breed of nonsporting dog originally trained for bullbaiting; today's bulldog is quiet, gentle, and fond of napping, making it a wonderful companion; very stable, boxlike build with sturdy legs, wide chest, and rolling gait; coat is short, smooth, and dense; coat color may be solid white, several kinds of brindle, solid red, solid fawn, or piebald; rose ears are preferred: very small and folded inward at the back lower edge while the upper front edge curls over, outward, and backward; tail is very short, hangs low, and may be either straight or screw-shaped; eyes are small, round, and very dark; adult stands 13–15 in. (33–38 cm) tall at shoulders and weighs 40–50 lbs (18–23 kg); becomes overweight easily; its bullbaiting ancestors originated in the 1600s in England, but the breed of today was perfected in the early 1800s; popular mascot for many sports teams,