Owning dogs, in particular providing care for the english bulldog, is a specialty of humans across the world. Some historians theorize that dogs were first domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, human beings have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which vary in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of the tallest dog. However, the most preferred canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The english bulldog is also a popular pick with dog owners. Some owners are oblivious, however, of some important english bulldog care tips.
Cost of care for your english bulldog
The annual budget for providing for the english bulldog—to include meals and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—can vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This figure doesn’t include capital costs for spay/neuter surgery, collar and leash, dog carrier and dog crate. Note: Be sure you have all the required items before you bring your english bulldog home.
General english bulldog Care
english bulldog Feeding Routine
- english bulldog pups between 8 and 12 weeks old need four bowls of food in a 24 hour period.
- Feed english bulldog puppies three to 6 months old three meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- Feed puppies 6 months to one year old two bowls of food in a day.
- By the time your english bulldog makes his 1st birthday, 1 meal in a day is usually adequate.
- Many times english bulldogs might do better with two smaller meals. It’s your job to learn your english bulldog’s eating schedule.
Premium-quality dry food ensures balanced nutrition for grown english bulldogs and may be mixed with canned food, broth, or water. Your english bulldog may love cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these foods should be less than ten pct of his daily food. english bulldog puppies should probably be fed a high-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please try to limit “table food”, though, since it can cause mineral and vitamin imbalances, bone and teeth issues, and may create very finicky eating habits and obesity. Give fresh, clean water exclusively, and be certain to wash water and food bowls very frequently.
english bulldog Care Tips: Your english bulldog needs exercise daily
english bulldogs must have daily physical activity to stay fit, stimulate their brains, and stay healthy. Daily activity also really helps english bulldogs avoid boredom, which would often lead to destructive behavior. Getting out and about can quench most of your english bulldog’s desires to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Individual exercise needs will vary based on your english bulldog’s level of health and her age—but 10 minutes in back of the house and just a walk down the street every day probably won’t do. If your english bulldog is a six to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will probably be a little higher.
english bulldog Grooming Tips
You can help keep your english bulldog clean and reduce shedding with brushing. Inspect for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Many english bulldogs don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Before bathing, cut out or comb any mats from the english bulldog’s coat. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue.
Handling Your english bulldog
Puppies are clearly easier to handle. While carrying your english bulldog puppy, take one hand and put it beneath the dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting his back legs and rump. Never try to lift or grab your puppy by his or her front legs, tail or back of the neck. If you must lift a bigger, full-grown english bulldog, lift from the underside, bracing his or her chest with one of your arms and rear end with your other.
english bulldog housing
english bulldogs need a warm quiet spot in order to rest apart from all the drafts and away from the ground or floor. You might wish to think about buying a dog bed, or feel like making one from a wooden box. Put a clean comforter, blanket, or pillow inside the bed as cushion. Wash your english bulldog’s bedding frequently. If your english bulldog will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make certain she has access to plenty of cool water and covering in hot weather, and a covered, dry, warm shelter in the cold.
english bulldog Licensing
There are licensing rules to heed in your town. You should attach the license to your english bulldog’s collar. The license, along with an identification tag or tattoo, can help secure your english bulldog’s return if she happens to go missing.
english bulldog Behavior Info
Training the english bulldog
Well-mannered, companion english bulldogs can truly be a blessing to raise. However, left untrained, your english bulldog may be a big headache. Teaching your english bulldog the standards—”Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, and “Leave it”—strengthens your relationship with both the dog as well as the family. If you have a puppy, start training him on the appropriate responses as soon as humanly possible! Use little bits of food as recognition and incentive. Pups can join obedience class when they are adequately immunized. Contact the local humane society or SPCA for information on obedience schools. You should always walk your english bulldog on a leash when, even as a puppy. Just be certain your doggie will come back to you at all times whenever you call her. An aggressive or disobedient english bulldog cannot play with other people.
About your english bulldog’s Health
english bulldogs should visit the vet for a full assessment, innoculations and a heartworm blood screening each year, and promptly if she is ill or hurt.
About your english bulldog’s Dental Health
Although we may object to our english bulldog’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might indicate. Foul-smelling breath is usually an indication that your english bulldog needs an oral exam. Dental plaque due to germs results in a foul odor that necessitates treatment by a professional. Once you have given your english bulldog a cleaning from a professional, the teeth and gums may be maintained by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The vet can provide you with other guidance for eliminating dental ailments as well as halitosis. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your english bulldog’s teeth. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Some english bulldogs are prone to periodontal disease, which is an infection between the teeth and gums. Often, loss of teeth happens due to periodontal infection. Infection can sometimes also spread to other areas of your english bulldog’s body. The vet should brush his teeth as a regular part of your english bulldog’s health examination.
Breeds with Halitosis (bad breath)
Even though periodontal disease in and of itself is not a serious threat when detected early, bad breath may also indicate serious, long-term issues. A sweet, fruity smell can be a sign of diabetes, while intestinal or liver diseases may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possibility when your english bulldog’s breath smells of ammonia or urine. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your english bulldog has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in english bulldogs
Daily checks of your english bulldog for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are critical. Use a flea comb to remove fleas. There are numerous new techniques of tick and flea management. Talk with your vet about his recommendations.
english bulldogs With Heartworm Issues
Your english bulldog is at risk of contracting heartworms if he is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes carry the worm from dog to dog. Many english bulldogs die yearly as a result of heartworms. It’s critical to ensure your english bulldog has a blood screening for worms each spring. A monthly tablet taken throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year can protect your english bulldog. If you ever vacation south with your english bulldog in the winter, he should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some regions, usually the places with warmer temperatures, where the veterinarians recommend heartworm medication be consumed year round.
Medications and Poisons
If you’re considering giving your english bulldog tablets that was not prescribed for her by his doctor, don’t even think about it. Did you know that 1 regular-strength ibuprofen capsule causes stomach ulcers in english bulldogs? Make sure your english bulldog is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Make sure to call your english bulldog’s veterinarian if you have reason to suspect your english bulldog has consumed poison. You can also immediately call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hr. help.
english bulldogs: Neutering and Spaying
Male english bulldogs should be neutered – the extraction of the testes – and females spayed – the extraction of the ovaries and uterus – by six months old. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the breast cancer risk, which is a common and often deadly health problem for more mature female english bulldogs. Spaying also eradicates the possibility of a diseased uterus, a traumatic problem in more mature females that can only be treated with surgery. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
english bulldog Vaccinating
- The combination vaccine (also called the “five-in-one shot”) ought to be given to your english bulldog at two, 3, and four months of age and then once every year. This innoculation protects your pup from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. The english bulldog must be innoculated for at least the first 4 months of his life.
- If your english bulldog has not been immunized and is older than four months, she will need to be given two vaccinations asap, 2 or 3 weeks apart. Then you must innoculate annualy.
- english bulldog pup immunization and socialization should go together. You may take your english bulldog pup to socialization courses as early as 8 or 9 weeks old, according to most vets. At this point, they should have already received their first vaccinations.
Because statutes are so different around the country, call your local vet for info for rabies innoculation. In New York City, for example, the law states that any pets older than 3 months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. After the initial vaccination, you must get another immunization the following year, and then every 3 years after that. There are several immunizations, many of which are appropriate for your english bulldog. There are others that are not, however. Your veterinarian can tell you about them. Also, if your english bulldog gets ill because he is not innoculated, do not administer the shots until the dog has made a full recovery.
Roundworms in english bulldogs
english bulldogs are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Microscopic eggs made by roundworms are transmitted through an infected dog’s stool. Even the healthiest of english bulldog puppies carry intestinal worms. Getting an accurate, early diagnosis is the secret to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be successful against your english bulldog’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your english bulldog’s doctor can best determine the culprit—and decide the effective treatment.
Additional english bulldog Care Tips
english bulldog Supply Checklist
- High-quality dog food and treats specifically for english bulldogs and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush and comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with warm blanket or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never feed your english bulldog the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Raisins or grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, chives and garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit and stems
- Dough
The scoop on poop
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in place, always keep your english bulldog on a leash. And please, when your english bulldog defecates on your neighbor’s lawn, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about english bulldogs
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