Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bulldogs good with kids?
Yes, Bulldogs and kids get along famously. They are very patient and tolerant with children and develop a gentle and caring relationship specially when they grow up together. However, no child should ever be left unsupervised with any dog because children often may not understand the proper way to handle a puppy.
Do Bulldogs make good watchdogs?
No. Bulldogs have a very mellow temperament and won’t act like a trained attack dog, but if there is a stranger around they will bark and alert the rest of the family of the strangers’ presence. But make no mistake, if provoked, or if they feel that their family is in danger, they will protect them at all cost.
Do Bulldogs get along with other pets?
Yes, but definitely you should follow a couple of logical steps to introduce your puppy into a home where another dog or animal has already established residence. Since the Bulldog is not an aggressive breed by nature they are very eager to make new friends, so it might be harder on the pets you already have due to jealousy issues at first, so be patient. While they are getting to know each other a little supervision would be a smart move.
We are very active, is a Bulldog the right pet for us?
For sure! They are the right pet for everyone! But if you’re going out for a jog your Bulldog would much rather stay home, hold the fort and take over the TV watching responsibilities! Running, with the exception of short sprints, is not something that the Bulldog is built for, however they love going to the park or playing outside as long as it’s moderate exercise. They also love car rides, air conditioned preferably, but be careful and never leave the dog unattended in the car even for a couple of minutes because it could be fatal.
See important safety tips on home page.
How long does it take a Bulldog to fully develop?
It is most common for a Bulldog to reach his height between his first 4-6 months, by then most will start to fill up although some go through a bit of a long lanky stage. From 9 months to a year the head and chest begin to grow. The lower jaw will extend into a severe under bite which gives them that charming smile and the chest will widen as well as the rest of the head. They will continue to grow, widen and beef up until the dog is 3 to 4 years old.
What kind of toys should I get my Bulldog?
Anything that is indestructible, all new puppies chew on most anything so try and stick to chewy toys made of hard rubber or nylon (also good for dental hygiene). Make sure to teach your puppy that he is supposed to chew on the toys and not the rest of your house. Never buy anything too small that they can get stuck in their throat or something plastic that can break into small pieces. Stay away from rawhide sticks and pig snacks because they tend to choke on them. See important safety tips on home page.
How much and what should I feed my Bulldog?
Many people follow the misconception that Bulldogs should be fat, this is not true. These dogs are robust by nature and already stocky, there is no need to overfeed these dogs. In fact being overweight can cause your Bulldog many problems, short term as well as long term. A good way to measure this is by rubbing them in their rib area, if you can easily feel their ribs than he is in no risk of being overweight, but if you can’t feel them then you should look into a proper diet with a little bit of regular exercise. Remember with Bulldogs a little exercise is more than enough, too much could be hazardous.
The first 2-4 months are very important in the Bulldogs development, at this stage a Bulldog should eat up to 4 times a day. You might want to soften the puppy kibble with a little warm water even a little cottage cheese and yogurt is recommended. This will help in the quality and shine of your Bulldogs coat. From 4-6 months you should cut the rations down to 3 times a day continuing with the puppy food. From 6-12 months drop it to twice a day.
After your puppy is more than one year old you can start him on the one meal a day regime and this would mark his start into the world of adult food. The time at which you administer these meals depends strictly on you and your bulldog, if it’s good for you and good for him, there’s no way to lose. For better results I recommend to spread out the meals as best you can. Sometimes you will find that your bulldog is a little reluctant to eat as if he’s grown tired with the food, if he doesn’t eat it in the first 15 minutes simply pick up the food and wait until feeding time the next day. If he doesn’t eat up all the food then you might want to consider a visit to the vet, he might be feeling a little sick.
There are many brands of food out there ranging in all sorts of prices and quality. It is no mystery that Bulldogs take much better to expensive, high quality food rather than the cheaper selections needless to say any premium brand is recommended. In the long run, your Bulldog will be very grateful with the high quality food and so will you. High quality food will extend his life span, maintain a shiny and healthy coat, keep his teeth strong and clean, and delay many conditions caused by old age such as heart problems and weak joints. Never give your Bulldog “human food” or family leftovers because this is just asking for trouble, besides having a Bulldog that will no longer allow you to enjoy a peaceful meal it could also cause him major health issues. For occasional snacks there is nothing better than traditional doggy biscuits which you will find they absolutely love. You can find a wide variety of these biscuits depending on your dogs needs, try to buy some with tartar control as a once a day snack for dental hygiene. You will also find that these biscuits are very helpful for rewarding your dog when he does the right thing as well as teaching him a couple of simple tricks.
Why do Bulldogs cost so much?
Breeding high quality and healthy Bulldogs doesn’t come cheap. Getting the female ready for breeding involves several trips to the vet where she is given breeding tests, ovulation tests, etc. Then the female is artificially inseminated (very few Bulldogs can actually mount the females for a natural conception, and it is also a risk for the dogs to engage in agitated sexual activity due to possible heart failure) which means three more trips to the vet and paying the stud for the “hot date”. Then you wait about 4 weeks for the first ultrasound and x-rays, here you make certain that the female is pregnant. After confirming pregnancy the female must go on a strict diet and vitamin supplement as well as constant monitoring from then to the time of birth. Then you have to make sure that everything is ready for the puppy nursery which involves several other costs. Next comes the C-section, in Costa Rica a vet with Bulldog experience will charge you anywhere between $150 and $200, which is pretty good considering in other parts of the world a vet may charge up to $500. Then you’re looking at 6 weeks of constant supervision (24/7) because despite their tough appearance Bulldog puppies are extremely fragile. It is also common for a Bulldog to accidentally lay on a puppy and suffocate him without even realizing it so it is important to stay with them during feeding. In the first 6-8 weeks you’re looking at a minimum of 4 more visits to the vet if all is well where they will get their wormings and puppy shots. It is a breed that requires maximum effort on the part of the breeder so that the puppies turn out healthy and beautiful. This is why a Bulldog with a pedigree can cost anywhere between $1000-$2500 or more if it is a show prospect.
Do Bulldogs really need a C-section?
About 9 out of 10 Bulldogs do require a C-section, so why take the risk. You can attempt a natural birth at home but it could result in the death of your dog and possibly all of her puppies. There are several problems that a Bulldog can face while giving birth like the large heads and shoulders being to wide for the birth canal, overheating is also a dangerous factor, and the ability to “push” out a full litter is often way to much effort for the female. When taking your dog to a C-section make sure you meet and know the vet first and that he has vast experience with bulldogs. See important safety tips on home page.
What is the average life span of an English Bulldog?
The average life span of a Bulldog ranges between 8-10 years of age. However, with a good diet, moderate exercise, regular visits to the vet, and good living conditions they can pass 12 years of age easy. In some cases Bulldogs have been known to make it up to 15 years and higher!