We are going to touch on a topic most bulldog owners should be conscious of, and at times you may worry about: How much exercise should your bulldog be getting?

Of course, answers will vary, but regarding English Bulldogs there are concerns other dog breeds may not experience—joint problems, cardiac ailments, and obesity. With shorter legs, and a broad muscular body it is little wonder that hip and knees can be problematic, especially as dogs age. While genetics plays a role, many of these problems also come from personality and your dog’s couch-potato type behavior. But, many of these conditions can be avoided, allowing your dog to live a long and healthy life. Along with a nutritious diet, exercise is key. And for bulldogs this can be a little more difficult than with other dogs. However, developing an effective exercise plan for your dog is perhaps easier than your slobbering cuddle buddy will let you know.

Over exercise

Exercise is important, and since this post is about exercising your bulldog, you may wonder why I am mentioning over exercising. After all, can you actually over exercise a dog? Yes, you sure can. Whether your bulldog is a puppy or adult, it is important to understand your dog’s physical limits. Taking your adult bulldog for a three-mile jog isn’t likely going to happen. However, a casual walk around the block may be more suitable.

For english bulldog puppies, while they are a bundle of energy, a walk around the block may still be a little too much.

Understanding over exercising is even more important to bulldog puppies who go through multiple critical growth periods where severe and even permanent damage can occur as a result of over exercise.

How many minutes a day should my bulldog work out?

Routine is good for bulldogs, and much like developing routines in eating habits to control overeating, an exercise routine as a puppy will help your bulldog keep their heart and muscles strong while limiting damage to their knee and hip joints.

Limiting playtime before you encourage a slow-down period for your dog can go a long way to teaching your dog about exercise.

For example, 30 minutes of playtime outside for an adult before bringing your dog indoors to slow down is a great way to manage an exercise routine. And after bringing your dog inside limit play times to about 10 minutes every couple hours if your dog is aggressively running around and playing.

As puppies you can keep 30 minutes as a regular exercise routine, but instead of allowing your bulldog to run around for 30 minutes, limit the strenuous and aggressive play to 10 minutes before slowing your dog’s pace for the next 20 minutes.

Low Impact Exercise

As you can guess, taking your dog to a dog park, or going for a jog around the lake every day is probably too much for your dog. This means focusing on low-impact exercise that may not always mean running around.

First, if you know your bulldog will be running around, you will want to consider the ground. Will your dog be running on cement? Crushed mulch? Wood chips? Or, grass? The harder the ground, the harder your bulldog’s joints will take the impact of their weight. Softer, and more absorbent, ground is better for your bulldog.

Bulldogs love to cuddle, gnaw, and roll around with their toys. Providing toys that will encourage your dog to move around, slow down, and roll around can be helpful. For example, balls with odd-edges can help your dog’s Chase, Capture and Enjoy—a helpful mantra to understand how to keep your dog’s heart rate up, while keeping their joints comfortable.

Buddy-up!

Bulldogs love companionship and are one of the friendliest dogs on the planet. They bond well with other dogs, and much to your feline’s chagrin, bulldogs get along with cats too. Introducing a pal to bum around with is a great way for your dog to get some exercise and companionship. Whether you have other pets at home, or schedule play-dates, having a friend to roll around with is a great way to get exercise and keep your bulldog emotionally healthy as well.

Supervision

Supervision should always be considered a regular part of playtime. While your dog’s curiosity is as good a reason to supervise, the biggest reason is to monitor possible injury. For example, your dog can go from playing without an issue to suddenly wheezing and limping. Remember too, that bulldogs have developed a high pain tolerance over centuries of warrior-like breeding. This means that your dog could be in pain and struggling, but not slow down. This is where constant supervision will help your dog the most.

Signs of overheating, limping, and labored breathing are an indication that playtime is over for now. If the concern does not appear to be serious, or has only just begun it is okay to take your dog inside for a little welcomed relaxation. If you see signs of overheating such as an abnormally wobbly walk, falling down in a casual stride, or passing out, then you should contact your vet immediately.

Playtime for your bulldog should be fun. The focus on exercise is to develop a strong heart and strong muscles. Having several toys laying around for your dog to play with will encourage the Chase, Capture, and Enjoy challenge that provides bursts of exercise and relaxed gnawing and rolling around with the dog’s captured toy. With a little routine and fun exercise your dog is on their way to a long and healthy life.

Source

Handsome Dan is the Yale mascot, and like over 200 mascots is represented by a bulldog. But, the legacy of Handsome Dan goes back much farther than simply being a college mascot. Handsome Dan, a role played by 17 bulldogs since 1889 is not only the longest standing live-mascot tradition in college football, but also the oldest live mascot tradition in the world.

The honor of Handsome Dan has passed from one bulldog to the next for 127 years as a dog passes away or retires from his or her role.

So what does it take to go down as one of a very few lucky bulldog’s in the world? These are the requirements for every Handsome Dan:

1. The ability to tolerate bands and children. As you will soon see, this is taken seriously and has forced several dogs into early retirement.
2.  A gut-wrenching and aggressiveness toward the color crimson (Harvard)
3. A disdain for tigers (Princeton)
4. A self-awareness of cleanliness

Prominent Handsome Dan’s

The following are a few Handsome Dan’s who stand out among the rest. They have either achieved fame, were long standing mascots, or built a legacy for themselves. We start, of course, with the one to lead them all Handsome Dan I, a truly handsome dog.

Handsome Dan I was purchased from a blacksmith in 1889 for $65 and as he was often paraded through campus with his owner Andrew Graves, Handsome Dan soon became adopted as the school’s mascot. His name was truly prophetic as Handsome Dan would go on to win first prize at the Westminster Dog show as well as 30 more first prizes at dog shows across the U.S. and Canada. As a tribute to Dan’s importance in Yale history he was stuffed and now rests in a sealed glass case one of Yale’s trophy rooms at the Payne Whitney Gymnasium.

Handsome Dan X was another show dog who won the best bulldog title at the Cape Cod Kennel Club Conformation Show. He is also credited with leading Yale to its 1960 9-0 season. But, Dan X wasn’t without good breeding. His grandfather was Kippax Fearnought, the famed best in show winner of the 1955 Westminster dog show.

Handsome Dan XII was the only female Handsome Dan in the school’s history. Also known by the name of Bingo she was once nabbed by several Yale college students who took her back to their apartment. As a manhunt soon grew out of control Bingo was returned to her home.

The Short Stay

As mentioned earlier not every bulldog can hold up to the public image of being Handsome Dan. The constant barrage of photographers, loud and obnoxious fans and stadiums, as well as excited kids who want nothing more than to play with their favorite bulldog. The following, after short stints sadly buckled under the pressure.

Handsome Dan III – Morbid fear of large crowds.

Handsome Dan VII – Had difficulty managing his temper and went on to become a watch dog in Florida.

Handsome Dan VIII – Retired after two games due to a fear of large crowds.

Hung Around for the Long Haul

While some bulldogs couldn’t touch the intensity of being Handsome Dan for long, others reveled in the glory and basked in the crowds of onlookers. The following Handsome Dan’s lasted long tenures, several of which retired in old age from their mascot role.

Handsome Dan V was one of the most charismatic bulldogs to play the role. He lasted 7 years in the spotlight before passing away of old age.

Handsome Dan X ironically lasted for ten years as Yale’s mascot with several honors listed above.

Handsome Dan XII lasted 9 years

Handsome Dan XIII was the only bulldog to serve the Handsome Dan role twice. He served 11 years from 1984 to 1995, then came out of retirement to serve an additional year in 1996.

Handsome Dan XV reigned 9 years before passing away from a heart attack.

A New Handsome Dan

Sadly, Handsome Dan XVII “Sherman” named for the Sherman tank passed away on August 11, 2016 just before the college football season kicked off. He has yet to be replaced.

We recently featured a blog post, How to Name Your Bulldog, where we explored several ways you can use your bulldog’s look and personality to find a name for your pet. Well, today, we’re going to make things a lot easier for you by handing out the list of the ten most popular bulldog names for both male and female pets. We’ll even toss in a bonus of 10 playful names we’ve come across in case you wanted a conversation starter.

This list of names was compiled by Vetstreet who searched their database of over 200,000 registered bulldog names. That’s a ton of dog names, making this one of the most accurate top ten name lists for bulldogs. Certainly the most accurate we found.

With no further ado, here are the two lists…Ladies first!

10 most popular female bulldog names:

1. Bella
2. Daisy
3. Lola
4. Lucy
5. Maggie
6. Roxy
7. Molly
8. Sadie
9. Chloe
10. Sophie

10 most popular male bulldog names:

1. Tank
2. Max
3. Winston
4. Rocky
5. Dozer
6. Buster
7. Diesel
8. Brutus
9. Bubba
10. Duke

As you can see the names reflect our spirit as bulldog owners. The female names bring me memories of sundresses and rolling southern fields of wildflowers. The male names come equipped with their own arsenal of rockets and missiles.

Now, for fun here are a few more names. These are all real names, some unique, and some plain silly.

Playful bulldog names:

• Koby Teeth
• Muttley Crue
• Salvador Dogi
• Broken Pawmisses
• Jimmy Chew
• Rodney Doggiefield
• Farrah Pawcett
• Artoo Dogtoo
• Tony Bono Romo
• Beau Dacious

Naming of your bulldog is a time-honored tradition for bulldog owners across the world. In fact, there are few dog breeds (or animals for that matter) whose name reflects the spirit and looks of our beloved bulldog.

Whether you choose a name that shows off your dog’s broad shoulders, wrinkled snout, stubby nature, or go for its waddle and lazy-charm there are common and inventive names aplenty.

So have some fun with it and let us know some of your favorite bulldog names.

We’ve talked in previous posts how bulldogs have had an adventurous and ferocious past as bull-baiting dogs. Now, though, they are one of the most docile dogs in the world and beloved as the family dog and companion. But, how did this happen in a short span of about 150 years?

Most people know the answer is through breeding. Take for example the philosophy of bulldog breeders. Breeders will keep the best of their litters in order to breed further generations. This ensures that the best qualities we’ve come to love in bulldogs are replicated over time – enabling the breed to improve on those qualities as well as maintaining the breed and preventing extinction.

However, our real question is how did we go from fearsome to cuddly? The bulldog of today maintains much of the physical characteristics of past bulldogs, but little of the aggressive nature.

Bulldogs are thought to come from the now extinct Alaunt dog breed. Alaunts were larger short-haired dogs commonly used throughout Central Asia and Europe. As is customary among ancient breeding the provenance of the bulldog is a matter of speculation, with some historians arguing that the bulldog is the parent breed to the Mastiff, while others say both breeds came from the Alaunt. However, despite their historical debates bulldogs were larger and stronger than our current breed. Due to their strength and physical stature they could be used for many types of duties from farm labor to warfare. By the 1800’s bulldogs grew to popularity in the sports bull-baiting, hence the name bulldog. Due to their physical strength, aggressive nature, and unique physical features bulldogs were excellent hunters and fighters.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold on for a minute here! I know what you’re thinking. That little ball of muscle rolling around on the couch with my toddler while watching a football game is aggressive? It used to be a fighter? Not a chance!

Well, it’s true, but again how we got to our current breed is up for debate and speculation. A common belief is that our current breed came directly from the bull-baiting breed of the 18th and early 19th century. The process of carefully breeding the bulldogs by a few small bulldog lovers in England who wanted to develop a more docile breed by selective breeding is a possibility. Traditionalists will argue that these early dog clubs kept purity in the breed and over multiple generations of dogs had bred out the aggressive nature the dogs were once prized for. Yet, another theory is that the current bulldog is a cross-breed of pugs, and the bulldog. This created a muscular and broad shouldered dog, with the docile and playful nature of the much smaller pug.

Pugs have for centuries been a favorite throughout Asia and Europe, especially regarding royalty and other affluent families. Their gentle nature made them excellent companions and they embody the desired traits of their owners – loyal, brave, and affectionate. Throughout China they were bred for these reasons for the ruling families.

However, the curiosity surrounding a bull-baiting crossbreed between a pug and older bulldog breed comes from several modern similarities:
• Shorter and wider body
• Distinctively shorter muzzle
• Temperament: playful, affectionate, docile, and often lazy and cuddly.

These traits while very much resembling a pug, have less distinction among past bulldogs which passes the question would it have been possible to breed out the centuries or millennia of aggressive behavior bulldogs once had in such a short time? Critics of the pug theory argue yes, it is, with the premise similar to the statement by John D. Jackson in a 1997 interview, “I do not believe that a 15-pound Pug was ever crossed in the 17th or the 18th century with a 100-to-120-pound Bulldog. I do not believe that this was possible in those days, since they did not know artificial insemination.” Mr. Jackson also cites that bulldogs have never been reported as having a black mask, and their tails are twisted differently.

However, we look at these three distinctive time for the bulldog – Alaunt, Bull-baiting, Modern – the debate still rages on much more fiercely than the affection bulldog we know and love today. Still, curiosity is both the success and plague of man. So, we pose the question to you – Do you think our modern bulldog was bred to its smaller stature and demeanor by aggressive breeding in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? Or, do you think breeding more aggressive bull-baiting bulldogs with pugs created our current breed?

Nobody who owns a bulldog will ever tell you that their dog lacks for hunger. For many people dogs end up being an animated garbage disposal when it comes to dinner. However, you need to be careful on what you are feeding your dog. Bulldogs in particular tend to be more susceptible to “toxic” foods.

For starters, your bulldog should be fed a recommended dog food. Table scraps just won’t do. Surprised? Well, here are five foods that might do more than make your dog whimper a little. These foods can cause some serious damage to your favorite companion. And, it’s a good bet that some of these foods might surprise you.

On this list we are looking at everyday foods that might surprise you. We’ve left out the common toxic foods such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, and onions. So, before you clear off your dinner table into your bulldog’s food dish take a look at these human delicious, yet bulldog toxic foods. You’ll thank us.

1. Raw Bread Dough

Raw bread dough can harm your dog in several ways.

First, introducing raw dough (yeast) to a dog’s stomach can inhibit fermentation.

Secondly, the dough can cause large gas bubbles that force your dog’s stomach and intestines to expand. This can lead to extreme pain and a ruptured stomach or intestinal tract.

2. Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are on this list because of how recently they’ve been discovered to be a problem for dogs. In fact, the discovery is so new that scientists don’t even know what chemical compounds harm the dogs. What’s unique about macadamia nuts is that dogs appear to be the only species known to have problems.

While problems appear to be nonfatal, your dog will definitely be in pain. They may experience frequent vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors, depression, and hypothermia.

3. Apple Cores

Apples may be one of the most popular fruits on the market, but for dogs, apple cores can be one of the most toxic. The core of an apple contains cyanogenic glycosodes. Haven’t heard of it? Well, how about its common name—cyanide?

Leaving your cores laying around can lead your dog to breathing problems, seizures, shock and coma.

4. Avocado

Avocado’s are a deliciously buttery fruit popular in guacamole, sandwiches, and pasta. However, for your english bulldog the dangers are two-fold.

First, the entire fruit from the pit to the leaves contains a toxin called persin that can lead to stomach problems, breathing issues, and fluid build-up in the chest.

Second, the pit—hard and slippery—can become lodged in the bulldog’s gastrointestinal tract.

5. Bacon

Okay, I bet you didn’t expect to see bacon on the list. In fact, many of you might have been sliding crisp pieces of fatty bacon to your bulldog for years. However, fat-rich bacon can lead to pancreatic which can lead to an inflamed pancreas that affects its functionality.

When the pancreas loses functionality your dog will suffer from digestion issues and difficulty absorbing nutrients.

The average lifespan of an English Bulldog is between 8 and 10 years. To put this in perspective, smaller dogs such as Chihuahua’s and Yorkshire Terriers have a life span of 17-20 years old. Conversely, larger dogs such as Mastiffs have a lifespan as short as 5-6 years.

When it comes to lifespan, size does matter for dogs. However, it is important to understand that every dog is different, as every breed is different. For bulldogs, helping them live a fulfilling and long life means tending to their unique physical and emotional needs.

While a bulldog’s lifespan may only be 8-10 years, many have lived as long as 15 – 18 years. To help your dog reach a long life here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Stick to healthy and nutritional food for your bulldog:

English Bulldogs are notorious eaters. When considering a healthy and nutritional food you will also need to consider how much food to feed your bulldog and how often. Castlewood Bulldogs can always help you to decide on a food brand and type that is best for your bulldog. The guideline for feeding a bulldog is 20 to 70 calories per pound, per day. This of course varies depending on your dog’s lifestyle (sedentary or active). You should also feed your dog several times a day, as if you leave a big bowl of food out once a day your bulldog may very well eat it all in one sitting which can cause multiple problems.

Some research has suggested that varying your bulldog’s daily food schedule can help your dog stay healthier.

2. Be proactive with your bulldog’s health:

Due to the bulldog’s physical nature they are prone to health issues. While at one time bulldog’s may have been one of the healthier and strongest dogs on the planet, they are now domesticated into a breed that while loving, lacks some physical initiative such as running for long periods of time. Your English Bulldog is more likely inclined to cuddle up on the couch than he is to going for a long walk. In addition, his broad body may look intimidating, but in many ways can cause health issues.

Understanding the breed’s common health conditions such as obesity, cardiac and respiratory disease, are important to understanding symptoms of each. You will likely come to find your dog wheezes, slobbers, and has gas issues. Over time you will come to find how your bulldog does each of these and what is, or is not normal for your bulldog. However, it is important to be diligent and not allow something you feel is normal to be ignored. There are many underlying health concerns for bulldogs.

Take your bulldog to the vet regularly, and be quick to check up on any concerns.

3. Understand your bulldog’s genetics

As mentioned with health issues, it is important to understand your bulldog’s ancestry, if for anything to understand potential genetic health issues that may plague your dog later in life. Genetic conditions for bulldogs – as with many dog breeds – can affect nearly their entire body. In addition to hereditary respiratory and cardiac conditions, your dog’s ancestry may include skin, reproductive, and digestive conditions as well as others.

Keep in mind, that dogs, just like humans, have the same concern over genetic history. However, the importance is understanding your dog’s genetics so you know how to address the concern if it does appear in your bulldog.

4. Be there emotionally for your bulldog

Bulldogs are cuddly, friendly, and need your emotional companionship. They are, after all companion dogs, and will reciprocate your love. The emotional well-being of your dog will have a strong influence on your dog’s stress level. Most bulldogs tend to be so relaxed home owners will often forget they are around. So, it’s important your dog is given affection and positive nurturing attention.

The more playtime and cuddle time you can get in with your bulldog the better off they will be in the long run.

5. Try to go for a walk with your bulldog

Alright, so your bulldog may not be as excited to walk around the block as other dog breeds are. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t try. All dogs need exercise, and for bulldogs prone to laziness and obesity it can’t be stressed enough to try and get your dog exercise.

While you shouldn’t expect your bulldog to sprint up and down the park, you can expect a short walk. And that’s all you need to start with. For most bulldogs, they will accommodate a walk of a certain distance. It may not be long, but whatever your dog’s comfort level is, is what is important. You shouldn’t have to drag your dog. If he isn’t willing to go farther, then turn around and go home. Remember, emotional and physical well-being should go hand in hand.

Source: “That’s my Pup” from Tom and Jerry

If you are reading our blog you likely have an affinity for our fun-loving companions—the bulldog. From a young age we grow up to adore bulldogs as strong, loving, trustworthy, and of course, the family pet.

What we’d like to look at today is where our love of bulldogs comes from for most people—the cartoon bulldog. Yes! I’m serious here. The first experience of bulldogs for most people is from Saturday morning cartoons. And today, we will have a tribute of sorts to our favorite cartoon bulldogs.

These bulldogs have been chosen for a variety of reasons. They may be lovable, cute, or represent everything in a bulldog we’ve fallen in love with. You will recognize some of these dogs and say, “Awe, I remember…” with a nostalgic glow in your eyes. Others, you may have never seen before, but have played a significant role for the breed in the media.

So, sit back and enjoy some of our favorite TV dogs. I bet by the end of the day you’ve had a good fill of bulldog TV on Youtube.com.

Spike and Tyke

I’ll start with the favorite of many people and the father and son duo of Spike and Tyke. Spike is one of the most iconic bulldogs in television history as he loved his dog bone and kept the cat Tom in place on America’s favorite cartoon—Tom and Jerry. Spike first appeared April 8, 1942 on the Tom and Jerry episode, Dog Trouble.

Spike and Tom Cat have a running theme of Tom seemingly always getting in Spike’s way and causing trouble for the large bulldog who simply wants to relax. While much of the show focused on the rivalry between the two animals, Spike on occasion would show a rare fondness for the cat.

In 1949 Tyke (our cheater) was introduced in Love that Pup, a favorite episode for millions of people who love the series. Tyke is a cuddly chip off his father’s shoulders as well as a regular, and favorite, supporting character in the cartoon.

Hector the Bulldog

If you grew up in the 90’s you may remember Hector the Bulldog. While not widely known by name, his appearance is likely to strike up memories as Hector was staged in several popular Looney Toons cartoons. However, what most people don’t know is that Hector has been on the cartoon circuit longer than most dogs, with his first appearance in 1945’s, Peck Up Your Troubles, costarring along with Sylvester the cat.

Hector is most known for his role as Grannies loyal guard dog in the animated series, The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries. We love Hector for his loyal nature to Granny, although he was a bit on the ditsy side.

Luiz from Rio

Luiz from Rio is a newcomer to cartoon bulldogs, but one we can’t forget due to his charm and overly excited approach to life.

Voiced by Tracy Morgan, Luiz is a loveable character whose bark is anything but his character. This fruit-hat wearing dog is full of slobber and kisses, and can’t wait for Carnival to start. Luiz is a distractible, friendly, and loyal dog who is on this list for the purity he brings to bulldogs. Any bulldog owner will find characteristics of Luiz that resonate within their own dogs.

He’s appeared in Rio and Rio 2 and we can’t wait to see him in Rio 3 (if one comes out) or a spin-off.

Marc Antony in “Feed the Kitty”

If you remember Marc Antony by name you will be in the minority. However, you may remember this series of animated shorts from Looney Toons in the 1950’s. Marc Antony was a bulldog from the animated film Feed the Kitty, which was released February 2, 1952.

Much like Ruiz from Rio, Marc Antony exemplifies everything we love in a bulldog. His muscular and intimidating appearance carrying over into kitten-like playfulness. In Feed the Kitty Marc Antony opens up by trying to intimidate with a ferocious bark and growling, that doesn’t affect the kitten at all – instead it loving brushes up to Marc Antony. Of course, as an intimidating bulldog would do, Marc Antony falls for the kitten and adopts it.

If you haven’t seen the cartoon you should put it on your list. In 1994 the cartoon was #36 out of the 50 greatest cartoons as voted on by the members of the animation field.

Bandit

With the exception of Scooby Doo, few dogs have gone on more harrowing adventures than Johnny Quest’s loyal sidekick Bandit. Bandit appeared in two animated series: 1960’s Johnny Quest series, and a follow-up series in the 1990’s called The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest. His first appearance was episode 1 of Johnny Quest, called The Mystery of the Druids.

Much like his counterparts in bulldog cartoons Bandit’s loyalty and bravery were highlighted, as well as his playfulness. He was also known for his ingenuity in helping Johnny get out of some sticky situations.

Few cartoon bulldogs bring up more Saturday morning nostalgia than Bandit and his adventures.

On February 15 and 16, 2016 the Westminster Kennel Club had its 140th annual dog show. The winner was a stoic brown and white speckled German Shorthaired Pointer. For bulldog fans, you may have noticed another successful year as “Annabelle,” while not taking home top honors certainly made her presence known to fans who cheered her on as she playfully strutted her way to 1st in the non-sporting group.

In recent years, bulldogs have continued to showcase themselves as the darlings of shows around the world – inching forward and hinting at the possible throne of Westminster’s Best in Show. Dog show enthusiasts love bulldogs every time they step in front of the crowd, often to loud applause and chanting as they did in Westminster 2016 – “Ann-a-belle! Ann-a-belle! Ann-a-belle!” While at 4-years-old Annabelle may be close to retirement from big shows, she has had a great run and begged the question – How long until another bulldog wins Westminster’s best in show?

Yes, you’ve read that right. I said – next time.

It has been some time since a bulldog won Best in Show at Westminster – 1955, Kippax Fearnought. And it is not surprising with the praise and popularity that bulldogs have received over recent years that the breed is a favorite in years to come to take home another big victory.

Kippax Fearnought – Bulldog Best In Show 1955

Kippax Fearnought – arguably one of the best, and most obscure names on the dog show circuit – was well known among the dog-show circuit in his time. He was gloriously touted on the cover of July 4, 1955, Sports Illustrated as well as other magazines and newspapers after his well-deserved 1955 win. Five years later he was again brought to the spotlight as the grandfather of Handsome Dan X, known as one of Yale Universities finest mascots, and crucial to Yale’s 1960 9-0 record.

Prince Albert –  Bulldog Best In Show 1913

Going back another 42 years to 1913 was Prince Albert, a white bulldog with brindle patches along the side of his head. Albert left behind in his own right a legacy hard to compare. He won Best in Show in 1913 and took 2nd in 1914. His 1913 honor was one of the biggest surprises in Westminster’s 140-year history as Prince Albert was the first non-terrier dog to win. In addition to his two Best in Show honors (1st and 2nd place), Prince Albert won Best Male Bulldog (1915) and Best of Breed several years in a row (1914-1917).

Past bulldog winners of Westminster left behind a gloried legacy, and with Annabelle’s charming legacy now paving the way for future bulldogs, we can only ask again – Is 2017 finally the year a bulldog will once again stand atop Westminster’s Best in Show. The cult-like following of bulldogs, keenly similar to football fans in regards to energy and devotion, is only a small indicator of the potential bulldogs will have in upcoming shows.

1913 – Prince Albert
1955 – Kippax Fearnought
2017 – ???

Sometimes naming a pet is much like naming your child, it can be frustratingly difficult, or your bulldog can practically hand the name to you. For example, if your dog has a fondness for eating all of the flowers in your yard then you have – Flowers. If your dog hates running, you might consider – Runner.

Naming your bulldog is important from the start. After all, it is likely you will call your dog out by name more than 45,000 times during your bulldog’s life. That’s a lot, which reckons the approach to naming your dog with a name you love – probably not the name of an ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend.

So, here are some tips to help you along:

1. Keep it short: Bulldogs respond to short commands. So, naming your dog Coo-Coo-Ca-Choo Princess Diaries (sadly, this is an actual name) is probably not the best name to start with. If the name is longer than the command, then you will likely have a problem. Keep names short and to 1 or 2 syllables. For example, Athens and Coco.
2. Have a story behind the name: Everyone loves a cute story. Having a story behind the name of your dog is a great way to introduce your dog and help others remember your bulldog’s name. As mentioned above, maybe your dog, as a puppy, came home for the first time and ate all the flowers in the back yard – Flowers. Or, perhaps, on the ride home your dog stunk up the car (trust me, this can happen), you can name him – Stink.
3. Be playful: Bulldogs are notoriously loveable and playful. Finding a name that suits can be easy and fun. Name such as Gruff, Beau, Leroy, Ziggy, and Princess make fun of your dog’s physically broad and overly defined characteristics. For example, Princess is very much the opposite of Bulldogs predominately male traits of broad and muscular – some women may even hint at lazy
4. Don’t mix the name with commands: Try not to confuse your dog by having a name similar to a command. For example, Da’Man could be confused with “stand.” Or, Pitt could be confused with “sit.” As names and commands are frequently used together, keeping their sound different will be helpful in training your dog.
5. Personality: As with naming your bulldog from a personal story, you can also name your dog on personality. You don’t need to name your dog right away, so taking a few days to play with your bulldog and getting to know their personality is a great way to find a name. Does your dog remind you of a friend or celebrity? Is your dog athletic? Perhaps, Ace or Hot-shot would work. Maybe your dog is lazy, and you name him Lumpy or Slug. Maybe he reminds you of a clown, and you name him Bozo.
6. Opposites Attract: Naming pets and even people by the opposite of their behavior of physical attributes is common. Bulldogs provide more than enough fodder to find a suitable name opposite its behavior or physical attributes. Maybe your dog is always cheerful, and you name her Pouty. Or, a slow dog you can name Sprinter.

Whatever name you choose for your bulldog it should be short, cute, and fit your dog. Bulldogs have wonderful personalities and will love a playful name. Take time in naming your dog – more often than not, the name naturally pops out.

English Bulldogs are one of the most popular breeds of dog in the United States and for good reason. English Bulldogs are cuddly, loyal, with exceptional temperament. They are also very good companions, and less notably – they photograph well. Did you expect the last example? Well, it’s true. English Bulldogs photograph well, and many celebrities have taken advantage of photo-ops with their lovable companions.

Here are five celebrities showing off their favorite English Bulldogs

Adam Sandler and Meatballs

Meatball was Adam Sandler’s first dog, a charming brindle who was with Adam throughout his first ups and downs as a celebrity. In fact, Meatball was so loved by Adam, that Meatball not only attended Adam’s wedding but was the ring-bearer – adorned in a tuxedo and all. Soon after their wedding, Adam and his wife introduced a new bulldog to the family – Matzoball. Meatballs has since passed away, and in tribute to his companion, Adam had a full funeral ceremony to say goodbye, which was attended by more than 100 people.

Brad/Angelina Pitt and Jacques

Despite their celebrity status, the Pitts try to keep a low profile. And while the bulldog Jacques tends to remain out of the spotlight, he has been found gallivanting around the world in style and even showed on a 60 Minutes interview. However, perhaps Jacques claim to fame was cuddling up with Johnny Depp, as Johnny took care of him on the set of the Tourist. While Johnny claims Jacques was the smelliest dog ever, perhaps Jacques – known for his comedic antics – could bark the same about Johnny.

David/Victoria Beckham and Coco

Coco is one of the most photographed dogs online, and don’t be fooled thinking it’s the paparazzi. Victoria Beckham loves showing off the couple’s bulldog Coco on Instagram. Whether in trouble terrorizing toys or coyly donning a pair of thousand dollar sunglasses, Coco does not want for attention. Coco fits right into one of the world’s most stylish and attractive couples.

Jason Aldean and Athens

What better pet to have for a brawny country singer from Georgia than a bulldog? And, what better name than Athens – home to the Georgia Bulldogs. Athens is a diehard Georgia football fan with her own jersey that she wears on game day. Jokingly, Jason says, Athens gets more media attention than he does – But, can you blame the media? Just look at her!

Jessica Biel and East

Jessica has been a well-known dog lover for years. Perhaps, one of her cutest companions was her bulldog East. East was named in honor of Biel’s beau who is from the East Coast. She describes East as being cuddly, and a bit too big for a plane, although he is a frequent jet-setter. East is laughable, clumsy, and harmless to all – unless you are a flower. Flowers beware, they were East’s favorite treat.