Health Problems With Wrinkly Bulldogs
Why The Over-done, Wrinkly Bulldog is Killing the Breed
Tragedy Changes Your Perspective
As someone who has been dedicated to breeding healthier English Bulldogs since 2010, I’ve spent years studying the evolution of this beloved breed and the health consequences of certain physical traits. I’m Mitch from Bruiser Bulldogs, and today I want to share my perspective on why the heavily wrinkled modern bulldog is facing serious health challenges and what we can do to address these issues.
I actually started breeding bulldogs in 2010 because of a tragedy. My first Bulldog, Zeus died from health complications related to an elongated soft palate at 1.5 years old. I was devastated as he was a fulfillment of my childhood dream to own a bulldog. I soon learned that this issue is common within the breed and often connected to heavily wrinkled bulldogs – describes Zeus perfectly! I became incredibly frustrated with the bulldog community and decided to “fix” the problem by breeding a more athletic bulldog. Tragedy often inspires and breeding healthy bulldogs is now my passion to this day.
Many people don’t realize that the original bulldog, documented in photographs and descriptions during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, looked considerably different from the over-wrinkled bulldogs we see today. It was during the 1970s that show culture and the Bulldog Club of America drove the aesthetic of the breed toward more wrinkles. Unfortunately, this shift in appearance has had devastating consequences for bulldogs’ health.
Since our beginning, Bruiser Bulldogs has been dedicated to reversing this damaging trend. Through careful breeding practices and extensive experience, we’ve learned a considerable amount about health issues that can be reduced by breeding a more athletic, lighter-wrinkled bulldog. I’d like to share what we’ve discovered through this journey.
Important Things I Have Learned
1. Fix the One Big Problem: Wrinkled Bulldogs Face a Myriad of Connected Health Issues
When you look at a heavily wrinkled bulldog, you’re not just seeing a cosmetic feature—you’re looking at the source of numerous interconnected health problems. Through our work with bulldogs, we’ve observed that excessive wrinkles aren’t isolated issues but rather the starting point for a cascade of health concerns.
These wrinkles affect breathing, create skin infections, contribute to eye problems, and even impact the dog’s ability to regulate body temperature. While each of these issues might seem separate, they all stem from the same root cause: the modern trend toward excessive wrinkles.
When considering a bulldog, look for one with a moderate wrinkle set rather than an extremely wrinkled appearance. This single choice can help you avoid many of the health issues commonly associated with the breed.
2. Heavy Nose Ropes Lead to Multiple Health Complications
The thick wrinkle that runs across the top of a bulldog’s nose (known as the nose rope) may look distinctive, but it creates several serious problems. Our observations have shown that heavy nose ropes are associated with increased sinus pressure, entropion (inward rolling of the eyelids), and recurring bacterial infections within the fold itself.
When moisture and bacteria become trapped in this deep facial fold, it creates an ideal environment for infection. Additionally, the pressure from a heavy nose rope can affect the surrounding facial structures, including the eyes and sinus passages.
Look for bulldogs with lighter, more open nose ropes that don’t create deep, moist folds. Regular cleaning of existing nose ropes is essential, but breeding for less extreme features addresses the root cause rather than just managing symptoms.
3. Heavy Face Wrinkles Are Directly Connected to Elongated Soft Palates
One of the most significant findings from our years of observation and experience is the direct correlation between heavily wrinkled faces and elongated soft palate issues. The elongated soft palate—excess tissue that blocks the back of the throat—is a primary cause of breathing difficulties in bulldogs.
In the bulldog breeding community, it’s widely observed that bulldogs with excessive facial wrinkles have a much higher incidence of elongated soft palate problems. This isn’t coincidental; both traits are the result of breeding for extremely shortened facial structures.
If you’re looking for a bulldog that can breathe comfortably throughout its life, choose one with a moderate wrinkle pattern, particularly around the face. This significantly reduces the risk of elongated soft palate issues that can require surgical correction.
4. Extending the Nose Creates Essential Space for the Palate
Through our breeding program, we’ve discovered that even a slightly extended nose makes a tremendous difference in a bulldog’s breathing ability. When a bulldog has a bit more length to its muzzle, it creates the necessary space for the soft palate to sit properly without obstructing the airway.
This small modification to the traditional bulldog appearance—a nose that’s just slightly longer—results in dogs that can exercise normally, handle warmer temperatures, and live without the constant struggle to breathe that plagues many extremely flat-faced bulldogs.
Don’t be drawn to bulldogs with extremely flat faces. A slightly longer muzzle may be less “extreme” in appearance, but it allows for proper palate positioning and dramatically improves quality of life for the dog.
5. Over-Wrinkled Bulldogs Are Directly Correlated to Small Tracheas
Another concerning correlation we’ve observed is the connection between heavily wrinkled bulldogs and undersized tracheas (windpipes). The trachea serves as the essential airway passage that delivers oxygen to the lungs, and when it’s too narrow, breathing becomes labored even at rest.
In my experience, bulldogs bred for extremely wrinkled appearances typically have smaller tracheal diameters compared to bulldogs with more moderate features. This restriction in airway size creates a lifelong limitation on the dog’s ability to exercise, regulate body temperature, and even rest comfortably.
At Bruiser Bulldogs, we X-ray all of our adult bulldogs’ tracheas to ensure they are wide enough for proper airflow. This commitment to measuring and selecting for adequate tracheal size is uncommon in the breeding community but essential for producing bulldogs that can breathe properly throughout their lives. When choosing a bulldog, ask breeders about their attention to airway health, including tracheal size. Responsible breeders will select for dogs with adequate airway capacity rather than prioritizing extreme wrinkled appearances.
6. Overweight Bulldogs Have Higher Risk of Heart Issues and Failure
While wrinkles themselves are a primary concern, I’ve also noticed that the traditional heavily wrinkled bulldog is often prone to obesity, which further compounds health issues. Overweight bulldogs face significantly higher risks of heart problems and heart failure, particularly when combined with the respiratory challenges caused by excessive wrinkles.
The combination of restricted breathing and excess weight places tremendous strain on the heart, often leading to a shortened lifespan. Unfortunately, many extremely wrinkled bulldogs struggle to exercise enough to maintain a healthy weight, creating a vicious cycle of health problems.
Maintain your bulldog at a healthy weight through appropriate diet and exercise. For bulldogs with breathing difficulties due to wrinkles and shortened faces, weight management becomes even more critical to heart health.
7. More Athletic Bulldogs Are Increasingly Alert, Active, and Have Longer Lifespans
Perhaps the most rewarding discovery from our 15 years of breeding experience is that bulldogs with more moderate features—lighter wrinkle sets, slightly extended noses, and more athletic builds—consistently demonstrate better quality of life. These dogs are more alert, more active, and typically enjoy longer, healthier lives.
By selecting for functionality over extreme appearance, we’ve been able to produce bulldogs that maintain the lovable personality and distinctive look of the breed while eliminating many of the health struggles that have become unfortunately common.
Consider a more athletic bulldog with moderate features if you’re looking for an active companion. These dogs can join you for walks, play energetically, and participate in family activities without the constant health concerns that affect heavily wrinkled bulldogs.
The Future of Healthier Bulldogs
When I look at photographs of bulldogs from the 1930s through the 1950s, I see a very different dog than the extremely wrinkled version that became popular in the 1970s and beyond. This historical perspective confirms that the excessive wrinkles we now associate with bulldogs are not traditional or necessary to the breed—they’re a relatively recent development that has unfortunately had severe health consequences.
Here at Bruiser Bulldogs, we’re committed to returning to a healthier bulldog by breeding for more moderate physical features. A bulldog can still be unmistakably a bulldog without the extreme wrinkles that cause so many health problems.
The good news is that we’ve already seen tremendous success in reducing health issues through our approach. Bulldogs with lighter wrinkle sets and slightly extended muzzles maintain the charming personality and distinctive appearance that make bulldogs so beloved, but without the chronic health struggles.
If you’re considering adding a bulldog to your family, I encourage you to look beyond the “cute” factor of excessive wrinkles and consider the lifelong health implications of these physical traits. By choosing a more moderately built bulldog, you’re not only getting a healthier companion but also supporting breeding practices that prioritize welfare over extreme appearances.
The future of this wonderful breed depends on making informed, responsible choices today. By understanding the connection between wrinkles and health problems, we can work together to create a healthier future for bulldogs everywhere.
If you are interested in learning more about the things about bulldog health for you are welcome to visit the following pages:
What to look for in a bulldog breeder – Click Here
How to breed for a healthy bulldog – Click Here
Selecting the correct English Bulldog for you family – Click Here
If you are interested in a English Bulldog Puppy and are looking for a breeder with experience and values improving the breed, Please reach out to us!
Check out our available puppies!
Greetings from the Wysongs!
Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders, Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community.
Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics.
Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability.
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