ENGLISH BULLDOG CARE

Bulldog Puppy Care Starts on Day 1

When you arrive home with your English Bulldog puppy, remember - your puppy is a baby Bulldog. Like all babies, he needs lots and lots of love and cuddling, lots of sleep, lots of good, quality nourishing food and still more love and cuddling.

Moving to a new home, leaving his family and the only humans he has ever really known can be a little scary for the English Bulldog puppy, so try to make the move as easy as possible for him. Forthe first couple weeks, try to establish a good routine for him. Make it simple and relaxed at first so that your baby Bulldog feels secure in the new environment. Your English Bulldog Puppy will need a lot of guidance and direction from you during this transition so take advantage of this experience to bond with him. Thiswill allow your Bulldog to feel comfortablewith you and develop his trust for you.

Follow the breeders routine for feeding your Bulldog puppy. The same times, same amount, same brand of food, same supplements. Feed your new English Bulldog child in the same place for each meal. Be sure your Bulldog puppy has his own special area for his bed. Give your new Bulldog lots and lots of cuddling, petting and attention. Be careful not to let your English Bulldog puppy play so long and hard that he becomes exhausted.

Sometime during the first week, you should take your English Bulldog puppy to your vet for a check up and allow him/her to get to know your Bulldog puppy.

If you want to change your Bulldog puppy's brand of puppy kibble, the change should be slow and gradual. Substitute a small amount of the old food with the new and slowly increase the ratio of new to old until the old food is completely replaced with the new.

Housing/Bedding

English Bulldogs thrive indoors around their family and in a temperature controlled environment. An English Bulldog can overheat faster than other dogs so if it's much over 80 degrees (F) your bulldog should be in an air conditioned area. And be careful with slippery surfaces such as hard wood floors, tile or linoleum. Bulldogs are born with joints that are naturally looser than, say, a German Shepherd, and slipping on the floor or in the bath tub can be hard on the joints. If you have these kinds of floors you might consider area rugs to provide traction and a bath mat when bathing.

Bulldog bedding need not be as elaborate and expensive as it can be. Costlier isn't always better. Usually a common cotton rug or blanket in his crate will due nicely. They are fairly cheap and easy towashand dry. Artificial sheepskin rugs are available at most pet stores and also wash and dryeasily. The main thing is that your English Bulldog likes it and you like it. Avoid wicker dog bedsbecause most English Bulldogs love to tear these to pieces and could choke on or swallow the pieces.

We recommend using a wire crate for your Bulldog puppy. English Bulldogs actually love having their own private retreat to go to when they want to be left alone. It is much easier to house train a Bulldog puppy if he/she sleeps in a crate. If you travel with your Bulldog, he/she is safer and happier riding in a crate and if you are staying overnight your Bulldog will have its own place to sleep in. The ventilation in wire crates is much better than most plastic ones.

Equipment: (Recommended puppy supplies)

A big fluffy, comfy chair or couch so you can sit and cuddle with your new English Bulldog puppy is a great way to start off your Bulldog's new life with you.

A food dish and a water dish with straight sides and flat bottom. Preferably stainless steel.

A collar and lead. Your English Bulldog's first lead should be a light weight one, you'll need a strong leather or nylon lead as your Bulldog grows. A harness can be confusing for an English Bulldog puppy when they are just learning to follow your tugs. A collar tugs on one area in one direction whereas a harness tugs their entire chest and shoulder area making it hard for your Bulldog pup to tell what you want him to do. We recommend using a collar while training your puppy but after he is well trained a harness is fine.

Dog nail clippers or grinder. We recommend using a Dremmel tool to grind down your English Bulldog puppy's nails and making them smooth and rounded. (Available at most Super Wal-Marts or hardware stores).

A brush. You can use just about any brush on an English Bulldog, but the best ones have flexible rubber bristles. Find one that fits comfortably in your hand.

If you travel with your English Bulldog, you'll need a large insulated water jug so you'll have lots of cool water available for your Bulldog. A small water bowl that hooks to the inside of your Bulldog's crate is nice also.

A spray bottle filled with cool water. Lightly spray your English Bulldog's face and body if you notice your Bulldog panting or breathing heavily. A must for long walks and road trips.

Toys:

Never give your English Bulldog a rawhide toy! Bulldogs can tear the rawhide off and choke on it. Most Bulldog puppies will love a simple knotted sock to shake and play tug-of-war with you. Many English Bulldog puppies love chasing a ball. Whatever toy you choose just be sure that it is too big to get lodged in your Bulldog puppy's throat. And if you get toys with eyes or buttons on them be sure to tear them of as your Bulldog puppy can choke on these.

Feeding/Diet:

Your aim in feeding an English bulldog puppy should be to aid in muscle, bone and joint growth as much as possible without causing your Bulldog puppy to become obese. It is important to keep your bulldog on a natural based diet with good supplements to help insure the healthiest immune system, hips & skin throughout your English bulldog puppies life. Remember, the first 18 months of your Bulldogs life is when his or her hips & immune system are developing into what he/she will have as an adult Bulldog. Also recent studies show that cancer is the leading cause for death in canines. Oncologists in the USA estimate that almost 50 percent of dogs will die of cancer. By keeping your English Bulldog on a natural based diet with good supplements you help cut down the amount of toxins & free radicals in your Bulldog's body greatly decreasing the chances of your dog developing cancer as opposed to feeding your dog a more commercialized dog food that is full of chemicals and toxins. Also, it is better for a Bulldog to be on a diet that is lower in the amount of processed protein around 22% - 25% is good. Too much processed protein could be bad for a bully's kidneys & because Bulldogs have such shallow joints it is better for Bulldog puppies to be on a lower protein food to help cut down on growth spurts and pains. For this reason we feed our English Bulldog puppies small bite adult formula. It is best to feed a 2-4 month old puppy 2 times a day. First thing in the morning & between 4-6 pm at night. Be careful not to overfeed. Avoid making your Bulldog puppy's food accessible all the time. If you notice your Bulldog puppy is putting on too much weight, you should probably restrict his/her food consumption. If you have your Bulldog spayed or neutered, or if because of old age he becomes less active, you will want to switch to a "light" or "low fat" version of your Bulldog's food to avoid obesity. If you are feeding a puppy you may want tosoften the food with warm water. As mentioned above we suggest choosing a quality natural based dog food such as "California Natural", "Innova" , "Solid Gold" or "HealthWise". Click here to read the top ten dog food list. But we stress that any dog food brands can change their ingredients and ways of processing for the better or worse at any time. So educate yourself on the different brands and check the labels periodically for any changes. Basically the less "junk" in it the better. Avoid food with lots of preservatives and fillers. And never feed an English Bulldog anything with soybeans or soybean oils as these are very difficult for English Bulldogs to digest. Click here to compare dog foods.

Supplements may include adding yogurt and/or cottage cheese contributes to bone growth and digestive system health of your English Bulldog and most Bulldogs love the taste. (1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon per feeding). Maybe 2 when your English Bulldog is an adult. Corn oil or canola oil (1-2 teaspoons a day) are great for the coat and skin.(No soybean oil!) Hard boiled eggs(1/2 - 1 per day). We suggest supplementing your English Bulldog's diet with vitamin C for good immune system support and joint development and strength. You can get this from Ester Vit C 1000mg a day per adult dog, 500mg per puppy. Also with 120% or higher Vit C orange juice (not from concentrate) or real oranges (2-3 times per week). Vit C in this natural form is more readily absorbed by the body. Add it to your Bulldog's food masked with yogurt or serve it separately based on your Bulldog's preference. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON SUPPLEMENTS YOUR BULLDOG NEEDS TO HAVE THE BEST IMMUNE SYSTEM & HIPS POSSIBLE.

Training:

English Bulldogs are very smart but can also be a little stubborn. So as with any dog, training your Bulldog will require time, patience and consistency.

Key to good training is an understanding of how a dog thinks. Below is a bit of 'dog psychology' which applies to any canine.

All dogs, including bulldogs, are thought to be descendants of the wolf. Yes, the resemblance to your English Bulldog is nil. But remember this important fact: like all dogs, your Bulldog is a pack animal . At first this description may sound a little savage and unpalatable. But this pack instinct is precisely why dogs wedge themselves so perfectly into our families. They want to belong - to please. When a dog joins a family, even a family of one, a pack is formed. At this point his instincts compel him to seek out the structure of the pack-'Who is the leader?' 'Who is the follower?' Have you ever known a person whose dog is very rude, disrespectful and even a little aggressive? Does he (the dog) 'sass' his owner? (bark back) Does he dart just out of reach when he is reached for? Does he steal food or run away from his owner? Does he bark uncontrollably at guests? These behaviors may indicate that the dog is confused as to his position in the pack. He may have difficulty recognizing his owner as the leader of the pack therefore the dog could attempt to assume the role himself. It is very important to training that you assert yourself as the leader early on. Of course, English Bulldogs, just like people, have their own individual personalities. One may just be more willing to accept your correction than another.

I know, I know. 'But she is just sooo cuuute when she gets sassy.' 'How can I correct him when he gives me that sweet little smile?' 'Yes it was my new couch, but don't all English Bulldog pups chew?' ... It's not always easy to correct an animal as charming as a Bulldog. But it can be confusing for your Bulldog puppy and make training difficult for you if they don't know who's boss. So with that in mind...

Potty Training:

1. Crate training is very effective in training an English bulldog puppy. A crate is used to allow your bulldog to have a place to sleep and teaches them to control their bladder. In most cases they won't soil their own bedding. Then, when it is time to get up and go out, you can easily do just that. Your bully learns from the start that you control potty time.

2. After meals, give your Bulldog puppy 10-15 minutes and then take him or her out. Food is a trigger not only to eat but also to go. When it comes to potty training success, allow your bulldog to get outside when the urge is approaching. What's more is that you shouldn't leave food out. Put it down for them at the designated time and allow them to eat for 15 minutes to 30 minutes and remove the bowl. Soon he will learn and that again allows you to control potty time.

3. Pick a potty spot for you bulldog puppy. Select the area of your yard that you want your english bulldog puppy to go in. Take them to that spot every time to go. This will help your puppy to learn that when heneeds to go, he needs to come here. What's more is that the smell of urine is yet another trigger to your Bulldog puppy to go.

4. Remember that rewards need to be emotional, and therefore it is more successful to give them a reward of a patting and rub down your bulldog baby than it is for you to hand them a treat. Also, treats are food which triggers potty time again!

5. Reward success, and limit punishing accidents. Although you may be angry and you will want to punish your Bulldog remember English Bulldog puppies respond much better to love.

Lead Training:

It's important to start lead training your new English Bulldog baby early. But if you just got your baby Bulldog, you should wait a week or so till he/she is comfortable and relaxed with you and his new environment. Start with a lightweight nylon or leather collarand lead. Make sure the collar is large enough to slip easily over your English Bulldog puppy's head with some room for growth. Begin by just holding the collar and letting your Bulldog puppy lead you. This will get him/her used to the idea of a collar. Then gradually start coaxing your Bulldog pup to follow you with calls and gentle 'tug-release' pulls on the lead. Never drag or pull your English Bulldog puppy around . You want this to be an enjoyable experience for your new Bulldog puppy. Don't play with him/her during these training sessions, but do offer praise when your Bulldog/child follows you correctly.

Grooming:

Proper English Bulldog grooming is a relatively low maintenance affair. The main areas of concern are the coat, the nails, the ears and of course those cute, trademark wrinkles. We will start with brushing.

Brushing:

Brushing is key to a healthy, shiny coat. Most English Bulldogs love being brushed so it shouldn't be a problem. Brush at least 3 times a week with any good dog brush that fits your hand comfortably. Start at the back and move forward. Then brush from front to back. Your aim in brushing is to remove dead hair and to evenly distribute natural body oils. This will keep your English Bulldog's skin healthy and his/her coat shiny and smooth.

Bathing:

An English Bulldog who is regularly brushed will not need frequent bathing. Most Bulldog owners only bathe their bullies when they obviously need it. But when it is time for a bath you will need to gather up everything you will need including: shampoo, Q tips, cotton balls, wash cloth and towel. Choosing a shampoo for your English Bulldog is much like choosing one for yourself. There is no 'best' or 'worst'. You just have to try several different brands till you find one that agrees with your Bulldog's skin and coat.

Begin by placing a cotton ball in each of your English Bulldog's ears. Then thoroughly wet your Bulldog from just behind the ears to his tail being sure to get the underside also. Apply the shampoo and work it in thoroughly everywhere including between the toes, under the tail and the genital area. Use a washcloth with NO soap or shampoo on it to clean his face and wrinkles. Use a cotton ball or Q tip to clean the inside of your English Bulldog's ears but don't go too far in.Now rinse thoroughly so that every bit of shampoo is off your Bulldog. You can now remove the cotton balls from your Bulldog's ears. You can towel dry, use a hair dryer or simply let him/her drip dry. After the wrinkles are dry I put a little corn starch in them to keep them dry & fresh. Put a little Vaseline on your English Bulldog's nose to keep it moist and soft.

Nails:

An English Bulldog's nails usually need trimmed ones a week when they are pups. Once a week for adult English Bulldogs. If the nails get too long it can cause his toes to spread out unnaturally and make the foot deformed. Use a dremmel tool or dog nail clippers. Cut or grind just to the curve of the nail.

Wrinkles:

Wrinkle care is very important for an English Bulldog. A lot of dirt and moisture can collect under your Bulldog's wrinkles and can lead to an infection if not properly cleaned and maintained. English Bulldogs vary in how often they need wrinkle cleaning but a good rule is at least twice a week. Use a wet cloth with shampoo to clean them then dry thoroughly. After cleaning and drying put some corn starch in your English Bulldog's wrinkles to keep them dry. Baby wipes with aloe and lanolin are great for on-the-go wrinkle cleaning.