Don’t let that fierce-looking, jowly mug fool you—the English Bulldog is really a mellow mush-ball. Originating in 13th century Great Britain, these brave pups are now one of the most popular companion dogs in the U.S. No wonder: They’re loyal, friendly and easy-going, and they are equally at home in tiny apartments and sprawling suburban houses. Bottom line: These pups can make perfect pets. English Bulldogs are well known for their stocky builds, thick jowls, wrinkly skin, and “pushed in" faces. They are handsome and fun dogs that are great to have as a pet. English bulldog puppies require basic puppy care, however, because of some of their unique attributes, they also require a bit of special care. Just make sure to understand your puppy's special needs and it will be a loyal companion for years to come.
They may be small and stocky, but Bulldogs, as the American Kennel Club calls them, can weigh up to 50 pounds—and that doesn’t prevent them from wanting to snuggle on your lap.
Breed Group: Non-Sporting Group
Height: 14-15 inches
Weight (range): 40-50 pounds
Life Span: 8-10 years
Coat: Short, smooth and glossy
Color: Red, fawn, fallow, white and any combination of these colors, with or without markings like brindle and piebald
English Bulldog Temperament: Charismatic Couch Potatoes
Known for their pleasant temperament, English Bulldogs are friendly with nearly everyone they meet, including children and other pets—though they may not always get along with unknown dogs. This smart breed can be quite entertaining as well. Some English Bulldogs figure out what amuses you and do more of it just to make you smile!
English Bulldog barking isn’t a huge problem (they aren’t an excessively vocal breed), but with their short, brachycephalic snouts, they do tend to snore. Like other brachycephalic breeds, they also overheat very easily. This makes English Bulldogs a great choice for people who don’t want to exercise their dog much, and especially not in warm weather.
Usually happy with short walks, English Bulldogs tire out fairly quickly during play. They need to live in an air-conditioned home and shouldn’t spend a lot of time outdoors when it’s warm—anything hotter than a pleasant spring day can be too hot for an English Bulldog.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for a sociable canine companion who will enjoy hanging out on the couch with you, an English Bulldog could be a great choice!
Caring for Your English Bulldog
English Bulldog care includes the basic attention that all dogs must receive, but there are some specific things potential pet parents should keep in mind when it comes to caring for this unique breed.
Are English Bulldogs hypoallergenic? No, but no dog breed is truly hypoallergenic. To care for their coats, English Bulldogs should be brushed a few times a week with a soft brush, and bathed approximately monthly to keep them clean. English Bulldog shedding isn’t excessive.
Unless your veterinarian prescribes something specific, the best shampoo for English Bulldogs is often one that is gentle and moisturizing, like a Hypoallergenic Shampoo with Essential Fatty Acids. Skin folds may need to be cleaned a few times a week using antiseptic wipes, like Douxo Chlorhexidine 3% PS Pads.
As with any dog, nails should be trimmed when they get long and teeth should be brushed every day.
English Bulldogs are prone to obesity, in part because they can’t tolerate strenuous exercise due to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. A high-quality diet that is not too calorie-rich often is appropriate. Products designed to help prevent or manage weight gain, like Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Healthy Weight Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food, can be good options. Grain-free diets are popular with many pet parents, but unless there is a genuine food sensitivity or allergy to one or more grains, a grain-free diet is not necessary.
Because this breed can suffer from excess gas production, some pet parents elect to feed a diet formulated for sensitive tummies, like Nature's Recipe Easy-To-Digest Chicken Meal, Rice & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food. You also might consider breaking up your English Bulldog’s food into three or more meals to help reduce gassiness.
Breed-specific foods that combine many of these attributes are available for adults, such as Royal Canin Bulldog Adult Dry Dog Food, and for puppies, like Royal Canin Bulldog Puppy Dry Dog Food. The best food for English Bulldogs depends on many factors, so it’s a good idea to discuss your options with your veterinarian. The doctor also can help you determine how many calories to feed based on your dog’s current body weight, activity level and other factors for a well-rounded and complete English Bulldog diet.
Change food brands gradually. Buy a small supply of the food your dog has been fed before you brought it home. That way, your puppy's system won't go into shock due to a totally new food. If you want to change brands, do so slowly. Mix 1/2 and 1/2 for a week, then 1/4 and 3/4 for a week, then full change over.
Feed your puppy on a regular schedule. You should feed it three times a day on a regular schedule for the first four months after arrival. At 6 months you can start to cut back to 2 times a day and at 12 months you can cut it back further, to once a day.
Feed your English bulldog puppy a high-quality and well-balanced diet. Usually readily available commercial food is fine for your puppy. Examine the first five ingredients on the dog food label; the first one or two ingredients should be meat (not meat by-products which are fine but they should be further down the list) followed by vegetables, and then grains.
Once in a while an English bulldog will have signs of food intolerance (diarrhea, vomiting, or skin problems) to one or more of the ingredients in a food. If your puppy or dog shows these signs, you will need to work with your veterinarian to determine the cause and then follow a strict lifelong diet to minimize symptoms.
Avoid feeding your dog people food, especially foods that are dangerous to its system. Keep in mind that there are certain human foods that can make a dog sick or outright kill it.[1] Foods that at toxic to dogs include (but are not limited to):
Avocados
Alcohol
Chocolate
Grapes and raisins
Chives, onions, and garlic
Nuts
Yeast doughs
Anything made with the sweetener xylitol especially found in sugar-free gums
Watch your dog's weight. English bulldogs can put on weight easily, so you need to watch that your puppy doesn’t get overweight. If your puppy is putting on too much weight, consult with your veterinarian about the best, and safest, way to keep your dog's weight in balance.
Remember treats add calories to the diet so they should be fed in tiny amounts and sparingly. Reserve these for when your puppy is training.
Monitor your bulldog’s body condition score (BCS) to determine if it is overweight (or underweight) on a monthly basis. A normal-weight dog will have a “tucked” abdomen (when viewed from the side) and its ribs will be easily felt but not seen. A fat dog will lose the abdomen tuck, as fat accumulates here and on the ribs cage. An underweight dog will have a more extreme abdomen tuck and its ribs will both be easily felt and easily seen.
Provide clean fresh water at all times. This is especially important in hot or humid weather but should be provided all of the time. Also remember to wash out food and water bowls with soap and water a couple of times a week, as bulldogs can be quite slobbery.
Most English Bulldogs benefit from regular, but not very strenuous, exercise. Leash walking when it is not too hot is ideal, but watch your dog closely for breathing problems and/or overheating during any type of exercise. Unless closely supervised, swimming isn’t a great activity for English Bulldogs because their bulky front end makes swimming much more difficult.
Training Your English Bulldog
English Bulldog training can focus on basic skills such as sit, down and coming when called, but given their size and strength, it’s also important to teach these dogs to walk politely on leash. A good front-clip harness, such as the 2 Hounds Design Freedom No-Pull Dog Harness & Leash, can help prevent excessive pulling while your English Bulldog is learning how to walk on leash. Then you can switch to the back clip of the harness once your English Bulldog has mastered polite walking.
English Bulldogs are smart, thoughtful and strong enough to resist force, which has given them a reputation for being stubborn. If you try to make your English Bulldog do something, you may not get very far. English Bulldogs respond very well to positive reinforcement training, though, so make sure they get something good in exchange for doing the correct behavior. Once they figure out that they can “make” you give them the good stuff, they’ll be much more interested in doing what you want. For best results, keep English Bulldog training sessions short (especially at first), and use high quality, tasty treats, such as The Real Meat Company 95% Beef Jerky Dog Bitz Dog Treats, to help keep your English Bulldog’s attention throughout the training session.
While Bulldogs look distinctive, it’s that English Bulldog personality that makes them such a popular pet. If you’re looking for a laid-back, kind, courageous sidekick who’s just as happy lying next to you as they are walking by your side, you can’t go wrong with an English Bulldog.
https://petcentral.chewy.com/behavior-breeds-english-bulldog-dog-breed/
https://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-an-English-Bulldog-Puppy
