Height:
18-25 inches
Weight:
70-110 pounds
Lifespan:
8-12 years
Colors:
Black, brown, tan, red, white
Suitable for:
Experienced dog owners looking for an energetic and affectionate dog
Temperament:
Loyal, Loving, Protective, Affectionate, Goofy, Energetic
The English Bullweiler is a hybrid dog breed that combines the English Bulldog with the Rottweiler. When well trained and loved, he will respond in kind by being an affectionate dog that dotes on his owner. He can be protective, however, and is considered a good dog for experienced owners, rather than first-time owners. He is considered a large to giant breed and his size, combined with high energy levels, means that this hybrid breed is unlikely to adapt to life in an apartment. However, if you have a yard and enjoy time outdoors, the English Bullweiler can make an excellent companion to accompany you on walks, hikes, and other physical activity.
The Bulldog was bred for bull-baiting, so he combines strength with agility. It also makes him brave. While the horrendous sport was outlawed, a number of breeders recognized his other positive qualities and the bulldog was eventually bred as a family pet. Today, he is considered a sweet and loving family dog, that can be a bit silly and has plenty of energy to play.
The Rottweiler is another breed whose use has evolved over time. He was originally bred to drive cattle and even to pull carts of meat. He was strong, packed with energy and stamina, and was very protective. When the job of the Rottweiler was taken by the rail network, bad breeders brought the dog into disrepute. However, his reputation for being protective and loving when well-trained means that he is gaining prominence once again.
English Bullweiler Puppies – Before You Buy…
What’s the Price of English Bullweiler Puppies?
The English Bullweiler is a rarer hybrid breed, and his size means that he is not one of the most popular breeds. This means that it can be difficult to find reputable breeders, but it also means that examples of this breed do not cost as much as a lot of other breeds. Expect to pay between $500 and $1,000 depending on the reputation of the breeder and the lineage of the dogs.
Bad breeders gave Rottweilers a bad reputation. They bred the dog for his aggressive looks and his ability to fight, and this resulted in a lot of bad press for the breed. Much work has been undertaken to undo this bad reputation, but some people are still wary of owning this type of dog. Unfortunately, bad breeders do still exist, so you need to be careful that you get your Bullweiler from a reputable source.
Conduct research on any breeder that you are considering. While it is true that a puppy will not necessarily display the same characteristics of his parents, it is also true that bad breeders tend to keep dogs in poor condition, and this will have an effect on the dog later in life.
Speak to other owners to find out where they got their dogs. Join breed groups and fan groups, ask your local veterinarian practice, and look for hybrid clubs that can give you guidance and advice on finding these dogs.
English Bullweilers can be tricky to train, and they grow up to be large dogs, larger than the Bulldog. As such, some examples of this breed do end up being abandoned, which means that they can be found in shelters. Adopting a rescue dog means that you should meet the dog as often as possible before taking him home. This will allow you to determine his character and temperament and should ensure you get a good dog.
3 Little-Known Facts About the English Bullweiler
1. The English Bullweiler is not a vocal dog.
Some breeds are known for being vocal dogs, barking and whining at any noise or movement. The English Bullweiler is not such a breed. He is a quiet dog that will only really make a noise when playing or when he senses a threat to him or his family.
This breed also tends to make a bit of noise when sleeping but, if your Bullweiler does bark, it tends to mean that something really is up, and it is worth investigating. This quiet nature means that some owners mistakenly believe that he is a good fit for apartment living. After all, he won’t annoy the neighbors or land you in trouble with the landlord. However, his size and his high energy requirements mean that he is only really suited to living in a house with plenty of room, and ideally with an outdoor yard where he can run around and burn off energy.
2. The Bulldog’s unique look was no accident.
The bulldog has a very distinctive look and there are few breeds that look similar. They were bred to be short and stocky so that they were difficult for bulls to launch into the air. Being launched led to injuries and usually meant that the dog was unable to continue the fight. They have loose skin because this prevented the bull from being able to latch on and allowed the dog to get away from their horns and teeth.
Even the wrinkles on their face served a purpose, channeling blood away from their eyes so that they were not blinded during a fight. Thankfully, the “sport” of bull-baiting was eventually banned. While this almost led to the extinction of the bull-baiting bulldog, the breed was eventually saved because it displayed sought after characteristics that made it a highly sought-after family pet.
3. Rottweilers are exceptional rescue dogs.
Rottweilers were originally used as Roman drover dogs and were also known as butchers’ dogs because they were used to drove cattle and even to pull carts filled with meat from one location to another. However, they nearly became extinct after their jobs were naturally taken by trains and the introduction of the railroad.
Today, they have been rebranded. They are considered friendly, playful, and loving family dogs, and their qualities make them an exceptional breed for rescue operations. They were used in New York to the Twin Towers site where their tenacity, agility, and strength meant that they were highly effective at finding survivors, moving rubble, and saving people. They are also used as police dogs, service dogs, and armed forces dogs around the world because of these same qualities.
Temperament & Intelligence of the English Bullweiler
The Bulldog Rottweiler mix combines two breeds that, at one point or another, had a bad reputation for being aggressive dogs. This was primarily down to bad breeders and the use of the breeds for such “sports” as bull-baiting. Today, they are considered friendly and lovable dogs that are great for families and make loving companions.
Known for being fun, the Bullweiler can be a bit goofy and is described as having a good sense of humor. He is always ready to play and can brighten up your day in an instant.
He is eager to protect his family and is always alert. He will let you know of any intruders, although this does make early socialization an important facet of ownership. This will help teach him the difference between friendly and unwanted strangers, and it will ensure that he welcomes visitors.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
The Bullweiler is known for being a good family dog. He is patient with children, although his size means that he will need training to ensure that he is respectful of the distance that very small children require. This is especially important because his Rottweiler parent is known as a leaner. He leans against his human companions as a sign of his love and devotion. If he were to lean against a small child, he would knock them over and squash them.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
As well as being friendly with all of his human family members, the Bullweiler is also known to be friendly with other dogs, cats, and other animals. He is inquisitive, so he will want to meet and regularly greet all of his family members, but he is incredibly respectful of smaller animals. In fact, his history as a bull baiter means that he is more likely to be active around larger dogs and larger animals, but he won’t be intimidated even around the biggest family members, so he is a good companion to keep around horses.
Things to Know When Owning an English Bullweiler:
The English Bullweiler is a great companion for any family, including those with children and with other animal family members. He is energetic and bright, although he can be a challenge to train, requiring a lot of patience. He also has a distinctive look and plenty of character. Before taking one of this breed, there are several factors that you should be aware of.
Food & Diet Requirements
Expect to feed your giant, energetic English Bullweiler around four cups of good quality dry food a day. This should be fed in two or three sittings, and you should pick up any food that is left after each meal. This breed can put on a lot of extra weight, so you do need to take care that you only feed the desired amount and avoid leaving food down all day.
As your dog ages, he is likely to lose some of his bounding energy. At this point, his dietary requirements will also drop, and you should either move to a lower calorie food or feed less to stop him getting overweight or obese.
Exercise
The Bullweiler is a very active dog. You should expect to have to provide a lot of exercise on a regular basis. He will benefit from two long walks a day, and he will appreciate time outdoors.
As well as being energetic, this hybrid breed can be very bouncy and athletic. You should try and prevent him from jumping too high when he is young because this can cause developmental, joint, and bone problems. When he is older, however, he will enjoy agility type classes and exercise, if you can convince him to follow the right path around the course.
If you enjoy walking, hiking, or running, the Bullweiler is the perfect companion. He will accompany you on epic journeys, and when you’re worn out and tired, he will happily keep you company and shower you with affection.
The Bullweiler is one breed that definitely benefits from having his own outdoor space. Let him run around the yard, chase a ball, and generally enjoy the outdoors.
Training
Training success will depend on whether your Bullweiler is the obedient and eager to please type, or whether he is headstrong and independent. He is very intelligent, though, so if your dog is eager to please, he will train easily. If he is headstrong, you will still be able to train him, but it will take patience and may take longer to teach new commands and habits.
Early socialization should be considered an important aspect of owning this breed. Although he will naturally bond with all members of the family, he can be wary and distrustful of strangers. Socialization ensures that this doesn’t become a problem and that he will be welcoming of wanted visitors.
Grooming ✂️
This hybrid breed is considered fairly low maintenance when it comes to grooming. Although he does shed, he is not a heavy shedder and his short hair is easy to sweep up when it does happen. Weekly brushing will help remove dead and shed hair, which prevents matting and keeps him looking his best. His size does mean that brushing can take some time, but he will appreciate the bonding experience.
You should only bathe your Bullweiler when absolutely necessary. Too frequent bathing can strip his fur of the natural protective oils that it possesses. And it will probably be challenging anyhow, due to his size and potentially stubborn nature.
Brush your dog’s teeth twice a week to prevent gum and dental damage, and check that there is no gunk or mites in his ears every week.
You will also need to keep your English Bullweiler’s claws in check. If you can hear them click on hard floors, it is time to get the clippers out. If you start clipping nails from a young age, your dog will respond better to the procedure when he is older. If you struggle, consult a local groomer or ask your local vet to do it for you.
Health and Conditions
The Bullweiler is generally a healthy dog, and some people believe that hybrid vigor prevents these mixed breeds from developing some of the genetic conditions that the parent breeds are prone to. With that said, you will need to keep an eye out for the conditions that both parent breeds are prone to. With the English Bullweiler, you will need to look for symptoms and signs of the following conditions:
- Allergies
- Entropion
- Progressive retinal atroph
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Osteosarcoma
Male vs Female
The male Bullweiler tends to grow slightly larger than the female, and many owners state that the female is easier to train and will show greater affection to their owners — although this is mostly anecdotal, and there are just as many examples of highly affectionate males. The male is considered to be more playful, and sillier, than the female.
Final Thoughts
The English Bullweiler is a distinctive looking, agile, and highly energetic dog. He is a large to giant breed and, as such, he will need an appropriately large space in which to play and live. He will require a lot of exercise, will eat just about any amount of food you put in front of him, and he will quickly become a prominent and loving member of your family. He will get on with kids of any age, although training is important to ensure that he doesn’t bump into very small children.
Training is always important with large breeds, simply because their size means that they are more prone to causing injuries and accidents than smaller breeds. Your Bullweiler is intelligent and will want to please so he should be relatively easy to train, but he might be headstrong and a little belligerent, in which case it will take more patience and time to train him.
The Bullweiler is a great companion dog for any family, but especially for active families that have a good amount of indoor and outdoor space and that want a companion for their adventures.
Featured Image: Dobby-5188, Shutterstock