Bulldog

Grooming Tips

An all-overbrushingwith a soft brush for 10 minutes two or three times a week will keep the Bulldog looking his best. During periods ofheavier shedding, it can help to first use a rubber curry brush. The wrinkles on the Bulldog’s face need to be regularly checked to make sure the skin is clean and dry, as food or moisture can get trapped and cause irritation or infection.A cotton ball dipped in peroxide can be used to clean the wrinkles, and cornstarch can be applied afterward to aid in drying—although neither should be used near the eyes. The ears and the area under the tail should be kept clean, and the dog’snailstrimmed every two weeks or so.

Exercise Tips

Bulldogs are a low-exercise dog. This is not to say that they should do without it completely, but generally getting your Bulldog moving on a regular basis is all you’ll really need to consider.Unlike other dogs that need to be worn out, a Bully is perfectly comfortable lazing with you on a Sunday afternoon. If you are physically incapacitated and wonder about walking a dog, a Bulldog might be a good choice of breed for you.

Feeding Tips

Bulldogs typically enjoy a normal diet for dogs of their size and will enjoy a treat like bacon or sausage or even cheap meats that you might have readily available. Since Bulldogs are not great exercises, it’s important not to overfeed them.

Health Tips

Bulldog owners should be vigilant to ensure their dog does not become overheated. A Bulldog should not be left out in the hot sun unsupervised or without access to shade and water, and of course, no dog should be left in an enclosed car in even mildly warm weather.If a Bulldog is overexcited or breathing too hard, his tongue will hang out unusually far and have a bluish cast instead of the normal pink. Immediate soaking with cool water and giving ice can help to cool the dog.

Trainability

Bulldogs are highly responsive to training, which is part of the reason they were made into dog fighters and bull baiters centuries ago. Training this breed does not require a lot of wrestling or excessive dog handling, and in fact, sometimes well-trained Bullys might be used to assist other dogs in training.

The English Bulldog (or simply ‘Bulldog’) was bred in England in the 1500s for bull baiting, a popular gambling ‘sport’ in which one or more dogs were matched up against a chained bull (or bear).English Bulldogs fell in popularity when bull baiting was outlawed in the 1830s, but a committed group of devotees kept the breed alive and selected away any trace of ferocity. Easily recognizable by their distinctive and adorable ‘sourmug’, English Bulldogs serve as the mascots of dozens of sports teams, most famously Georgetown University.Other famous English Bulldogs include Handsome Dan, the Yale mascot, and Tyson, the skateboarding Bulldog of internet fame. English Bulldogs are simultaneously a symbol of British tenacity and an immensely popular American pet.