I have just posted the following in the News Section on Dogsey and thought it belonged here as well. Full article here... http://www.dogworld.co.uk/product.ph...=Read%20mo re Is this a good thing and should the UK KC follow suit?
Azz, I posted it first in the News Section on Dogsey and then realised it should have been posted here. Sorry about that.
Steps in the right direction. Surely any young bulldog would be able to pass that endurance test (1 km in 12 min.) Minimal age of the dog/bitch: 12 months ,but what happens when it reaches 3/4 yrs old.
I would have thought if you have a fit healthy 12 mth old there is no reason why it won't be as fit at 3/4 ...if it's bred well from healthy parents along with a good healthy lifestyle ( down to owners) it should be able to cope with a healthy exercise regime . Just like any other dog, if you keep them fit they will stay fit into old age.....
I know a lovely Old English Bull dog named Edward who is 5 years old, he was as fit as anything when he was 1 -2 years old, but as he as got older he finds walking difficult as he can't breathe. He's not overweight, he's 3 kilos underweight. He now goes to park in a garden trolley, as crossing the busy main road was an nightmare for his owners, as he would sit down halfway across the road, once on the park he slowly walks round & as even tried to play with some of the other dogs, but after 5 mins he's panting heavily & goes back in to the trolley. His owners have said if his face was couple inches bigger he wouldn't have the breathing problems.
Not necessarily they may show no signs of joint issues at that age, Im not familiar with bulldogs, (so could be wrong ) but imagine as they get older the face will change and can become more or less, and breathing problems could occur.
Any dog could develop joint issues as they age, ( that's not down to breed) either due to breeding or environment , regarding the face changing as they get older, the basics will be the same as a pup if bred for health, not over exaggerated, wide nostrils, good mouths, those won't change as they age.... Breathing problems will only occur if the construction of the dog is wrong in the first place, along with weight and fitness of course. .
Said dogs issues could be down to bad breeding, also given he is a " old English " and not a "bulldog " I am surprised he suffers from those issues related to some bulldogs, I am not sure why his face being longer would make his breathing issue better, it's not the length of the face that restricts breathing, it's down to the width of nostril, (air flow) , reputable breeders of any braco breeds will take the shape of nostril into consideration when breeding... An old English bulldog is nothing like a bulldog,
