Bulldog Puppy Tries To Ride Baby's Sit 'N Spin

From time to time I wonder if cultures pick mascots because they absorb through osmosis their national identity. For example, when you think of bulldogs, do you automatically think of the British? I do. Yes, some of it stems from the fact that bulldogs are England’s national mascot and was heavily associated with Winston Churchill. At the same time though the Bulldog is the mascot of the Marine Corps. It is also the mascot of a number of universities in America, most famously Georgia, Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Butler.

But, there is something about a bulldog that is just quintessentially British. The stiff upper lip jowliness of the dog, the kind of judgmental depression that older bulldogs seem to affect with their eyes, the way their barks are more harumphs than they are barks. It all just speaks to certain stereotypes of our British friends across the Atlantic. Also, all bulldogs do kind of look like Winston Churchill, so there is that. Now, briefly a history of bulldogs. The first reference to the breed goes all the way back to 1500. In early days they were used as bull baiters. It’s partially how their stocky bodies and heavy heads came to be.

However, bulldogs stopped being working dogs in the 1800s when certain acts like bull baiting were banned. Today’s modern bulldog actually could not do that job anymore anyway. Also their aggression has been toned down in the last hundred years or so. Today, they calmer, nicer dogs that are more known for being good companions and decent guards. Also today, there is an effort to change the breeding of bulldogs to help with the health issues that many of them have.