The English Bulldog is known for its stocky, muscular build, low stance, and distinctive wrinkled face. This popular companion dog is celebrated for its gentle and loyal temperament. However, the Bulldog’s unique physical features are tied to significant health concerns, leading many enthusiasts to explore mixing the breed with others. Crossing the English Bulldog with different purebred dogs creates hybrids, often with the goal of mitigating health risks while retaining the breed’s affectionate personality.
The Historical Roots of the English Bulldog
The modern English Bulldog is a product of deliberate breeding that followed the outlawing of its original purpose in the 19th century. The breed’s antecedent was the Old English Bulldog, bred for the violent sport of bull-baiting, which required ferocity and athleticism. These earlier Bulldogs were larger and leaner than today’s dogs, with a temperament too aggressive for a family companion.
When bull-baiting was banned in England in 1835, the breed was at risk of extinction. Breeders worked to transform the dog into a docile and manageable pet. This transition involved introducing other breeds, most notably the Pug, to reduce aggression and create the stockier, shorter-faced dog recognized today. The resulting dog was bred for exaggerated features, including the characteristic large head, short legs, and compressed muzzle.
Popular English Bulldog Hybrid Dogs
Modern cross-breeding with the English Bulldog is widespread, resulting in many popular designer dogs that combine the Bulldog’s unique traits with those of another purebred.
The Beabull (Bulldog x Beagle)
The Beabull is a common cross, typically having a medium build. This hybrid often inherits the Bulldog’s wrinkles and stocky frame but features the longer muzzle and floppy ears of the Beagle, creating a sturdier, more outgoing family pet. While affectionate, Beabulls can inherit the Beagle’s mischievous nature and the Bulldog’s stubborn streak, requiring patient training.
The Bull-Pei (Bulldog x Chinese Shar-Pei)
The Bull-Pei is a highly distinctive mix, often combining the Bulldog’s broad, muscular body with the Shar-Pei’s loose, heavily wrinkled skin. This dog is known for a placid and loyal demeanor, though they can be reserved or wary of strangers, making early socialization important. Since both parent breeds are brachycephalic, the Bull-Pei may still be susceptible to breathing issues.
The Bullmatian (Bulldog x Dalmatian)
The Bullmatian tends to be a more energetic and athletic hybrid than the purebred Bulldog. This medium-sized dog usually has a stockier build than a pure Dalmatian but often inherits the Dalmatian’s iconic spotted coat and longer limbs. The resulting temperament blends the Bulldog’s affectionate nature with the Dalmatian’s social and high-energy spirit.
The English Boodle (Bulldog x Poodle)
The English Boodle is often sought for its potential to be a low-shedding dog. The Boodle’s look is highly variable, ranging from the Bulldog’s blocky shape to the Poodle’s more elegant frame, with a coat that can be wavy or curly. This cross combines the Poodle’s intelligence and eagerness to please with the Bulldog’s gentle nature, though the Bulldog’s stubborn side can surface during training.
Motivations for Choosing a Bulldog Mix
The primary motivation for crossing the English Bulldog with other breeds is to improve the health and functional capacity of the offspring. Purebred Bulldogs suffer from low genetic diversity and are predisposed to various health conditions due to their exaggerated features. This intentional outcrossing is an attempt to introduce a wider gene pool, which can lead to hybrid vigor.
Hybrid vigor suggests that the offspring of two genetically dissimilar parents may have superior health and fitness compared to either purebred parent. This occurs because genetic weaknesses common to one line are masked by the healthy genes of the other. For the English Bulldog, this is particularly focused on addressing Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), a condition where the shortened skull and soft tissues severely impede breathing.
By mixing the Bulldog with a non-brachycephalic breed like the Beagle or Dalmatian, breeders aim to lengthen the muzzle, widen the nostrils, and improve the respiratory function of the puppies.
Beyond physical health, mixing is also used to modify the Bulldog’s temperament and behavioral traits. For instance, the Poodle cross can enhance trainability and intelligence, or reduce the stubbornness often associated with the breed. However, hybrid vigor is not a guarantee, and a mixed-breed dog may still inherit health issues from both parent breeds, meaning careful selection of breeding stock remains important.