About bulldogs

Photo: Ira Kallio-Kujala

How to make your bulldog feel good?

The bulldog has always had its' own admirers. For them the bulldog represents a kind, intelligent and at its' best a playfull companion. Many people say that the bulldog only gets better as he gets older.

The secret of long life is - in addition to good genes - sound living habits. A well kept bulldog is well fit even as a veteran, he has a shining coat, he eats and moves well and is still playfull.

Provide your bulldog with the right kind of motion

The bulldog is a heavy dog. He can easily hurt itself while running around. So it is worthwhile to watch out for the slippery autumn and winter weather. The bulldog is suprisingly fast in its' actions. He requires regular motion in order to be fit and strong. A brisk promenade in the park or in the forest can be much better than a visit to the dog park, where the bulldog can easily forget that he is not a greyhound and he may hurt itself while playing with other dogs.

It isn't wise to strangle the bulldog with a too thick or tight collar even though it might look good on him. Young bulldogs, especially males do often drag so much that their neck gets stiff if they have the wrong kind of collar. Ella and Bessie normally use harness specially made for them after their own measures. The harness leaves freedom of movement for the bulldog.

As in all dog breeds, there are also personalities among bulldogs. There are sourfaces needing constant attention and entertainment. And then there are those, who would prefer to sit at home on the sofa to watch television... If you are thinking of getting yourself a bulldog, you should also consider if you are ready to take home a bulldog who needs a lot of action or a total "sofa potato".

Feed your dog wisely

The bulldog needs nourishing food. Some bulldogs can became easily very fat it you feed them lots of dog treats. A bulldog can look very heart-broken while begging for treats. You should not be misled by the bulldogs stare, but to remember that doog food at regular meal times is best for your dog.

Take good care of your dog

The bulldog's wrinkleful muzzle as well as other parts with wrinkles have to be kept clean. You should always clean the muzzle after the dog has eaten. You should also check what has been left under his lips, especially in the summertime he might have many kinds of surprises hidden there. If the muzzle is very dirty, you can clean it with cleaning solutions bought at the pharmacy.

Some bulldogs have a tight tail. It needs to be cleaned daily. Even if the tail is not tight, there may be wrinkles under the tail. While fomenting under the tail, moist and dirt can cause unpleasant surprises.

The bulldog may also have an over-sensitive skin that can be seen as red paws and underarms. In the wintertime road salt that is used for melting snow (we usually have snow in wintertime in Finland) can irritate the paws. If the paws look red and irritated, they should be cleaned regularly. Cleaning solutions from the pharmacy are also useful in cleaning the paws. In the winter it is also good grease the dog's underpaws. A good protection against road salt and other dirt is given by paw wax that can be bought at the pet stores.

The english breeder Christian Bruton recommends in his book Bulldogs, An owner's companion fenugreek and garlic as an aid for skin problems, especially for paw problems. Fenugreek and garlic products can be bought at health stores. Nowadays also many pet shops sell tablets with fenugreek and garlic.

Does your bulldog rub his ears? It may be wise to check that he has no dirt in the ears. Pharmacies sell special products fro cleaning the ears.

The bulldog, as all other dogs needs to have a regular nailcut. The dog has to be taught to having his nails cut already as a puppy. The grown-up bulldog may hurt his nails while playing wildly. In the worst case the nail can be completely broken and a nasty infection can develop under the nail, so it is wise to take good care of the nails.

Some bulldogs may have problems with eyelids turning inside out and eyelashes growing into the wrong direction irritating the eye. A "cherry eye" can also develop into the eye. When the bulldog has problems with his eyes, he should at once be taken to the veterinary, who then decides what to do. An irritated eye can easily develop an infection which is very painful for the dog.

The bulldog's coat should be brushed from time to time. A drop of Omega 6 and Omega 3 grease acid oil mixed with the bulldog's food helps him to keep his coat shiny. Many people wash their dogs before going to the dog show. Sometimes it would be wiser to wash the dog after the show! The bulldog should be washed only when he is very dirty. You should use very mild products when you wash your bulldog if he hasn't skin problems. The skin problems require special products which can be bought from the veteribary or the pharmacy.

Take good care of Your bulldog's health

There is often talk about health problems of bulldogs. The bulldog does not have any more illnesses than any other breed, but because it is a heavy and short-muzzled dog, some problems can be more fatal to him than to many other dogs. A bee bite for example can be very dangerous if it manages to block the bulldogs' respiratory tracts. You should monitor your bulldog's well-being daily, especially in the summertime.

Taking promenades while it is very hot is straining for the heavy bulldog. If the bulldog's respiratory system is very tight, it is not wise to take him out for a promenade in the summer during daytime when it is very hot. It is good to keep a water bottle available while promenading in the summer.

You should have a small home pharmacy for the bulldog. At least basic cleaning solutions (that can be bought at the pharmacy), some gauzes and cotton wool pads, paw grease ja medicine against snake bites are needed. Pharmacies sell antiseptic powder and cream for the protection of infected skin. Health stores sell Echinaforce liniment which can be used for cleaning infected skin and other minor skin problems. Pharmacies sell products for stomach problems. A home pharmacy should also contain tweezers.

You should treat your bulldog against worms regularly, so also worming products are needed. Pharmacies and your veterinary can give you more information about worming your bulldog.

If your bulldog has any kind of health problems that worry you, you should take him to the veterinary. It is no use being wise afterwords. It is worthwhile to find a good veterinary who knows bulldogs and can give you good advice in order to prevent health problems.