Click Below to Skip Ahead
If you’re looking for an extremely loyal dog that wants nothing more than to protect their family, the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge is an outstanding choice. But while they’re extremely popular for obvious reasons, they’re also extremely rare.
They’re a relatively new breed, and they have few health concerns compared to other Bulldogs. Also, these dogs are primarily in the U.K., so if you’re looking for one in another country, they might be hard to find.
Breed Overview
Height:
19 – 21 inches
Weight:
45 pounds
Lifespan:
10 – 14 years
Colors:
White, fawn, red, or black
Suitable for:
Families with both small and large kids, single pet homes, and multi-pet homes
Temperament:
Loyal, trustworthy, calm, brave, and protective
The Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge offers a rare combination of calmness and protectiveness, paired with the ability to hang out with small and large children alike.
Just be sure not to get this dog if you can’t afford to spend much time with them; despite their calm nature, they suffer from separation anxiety. But what else do you need to know about these dogs to care for them? We break it all down for you here.
Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge Characteristics
Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge Puppies
The Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge is a low-energy dog breed that fits in great with families. Moreover, they’re an extremely intelligent breed, but they have a strong stubborn streak.
This makes consistency with training essential, and you need to convince your Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge that what you’re training them to do is something they want to do. But where these dogs really shine is with sociability.
The only reason they didn’t earn the full five stars is that they need early socialization to accomplish this. If you don’t expose them to a wide array of situations early on, they might start to act out.
Still, with early socialization, there’s not a situation that these masterful creatures can’t handle. Finally, while these dogs have a comparatively short lifespan, they have fewer health concerns than other Bulldogs.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge
There’s little doubt that a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge is a smart dog. But while they’re intelligent enough to learn almost any trick, they have a stubborn streak that can make them a bit difficult to train.
But even though they’re stubborn, they have a laidback personality that’s both calm and loving. They’re also incredibly trustworthy and loyal, and this typically leads to a protective dog that loves their family.
This loving and calm temperament makes them a great family dog, no matter the age of your kids. Still, they love attention and need tons of it, and they often suffer from separation anxiety when they’re left alone.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogges are great for families of all sizes — as long as you’re not always on the road. If your life consists of driving one kid to practice every day throughout the week, you better be able to bring your Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge along for the ride.
Still, they’re great with small and big kids, making them a great family dog, as long as you have the time to take care of them.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
As long as you socialize your Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge early, they get along great with other pets. Whether it’s another dog, a cat, or something a little more exotic, the important thing is that you introduce your Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge early on.
With socialization early and often, the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge does great with almost any other pet. However, if you have an older Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge that you’ve never socialized and you are now thinking of adding a new pet to the family, you might want to set up a trial meeting first to see how everything goes.
Things to Know When Owning a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge
Before you head out and adopt a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge, there are a few things that you need to keep track of.
From dietary requirements to potential health concerns, it’s always best to go into things with eyes wide open, especially considering how much you’ll be spending on these pups upfront.
Food & Diet Requirements
A full-grown Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge will eat about 2.5 cups of food per day if they hit the 45-pound mark. That means if you opt for a 30-pound bag of high-quality kibble, it’ll last about a month and a half.
Feel free to sprinkle treats in occasionally, but don’t overdo it because you don’t want your new pup to put on too much weight. Also, keep in mind that a smaller Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge will eat less, so don’t stick with the 2.5-cup amount if your dog doesn’t hit the 45-pound weight.
Exercise
While the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge can handle a ton of extra exercise, too little can lead to obesity. At a minimum, you need to take your pup out for one walk a day to keep them healthy and happy. The length of this walk can vary, but we recommend at least 30 minutes a day.
Keep in mind that while you certainly extend these walks for as long as you’d like, their flat nose design makes the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge a poor running companion.
Training
Training the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge is all about consistency. These pups are extremely smart, allowing them to learn a wide array of tricks, but they are also incredibly stubborn.
To successfully train a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge, you need to convince them that they want to do whatever you’re trying to train them to do. This takes a ton of time and patience, and it can easily frustrate an impatient owner.
With a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge, it’s best to not get sucked into a battle of wills but instead, to use positive reinforcement and treats to get them to do what you want. After a while, this will lead to an obedient dog even when you don’t have the treats, but it takes time.
Grooming ✂️
The Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge has a short coat that doesn’t require as much care as many other breeds. Still, you should use a soft brush on them every day to help remove any excess hair and keep their skin healthy.
Furthermore, you need to brush their teeth several times a week to maintain proper oral hygiene. Use a top-notch doggy toothpaste to clean their teeth, and it can save you a bundle at the dentist in the future.
Health and Conditions
While the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge is among the healthiest Bulldogs that you can purchase, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few concerns that you need to keep an eye out for. Here, Below we highlighted a few of the most common genetic problems that you need to keep an eye out for.
- Underbite
- Tail problems
- Obesity
- Patellae luxation
- Sleep apnea
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Cysts
Male vs. Female
While there aren’t many differences between male and female Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogges, they’re not identical. For starters, males tend to be a bit larger and need more attention than females. This is a big deal for a dog that already requires a ton of attention regardless of sex.
Furthermore, male stud dogs are more prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, but this isn’t a significant concern if you don’t plan to breed your Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge
1. They are intelligent yet slow to train
No one can claim that a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge is a dumb dog. However, it can be said that they’re a stubborn one. You can train these dogs to do almost anything — you just need to give them time to decide that they want to do it!
2. They can handle almost any amount of exercise
While we wouldn’t recommend taking one of these pups out for a run, they can handle as many walks as you’d like. Whether you’re a bit of a homebody or a more active person, a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge can keep up with your lifestyle.
3. They make excellent farm dogs and apartment dogs
You shouldn’t get a Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge to herd sheep, but they do a great job protecting livestock and family members. Still, while they certainly won’t mind the extra space to roam, they don’t need it either. Whether you have a ton of space or almost none at all, they’re a great fit.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a dog that has a great temperament and is good with smaller kids, the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge is an ideal choice. But while they have everything that you could ask for in a dog, you will need to track down a breeder, get on a waiting list, and likely deal with the sticker shock first.
All the hard work is worth this awesome breed, though, so we recommend getting started on tracking down a breeder near you as soon as possible!
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Shawna and Damien Richard, Shutterstock