How to Care for an English Bulldog Puppy
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. Foods that at toxic to dogs include (but are not limited to):
5. 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.
6. 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 times a week, as bulldogs can be quite slobbery.
1. Watch for teething when the puppy arrives home. Please be sure to provide many chew toys to help with this transitional period. Cow hooves can be found at many pet stores and are recommended. Stay away from pig ears and cheap rawhide, and "greenies," as these can cause severe diarrhea, bloat, and are a choking hazard.
2. Monitor your puppy's health. For instance, keep an eye out for diarrhea if you change your pup's food. If your bulldog develops diarrhea then stop all food for 12 hours. If it persists for more than 24 hours, contact your veterinarian immediately to prevent dehydration. Puppies can dehydrate very rapidly so you need to take it seriously when diarrhea occurs.
3. Get your puppy preventative treatment for local pests. Dogs can pick up some unwanted guests: ticks, fleas, mites, lice, and intestinal worms. Your dog can be the perfect host for these pests if regular treatment for these nasty pests is not given. Your veterinarian is the best source of knowledge for the local bugs that bug the local dog population and how to prevent these pests.
4. Take your puppy for regular veterinary checkups. Puppies will generally have a first veterinary visit at the age of six weeks by the person who has the mother dog. The veterinarian will examine the puppies to make sure there are no hernias, heart, lung, or eye or ear problems in any of the pups. Generally they will be de-wormed at this time and be given their first puppy shot (the distemper" vaccine). At 9 weeks, and then again at 12 weeks, the de-wormer and distemper vaccines will be repeated. Then these can be given once a year or on a schedule determined by you and your veterinarian.
5. Desex your puppy at an appropriate age. It is important to spay (females) or neuter (male) your puppy. In addition to various health benefits for the dog (decreased chances of certain tumors and infections) there is a big societal benefit in the decreased number of unwanted dogs. Microchipping is also encouraged in case your dog ever becomes lost.
6. Examine English bulldog's ears once a week. The inner ear part of the ear is normally white or darker colored, usually corresponding to the color of the dog's coat, so look for discoloring. The puppy's ears should also not smell nor have any discharge in the ear or on the flap. The ear should be free of debris, dirt, or parasites, like ticks or mites. Any of the following are abnormal:
7. Clean your puppy's ears regularly. You can clean the ears using a product specifically made to clean dog's ears, hydrogen peroxide (squeeze out extra fluid), or with a solution of half white vinegar and half rubbing alcohol. Saturate a cotton ball with the fluid and gently wipe it in the dog's ear. If in doubt, or if you suspect an ear infection, have your veterinarian look in the ear using an otoscope to examine the ear drum.
8. Brush your English bulldog puppy's teeth daily. By brushing daily (or at least 2-3 times a week), you will remove the bacteria and plaque that build up each day on the teeth. It also gives you a great opportunity to examine your dog's mouth for loose or damaged teeth, sores, growths, or any unusual things, and bring them to your veterinarian's attention at an early stage before they become big problems.
1. Clean your puppy regularly. Because of the English bulldog's skin folds, especially those on the face and around the lips, will need to be carefully examined each day for signs of infection. Normal yeast found on the body will thrive and flourish in these dark, warm, and moist crevices. These should be gently washed and thoroughly dried at least every other day, more often in those dogs prone to infections.
2. Brush your puppy regularly. The English bulldog's short hair coat will shed so a thorough brushing once a week with a soft bristled brush is recommended. While you're grooming, keep an eye open for any fleas, ticks, or mites, along with any lumps, bumps, or cysts on the skin. These, along with any scabs, redness, or itchy skin, should be brought to your veterinarian's attention.
3. Inspect your puppy's feet regularly. Brushing time is a good time to look at the nails and paws. The nails might need to be clipped. If you haven't performed this before ask you veterinarian technician to demonstrate. The procedure needs to be done correctly so you don't trim the "quick," or the part of the nail where the blood vessels and nerves are.
1. Give your new puppy direct instruction. Puppies will naturally follow a pack leader and you need to be that leader. As its leader, you need to be teach the puppy how to behave and fit into their new environment. They are not baby geniuses, nor are they mind readers. They need patience and repetition with much positive reinforcement. If you cannot handle a problem that you are encountering, contact a local professional canine behavior specialist.
2. Train your puppy to follow your commands. You will want to teach the puppy to sit, stay, and come on command. In addition, it is also important to begin house training your puppy early on. All of this training is most successful when you use positive reinforcement with your puppy. Instead of punishing your puppy when it doesn't do the right thing, you need to make it a pleasurable experience when it does the right thing. Give your dog a treat (either a snack or praise and love) when it follows your directions and it will make the puppy want to do what you say!
3. Begin socializing your puppy early. Socialization is very important to make sure your puppy gets along well with other dogs, other animals, and humans. Younger puppies under the age of 14-16 weeks are most amenable to socialization, as after this age they become more wary of new situations, humans, and other animals.
4. Give your puppy lots of attention and love. You need to create a bond of love and trust between you and your new puppy. While it's important for the puppy to follow your commands, it's also important for the puppy to feel that you love and care for it. Spend quality time with your new puppy every day, making sure that most of it is playing and cuddling, and not all structured training.
1. Keep your English bulldog puppy in moderate temperatures. These puppies are temperature sensitive. They can suffer from heat stroke very easily but are also sensitive to the cold.
2. Watch your puppy's coat for signs of allergies. As with other popular breeds, bulldogs are genetically predisposed to Atopic Dermatitis, which is a skin condition that results in irritation on the skin. Research indicates that of the 30% of canines who do suffer from allergies, 85% suffer from allergy to pollens, mites & mold spores. Consult with your veterinarian about solutions if your puppy's skin becomes red and irritated.
3. Monitor your puppy's breathing. Because of their short muzzle (nose), bulldogs are prone to respiratory and breathing difficulties. Hot weather, humid weather, too much strenuous exercise, and any illness affecting the nose, throat, or lung will make it hard for your bulldog to get enough air into its body. Bring your puppy into an air conditioned room during hot or humid weather and only exercise it inside during extremes of weather.
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