This post will talk about Tom and Jerry’s dog breed. The dog that lives in Tom Cat’s house is called Spike. In this post, we will present a brief history of the Tom and Jerry animation, and we will discover the breed of their famous dog and finally the physical and behavioral characteristics of its breed.
About the dog in Tom and Jerry
The dog that lives in Tom Cat’s house is called Spike the Bulldog. As the name suggests, Spike is an English Bulldog. Spike has appeared in some episodes of the Tom and Jerry animation. The Bulldog is responsible for defending the house, especially when the tutors leave the house.
Whenever Jerry does something wrong, Tom gets the blame and so Spike the Bulldog ends up hitting the cat a few times. In some episodes, there is the impression that Spike is defending Jerry from Tom, but in fact he is only on the side of who is more “right” in his mind.
What is Tom and Jerry animation
Tom and Jerry is an American animated comedy created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Tom and Jerry tells the story of the domestic cat Tom who lives chasing Jerry the mouse, who always takes advantage of the empty house to look for food.
The animation became several television shows such as:
- The Tom and Jerry Show (1975);
- The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (1980–1982);
- Tom & Jerry Kids (1990–1993);
- Tom and Jerry Tales (2006–2008);
- The Tom and Jerry Show (2014–2021).
About the English Bulldog
Bulldogs emerged in Great Britain, this breed was used as a fighting dog, and for fighting bulls or “bull-baiting”, giving rise to the name of the breed. After going through major physical changes, such as a shorter, stockier face, and personality changes, like becoming a loving and affectionate dog, making him the dog as he is known today.
Physical characteristics
The English Bulldog is a medium sized dog. He has a massive head, quite wide. Ears are located high on the head. Muzzle broad, thick and slightly upturned. The eyes are well set and round. Body fairly short, well-fitting. Robust limbs, well muscled and in very good condition.
This breed has wrinkled skin all over its body and soft fur. Its coat has different shades and presents variations of red, fawn, light brown, white and piebald.
Behavior/temperament
The Bulldog is quite a companion and tends to get attached very easily to its tutors. It is a much more docile, affectionate, alert, reliable, brave, loyal and courageous dog. The English Bulldog has a calmer and more reserved temperament.
It is a dog full of energy, at times he will also want to be quieter. In moments of high energy, it is important to stimulate the animal with physical activities, toys and games.
Health care
Due to the anatomical conformation, English bulldogs can have heart and respiratory problems. Wrinkles on the skin must be cleaned frequently and must always be very dry. Accumulation of moisture and lack of care can favor skin changes.
Because of his height, hip dysplasia can occur. Animals with this pathology should not breed. And tutors who want to buy an animal of the breed, must buy from kennels that seek genetic improvement, to avoid this kind of pathology in the dogs.
It is a breed that tends to gain weight mainly after castration. So games and physical activity should be stimulated. As for reproduction, few male dogs mount females, requiring artificial insemination to reproduce this breed.
Due to the female’s pelvic conformation and the characteristics of the puppies, the bitches can present dystocia. Therefore, every pregnancy must be monitored by a veterinarian. And in the vast majority the delivery must occur by cesarean section.
Before having an animal of this breed, it is essential to consult the veterinarian and regularly accompany the animal with exams and consultations.
Breed care
The English Bulldog should only be brushed once a week, its short and fine coat does not need to be clipped. It is not a breed that has a constant shedding so it doesn’t get too dirty in the house with its fur.
Bulldog baths are indicated using specific shampoos for dogs and neutral shampoos. Bathing should be done very carefully, especially in the skin folds area. The animal must always be dried very well to avoid the growth of microorganisms that can lead to dermatitis.
As for the nail clipping, you can cut the nail once or twice a month. Cutting the nails prevents the animal from getting hurt or even hurting the tutor.
English Bulldog dogs must be tooth brushed every 48 hours with specific dog toothpaste. Constant tooth brushing helps prevent tartar formation and the resulting problems.
Benefits of owning an English Bulldog
Have you ever thought about having an English Bulldog? Bulldogs have many qualities for people who are looking for companionable, calm, affectionate and intelligent dogs. Below we will talk about some qualities of the breed.
- Playful, calm and affectionate;
- Bark a little;
- Adapts to small environments;
- Intelligent;
- Very sociable.
They are excellent dogs for families and a good option for families with children. Because they are very playful and affectionate, they get along very well with children.
For those who live in an apartment, the barking of these dogs will not bother, as they rarely bark. They are so intelligent dogs that they quickly learn the right place to relieve themselves, and when well trained they can show that they know how to respond to various commands.
They are dogs that socialize easily with tutors and visitors, are alert dogs with strangers but are not aggressive. Which makes them excellent companion dogs but not so good guard dogs.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we were able to find out more about the English Bulldog. Subjects such as the English Bulldog’s physical characteristics, in addition to its friendly, sociable and intelligent behavior, make it an excellent company, especially for families with children.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Dog in tom and jerry
Is the English Bulldog an aggressive dog?
No. The English Bulldog is quiet and calm. This breed can never be aggressive. When aggression occurs, it is related to behavioral deviations, in which case it is not advisable to reproduce the animal.
How big is the English Bulldog?
The size of the dogs is measured by the height of the withers, for English Bulldog dogs the average height is 35 cm and the male can weigh up to 25 kg and the famea 23 kg.
Is the English Bulldog a good family pet?
Yes, they can be excellent family dogs as they are very playful, sweet and loving dogs. They are very sociable and intelligent dogs, which facilitates their training and adaptation to almost any environment.
References
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Canine Confederation, 2015 Official Breed Standard: Bulldog. Available at: https://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_32.pdfraca_218.pdf. Accessed on January 21, 2022.
Picture from Flickr.com (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jdhancock/9888339586)
and Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/pt/photos/buldogue-bulldog-inglês-cão-1374835/)
