Bulldog may not look as adorable as some of the other dog breeds, but many pet owners are starting to find them to be perfect companions. If there is any such awards, the bulldog will win hands down. Let's take a look at what most pet owners are looking for when buying a pet:
1) Not overly active.
Over active dog breeds often require more time and attention as they need more exercise. This is not the animal's fault. It has, by nature, abundant energy and it needs to burn off excessive energy. Almost all sporting dogs such as spaniels and retrievers fall into this category. So if you are not looking for lots of opportunities to go outdoors, dogs with this personality is not for you.
2) Fiery temperament.
Dogs with a fiery temperament may not be good companions either. They have the tendency to want to dominate all the time. Don't be fooled by a dog's size. Even a tiny dog like the terrier can have a fiery temper. Their temper also make it hard for them to socialize with young children.
The lesson here is clear - looks can be deceiving. A bulldog may not look like an active creature. Some even label them as being lazy and "potato coaches". But the truth is, bulldogs are not lazy animals at all. They can, in fact, prioritize when it comes to their own behavior. That is why the bulldog don't respond to every single noise or command that it hears.
A dog that reacts to every command may come across as a little irritating. The bulldog, however, responds intelligently. If it hears a command that does not align with its own value systems, it simply ignores the command.
The bulldog matures at a much slower rate compared to other dog breeds. This means it will remain fun and playful for the first 24 months or so. Most dogs would already have matured after 15 months. Because of this characteristic, you can't really predict the personality of a bulldog until it is much older.
As a companion, the bulldog is perfect. But you can't expect the bulldog to be a good guard dog because it takes too long for the true personality to reveal itself. Some personalities are too laid back and dogs with such personalities will never make good guard dogs.
But a bulldog is known to be very loyal and lots of fun to have around. It certainly isn't overly active, which can be a problem at times. If you are purely seeking companionship, the bulldog is the perfect choice. Even though they don't make the perfect guard dogs, bulldogs are brave enough to protect their owners when they feel that their owners are being threatened.
They may look fierce, but they actually have a sweet temperament. Because of their easy going personality, this makes it perfect for any pet owners who keep other pets. You don't want your dogs to be fighting the whole day. This also means that bulldogs are perfect if you live in a small apartment. They will just get along with the other occupants in the house.
But this doesn't mean that you can throw two animals together and expect them to get along from day one. If you already own a pup, be around to observe social behaviors. If your existing pup displays aggressive behavior, it's probably because it sees the bulldog pup as an outsider. Give them time to get to know each other. Play with them together, and let them feed together. As long as they share pleasurable moments together, they will soon learn to accept each other.
So back to the question, are bulldog puppies perfect family pets?
They are if you are looking for some company, as bulldog are sociable animals by nature. They may not move as fast as the other dogs and they may not be as energetic. But they are stable animals who are very loyal, and are brave enough to protect their owners in times of need. Most dog owners would be happy with such loyal companionship. Who can resist a sociable pup who is fun-loving and playful?
If this is the first time you are buying a pet, check out the post on puppy training tips for first timers. There are 10 useful tips that you may find useful.
