Comments on: Ceramic Bulldog

By: Erik R.

Erik R. — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:15:44 +0000

Yes, actually. The previous occupant is a professional footballer. Nice try, though, BB.

By: Bilingual Blogger

Bilingual Blogger — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:11:42 +0000

Erik,
Do you know anything at all about the previous residents of your house? Perhaps the previous owners of your ceramic canine were University of Georgia alumni? Go, Bulldogs!

By: Betsy

Betsy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:47:16 +0000

As a verb it refers to giving birth but as a noun it can be a young whippershapper or rascal or brat. That seems like an odd dual use of a word.

By: Mother Theresa

Mother Theresa — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:56:38 +0000

I just love your “ugly dog”, not that I want one, or anything like that. When we lived in rented flats, we used to spend the first few days stashing away the “jujus”, as my husband calls them. It’s amazing how people actually buy such horrid items.

By: Erik R.

Erik R. — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:18:12 +0000

I knew that about bulldog births, probably from you. It is an interesting tidbit, and I’ve often wondered how true it is. The Wikipedia page, full of funny underbite photos, says it’s only somewhat true:

Because of the large heads in proportion to body size, puppies are frequently delivered by Caesarean section as they can get stuck in the birth canal during natural birth. However, it is not uncommon for a bulldog to whelp naturally and successfully.

My guess is that pregnant bulldogs with caring wealthy owners probably all have caesarian births because of the perceived risk and the others aren’t well documented, so it’s impossible really know how much birth canal blockage risk there really is.

Also, isn’t whelp a cool word?

By: Betsy

Betsy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:03:31 +0000

Here’s an interesting factoid about bulldogs: their heads and shoulders are so big compared to their hips that they can’t give birth normally. They have to have caesarians. If natural selection were allowed to prevail, they’d be gone.

By: aquariumdrinker

aquariumdrinker — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:16:16 +0000

AT favors pugs, but not so much bulldogs. I would think a pity-driven attraction would cover both equally.

By: Erik R.

Erik R. — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:14:44 +0000

What’s funny is that bulldogs and other “what happened to your face?!?” breeds are the only breeds of dogs that Marga is really at all fond of. I think they’re ugly, and she thinks that they’re adorable. I say, “Right, but you love them out of pity or mocking laughter for being so ugly, right?” She claims not to. There are a couple bulldogs in town, and whenever we see one, a big smile comes across Marga’s face. It’s just weird.

Perhaps this explains her attraction to me?

By: simon

simon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:05:30 +0000

“Stupid brain!” sounds like a Homer Simpson quote.
I love bulldogs, and hilariously ugly dogs in general. I mean, I wouldn’t want one in the house, but they crack me up.