The Hype with Bulldogs: Why I Bought Two

Why is the bulldog so popular as a family pet today? I asked myself this question about a hundred times - and then I became the proud "Mommy" to two bullie girls, and my questions were wonderfully answered!

I had seen photos of (English) bulldogs and thought they had faces that were quite fierce and not very pretty. I wondered why anyone would want one of these dogs. Then my husband's sister became a licensed breeder of these sweet dogs and I began to get to know the breed. Before long I was hopelessly in love and we brought our two babies-Lucy and Fiona-home with us on a fine autumn day. What fun they had exploring, jumping into the piles of autumn leaves in the yard. They immediately took over the house and greeted the string of visitors who came to see them as though they were all old friend.

I have learned a lot about this breed since then and I will share some of what I know with you. Are English Bulldogs beautiful? Yes! When a visitor comes into our house for the first time, they are greeted by our "girls" and, at first, take a step back. For the Bulldog can present a daunting figure to a newcomer to the breed. They come toward you with that fierce countenance, head held low, and with a slow gait-who wouldn't be intimidated? But upon reaching the new visitor, Lucy places one paw on their leg, looks up with those sad eyes, and seems to say, "Don't be afraid. I just look scary. Please pet me." Then Fiona (who is much more active than her sister) bounces in, gives everyone she can reach a few wet kisses and demands to be played with. It is then that the "beauty" of this breed becomes apparent-not because of any physical attribute, but in their loving and devoted nature.

The Bulldog was originally bred in England for the sport of bull-baiting. After the outlawing of this "sport", the Bulldog came dangerously close to extinction until a few breeders decided that these wonderful dogs shouldn't be lost and worked to preserve them. Shortly thereafter, the English Bulldog came to this country, was accepted into the AKC registry and have been a favorite of dog fanciers and breeders ever since.