The Bulldog is a stocky, calm and affectionate dog, usually 18 to 25 kg, with a loose, wrinkled face. Most are gentle with their family, relaxed indoors and a little stubborn, and they need only moderate exercise, which is why they often look ideal for apartments. The catch is the flat face.

Bulldogs overheat quickly because short noses make breathing harder, so the UAE summer is a real risk. Walk only in the coolest hours, keep the dog in air conditioning for the rest of the day, offer fresh water and never leave it in a car, even with the window open. Clean and dry the skin folds on the face daily to avoid sore skin, and keep the weight down. Breathing, skin and joint problems are common in the breed, so before you buy, ask your vet.

See the puppy in person (and its mother, if you buy from a breeder), and ask to see the vaccination card and microchip number. Your dog should be microchipped, have its rabies and core vaccinations and be registered with your municipality or emirate. On AnimalMarket24, asking prices have mostly been between AED 6,000 and AED 9,000. Adoption is another route worth checking, and adoption fees should be modest.