In 1889, Yale University became the first American college to adopt a mascot to represent itself to the rest of the country. The mascot, Handsome Dan, was an English bulldog donated by a student to the university. Handsome Dan attended all the football games, both as a Yale fan and as a crowd pleaser. Handsome Dan XVI is the current Yale icon. Yale’s mascot choice has influenced other schools to follow suit, as the English bulldog is one of the most popular symbols for both colleges and high schools. This fact is not at all surprising once the bulldog’s nature is understood.

The appearance of an English bulldog is well known by most. It is a stocky breed standing only 12-14 inches at the shoulder with males weighing about 50 pounds and females about 40 pounds. The bulldog coat is straight and short and comes in solid white, solid red, a variety of brindles, piebald, and solid black. Apart from its stout body, the English bulldog is known for its characteristic wrinkled skin and short muzzle, the latter in particular heralding back to its original purpose.

Bulldogs were originally used in the English sport of  bull baiting in the 1600’s. The shape of the bulldog’s muzzle helped the bulldog breathe while holding onto the bull. By 1835, bull baiting was banned in England, which almost led to the breed’s extinction. However, a small remaining fan- base insured that the bulldog survived.

The modern English bulldog has an interesting temperament. Stubbornness is characteristic of the breed. Bulldogs choose what they want to do when they want to do it. They make excellent family pets, as they are great with small children and other animals. English bulldogs are extremely loyal and gentle. Another trait that draws people to the breed is its natural clown-like attitude. They seek out human attention and enjoy all they can get.

However rough and tumble a bulldog is, they do suffer from several health issues. Bulldogs are notorious for snoring and drooling. They have very active digestive systems, which can be offensive. The breed is prone to skin infections, as well as hip and knee problems. Because of their large heads, most are delivered by caesarean section.

Despite descending from bull baiters, the modern bulldog is best suited for indoor living. They thrive in moderate climates and are good apartment dogs. Hot and cold climates are not suitable for a bulldog as overheating and chills can occur, respectively. They are prone to becoming lazy and overweight, so some exercise is required and diet must be monitored, although this is not the dog to take jogging. Bulldogs are able to sprint for a short distance, however tire quickly. Attention is key to the bulldog’s happiness, so few enjoy spending large amounts of time alone.

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