Bulldog: size, sleep, exercise and care

At a glance

Size

Medium

Adult weight

18–25 kg

Height at the shoulder

36–38 cm

Life expectancy

8–10 years

Exercise needs

Moderate · 30–60 min per day

Sleep needs

Typical total sleep per 24 hours, including naps.

Puppy18–20 h

Adult12–14 h

Senior12–15 h

06121824 h

These are general life-stage ranges for dogs from the AKC and Hill's; no study gives a separate figure for the Bulldog. Individual dogs vary, and a sudden change in how much your dog sleeps is worth mentioning to your vet. Loud snoring is common in the breed, but laboured breathing, gasping or pauses during sleep should be checked by a vet.

Puppy sleep calculator →

Exercise needs

PDSA and The Royal Kennel Club both say up to an hour a day. PDSA stresses that Bulldogs should never be exercised in the heat of the day because they overheat easily. Short, slow walks in cool parts of the day, a harness instead of a collar, and shade and water are the basics.

Dog walk calculator →

Potty training

Bulldog puppies can be stubborn and are not fans of bad weather, so keep toilet trips short, close and rewarding. Go out after sleep, meals and play, and every hour or two while young.

Keep the skin folds and the area around the tail clean and dry; Bulldogs can struggle to reach some areas themselves.

Puppy potty schedule calculator →

Feeding

Extra weight makes breathing and joints worse in this breed, so measure food and keep the dog lean. Feed three to four meals a day for young puppies and two for adults.

A flat dish suits the short muzzle better than a deep bowl, and a slow feeder helps dogs that gulp air. Wipe facial wrinkles after meals so food does not sit in the folds.

Puppy feeding schedule calculator →