Bulldogs World

empty :(

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/magazine/can-the-bulldog-be-saved.html...

timing with this article coming out during our national show.

What I will say is that UGA bulldogs are not what you will see winning in the show ring.  They are too heavy and overdone.  So to use that line as an example as to what breeders are breeding for is IMO not correct. 

Also will say these are the reasons I encourage buyers to purchase from breeders that are doing health testing.  While there are no guarantees, it is a start and those breeders that are taking health seriously should be rewarded. 

I've had Bulldogs for 15/16 years and my first lived to 11 1/2, MacKenzie is 8 1/2, Cleo is 6 1/2, Ester is 4 1/2 and Kohl is 18 months and I'm not expecting any deaths soon.  They are all healthy happy dogs.  Infact I took Ester jogging the other morning, I got exhausted, couldn't keep up with her.

...and I have to pretty much agree with the thrust of the article. It doesn't make me love my boy any less, or regret anything in the last 8 years he's been with me, but if I'm honest about it, the breed has issues beyond what virtually all other dogs do.

I'll never forget an off-hand comment to me by my vet -- Dr. Shaw, a renowned bulldog vet in the Chicago area. He was talking to me about one of the dozens of  issue's I've had Doyle in for him to look at,  and he said, " they are uncomfortable enough normally, we need to get this taken care of for him. "

I've read about the " healthy " breeding practices done by reputable breeders as well, and while their intentions are noble, genetically speaking, how long can you inbreed certain genetic lines before there are problems? 

I absolutely love my boy and the breed for all their wonderful traits, and individual personalities. But as an engineer, I'm trained to look at facts and it simply seems obvious that there is an issue here. It's worth looking at and entertaining ideas instead of being offended that people are attacking the breed we love.

And of course I know I come with a bias but the fact of the matter is that Bulldogs are NOT inherently unhealthy.

It's a huge misconception that Bulldogs are suffering just simply because of their conformation.

It's my understanding the reporter's introduction to our breed was at a vets clinic. If you were an alien and had to research humans and got most of your research from a hospital, what kind of view would you come away with of the human race?? Makes sense right? Had the reporter been to a casting call I worked last week where dogs (mostly Bulldogs) competed to win a chance on a float where dogs are surfing, he might of came away with a different view. Maybe if the reporter spent equal time with Tillman or with Gabe and watched him do lure coursing and agility, the article may of been more balanced??

I laughed out loud with the EX Bulldoger who got an Olde English and is claiming it's healthier and yet its only 5 months. Give me a break.

Please keep in mind , Reputable breeders are a relatively small group compared to those out there indiscriminately breeding.

When I meet people in the streets and they ask about Bulldogs and health problems, I always take the time and educate them. "No, my dogs do not have breathing problems and other issues because they were bred with health as the top priority". I have 4 Bulldogs and I rarely go to the vet!! I grew up with Collies and my dogs are honestly just as active and healthy as my collies.

Instead of changing the breed, we need to preserve it by protecting it!!!

I read this article tonight & I'm just sitting here thinking of comebacks & then thinking...well that sounds like an excuse.  Your post here made me nod my head & say, yes, yes!!  So thank you!  :0)

In the past, I've listened to the AKC's Canine Health Foundation's podcast & they were talking about the "poor bulldog" & how humans have bred them to the state they are now & continued on w/a similar stance as this article had.  BUT one person (a vet I believe) did admit that while pure bred dogs do get the negative press regarding health issues, it's mostly because mixed breeds haven't had much research done on them to PROVE they are healthier.

I also had to laugh at the fact that this article talked about how unhealthy pure breed dogs are...but only pointed the main finger of the article on the bulldog.  There are other breeds mentioned in this article, but the bulldog was singled out for some reason...cuz they're cute??

In the last 5 years (how long I've had bulldogs/dogs), I've met a lot of people who "always wanted a bulldog"...but don't do their research on what to expect from a bulldog...whether that's price, upkeep, exercise, personality, health concerns, etc...but ALSO, many, many people do not do their research on reputable breeders & there ARE breeders who ARE doing health testing on their bulldogs before they breed them.  I wish the article would have touched on that more.

When people tell me they've "always wanted a bulldog," I've never said "don't" like this article had person after person after person doing.  I'm just honest with people & say, "they're very fun, but not for everyone" & if they ask how so, I'll tell them.  I love my bullies.  I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to my husband's constant plead for a bulldog (he had them growing up).  I did my research.  I didn't expect, nor want a dog that could run miles on end.  Something else the article mentions as the downfall of the bulldog...well, I can't imagine the bulldog is the only dog in the world that is not a long distance runner.

Do I think there are unhealthy bulldogs out there?  Absolutely.  Do I think there are breeders who are prepetuating the problem?  No doubt.  But I do firmly believe if more people researched breeders (ie not a puppy mill, backyard breeder, designer dogs, etc) before getting their bulldog, it would help some...not all.  Of course I'm also not saying reputable breeders who do testing can't have dogs with health problems...that's just not realistic...but you have to start somewhere...and in my opinion research is key.

Ok, getting off the soapbox now...hope everyone is doing well...I've been lurking, just haven't posted lately.  :)

The main problem is back yard breeders and puppy mills who breed indiscriminately for monetary gain. These people don't care if the dogs they are breeding are sick or have genetic defects. They only care about the money.

A true breeder is one who only breeds healthy dogs who are good examples of the breed. I'm not saying that problems can't exist in a good breeders lines because it does occasionally happen.  But at least every effort has been made to keep these problems to a minimum through careful research.

A puppy miller just throws two dogs together without regard to health, temperment or conformation. And as long as we continue to buy from people like this, our breed will continue to have problems. 

The UGA line in notorious for it's unhealthy dogs. This is a line I would stay away from.

I've lost two bulldogs over the years. One was given the wrong anestesia and died during surgery, he was a rescue. The other died very young at 16 months due to a horrible reaction from a sting. I also have bulldogs that are 10+, 9 and 7. Yes, bulldogs are higher maintenance than other dogs but, you just have to be smart about the way you handle them. I live in the South with high humidity so, that means I am careful about how much heat they are exposed to. It's not rocket science, just common sense.

The bulldog is to a certain degree a man made breed. But, it's not that the dogs can't breed and whelp naturally, it's that we have just gotten smarter in how we breed. It's safer and easier to ship semen across country than to ship the dog. It's also safer for the puppies and the Mom to have c-sections.

If Trace could talk, he would probably say that he would rather not walk around a show ring. But, he would also say that he loves car rides to and from shows, the treats he gets, the people he meets and the trips to pet stores when he's away on a trip. He is certainly not an unhappy dog while at shows.

The author of that artlcle obviously has never owned a bulldog or he would know that our breed is wonderful.

thay didnt ask us owner I read about half and intend to fininsh reading it. but what i read seem like they should of been talking to the owner of bulldogs.