What Is A Piebald English Bulldog?

The English bulldog is a medium-sized dog and comes in a variety of colors. Originating in the isles of Great Britain, this dog is now a popular family pet. The bulldog is best known for its unique physical stature and calm, lovable nature.

English bulldogs have a lengthy history, gaining their names from the old English sport of bull baiting. Bulldogs were originally fighting dogs, but once the sport was outlawed, conscientious breeders preserved the breed, eliminating the fierce characteristics and creating a family-friendly pet.

English bulldogs are 12 to 16 inches in height at maturity and range from 40 to 50 pounds in weight. A typical bulldog's coat is smooth, short, straight and flat. The dogs are characterized by their squat stature and short, wrinkled faces.

Bulldogs come in a variety of colorations. According to the American Kennel Club specifications, coat colors are preferred in the following order: red brindle; all other brindle; solid white; solid red, fawn or fallow; piebald.

Piebald is a non-symmetrical, random white pattern occurring throughout the dog's coat. Bulldogs have several variations of piebald coloring: red piebald, red brindle piebald, fawn brindle piebald, brindle piebald. This means that those colors occur as spots or "saddles" on a white background. It should be noted that a "perfect" piebald is preferable to a muddy brindle or defective solid color.

Due to the English bulldog's facial structure, these dogs are prone to snuffling, snorting and snoring. The shortened nose, standard in bulldogs, elevates the risks of overheating. These dogs should always be kept in shady places, with plenty of air circulation, to avoid respiratory difficulties.

The piebald spotting gene creates the piebald pattern and is commonly seen in beagles, bulldogs, cocker spaniels and English setters. This pattern can be related to deafness but is usually only a problem when the inner ear is also lacking in pigment (that is, when the inner ear is white as well).