Bulldog Care

English Bulldog care is no small matter despite the laid-back, comical and relatively inactive demeanor of this breed. Even if they were weaned by their mothers and spent their whole life among their siblings and parents, they require careful diets in tiers of stages (newborn, puppy, adult) that are best transitioned when weight, maturity and age are triangulated properly. (I.e., some can be transitioned from puppy to adult food sooner than others if they are bigger, others may be better off waiting until they are fully mature at nearly 2 years, and so on.) On this page, you'll get tips about shedding, eye and nose care, drooling, diet, wrinkle care, and exercise that will help advise you how to take care of a Bulldog and their various needs.

Bulldogs have a reputation that may prompt first-time dog owners, or those newly acquainted with the breed, to believe that Bulldog exercise needs are excessive. That is not the case. Bulldogs are typically inactive most of their lives, and they are fine for it. Many may ask, "How much exercise does a bulldog need?" They do need some exercise, but it should be closely and carefully supervised for a number of reasons. Their heavy heads, brachycephaly, and intolerance of extreme weather alike presents a number of issues when exercise needs are undertaken. They should be exercised starting when they are a few months old. When they are active with other puppies as puppies, however, this play should not be interrupted by humans. The tips below won't so much build Bulldog muscle as keep your Bully happy, healthy and fit. If you wish to have a very athletic English Bulldog, it's recommended to see a trainer.

Due to the Bulldog's health profile, a number of precautions should be observed when exercising these dogs:

• Keep daily walks short
• Avoid strenuous activity such as long, hard runs
• Difficult terrain (steep hills, rocky parks, etc.) should be avoided
• If it's cold, be sure they are kept warm with a sweater or similar cover
• Don't leave them outside in a yard to "exercise" themselves; they won't
• Excessive panting, foamy mouths, or a refusal to move are red-light dangers
• If it's hot, keep to the shade, have water ready, and watch for signs of overheating
• Bulldogs should not play in water deeper than a puddle, as they are prone to drowning

On the other hand, the Bulldog temperament is one that nevertheless requires some daily activity to prevent anxiety, aggression, and obesity. Walking your Bulldog at a dog park is one of the best things you can do because it allows for socialization, moderate activity, and easy supervision. Some people want muscular Bulldogs, and this is best done with an experienced trainer. This page is best to basically maintain a fit English Bulldog.

• Treadmills: keep it slow and supervised
• Jogging: Very short runs and easy-going
• Fetch: Keep the distances short and the area secure
• Walking: Two short daily walks, 10-30 minutes each, are ideal
• Sprinklers: It may seem silly, you'll find that sprinklers can be a big deal to them to run around in
• Ball: A large sports ball (soccer, rubber, basketball) can be its own game that your Bulldog pushes around
• Chew toys: If all else is temporarily unavailable or exhausted

Here is some advice regarding basic English Bulldog exercise:

• Use a collar lead, not a harness, when walking
• Always have water on hand when out with your Bully
• Play with other dogs should be watched for territorial aggression
• Tug-of-war can be fun, but don't let it become a dominant competition
• Learn to "control the door" when entering/exiting so as to set the tone of who's in control for the walk

The topic of English bulldogs shedding and drooling is a significant one. This breed tends to not shed much, but make no doubt: the Bulldog sheds. It may be a little, it may be a lot, and it may be in between. As for drooling, this is more common and is often in copious amounts. Drooling may simply seem gross, but it releases allergens in the same way as dander does via shedding.

English Bulldog drool is perhaps worse than shedding as it often can't be seen when and where it pools, soaks your furniture, or simply dries up — but the allergens are nonetheless left behind. There's often not much you can do about drooling as it tends to be caused somewhat by the Bully's brachycephaly. You can help prevent the problems caused by English Bulldog slobber, however, by proper grooming. A daily cleansing of the facial wrinkles is important. Cotton balls and tea tree oil will do the trick. General human soaps should be avoided, as they can cause problems for dogs. Ideally, it's a daily task to take a minute or two to clean and dry your dog's facial wrinkles, but at least twice a week will do in a pinch. A mat under the food and water bowls will help prevent excessive spillage. Taking the time to teach them that they should retire to just one place after eating may help too. Pets often groom themselves after eating and drinking, and this can increase dander and allergens if this is done on furniture.

Shedding may not seem to be a problem, for even when it's heavy, the hairs tend to be short, light, and small. Still, the hair carries allergens, and if you prefer dark clothes or have darkly colored furniture, carpeting, or floors, it will be visible as well. As puppies, Bullies tend to shed more. With maturity, there tends to be less shedding unless there is a problem in their diet, health, or some other factor that can be changed. Proper grooming will greatly reduce shedding issues. For Bulldogs, a bit of daily brushing and a bath every 4-6 weeks tends to help prevent excessive shedding. If basic grooming fails to resolve a bad shedding issue, you may want to look into the diet or perhaps even make a trip to the vet. Something as simple as changing to a grain-free diet may help, but it might also be an environmental issue or something such as mites or other parasites.

Fat Bulldogs are notorious for their obesity being a source of comic relief and general cuteness. These dogs easily and quickly get overweight, and this both indicates and is the source of many health problems for these dogs. While a fat English Bulldog is not good, fat Bulldog puppies are fine. Understanding how Bullys are weaned and overseeing patiently the graduation to puppy and then adult foods are some of the things you will need to learn. Resisting the temptation to feed them whenever they turn on those sad puppy eyes won't be easy either! English Bulldog puppies should remain on puppy food until 9 to 12 months old. Size during this period should also determine when they start the transition to adult food.

With English Bull dog food, the puppy-to-adult transition remains a hotly discussed topic. Some people say that it should begin as early as 6 months, and others say it shouldn't begin until around 18 months. Get advice from your vet as it will be based on many factors such as weight, maturity, health, etc. The transition from puppy to adult food should be managed over 7-10 days, and it should be done in steps. Start with a 25/75% mixture of new/old food for the first few days, then go 50/50, then 75/25. If health problems arise, dial back the percentage of new food so your Bully's tummy can adjust to it Once all is well, continue on up until the new food is 100%.

There are many trainers and owners who will insist on a raw food English Bulldog diet. There are also people who swear by homemade foods. The raw food diet is more than mere raw meat, however, so be sure to learn as much as you can and have a feeding guide. Then there are a great many who prefer store-bought dog food, and they may recommend Royal Canin Bulldog food. If your Bully has become obese or appears to be showing premature signs of aging or other complications, learning about and administering this diet could work wonders. Also, be sure to keep plenty of fresh water available. Daily, English Bulldogs typically consume one ounce of water for every pound. If they do much more or less, see a vet. Also, use stainless steel rather than plastic for your English Bulldog water and food bowls. Don't feed them table scraps, soy, onions, or chocolate. This will result in far worse than simply chubby Bulldogs, as it can cause bloat and even death.

There are a great many diets for a Bulldog, and there are just as many camps that argue that theirs is the best if not the only one. The best dog food for English Bulldogs is said to be the raw food diet. It's often called the BARF (Bones And Raw Food) Plan, and it's best to get professional advice when administering it. Just as dogs in the wild would eat all of an animal (bone, guts, stomach contents, hooves, etc.), so, too should a domesticated English Bulldog on a raw food diet have such things to be and remain healthy. Raw food should not be fed to puppies up to a year old as their digestive systems can't handle it. Soft kibbles, and later, grain-free dry food, are often touted as the best food for an English Bulldog puppy. It's best to adjust your Bully's diet according to weight, health, and any radical environmental changes.

Because this breed is prone to skin problems, the best food for English Bulldogs with skin allergies tends to be the addition of coconut oil, plain (low sugar) yogurt and/or canola oil. This can help reduce and prevent hot spots and other hair and skin ailments cause by diet deficiencies.

The English Bulldog is a typical indoor breed. These dogs have a low tolerance for temperature extremes. Hot weather that seems fine to humans and for other dogs can sicken and even kill Bulldogs. Cold environments are not much better. Despite their size, English Bullys are perfect as an apartment dog. Whether where you live is a hot or cold climate, you'll want to be sure you can maintain an indoor temperature of about 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's a dry environment, you may want to use a humidifier so the dog's eyes don't dry out. If you have a ceiling fan, have a crate that is covered against the windward side. If you want to know your dog's temperature, use a rectal thermometer. Using the nose, putting a thermometer in the ear or mouth, or just guessing by pressing your hand on the dog's skin will not work reliably. The American Kennel Club states that the typical English Bulldog temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees F.