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Bulldogs tend to grow quickly, going from a newborn puppy to an adult bulldog in just one year, but a lot happens during that year, and bulldogs go through more growth spurts than other dogs.
Head Splitting is the term used to denote the age at which the Bulldog reaches its full size and is considered fully grown, and many new dog owners worry when they don't see their Bulldog reach this as quickly as they can expect.
So when does a bulldog's head split?A Bulldog's head splits between 12 and 18 months of age as their heads will begin to fill and grow at 9 months of age and will continue to grow for a while. A Bulldog reaches full size in one year, but can continue to grow for another 2-3 years.
The main argument is that you shouldn't worry too much about your Bulldog's development. Dogs are like babies, and each individual can have a slightly different growth schedule, depending on so many genetic and environmental factors that you can never estimate as accurately as you'd like.
At what age does a bulldog's head split?
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, a bulldog's head will begin to develop rapidly around 9 months of age, when their bodies are almost fully developed, and they will continue to develop for at least another 6 months.
A male bulldog will continue to grow until he is about 16 inches tall and 40 pounds, while females will get lighter and shorter at 40 pounds and 14 inches tall. Male bulldogs will have larger heads and broader chests, so it's actually easier to tell the males and females of this breed apart than other breeds.
Dogs grow faster than we'd like, and Bulldogs in particular tend to grow faster than we'd expect. A newborn Bulldog puppy will become an adult Bulldog in just one year, and in 3-4 years it will be considered an adult and will reach its full size.
The Bulldog's head is one of its most striking features, so it's easy to see its growth by the development and size of the head.
As your bulldog ages, you may notice that his face looks a little different than you'd expect, and I've written an article just on that subject, as it's longer than the space here allows me to explain. you can find outWhy do some bulldogs have different faces here?.
When is a Bulldog's head fully developed?
Your Bulldog's head will be considered fully grown when he is 3 to 4 years old, although their heads take shape much earlier. Your Bulldog's head will take on its adult shape around 9 months of age, but will continue to grow until 18 months of age. Changes in this period will be small, and most of them you may not even notice.
From 18 months to around 3 years of age, their minds will continue to change, but the changes will be small and you may not even notice.
It's important not to note here that "growth" is not linear for all parts of your bulldog. Your head, body, muscle mass and personality grow in different stages. Dogs, like humans, are always growing and changing in different ways.
Let's explain this a little more so you know what to expect in your dog's first few years of growing up and living with you.
Bulldog growth stages
Bulldogs grow in the following stages:
0-4 weeks - Newborn Bulldogs
Newborn bulldogs sleep and eat. This is basically what they do most of the day.
A healthy newborn bulldog will weigh around 5 ounces for males and 4 ounces for females, and they will spend these first few weeks with their eyes closed and unresponsive to new sounds. They will begin to grow rapidly in size and weight after birth, provided they are fed properly.
Within a few weeks, their eyes will open, they will make small, weak squeaks, and begin trying to communicate with this new world they find themselves in. Soon they will start to move.
4-8 Weeks – Bulldog Babies
Your Bulldog at this stage will start to move around and try to explore the world. they will try to move further and further away from the safety of their mother, but they are not ready to be separated from their parents just yet.
At this stage, they still depend on mother's milk for food, but the mother will start to wean them. The transition from milk to solid food starts at this stage, so you can start feeding them puppy food before they are fully weaned.
At this stage they will look like a miniature bulldog as they will still lack their muscular build but will have their trademark wide stance appearance. At this stage they should also start to develop social skills, so it's ideal to leave them in their litters, as they will learn a lot from their siblings and parents.
9-12 weeks: early pup
Your Bulldog puppy will start to develop muscles, a sense of independence and a little bit of mischief too. They will move further away from their parents, urinate on the floor a lot, and run around a lot.
This is the time to start training them. Potty training is obviously crucial at this stage, as is leash training. You can also start taking them outside to show them the world and help them develop more leg muscles. Socialization will also make them more stable and less nervous.
3-6 Months – Dog
They are building muscle, getting to know the world and starting to question their place in it. This means that dominant traits start to appear and become a littleheadstrongas they try to figure out who is the leader or "alpha" of the house.
That's when you start teaching them about boundaries. You have to be patient and dogged at this stage to show them that you are in charge, not them. Setting clear boundaries at this stage is critical to their development and can make a big difference in their training for the rest of their lives.
6-18 meses - Bulldogs Teenage
At this stage, their bodies grew to normal size, butemotionally, they are somewhere between puppies and adults, which is why I call them Teenage Bulldogs at this point.
More socialization and training can help stabilize their personalities here, and teaching them tricks will keep them mentally sharp and help them develop new skills.
From now on, training and socialization should be ongoing things that you will be doing for your dog for the rest of their beautiful lives.
Related questions
Will my Bulldog's head grow?
Your Bulldog will grow rapidly at 4-5 months of age and will stop growing at 3-4 years of age, this is when your Bulldog will be fully grown and his head will reach full size. Male bulldogs will also have larger heads than females.
What kind of head does a bulldog have?
A bulldog's head is of the brachycephalic type, distinguished by its broad skulls and shorter muzzles. Dogs with this type of head, like the Bulldog, will have a wrinkled muzzle with a lower jaw and a bulging eye. Other dogs with this type of head include the Pug, Boxer and Pekingese.
Do Bulldogs get more wrinkles as they age?
Your Bulldog will start to develop wrinkles when young, up to 12 months old, and will keep these wrinkles for the rest of their lives. Your Bulldog will no longer have wrinkles as he ages after the first year, but his wrinkles will get deeper, so he will still look more wrinkled than he did when he was younger.
useful resources
What's in a face? The social character of the English Bulldog–Jeffrey E. Nash
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FAQs
What age are bulldogs fully grown? ›
At what age is an English Bulldog fully grown? English Bulldogs will rarely grow taller after they're a year old but may continue filling out in chest size and increase in weight until they're about two years old. A full-grown male English Bulldog weighs about 50 to 55 pounds and stands 14 to 16 inches tall.
Why do dogs heads split? ›in short no there heads do not split or crack it is simply a line that appears in the middle of the head as the dog matures in to adult hood the line which you see is caused by muscle growth in the dogs head which leaves this indent which to some may appear as if the dogs head has splits.
What type of head does a Bulldog have? ›The dog's head is large and spherical, and the muzzle is extremely short, giving the face a flattened appearance. The English bulldog's eyes are dark and set low and wide on the forehead in the frontal plane. The nose is black and slightly upturned. The jaws (or "chops") are massive, broad and undershot.
How long are English Bulldogs in puppy stage? ›Puppy stage: By 6 months.
What age does a bulldogs head split? ›At what age does an American Bulldog's head split? An American Bulldog usually grows out of his puppy stage by the time he's two years old. As he continues to grow and develop into adulthood, his body continues to develop muscle mass which includes the head split until he reaches the age of three.
How often do you bathe bulldogs? ›A Bulldog does require regular bathing and grooming. This kind yet courageous dog can be bathed as frequently as every week up to no more than every six weeks depending on his lifestyle. With this smooth coated breed, regular bathing is essential to maintain healthy skin and coat.
What does head splitting mean? ›Head-splitting fractures indicate a severe trauma to the shoulder joint. The head is violently compressed against the glenoid and split. A segment of the humeral head is fractured and is subluxated or dislocated, while the articular surface of the unfractured part of the head remains attached to the shaft.
What does splitting mean in dogs? ›Generally, splitting means to break down the specific components of the behavior-environment into smaller and smaller pieces until you can't break it down anymore. Behaviors are complex. There are many, many components that go into them even something as simple as sit.
What is dog splitting? ›Splitting. refers to one dog cutting the line joining two. individuals. A dog can split another dog from the. owner, from a familiar or an unfamiliar dog.
Are bulldogs smart dogs? ›They're smart!
Stubborn bulldogs are hard to train, leading many to think that they are “dumb.” However, bulldogs are actually quite intelligent! Most owners come to find out that their dogs just need a little more time to be trained. They can be taught an impressive array of skills and tricks with some motivation.
Why do bulldogs tilt their heads? ›
They tilt their heads to work around their interfering muzzles and improve their visual perspective. That cute head tilt actually broadens the range of vision and allows a dog to more clearly see a person's face. Seeing our facial expressions improves communication.
What is the end of puppy stage? ›Puppies typically develop the emotional maturity and temperament of an adult dog between twelve and eighteen months of age, although they may continue to occasionally exhibit puppy behavior like chewing and nipping until they're about two years old.
How big is a 5 month old English bulldog? ›| 4 months | 18-24 | 18-22 |
| 5 months | 30-33 | 22-25 |
| 6 months | 33-37 | 26-30 |
| 7 months | 38-42 | 30-33 |
| 8 months | 42-45 | 33-36 |
Olde English Bulldogs are known for their energetic and active personalities, but they do become calmer as they age. On average, they begin to settle down around 4 to 5 years of age, though some may take a bit longer to reach this stage.
What months do bulldogs shed the most? ›It's important to note that there are two times per year when your English Bulldog's shedding will probably increase. In the late winter or early spring months, your dog is shedding their winter coat. In autumn, they're shedding their summer coat.
How do you know when bulldogs are happy? ›Probably the easiest dog body language to understand is a happy dog! There are some really clear signs you'll see in your dog showing they are happy: A high and waggy tail. This is probably the most well-known sign your dog is a happy pooch.
Do bulldogs get jealous? ›Jealousy is a closely related issue. Bulldogs will fight over human attention, food and toys, so its important to watch multiple bulldogs carefully in situations where this is a potential issue.
How many times a day should a bulldog eat? ›While your dog may have specific needs to its diet, ideally, your fully grown bulldog should eat twice a day, with the first coming in the early morning and the second later in the day. It's generally suggested that dogs are fed twice a day as they age. Consult your vet for specific needs for your puppy and dog.
How often should I clean my bulldogs ears? ›In general, once per month is a good rule of thumb. Breeds with long, floppy ears or dogs who swim frequently may need to have their ears cleaned every other week, or even weekly. After bathing or swimming, be sure to properly dry your pup's ears.
Do you have to wipe bulldogs? ›Set A Regular Schedule For Cleaning Your Bulldog's Wrinkles
We recommend wiping your pup's face down at night so that you can clean off all the dirt and grime from the day. Some pet owners have found a quick wipe with a facial tissue or water-based wipe works well between cleanings.
How long does it take for a dogs head to split? ›
Sometime after they are around 6 months old, but usually older, a Staffy puppy's head will “split”. This process is called a lot of things, from spreading to splitting to cracking.
What is splitting psychologically? ›Splitting is a psychological mechanism which allows the person to tolerate difficult and overwhelming emotions by seeing someone as either good or bad, idealised or devalued. This makes it easier to manage the emotions that they are feeling, which on the surface seem to be contradictory.
What does splitting mean in medical terms? ›Splitting is a term used in psychiatry to describe the inability to hold opposing thoughts, feelings, or beliefs.
What are signs of splitting? ›- idealizing someone one moment, then later calling them abusive or toxic.
- not seeing nuance in the relationships or actions of others.
- cutting people out of their life, then expressing feelings of abandonment.
Splitting often occurs cyclically and very suddenly. A person with BPD can see the world in its complexity. But they often change their feelings from good to bad rather frequently. A splitting episode can last for days, weeks, months, or even years before shifting.
Who keeps dog after a split? ›In the event of a simple breakup, the person who bought the dog usually gets to keep possession. The exception is when the dog was bought as a clear gift to the other partner. In that case, the dog may belong to the recipient.
What is the function of splitting? ›The split() function can be used to split a given string or a line by specifying one of the substrings of the given string as the delimiter. The string before and after the substring specified as a delimiter is returned as the output.
Do dog tears mean they are sad? ›Dog's eyes can produce tears, but insofar as we are capable of knowing, they don't seem to be producing emotional tears. They most certainly are capable of expressing emotion, and they typically will express sadness by whimpering or whining or hiding their face. They just don't cry when they're sad.
Do dogs get sad when you separate them? ›Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they're attached to. Escape attempts by dogs with separation anxiety are often extreme and can result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors.
What is the intelligence level of a bulldog? ›Intelligence. According to this intelligence ranking, bulldogs rank as 77 and French Bulldogs rank at 58. Bulldogs rank at the lowest degree of working/obedience intelligence. It says they understand new commands after 80-100 tries and obey the first command 25% of the time or worse.
Do bulldogs get angry? ›
Bulldogs are involved in fewer bite incidents than you would expect, given their popularity, so the breed appears to be at low risk for aggressive behavior. But any dog can show signs of aggression if they aren't socialized from an early age.
Which type of bulldog is best? ›- English Bulldog. The English Bulldog is a strong looking pup with a sometimes grumpy looking face, but they're the very definition of why you should never judge a book by their cover. ...
- French Bulldog. ...
- American Bulldog. ...
- Bullmastiff. ...
- Australian Bulldog. ...
- Old English Bulldogge. ...
- Ca de Bou.
English Bulldogs are known for their bold personalities and broad chests. Some of their personality traits make them good candidates to be a guard dog, or a great watchdog. For the most part, English Bulldogs are undeniably protective, loyal, and strong.
What bulldog has the strongest bite? ›American Bulldog (305 PSI)
They can generate up to 305 psi when biting, making them the breed with any dog's strongest bite force. American bulldog bite force can easily crush bones and break teeth. This aggressive breed is not recommended for families with small children, as they could be dangerous.
Dogs use a foot to bridge the communication gap. Your dog quickly learns that handing you their paw receives a positive reaction. By giving you their paw, oftentimes, they just want a pet.
Why does my bulldog sit and stare at me? ›Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.
Why do Bulldogs sit between your legs? ›Sometimes, dogs may go between their owner's legs seeking comfort or safety. Some research has found that medium and large dogs are more likely to demonstrate this behavior than small dogs. A lack of confidence, anxiety, or excitement can cause dogs to seek the closeness or protection of their owner's legs.
Are bulldogs hard to raise? ›Though the English Bulldog breed is easy in temperament, they're not necessarily low in maintenance. Their characteristic wrinkles can lead to skin problems if not properly cared for, and since they're not the most active dogs, gaining too much weight can also be a concern.
Are bulldogs hard to train? ›English bulldogs are pure sweethearts, but they also have a very stubborn temperament, making them difficult to train. The best English bulldog care and training techniques revolve around positive reinforcement via voice commands and treats.
Do bulldogs like to cuddle? ›English Bulldogs are one of the most lovable, friendly dog breeds out there. They have been known for their affectionate nature and their love of cuddling.
Are bulldogs lazy dogs? ›
Although affectionate and loving, bulldogs can be stubborn especially with non assertive dog owners. Typically lazy, they would not need a lot of exercise. However care must be given not to overfeed as they are prone to gain weight. The breed cannot really cope with extreme temperatures, especially heat.
Do bulldogs get jealous easily? ›Jealousy is a closely related issue. Bulldogs will fight over human attention, food and toys, so its important to watch multiple bulldogs carefully in situations where this is a potential issue.
Where do bulldogs like to be petted? ›We often instinctively pat our bulldogs on the head or hug them to show affection. While you may think you're showing affection, your bulldog may see it as you demonstrating your dominance. Instead of patting her on the head or hugging her, massage her belly or behind her ears.