Here's an article I wrote for our club in Cincinnati, Ohio. ALWAYS BUY FROM AN AKC KENNEL BREEDER!!!! You can browse the internet and find several in Florida...................
English Bulldog Care & Characteristics
Almost seven years ago I became the proud owner of an English Bulldog. I love that dog more than most people I meet. Anyway, living with Duke has been an on-going learning affair. I never had anyone so depending on me. He has taught me patience and endurance. I think I’ve taught him the same. I’m not a vet or anybody of importance (except to Duke), This is my knowledge I share with you............
So, to get on with the subject of this article, English Bulldogs give all their love and affection to family members. They will protect their family with all their power and tenacity. This is a territorial thing. When out in public, taking walks that territory disappears and they are happy to meet everyone and every dog. This becomes a problem because they know no enemies. Some dogs aren’t always friendly. So, If another dog starts aggression, an English Bulldog will end the problem. My dog took on three beagles, he was holding one down with his paw, chewing on him, a second one he kept biting when he got close, and the third one went a running after Duke gnawed on his tail. It took all my effort and the neighbor’s effort to
break that fight up. Needless to say the beagle’s keep their distance from Duke.
Like most puppies, English Bulldogs love to chew. So, your furniture will take the toll.The problem is it usually takes about a year and a half for them to grow out of this phase. So buy them lots of hard rubber toys, or extremely soft rubber toys. Anything in between they will destroy in seconds. Also Bulldogs crave attention and contact with people. They will suffer depression when left alone for long periods of time.
So if your single and working away from home, English Bulldogs are not for you. However, if someone is always at home, and want a truly loyal companion…….
They will give you 110% of devoted love back to you. They are extremely intelligent when it comes to getting what they want. Tenacious (stubborn) when they don’t get it their way. So you have got to be a pack leader all the time to give these dogs what they want. (They want attention with authority from you) You have to assume the Alpha pack leader role.
These dogs need a running space for exercise. They love big balls. Like a basketball or bigger to chase all over the yard. They love playing soccer.
So what are some other peculiar traits? Well, English Bulldogs have a lot of medical issues starting from the day they are born. You see most female English Bulldogs must give birth by a C-section because their canals are to small. That is why the cost of an English Bulldog puppy, which is AKC registered, is so high. They often cost between $1000.00 USD to $3000.00 USD if they are AKC registered.. So you really need to know what to ask about when purchasing an English Bulldog. The character features that makes English Bulldogs short and stout, is dwarfism. So ask the following questions:
Did his parents have breathing or choking problems? A lot of English Bulldogs have narrow sinuses and throats. This can be corrected with surgery. But can be avoided if first asked. Did his parents have eye socket problems? They sometimes have problems, whichagain surgery can repair. Also again it can be avoided if asked.
Did his parents have hip and bone joint problems? This is a serious problem with English Bulldogs. Those that develop it can be fixed but the condition will come back. Only exercise and therapy can slow down the degeneration. Again avoided if asked. The number one problem 98% of English Bulldogs have is allergies. This will cause skin rash problems in the ears, eyes, chest and behind, along with hair loss. Changing dog food, to a non-allergenic mixture will help along with using stainless steel food and water dishes. Yes, English Bulldogs have been known to be allergic to plastic. Most hair loss will be during winter months and is caused by the lack of vitamin D. Melatonin will help but be advised that it will make your bulldog drowsy and docile. So I recommend a vitamin D shot or vitamin D tablets. I also give Duke a monthly bath of non-allergenic oatmeal liquid soap. The wrinkles in the face and ears need cleaned often due to allergies. The more wrinkles and tilted nose, the better the judges will like them. But the more maintenance you will have. So the more you monitor their diet to adjust to their allergies, The less cleaning of wrinkles and ears you’ll have to do.
Okay one more thing to look at when buying an English Bulldog………..
First check out his tail. A cork screw tail, although prized for in AKC competition, you need to avoid. But if you have your heart set on a cork screw
tail be advised that cork screw tails sometimes cover up their poop shoot. So, unless you wipe the dogs butt after every yard muffin making session, he will get impacted anal glands. This is extremely painful to the dog. My dog Duke has a cork screw tail. So yeah, I wipe his behind after every completed mission.
(That’s REAL love folks)
English Bulldogs are expensive to purchase and can be to maintain their health. But cost can be kept low by choosing wisely and maintaining their diet needs.Knowing this, choose wisely before adopting. I recommend you buy only from an AKC kennel in the USA. Still wanting one? Can’t afford the price? Keep in mind A lot of English Bulldogs end up at the ASPCA free to loving homes because the original owners didn’t know what they where getting into. So if you still want one but can’t afford the price, keep checking out English Bulldog rescue adoption agencies on the internet, and your local SPCA. But make sure it is AKC registered.
That’s about it for now.
Have a great day!
Mike Blaylock
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