Is 4 old for an English Bulldog

English bulldog: Dog breed characteristics & care

There are many types of bulldogs, all with similar personalities. The English bulldog is easily the most recognizable breed of bulldog, with its stocky stature, folds of fur, protruding teeth, and squishy face. The American bulldog is a bit taller, while the French bulldog is more compact. All bulldog breeds are loving, family-oriented dogs.

English bulldogs, sometimes known as British bulldogs, are obsessed with their people. They particularly adore kids and most are gentle enough even for a baby. Despite being built like a tank, English bulldogs may try to curl up in your lap. Although mellow, bulldogs are courageous and make excellent guard dogs. If the family bulldog senses any threat from a stranger, theyll call on their ancestral instincts and wont hesitate to defend the family.

For that reason, its important to socialize and train English bulldog puppies early, so they dont view a visit from the neighbor as a cause for alarm. English bulldogs can coexist with other animals in the home, particularly if they are of the opposite sex. Bulldogs can be territorial, which can cause a scuffle between pets in the same house, but generally speaking, they can be trained to play nicely with others.

English Bulldog Growth and Weight Chart (Male & Female)

Last Updated on April 19, 2023

English Bulldogs are popular, loveable dogs well known for their muscular bodies and wrinkly skin. Although quite short in stature, they are very stocky and strong.

Which can leave many a pet parent wondering just how tall your Bulldog will get and what you can expect him to weigh.

In this article, we will detail everything you need to know about the growth of this breed, from puppyhood to adulthood, detailing the differences between male and female English Bulldogs.

We will also look at what age they can be considered fully grown and what to do if you think your pup is over or underweight.

Overview: A Few Fun Facts About the English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is a purebred dog, not to be confused with the Olde English Bulldogge, a crossbreed of the Bull Mastiff, the American Pitbull Terrier, and the American Bulldog.

These are silly, adorable, wrinkly dogs that pack a punch when it comes to personality. They have distinctive features that may make them look intimidating, but they are delightful and calm companions. They make excellent family dogs.

English Bulldogs are one of the most expensive Bulldog breeds, with puppies of this breed costing between $1,500 and $4,000. To learn more, check out our article about English Bulldog price here.

What is the average size of a full-grown English Bulldog?

The English Bulldog is a medium-sized dog. Males of this breed will typically stand between 14 and 16 inches (35.5 and 40.6cm) tall, while females are slightly shorter than their male counterparts, with a height of between 12 and 14 inches (30.4 and 35.5 cm).

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) official breed standards, adult purebred Bulldogs should weigh between 40 and 55 pounds (18 and 30 kg).

Females will be on the lighter end of the spectrum, clocking in at between 40 and 44 pounds (18 to 19.9 kg), and males on the heavier side at between 51 and 55 pounds (23.1 and 30 kg) when they are fully grown.

Is there a small version of an English Bulldog?

Since the 1980s, people have been selecting Bulldogs with specific genes to create Miniature English Bulldogs. These dogs are not crossbreeds but simply smaller versions of the purebred English Bulldog.

Despite these miniature or toy versions of the breed selling for considerable sums, they are not officially recognized by the AKC.

This means that these pups cannot perform in the show ring. As the breeding of these small dogs is not regulated, they could also have various health problems caused by interbreeding.

The Ultimate English Bulldog Puppy Growth Chart by Weight

A puppys weight should correspond to its stage of life. He should not be growing too fast or too slowly. Keep an eye on your puppys growth with the below English Bulldog growth chart.

Regardless of what these statistics look like, you shouldnt be worried. You shouldnt expect a few pounds or kilograms to impact your pets life significantly.

A veterinarian should be consulted if you have concerns regarding your puppys growth.

English Bulldog Female Puppy Growth Chart (lb & kg)

When weighing your puppy, ensure he is within the acceptable weight range for his age. Still, its also important to consider his gender since males are bigger than females.

English Bulldog Male Puppy Growth Chart (lb & kg)

In general, male Bulldogs will weigh more and be taller than their female counterparts.

English Bulldog Puppy Growth and Development with Pictures

When you look at your English Bulldogs development, the kind of food he consumes, or how active he is, you may be concerned about how he is doing for his age.

We provide an age-related growth chart for your puppy in the following section so you can better track your puppys development and growth.

0- to 4-week-old

Newborn Bulldogss dont do much. These first few weeks of your dogs life are all about survival, and your pup will eat, sleep and repeat.

A newborn English Bulldogs puppies will be closed when he first emerges from the womb, and they also wont react much to the sounds of the outside world for the first two weeks. As a newborn, he will weigh just 4 to 5 ounces.

4-week-old (1-month-old)

At one-month-old, your English Bulldog will start to connect to the outside world through visuals and hearing.

His eyes should now be fully open, and he should react to external sounds. He may even start to communicate with you and with his mother.

By one month old, the male English Bulldog will weigh between 4 and 7 pounds (1.8 and 3.1 kg), while the female pup will weigh between 3 and 6 pounds (1.3 and 2.7 kg).

8-week-old (2-month-old)

By the time your pup reaches two months old, he should have made the transition from his mothers milk to solid foods, a process known as weaning.

At this point, he will be ready to leave his mother and go home with a new family.

Male two-month-old Bulldogs will weigh between 9 and 12 pounds (4 and 5.4 kg), while females should weigh 7 and 10 pounds (3.1 and 4.5 kg).

12-week-old (3-month-old)

During the first two months of your dogs life, he should have put on about 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) of body weight. Your dog will now be moving around quite a lot, exploring the world around him, and expelling energy.

At three months, males will weigh around 13 to 18 pounds (5.8 to 8.1 kg), with females being slightly lighter at 12 to 15 pounds (5.4 to 6.8 kg).

16-week-old (4-month-old)

At four months, your English Bulldog will grow rapidly in weight and height. He will also become more independent and need to go to puppy school to train their behaviors.

Youll need to show your dog who is boss and control playtime so that he starts understanding his strength.

At four months, a male pup will weigh between 18 and 24 pounds (8.1 and 10.8 kg), while a female will weigh between 18 and 22 pounds (18.1 and 9.9 kg).

20-week-old (5-month-old)

At around five months old, your English Bulldogs personality should have fully emerged. He may love to show off how strong he is and may present with some stubborn reactions to puppy training.

You may also notice that families with more than one dog begin to have some fights as your English Bulldog tries to assert his dominance.

Your male dog will now weigh between 30 and 33 pounds (13.6 and 14.9 kg), and your female should weigh around 22 to 25 pounds (9.9 to 11.3 kg).

6-month-old

At six months old, your English Bulldog will have reached about 75% of his full adult height.

Females will stand between 9 and 11 inches (22.8 and 27.9 cm) tall and weigh between 26 and 33 pounds (11.7 and 14.9 kg), while males will stand between 10 and 13 inches (25.4 and 33 cm) tall and weigh between 33 and 37 pounds (14.9 and 16.7 kg).

1-year-old

Your English Bulldog can now be considered a young adult and is almost fully grown. Although he will have reached his full height, it will still take him another six months to a year to reach his adult weight.

What are the Factors that Impact English Bulldogs Growth?

Of course, not all Bulldogs are the same, and various factors will influence your specific dogs final weight and size.

Suppose you see a difference between your dog and the average sizes mentioned above. In that case, several factors, such as your pets genetics, physical activity, and feeding habits, could be at play.

1. Genetics and Common Health Problems

Your dogs family genetics will play a massive part in how big he will get. That is why its always a good idea to meet the parent dogs before purchasing a puppy so you can get an idea of how big your puppy will be.

Another good indicator of your dogs final size is to look at his paws. If his paws look big compared to the rest of his legs and body, you could end up with quite a big dog.

If your dog seems to be putting on too much weight too quickly, you may consider taking him to the vet to rule out common health problems such as hypothyroidism, leading to excessive weight gain.

2. Neutering

Neutering your male English Bulldog or spaying your female English Bulldog involves surgically removing your dogs reproductive organs.

This can have various health benefits in that it can reduce the risk of cancer, prevent aggression, and stave off unwanted puppies.

Dogs mustnt be neutered or spayed before the age of six or seven months, as doing so too early could cause uneven growth.

This is because the reproductive hormones are essential for bone and joint development. It may even be better to wait until your dog is around ten months before performing the procedure.

3. Feeding Habits

What you feed your dog will also play a big part in his weight. English Bulldogs love to eat so go easy on the treats as youll want to avoid obesity with this breed.

Excess weight could also lead to the development of type two diabetes, osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, cancer, liver disease, and high blood pressure.

Youll also want to ensure that your English Bulldog is eating the correct type of dog food formula for his current life stage. Puppy formula will give your dog the necessary nutrients and supplements that he needs to grow.

Read more: Your Guide to the 12 Best Dog Food for English Bulldogs

4. Physical Activities

Regular exercise is key to ensuring your English Bulldog maintains a healthy weight. If your dog is overweight, you might consider exercising him more but be sure to do this with caution so that you do not put too much pressure on his airways.

If your dog has horrible respiratory problems, even for the Bulldog breed, and really struggles to breathe during exercise, you may consider surgery that can help alleviate the problem.

How Do I Make Sure My English Bulldog is Healthy?

English Bulldogs have a brachycephalic syndrome, which means that they have short noses. This syndrome can cause several health issues with the breed, including respiratory distress.

To avoid putting extra pressure on your dogs system, you will want to keep him as healthy as possible. By managing his diet, exercise, and stress levels, you can do this.

1. Healthy Diet

If youre concerned about your English Bulldogs weight, you may want to chat to your vet about changing his diet. Just switching him to a different brand or type of dog food could significantly impact his body condition.

Dogs that need to lose weight might benefit from being fed low-calorie, high-quality dog food.

You might also consider swapping out fatty store-bought treats for healthier alternatives such as slices of bananas, cucumbers, apples, and green beans.

2. Appropriate Exercise

As a brachycephalic breed, Bulldogs can have difficulty exercising due to breathing restrictions. That said, these dogs still need exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

Ensure you provide your pet with appropriate exercise that is not too strenuous to place unnecessary strain on his body, and dont exercise him in the middle of the day when he could suffer from heatstroke.

3. Manage Stress

During his early years, expose your English Bulldog puppy to as many new situations, people, and dogs as possible to remain stress-free throughout his life.

When stressed or anxious, your dog might eat more or less than he usually does, which will affect his weight.

A puppys joints could be weakened by too much exercise, which affects its growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to properly weigh and measure your dog?

English Bulldogs are prone to putting on excessive weight, and as a breed that loves to eat, they can easily overfeed, which can lead to obesity.

Thats why its essential to weigh your adult dog at least once a year, although when they are still growing, weighing your dog more regularly can help you pick up on any health problems early.

You can use a home scale to weigh your dog by first weighing yourself and then weighing yourself while carrying your dog. The difference in the two weights will be that of your pet.

Upon weighing your English Bulldog on a home scale, if he appears overweight or you are concerned, it would be best to consult with your vet.

Your vet will also be able to provide an accurate reading for your dog on their walk-on scale.

To measure your puppys height accurately, you should measure from the ground to the highest point of their shoulder blades while standing.

When do English Bulldogs stop growing?

Bulldogs should reach their full adult height by the time they are one year old. After that, they may continue to gain muscle mass, filling out their body and gaining extra weight.

They should stop growing altogether by around the age of two years old.

What is considered overweight for this breed?

A Body Condition Score is used to measure an animals fat levels. The ideal score for an English Bulldog is 3 out of 5 or 5/9.

At this weight, you should be able to easily feel your dogs ribs and see their pelvic bones through a thin layer of fat.

They are considered obese if they would score 5/5 or 9/9, and it would be impossible to feel or see their ribs through a thick layer of fat.

On the other hand, a malnourished dog would score one out of five or 1/9, and the spine, pelvic bones, and ribs would visibly protrude.

Conclusion: How Big Will My English Bulldog Puppy Grow?

Now that you know more about English Bulldog puppies, how tall they grow, and how much they weigh, you can start measuring your own dog.

Of course, your pets exact size depends on his genetics and his diet, exercise, and health.

In their first year, they grow a lot, and most adults reach full height when they are one year old, though it may still take several more months to reach their full weight.

Is your English Bulldog large or small? Feel free to tell us about your dog in the comments below if its not too much trouble.

Further reading: More Weight Chart Guides

Janine is an experienced content writer and travel journalist based in Cape, Town, South Africa.

Raised by a bundle of botanists, researchers, and biologists, she is passionate about things related to the animal kingdom, including, our furry friends. However, as a terrible allergy sufferer, she is limited in her pet selection and so has grown up surrounded by curly-haired Poodles.