Bulldog Olde English Bulldogge Care

The Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge is a hybrid of two closely related dogs: the Bulldog and the Olde English Bulldogge are both strong, protective, friendly, and often stubborn--so these hybrids are sure to have those qualities as well. Overall Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge care will take some work, and will need to include daily exercise, some early training and socialization, and careful diet monitoring to minimize the risk of obesity.

Here you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge mix, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. Get answers to your questions about raising these lovable yet "bull"-headed hybrids in the following sections!

The Olde English Bulldogge is pretty active, and the Bulldog really isn't--but both breeds are athletic and strong, so Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge exercise requirements are moderate overall. These hybrids will need activities that both condition them physically (walking) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). Some weight training to work out your B-OEB's muscles will be good as well.

Adult B-OEB mixes will need an average of 45 minutes of dedicated exercise per day, with the total amount depending on the dog's age, size, and overall activity level. You can start exercising your B-OEB puppy at three months old by going on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the pup grows.

Precautions with Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• A leash is required when exercising in public; leash training during puppyhood is recommended
• Yards must be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Prone to gastric torsion (bloat); don't exercise for an hour before or after feeding
• Sensitive to temperature extremes (especially heat); don't exercise in very hot or cold weather

It's important to exercise these hybrids every day. While B-OEB mixes are usually pretty laid-back, without consistent activity they can become frustrated and destructive--and since they can be prone to obesity, they might become dangerously overweight as well. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor activity; use a rope or old towel
• Weight Pulling: Attach one end of a rope to a heavy object like a spare tire, and the other end to a harness for the dog
• Canine Sports: These hybrids can excel at agility trials, cart pulling, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, giving your B-OEB access to balls or toys will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks in the morning and evening and playtime in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these hybrids will need a fair amount of care. Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge shedding is moderate, and drooling is a pretty common issue.

B-OEB mixes, like both their parent breeds, have short smooth coats that shed moderately all year long. Owners can brush their B-OEB mixes once or twice a week with a bristle brush or grooming glove to keep the shedding to a minimum, and hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary from time to time. Also, if your B-OEB mix has a lot of wrinkles, those areas will need to be cleaned out with a damp sponge or cloth every few days to keep them from getting smelly and even infected.

And since these hybrids have hanging lips, they'll often drool in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous. Owners can keep old rags or towels handy in rooms where the dog spends time (especially near its food bowl!), to use to clean up excess slobber--and if your Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge drooling is especially excessive, tie a bandanna or towel around the dog's neck to keep its chest and neck from getting dirty and stinky from the drool.

The Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge diet will need to include animal proteins, healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients.

Adult B-OEB mixes, depending on their age, size, metabolism, and activity levels, will need about three cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. B-OEB puppies will need a bit less: again depending on age, about 2¼ cups, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

For more info on feeding a Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge mix from puppyhood through maturity, see the feeding chart below.

(A NOTE ABOUT BLOAT: These hybrids are highly prone to gastric torsion, aka bloat, an often-fatal condition that occurs when a dog's stomach fills with excess air when the dog "wolfs" its food. The condition often occurs when the dog eats just before or after exercising--so owners are strongly advised to allow one hour between eating and exercise, and vice versa.)

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed amounts. These hybrids are highly prone to obesity, and if constantly overfed (and under-exercised) they'll quickly become overweight--and a fat Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your B-OEB's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding to dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your B-OEB is overweight, try this simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

Though opinions differ, a majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best dog food for Bulldog-Olde English Bulldogge mixes is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive and harder to obtain, provides the nutrients your B-OEB needs to live a longer, healthier, happier life. While some owners choose to feed these hybrids a "raw" diet of fresh meats, fruits and vegetables, eggs, and other protein sources, premium dry food is the most popular and sensible choice.

Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Taste of the Wild are recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.