FAQ's about English Bulldogs answered by Bullie Pups R Us

Aug. 5, 2009 - PRLog -- FAQ's about English Bulldogs shared by Bullie Pups R Us...

Does this breed make a good pet? Yes they do. They are very sweet dogs, playful, loyal and kind hearted, in spite of that face which some people find pretty intimidating. They are great pets for families.  

English Bulls are very lazy right? Not really. They can be pretty energetic actually, especially as pups. While not on the same activity level as say a sporting breed (Labs, etc) they are not total couch potatoes until they age. They require exercise as does any dog. Be prepared to provide your Bully baby with some activity.  

Can they tolerate hot days? They can with precautions from you. I have had people tell me they want this breed but have no AC in their house. You do not necessarily need AC. What you do need is shade, air movement and water, but temperatures over 80 degrees can be life threatening for any bulldog. All dogs have their own tolerance levels. Never ever leave any Bully outside for longer than 15 minutes on a hot or humid day. Because of the shape of that skull, they do not pant as effectively as longer nosed breeds. You can monitor your bully's stress level by the color and width of the tongue.  

Do I need to take special care if my English Bulldog is very wrinkled or has a large rope? YES you do. All wrinkles, on head, body or around tail must be kept clean. Use very gentle soap or baby wipes, dry them completely. A dirty wrinkle on a Bulldog can cause serious skin issues and infections.  

What other issues can this breed have? All purebred dogs have some issues which are more prevalent in some than others. With this breed it has mostly to do with that head and skin. Common issues in the English Bulldog are: Cherry Eye, ectropion, entropion, allergies, localized demodectic mange (called puppy mange by some) small trachea, megaesophagus, crooked teeth, retained testes, fertility issues. The more extreme your puppy is, the higher the odds are that you will have an issue or two. That is to say that if you take 100 very extreme, wrinkled, big boned pups and 100 of those who are long nosed and longer legged, less extreme or typey , more of the first group will likely be affected, if affected. These things are all manageable with a good vet. If you cannot or do not want to deal with some of the issues, its best to buy another breed. They also snore, break wind and snort a lot. Gotta love em' for what they are!  

What is a rope? That is that wrinkle or otherwise thick slab of skin over the nose. The more the better I say! It does require more cleaning and care though!  

What should I feed my Bulldog? The best you can possibly afford. They do not do well on cheap dog food. This is a higher maintenance breed that has very special dietary needs to maintain their health and support their immune system and development properly.  

Can English Bulldogs swim? The true typey English bulldogs cannot swim for one second. If you have a less typey bulldog that looks more athletic and like a boxer it may be possible. But the true English Bulldog type are entirely too heavy for their short little legs to support in water. They sink the second they hit the water. Life jackets are required for any English bulldog in over 12 inches of water, near a lake, pool, pond or ocean. This includes decorative Koi ponds as well.  

Hope this gets you on your way. There is more to be learned every day when woning this magnificent breed. Find out more about the breed at Bullie Pups R Us.

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Overly proud wife loving and mother to 6 admirable children. Hands down a crazy fanatical English Bulldog lover. Owner of Bullie Pups R Us English Bulldogs.