set, low-swung body,” a “very short” face and muzzle and a “massive” and “undershot” jaw. The standards were issued to create a healthier and leaner Bulldog.
The Bulldog Club of America owns the copyright to the American standard and doesn’t plan on following the new standards. The American Kennel Club responded by saying they have no plans to pressure the club into changing it’s mind.
Revision of breed standards, to include evidence-based limits on physical features such as muzzle shortness, and full consideration of other approaches such as outcrossing, are now needed to ensure high risk breeds, such as the English bulldog, do not continue to suffer unnecessarily. – Vets Urge Revision of Breed Standard to Protect Animal Welfare, British Veterinary Association (BVA)
When Breeding Goes Too Far
I’m not against all breeding. There are some breeders who are truly dedicated to the welfare and health of their animals. They do proper health screenings, get to know potential owners, and do not sell their dogs to pet stores or the highest bidder. They demonstrate a great knowledge of their breed and value their reputation for seeking ways to improve upon it.
All breeds are susceptible to bad breeding practices, but the Bulldog is by far the most extreme example. The current breed standards for the Bulldog are well beyond what I would consider healthy. When we breed dogs for extreme traits to make them more marketable, despite the negative consequences to the dogs themselves, something has gone terribly wrong.
It’s these extreme features that make the Bulldog so desirable for consumers, yet so detrimental to the breed itself.
The breed is noted to have locomotion difficulties, breathing problems, an inability to mate or give birth without assistance. . . . Many would question whether the breed’s quality of life is so compromised that its breeding should be banned. – Dr. Nicola Rooney & Dr. David Sargan
What Can We Do?
What’s been done to Bulldogs by bad breeding has had such a negative impact on the animals it defies common sense. We find the extreme look of the modern Bulldog desirable, yet we sacrificed their well-being to achieve it.
Don’t support bad breeding practices by buying a Bulldog puppy from a breeder or pet store. If you’re considering getting a Bulldog please adopt one from a rescue or shelter.
Additional Resources
- Dog Behavior Science – 100 Years of Breed “Improvement”
- NYTimes – Can The Bulldog Be Saved?
- Slim Doggy – Pedigree Dog Health Issues
- VIN – Veterinarian Speaks Out Concerning Bulldog Health Concerns
- PBS – Selective Breeding Problems
- GAIA Research Institute – Bulldog Welfare Concerns
If you’re looking for a Bulldog please consider adopting from a rescue
Great post and overview of what improper breeding practices can results in. We wrote about overweight Labs a few months ago – same issue – breeding to the extremes. It’s a real shame that these once beautiful healthy dogs are no longer healthy all in the name of ‘show’.
It is such a shame; they’ve got such wonderful personalities and breeding for these extremes seems like such a careless way to make them more marketable.
This is an amazing post. I have been thinking about bad breeding practices for the past few weeks, feeling a future blog post brewing. People don’t realize that this is not what bulldogs are meant to look like…they have been bred to look more “extreme”, and it really is terrible for the breed. I am sharing your post in the hopes that more people understand the importance of adoption when it comes to breeds like the bulldog.
They used to be such athletic dogs, it really is a shame what’s been done to them over the years. It really seems to defy logic.
When my Boston Terrior had to be put down (15years old). I was really interested in a bulldog due to their personality. However after researching the breed I soon realized that adding a bulldog to my family might be the wrong choice. This lead me to the Olde English Bulldogge. I purchased the puppy 15 months ago. He is an amazing dog. Their disposition is that of the English but they are really athletic, with none of the health issues. If your looking for a bulldog and I would look into the Olde English.
You are so right I have two Old English Bull Doggies and they are very good dog,so far no health problems and they are very strong and athletic dogs,they get alone with other dogs and are not aggressive but if they feel danger they reacted,they are great with my Grandkids and are very good babysitters,they are also very slurred anything that comes with in100 yrds of my house I know it,if I had any cons it would be they can be alittle stubborn,Great Dogs.
Could not agree more I have a wonderful bulldog Copper very energetic and a truly beautiful member of our family ❤️
Hi christine I have a English bully girl and she will be 13 years young how lucky I am to have in my life.
Dont believe everything you read and I think a person needs to follow that dream puppy they always wanted
Absolutely! My niece breeds these, and ours is named Sadie~Jean.. she is an “Olde English Bull Dogge”. Spayed, 91 lbs and extremely healthy. Long legs, extremely muscular and strong. Her breed was an experiment from the 1970’s but I can’t remember the breeder’s name. Supposedly they are lesser Pit Bull, more Mastiff and most old English, which was to get them as close the the breed that had been eliminated in the 1800’s. The passiveness from the Old English… the size and strength of the Mastiff and protection of the Pit Bull…. we could not ask for a better dog and we have young grandchildren who adore her gentle nature ….she’s a sweetheart♥️
I found the info folks:
The Olde English Bulldogge is an American dog breed. In the 1970s David Leavitt created a true-breeding lineage as a re-creation of the healthier working bulldog from early nineteenth century England. Wikipedia
The olde English bulldog is the way to go for sure !
Great post & very well organized. I actually learned quite a bit here! I had no idea that that large of a percentage of bulldogs were born via C-section, but it makes sense. It’s really a shame what humans have done to great breeds. Sharing.
Thank so much; it’s shameful the things we’ve done to make them more marketable. They really are such a great breed and now they suffer from such poor breeding choices.
Let us not use kind words for those who breed dogs for show. I say the human is the most cruel of all animals on earth.
ah wow. I didn’t realize these dogs have been changed so much!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
It is incredibly sad to see what has been done to many breeds in the way of sacrificing their welfare in the name of the “betterment of the breed.” Thank you so much for sharing this-more people need to be made aware!
This was very interesting and I agree, shame on humans! It’s insane that people want to modify a breed just to make it more marketable. Will share this post!
Breeding to the extremes has such detrimental effects on these poor dogs. It’s so interesting to look back on what breeds used to look like and how much healthier they were. There are many breeders trying to save the integrity of the breed, but far more that just want to make money : /
It really is so sad when it’s done for money rather than integrity. I’m pretty sure the Bulldog’s integrity was stripped away when they lost the ability to breed without human intervention, or at least that is when their big downfall began.
A thoughtful and well-researched post – thank you for sharing! While, thankfully, I am not a product of irresponsible breeding, my older “sister” Emma the Boston Terrier was. She had several health issues, the most serious of which was anemia, which ultimately took her life. It is so important that people do research before they purchase a purebred dog: make sure you are purchasing from a responsible and reputable breeder. If you are at all unsure, adoption is always a great option!
Thank you so much. Sorry to hear about Emma’s health problems; it’s always such heartache for us owners.
Interesting! I actually never knew alot about bulldogs, I have a friend with one and know that she has had many many troubles with him as he is very high maintenance. cleaning face wrinkles daily, wiping messy bum, lots of medications and health issues.
It’s such a shame how negatively impacted some breeds are like the Bulldog. I know some breeds have benefited over the years and are actually healthier, but that isn’t the case for all breeds. I wish us humans would put health concerns for the dog over how we think a breed should look.
The Bulldog is the only breed I know of that can’t even reproduce without human intervention. When things go that far it’s time to take a look and see what we’ve done to these animals. It’s just so sad because every Bulldog I’ve met has a wonderful personality – so I completely understand the desire to own one.
French bulldog cannot reproduce alone either – also requires C section births.
Not sure what you mean by perfect personality – every bulldog I’ve met has been completely vacant and lacking personality – makes sense when you realize they’re concentrating on just breathing since it’s such a struggle for them. If they were bred to actually be able to breathe and run properly maybe I’d see more of that hidden personality you’re talking about.
You know, that is kind of mean to ppl that own a BULLY with tons of PERSONALITY! I don’t know where the Bullies are you are meeting that are Vacant and lacking personality, but I would assume that has MORE to do with their owners b/c my 6 month old Bully breaths perfect And has the BEST personality ever!
Please don’t say mean things about a dog that humans HAVE destroyed already! They are wonderful to be owned by and a very loving breed also! Until you OWN one, don’t knock them, they might SURPRISE YOU!
My bully had no problems until he turned 2 then all hell broke loose my vet said it was the teen years. God bless your bully and many years of love. I lost my baby at 3and a half .
Very well written post. The history bulldogs is fascinating, I didn’t realize it could be traced so far back. It would be interesting to find out if the breeding trend could be reversed in time. I do not personally know a bulldog, but the ones I’ve met in passing do indeed seem laid back and sweet.
I’d love to know as well if they can make any changes at this point as far as the Bulldog is concerned. It would be a nice way to save the Bulldog for sure since they really make excellent companions. (aside from the health issues)
They seem “laid back” because they can barely breathe and cannot lose heat properly so don’t have the energy to be bouncy or excitable (that would require sufficient oxygen and a working cooling system), nor do they have the energy to be aggressive (fighting takes a lot of oxygen and makes a lot of heat too).
My high energy, highly sensitive, nervous/ reactive herding mix is “laid back and sweet” after she’s had a 2 hour run / hike too. It doesn’t last of course because she can breathe and cool off properly and has a natural physical structure so after a couple of hours of rest she’s back to high energy whirling dervish.
The truth is we don’t know what the bulldog’s true personality is like. It is hidden by their disabilities. When they are bred with longer muzzles and more athletic bodies perhaps their original temperament will come back too. It will be a very interesting experiment – I do hope we can get breeders to stop the torture breeding soon and make bulldogs look and move more like their original founder dogs.
Not that I’d ever own one even then. I personally like herding breeds. This article is very incorrect when it states the American version of bulldog was used for herding – they never were. Catch dogs are not the same as herding dogs (catching and holding onto a cow by the nose is not herding it).
If you are looking for a Bull Dog with all the abilities you just talk about look know further it is called the Old English Bull Doggie,in 1971 a man named David Levitz a breeder and a Veterinarian work very hard to come up with this breed it is 50 percent English Bull,1/6 Pitt Bull ,1/6 American Bull Dog and1/6 Bull Massive and they came up with a Great dog known as the Old English Bulldoggie.It has a awesome personality it can be alittle stubborn,it is a great family dog and will protect you and your family if needed,the Old English is not aggressive to other dogs or human and don’t have many health problems ,they want to please there owners and are usually easy to house train,I have two English Bull Doggies and they do not like me being mad at them,they have turned out to be great dogs.
Hi,
Great article, definitely rich with valuable information about bulldogs. Bulldogs are one of my favorite brachycephalic breeds. I love short nose dogs so much that I’ve also written an article about traveling with brachycephalic breeds. In the article, I talk about traveling domestic and internationally with brachycephalic dogs. I feel what your audience would gain great value from what they’ve read in your article, and gain additional information from reading my article as well! Here’s the link https://www.travelingpetsafety.com/snub-nosed-dogs/ if interested in reading.
I also wrote a detailed article about dangerous breathing issues that plague brachycephalic dogs https://www.travelingpetsafety.com/dog-breathing-problems-brachycephalic-airway-syndrome/. I would greatly appreciate any constructive feedback about the articles
Again, awesome article! I look forward to reading more of your post.
Thanks,
Wil
British Bulldogs are a recent breed and aren’t related to the old English bulldogs used in bull baiting, old English bulldogs are extinct as of the mid to late 19th century and British bulldogs didn’t exist until the mid 20th century and were bred as companion dogs not fighting dogs.
I own a two year old English Bulldog. He’s energetic, loves to play and has more personality than any other dog I’ve ever owned or known.
My boy doesn’t spend his time trying to breathe. He has never had breathing issues and he is a pure bred English Bulldog.
I agree this breed can be prone to problems and has special needs but I’d never be without a Bulldog!
Aside from snoring , some minor allergies and expected extra maintenance my boy is happy, extremely affectionate and at two years old, still runs, jumps and plays like a puppy.
The snoring is because your dog is struggling to breath. The snoring us a result of the oversized palette that partially blocks the airway.
People will honestly convince themselves of whatever it is they need to believe to justify keeping these dogs. Ignoring all of the evidence from veterinary experts. Because how could you sleep at night if you actually acknowledged the damage done to the dogs and their constant suffering?
Thanks for sharing. This makes me so sad ?????????? #emilyenglishbulldog
And that’s the reason I own an Olde English Bulldogge.
Had to put mine to sleep for nuerological problems…completely devastated me. Best friend and family member…Miss you Bruce!
We bought a pup that was 1/2 American Bulldog and 1/2 Old English Bulldog. His snout was long gated, no pallet issues. Lived to be over 10 years old ,a lover 95lbs.
Consider a rescue? Right. There are tons of Bulldogs in rescues.
Just get a mixed breed. I’ve had both and have had the best luck with rescue in terms of health and temperament. When people start spending big bucks on purebreds, unscrupulous people bread dogs to ride the gravy train.
Rescue dogs that are mixed breed have a greater diversity of genetic material, this is why you get fewer health issues with mixed breeds.
I wish that everyone getting a dog would adopt a mixed breed rather than a pure bred. I also wish people would consider older dogs over puppies. With an older dog you know what you’re getting in terms of temperament and most chronic health issues will be apparent so you know what you’re dealing with. Older dogs are actually easier to train because their brains are fully developed. Their bladders are also fully developed so they can be toilet trained very quickly. They’re also often a lot less destructive than puppies.
At the very least i wish people would avoid bracycephalic breeds with these known health issues. The appeal of dogs with faces designed to look like human children (Frenchies, B Bulldogs, Pugs) is creepy and weird to me. Even though they are part of the family, they are still dogs, not human children. They should be allowed to look like dogs and behave like dogs.
I am currently a foster carer to a 5yo British Bulldog. She was over bred to meet the demand for British bulldog puppies. She’s had 3 litters in the last year. The toll on her body means that she ruptured her cruciate ligament. Needing surgery and not able to carry a litter the breeders agreed to surrender her. She was lucky. A lot of other breeding bitches get euthanized, and mot always in a human way because that costs money. She has trouble breathing (excessive snoring, occasional hyperventilation), has difficulty with picking up some foods due to her under bite, physically can’t reach to keep herself clean so needs her bottom and vulva cleaned daily, has sensitive skin that requires ointment daily to stop her feeling itchy and licking her paws raw and has recurrent ear infections. She is one of the sweetest souls I have ever met, but her life is a constant struggle and it breaks my heart every day. These dogs deserve better, humans have failed them.
If you’re reading this. Please dont buy a British Bulldog puppy. Your desire for that puppy is the reason my foster girl has had a miserable life. Buying British Bulldog puppies makes you complicit in their suffering.
An American bulldog from the Scott or Johnson blood line is an old breed that has been a great breed started in North Georgia along time ago and is the perfect bulldog look them up.