Why Do Bulldogs Have Wrinkles?

One of the many things that make bulldogs unique is their wrinkles. But why do bulldogs have wrinkles?

Many dog breeds were originally bred for specific purposes, such as hunting or herding. As a result, these dogs often have certain physical features that are well-suited for those activities.

In the case of Bulldogs, they are a breed that was historically bred for fighting and bull baiting. The loose skin and wrinkles around its face and head served as protection during fights. 

In 1835, bull baiting was banned in North America and England putting an end to the practice. While the English Bulldog was originally bred for fighting, once they were not longer used for bull baiting, breeders wanted to keep them as pets and so they set out to breed them to be less aggressive but still keep those cute squishy faces. Today, bulldogs are not an aggressive breed.  Thanks to selective breeding, the English bulldog is a low-endurance dog that is known for its sweet disposition and predictable behavior.  

While the aggressive behavior is long gone, wrinkles have remained a classic physical characteristic of the breed and over time, bulldogs have been bred to have even more prominent and pronounced wrinkles.  

Although the bulldog’s squishy face is adorable, bulldog wrinkles are prone to fungus and bacteria build-ups between their skin folds. The more mature the bulldog is, the more susceptible they are to infection because their fully formed skin folds can trap moisture and other debris.   Every time your dog eats, drinks, or rolls around in the dirt outside, they can get dirt, moisture, and other contaminants stuck in their wrinkles.

It is important to be on the lookout for common signs of infection. These may be indicators that something is going on with your dog’s health.   If you have noticed redness, an unpleasant smell, or excessive pawing or rubbing around the face, your dog may have an infection.

To keep an infection from forming in the first place, prevention is the key.  Clean and protect their wrinkles regularly to prevent an infection from forming between their skin folds.

 Squishface makes it easy to clean wrinkly dog breeds with Squishface Wrinkle Wipes and Wrinkle Paste.

 First, use Squishface Wrinkle Wipes to wipe away dirt and grime in wrinkle folds, around tear stains, tail pockets, and between toes.  Next, use Squishface Wrinkle Paste as a protective barrier on your dog’s nose rope, wrinkles and skin folds, toes or tail pockets, and to remove stubborn tear stains.

Wrinkle Paste was created without water or alcohol and with only essential ingredients. Because so many dogs are prone to allergies, we excluded many common allergens such as lavender, aloe, lanolin, fragrance, etc., found in other products. Instead, we use a calming shea butter and protective avocado oil to soothe sensitive skin.

Squishface Wrinkle Paste forms a water-repellent barrier on the skin surface which keeps moisture, yeast, fungus, and other bacteria at bay. For best results, clean bulldog wrinkles with Wrinkle Wipes and apply fresh Wrinkle Paste once daily for 7 to 10 days. 

For more great tips and information about wrinkly dogs, check out our blog.