Bulldach

There are arguably no two dog breeds as instantly recognisable as the English Bulldog and the Dachshund. Mix them together and what do you get? The Bulldach! The Bulldach is a hybrid breed, a mix between one purebred Bulldog and a purebred Dachshund parent. The result is wrinkle-faced dog with a longer nose than a Bulldog that tends to be longer than they are tall.

Both parent breeds have distant origins as hunting or baiting dogs, and this has implications for their character. Whilst the Bulldog softens the edges of the Dachshund’s tendency to stand their ground, the Bulldach requires treating with respect. They should not be left unsupervised with children, since any taunting or teasing might met with a retaliatory nip.

About & History

The trend for hybrids dogs has gained popularity in the last couple of decades. Dogs that would only have breed by mishap, are now deliberately mated to create new and interesting variations. This is the case with the Bulldach. The history of this new hybrid is therefore that of their esteemed ancestors: The Bulldog and the Dachshund.

The English Bulldog

The English Bulldog has roots going back to the ancient Romans. The latter had ferocious Molosser dogs that were basically war dogs. Their fierceness was legendary as they took to the battle field alongside Roman soldiers. It is from these tan-coloured dogs with powerful jaws that the Bulldog descended.

The Bulldog’s physique has changed a lot over the years. Their heyday was in the 17th century when bullbaiting was a popular sport. These Bulldogs were bred to have powerful jaws, low to the ground, and front end heavy. This was the ideal physique for getting beneath a bull to attack their throat. Those Tudor Bulldogs were agile and athletic and it’s only over the following centuries that they took the shape we’re familiar with today, including that flat face and lumbering gait.

The Dachshund

Another dog with a distinctive appearance is the Dachshund. These long, low dogs with a straight flagpole tail derive from 15th century Germany. They were a working dog, used to flush out badgers or pursue them into their sets. Hence, a dog with short legs but a courageous temperament was required. Even the long tail had a purpose in that a farmer could retrieve his dog from a badger set by hauling them out by the tail.

Appearance

The parent breeds have very different appearances, and so can the resulting offspring. Whilst a good percentage of the pups will be a blend of both parents’ characteristics, there will be some pups that err more to one side or other of the family tree. Thus, there is no guarantee when purchasing a Bulldach what they look like.

However, the majority of Bulldachs are sturdy, block-shaped dogs with strong, if somewhat bowed legs. They also err towards Dachshund proportions, in being somewhat longer than they are tall. One of the striking things about the Bulldach is their leaning toward the Bulldog’s wrinkles, but stretched out over a longer nose. They also have drop ears, and some may have straight tail, whilst others inherit the naturally docked tendency of the Bulldog.

The Bulldach has a short coat, which is most frequently tan, sometimes with white patches. However, the colour of the parent dog does influence this with some variation to brindle or fawn.

Character & Temperament

The Bulldog has undergone something of a character change since their bullbaiting days. They now have a reputation for being gentle companions that are loving and slow to anger. This can act as a fortunate foil to soften the sharp edges of the Dachshund’s character.

Whilst utterly adorable, loyal, and loving, the Dachshund can be a strong-minded character. They know their own mind and aren’t quick to change it unless it suites them. When challenged, that fearless bravery that equipped them to hunt badgers can pop to the surface. This can mean growling and snapping when forced to do something they don’t want to do.

As a result, the Bulldach can be described as bold and brave with a tendency to be protective of the people or possessions they love. This can lead to snappiness if perhaps a child tried to remove a favourite toy or made the Bulldach feel threatened.

Trainability

The Bulldog has a reputation for being stubborn, whilst the Dachshund is highly intelligent but independent spirited. This can make for a combination which is tricky, but not impossible, to train.

Ideally, a Bulldach should be well socialised as a puppy to avoid being over anxious and feel confident around people. This is then followed up with reward-based training in order to build confidence and teach the dog to look to people for guidance.

Health

As a hybrid dog there are no statistics as to their propensity to disease. However, both parent breeds have distinct tendency to certain conditions, so it’s reasonable to assume this might also be the case with their offspring.

Intervertebral Disc Disease

The Dachshund’s long back puts a big strain on their spine. The proportions of the Bulldach mean disc disease is a distinct risk for them. Symptoms include sudden onset pain that causes the dog to yelp or cry out. In the worst cases, a sudden eruption of disc material into the spinal cord can cause paralysis. If the dog is to stand a chance of regaining use of their legs, then prompt surgery by a specialist is required.

Cherry Eye

The condition cherry eye is named after the appearance of a prolapsed tear-producing gland, which makes it look like the dog has a red cherry sitting in the inner corner of their eye. This condition is unsightly rather than life-threatening.

The ideal scenario is to surgically replace the prolapsed tear gland. However, this operation may need to be repeated due to a high rate of re-prolapse. It is no longer considered appropriate to remove the offending gland, as was once advised, since this can make the dog prone to developing a dry eye.

Entropion

Entropion refers to an infolding of the eyelid, which causes eyelashes to rub against the cornea. This is irritating and can damage the delicate tissue of the cornea. Corrective surgery is often required to relieve this discomfort.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism means ‘underactive thyroid glands’. Without sufficient thyroid hormone the metabolism runs slowly. This leads to symptoms, such as weight gain, lack of energy, and a dull, dry coat. Once diagnosed, the treatment is straightforward with a daily pill to supplement thyroid levels.

Exercise and Activity Levels

Bulldogs are notoriously low energy, laid-back fellows. Whilst the Dachshund has a lot of dash about him, those little legs will soon run out of energy. Combine both breeds and the Bulldach is a perky pooch that needs a moderate amount of exercise, but also loves to lounge around.

Grooming

The short-coat of the Bulldach is super-easy to keep clean and tidy. They don’t require parlour visits because a quick daily slick over with a brush will keep their coat glossy. It’s also wise to avoid over bathing the dog, as this will strip the natural oils from their coat. If your Bulldach has facial folds, then keep these clean by gently bathing with moist cotton wool and then drying well afterwards.