Bulldog
Breed Group: Non-Sporting Group
Size Group: Medium Dog Breeds
Origin: England
Height: 14”-15”
Weight: 50 lbs (male) 40 lbs (female)
Color: Fawn brindle & white, Red, Red brindle, Red brindle & white, White, Fallow with or without markings including Ticked, White, Black tips, Black mask, Brindle or Piebald
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Temperament: Calm, friendly, outgoing, gentle
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
Snuffles and slobber and drool oh my! Bulldogs may look grumpy and fierce, but they are actually big softies, calm and friendly to all they meet. They make wonderful family pets as they are exceptionally loving and tolerant with children. They can dwell contentedly in apartments and are the happiest when they are inside with their people. This breed is prone to heatstroke so always keeping an eye on your pup’s environment to make sure he doesn’t overheat is essential.
Bulldogs derive their name from bull-baiting, a violent and gruesome sport, that has been outlawed for centuries. The original bulldogs that participated in these events were quite different than their great-great-great (probably a few more dozen greats) grandchildren. Adorable, loving, devoted and sometimes lazy, these sweet pups will win over your heart one snort at a time.
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Celebrity Owners
Reese Witherspoon, Joe Jonas, Adam Sandler, Michael Phelps, John Legend, Gloria Estefan, Ice-T, Pink, Miley Cyrus, Shia LaBeouf, Olivia Wilde, David Beckham
Fun Facts
Several English bulldogs hold Guinness World Records for activities on skateboards.
Health
Bulldogs have many health concerns between their cranial structure and tendency to overheat, there is much to consider. The most common issues include demodectic mange, head tremors, brachycephalic syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, entropion, cherry eye, ectropion, distichiasis, ventricular septal defect, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, shoulder luxation, patellar luxation, internalized tail, heat stroke, and obesity. When you bring a bulldog home, pet health insurance is a must.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
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- They have the right patience and temperament for your family
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Grooming
You will need to clean your pup’s wrinkles regularly- the frequency depends on your dog, once a week to daily. Use a cotton ball dipped in peroxide to clean the wrinkles. Apply baby powder or corn starch to the cleaned area to ensure it thoroughly dries. It is important to always keep your pup’s face clean as the wrinkles are prone to dermatitis. Apply a small amount of Vaseline to your pup’s nose to prevent dryness. Brush your pup once a week to remove any dead hair and redistribute naturally occurring oils. Bulldogs go through 2 season sheds during the year, daily brushing will help contain the hair.
Bulldog ears need special attention. Clean them weekly with a Listerine moistened cotton ball. Additionally, you may need to encourage your pup’s ears to maintain their proper shape with the use of surgical tape. If you find your dog’s ears are not folding properly you can find instructional videos online.
When you bathe your pup, you will need to be careful to keep the soap out of his face. Use shampoo that is specific to your dog’s coloring. Do not wash your pup more than once a week. Frequency will again, depend on your dog’s coloring and how often he gets dirty.
Trim your pup’s nails once a week. Brush their teeth several times per week.
Cost
$1,500 – $4,000
Exercise
Bulldogs are prone to heatstroke and their short muzzle makes breathing difficult in humid situations. On hot days, it is better to do your activity in air conditioning. Bulldogs require moderate exercise somewhere around 30 minutes a day. There are the occasional pups that prefer more strenuous exercise, just be sure to always monitor your pup’s breathing.
Nutrition
Your full-sized bulldog will eat around 2 cups of food per day. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level. As mentioned in the training section it is essential to train your dog from a very young age that people should be able to take food from his bowl. If you do not start this early your pup may show signs of aggression when people approach his food.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
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Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other pups is essential. Bulldogs are known to chew. Chewing on toys is okay, chewing on people is not. This behavior should be curtailed immediately. It may seem cute when your puppy bites a finger, but in a couple of months, it will not. Early on with this breed you will need to show them how to release items from their mouth when instructed. Do not allow unsavory behavior to set in, training should begin as soon as possible. Another important lesson for bulldogs is to allow people to take food from his bowl. Start this process very early so that he does not become protective over his food.
Bulldogs respond best to positive reinforcement training. They are very motivated by treats and many owners say they have been successful with clicker training.
Lastly, do not be overly harsh with this breed when house training. These pups will pick it up when they are developmentally ready. When you puppy is very young, be patient, give him plenty of time outside to do his business, praise him with treats when he does. Always take him out immediately after meals.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
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Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
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The Good
Excellent family dogs
Good apartment dogs
Low exercise requirements
The "Ruff"
Prone to many health issues
Can be territorial about food
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