Now for something totally different…
Go searching for Bulldog Ingles on line and you will find that most of the entries are in Spanish. Press the ‘translate this page’ button and … hey presto, you have the English Bulldog, believed by some to be the most British canine of all.
Many magnificent males of the species are currently available for stud.
Descended from excellent English bloodlines, the English bulldog’s genetics and sheer beauty make this dog an excellent choice. Add to those qualities his personality traits and characteristics and you have a dog who is strong in character, loyal and reliable.
He makes an excellent companion, whether as working dog or family pet.
Admittedly he is a big chap, takes up a lot of room and has a healthy appetite, but in the right conditions, he is a gem.
If you’re not familiar with the look of this dog, it should be explained that he is a big, sturdy chappie with thick, muscular shoulders and a large chunky head. Thick folds of skin can be seen on his brow and the skin also hangs loosely around the muzzle and under the chin.
The Bulldog is docile, friendly and gregarious. The droopy eyes and slobbery chops combine to help him produce the most endearing ‘take me home with you’ look. Oh yes, he’s a real charmer, this dog.
Not surprisingly, he has been featured in many works of art over the years, and even features on the face of many international postage stamps.
Here are just a few examples of countries featuring English Bulldogs on their stamps.
Shqiperia (Albania), 1962; Eritrea (near Ethiopia), 1970s; Laos, 1982; Afghanistan, 1986; Tanzania, 1994; Georgia, 1996; Guyana (believed to have been the legendary El Dorado), 1997; Azerbaijan (north of Iran), 1998; The Republic of Somaliland, 1999; Vietnam, also 1999; Ajman (smallest of the United Arab Emirates), 2000; Dajestan (part of the former USSR), 2001; Congo Republic, 2003.
As can be seen, many of the newer republics, particularly those formerly part of the USSR, favour dogs on their postage stamps. Philatelists are prepared to pay large sums of money for these stamps, some of which are extremely rare.
Other animals, and indeed other breeds of dog, are also featured in various countries’ stamps.
Animal paintings are also in great demand, the leading canine artist being Sir Edwin Landseer.