Miniature english bulldog

Overall description of the breed

The Miniature English Bulldog, as its name suggests, originated in England in the 15th century, at which time it was used primarily as a fighting dog, selected and worked with the specific aim of being able to compete with bulls in the arena. The dog fighting sessions called "BullBaiting" was very popular in the UK, until it was banned in 1837, it got its name precisely from its former activities, with the prefix "Bull" meaning bull. After the ban, the English Bulldog became fierce and combative and was abandoned in favour of other less aggressive dogs, with little breeding and more breeders to maintain its gene pool. The English Bulldog was on the verge of extinction at the end of the 19th century, but a number of enthusiasts decided to resume breeding and set up a rigorous selection process in order to make it a pleasant and trustworthy companion dog, a gamble that has paid off, as today it is one of the most affectionate breeds. Extremely popular in Europe and the United States, this type of dog is not recognised as a breed in its own right by the world dog organisations.

The miniature version is very recent, with the first animals appearing in 2015 and meeting with mixed success. The "mini" version is the result of a selection and crossing between small English Bulldogs, which allowed breeders to fix the phenotype of the English Bulldog Miniature.

The Miniature English Bulldog is a massive, heavy and robust dog, its body is squat and square, with little stamina, its physical abilities are essentially based on power. Rather short on legs, its body must be short and compact, with a centre of gravity placed close to the ground, which gives it enormous vigour and strength. Its head is imposing, its skull and muzzle are dotted with folds, its jaws are pronounced and its lips drooping, giving it a grumpy air, which is its main charm. His eyes are round, located just above his muzzle, which is very short or even flat on some specimens. His two small ears are placed high on the sides of his skull, this one is crossed by a very visible central groove. The English Bulldog is thick-boned, with strong lower limbs and a solidly built body overall. The tail is short or swollen, furnished with abundant hair. The coat is very short with a silky smooth texture, it may be harsh on some specimens. The standard coat colours are: red, fawn, black, fawn and white, other non-standard colours also exist.

Nowadays, the Miniature English Bulldog is an ideal companion dog, affectionate and close to its owners, it needs a lot of attention on a daily basis to be well off. Gentle and shy, this is a breed with a sensitive character, always on the lookout for the slightest caress and proof of love from its owner. Bulldogs enjoy family activities, provided they are not too intense, especially in the company of children, with whom they are particularly close. Not very athletic, endurance is not one of its primary qualities, however, it will love to share beautiful walks with you, happy in urban or rural environments, it will adapt to you and your lifestyle with great ease. He is very friendly with his owners and does not like to be alone. Improvements can be made if he is well trained from a young age. Like all Bulldogs, he can be stubborn and obedience is not in his genes, but his playfulness and friendliness will win you over. Slightly distrustful of strangers, he will need a short period of adaptation to gain confidence. Faithful and loyal, he will brighten up the daily life of the house with great joy and tenderness.

Adult: The Miniature English Bulldog will weigh between 33-44lbs and will not exceed 12" in height.