The designation "bull" was applied because of the dog's use in the sport of bull-baiting. This entailed the setting of dogs (after placing wagers on each dog) onto a tethered bull. The dog that grabbed the bull by the nose and pinned it to the ground would be the victor. It was common for a bull to maim or kill several dogs at such an event, either by goring, tossing, or trampling over them. Bull-baiting was made illegal in England by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835.

Because their characteristically large heads can become lodged in the mother's birth canal, over 80% of Bulldog litters are delivered by Caesarean section.

A Dudley nose is a flesh-colored nose, which differs from the usual solid black pigmentation seen on most Bulldogs.

In 2015, in his home town of Lima, Peru, Otto the Bulldog glided through the legs of 30 people, setting a record for the longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog. After his record-breaking achievement, Otto became an instant celebrity and amassed over 80,000 likes on his Facebook page.

Handsome Dan is a Bulldog who serves as the mascot of Yale University's sports teams. In addition to a person wearing a costume, the position is filled by an actual Bulldog, the honor (and the title "Handsome Dan") being transferred to another upon death or retirement.

Bulldogs frequently suffer from brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome, a pathological condition affecting short nosed dogs which can lead to severe respiratory distress. In fact, all "brachycephalic" breeds are prone to these problems, but bulldogs tend to be the worst.

According to the Bulldog Club of America: "The tail may be either straight or 'screwed' (but never curved or curly), and in any case must be short, hung low, with decided downward carriage, thick root and fine tip."

Of the 467 Bulldogs tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals between 1979 and 2009, 73.9% were affected by hip dysplasia, the highest amongst all breeds.

Features of their facial structure, such as their short nasal passage, require Bulldogs to tilt their heads upward while in water. As a result, swimming is much more difficult for them than other breeds.

In March 2019, the Dutch government announced six new breeding criteria, including eye conformation, nostril stenosis, abnormal breathing, excess skin folds, and muzzle length, which effectively outlawed the breeding of Bulldogs and other short-faced breeds, prompting outrage from some dog-lovers--and a standing ovation from others.