Bulldog Care

Climate

Take note, this is one of the most important factors related to Bruiser Bulldog care.  This is also one of the biggest differences between English and American Bulldog care.  American Bulldogs are very hardy, working dogs that are able to endure a wide variation of climates.  This is in their genetic make-up.  English Bulldogs , in contrast, can not tolerate extreme temperatures. Due to their heavy builds and physical characteristics, during the summer they should not be left outdoors for long periods of time, and must have access to shady areas. It is best to keep them indoor with air conditioning. If they must be outside, it is good to have a shady area. Due to their short hair, English Bulldogs also must have a good heat source in the winter.

Feeding

Our Bulldogs love to eat!  In fact, obesity is a real problem with both American and English Bulldogs. It is best to feed a high quality dog food on a set schedule. Snacks should be limited. Feed a two to four month old puppy four times a day. There are several good brands of puppy food. You want a food that the puppy likes and which produces a nice coat, keeps the puppy round, but not obese, and produces solid stools. Check the list of ingredients on the bag. Do not feed your Bulldog a food which contains soy.  We have found that different dogs respond to different foods.  One brand of dog food is not the end all solution for all dogs.  Your food manufacturer will have the recommended amounts to feed on the bag according to the age and weight of the puppy.

From four to six months a puppy’s feeding regimen should remain the same but the number of feedings may be reduced to three. At about six months this number can be reduced to two. In most cases continue feeding the puppy as much as he wants. How often you feed at one year of age and older depends on your preference and the dog’s. Most dogs do well on one meal a day. Some do better on two meals a day. You may prefer to feed in the morning or the evening. This is up to you. If you like it and the dog likes it, it’s the right way.

Our Bulldogs usually eats puppy food until it is at least a year old. Most Bulldogs are changed from puppy to adult food at around twelve months of age. The best change is to the adult version of the puppy food you have been feeding him. It does not hurt your Bulldog to change from one brand of dog food to another as long as each change is done by gradually, substituting more and more of the new brand for the old. If your Bulldog is spayed or neutered or as it ages and becomes less active, you may need to start feeding a reduced calorie dog food to keep it from becoming too fat. Most good brands of dog food have regulated diet formulas. Again, it’s best if you stay with the same brand you’ve been feeding and change to the “lo-fat” version.

Toys

When it comes to Bulldog toys you cannot go wrong with a Kong brand toy. These toys are indestructible!  Kong brand toys save you money and are safer for your Bruiser.  Cheap toys that fall apart in a day, often are consumed and digested by your Bruiser. Also, it is important to remember to never give your Bulldog a rawhide toy. They can tear a piece off the rawhide and choke on it.

If you are looking for a puppy toy, you do not need to look any further than your sock drawer.  Bruiser puppies love knotted socks to shake and play tug of war with.

Grooming

If you want your Bruiser to have a shiny coat and healthy skin, grooming is a must.  Many experts believe Bulldogs should be thoroughly brushed at least three times a week. We have found that most of our Bulldogs love to be brushed. Use a soft bristle or rubber brush. Start at the rear and brush against the hair. After you’ve brushed the entire dog against the grain, brush it again with the grain. Follow this with a good rub down. This will keep his hair shiny and his skin healthy. The idea is to remove the dead hair and distribute the natural oils.  Consistent grooming will keep your Bruiser healthy and out of the bathtub as much as possible.

Bathing

Bathing your Bruiser Bulldog should be kept at a minimum because it can dry out the skin and strip your dog’s coat of its natural oils. This is why we stress brushing your Bruiser.  Frequent brushing allows you to avoid those skin drying baths.

Whenever a bath is needed, use a deep sink or bathtub filled half-way with lukewarm water. Always keep water levels below the Bulldog’s mouth and lower jaw. Before you wet the coat, place dry cotton balls gently in both ears so that no water accidentally gets into the ear canals. Next, thoroughly saturate your Bulldog’s coat with water starting at the neck and working back to the tail. DO NOTget water on your Bruiser’s face. You will clean the face later with a wet washcloth. At this point, lather up a gentle, tearless, dog shampoo in your hands and then work it throughout your Bulldog’s coat, paying special attention to the body wrinkles, legs, feet, belly, tail and genital areas of your Bruiser. After the shampoo is applied, you will need to rinse completely with fresh warm water and then rinse again. Any shampoo residue left behind can irritate English Bulldog skin.

Next you will need to clean the face, including those delicate Bulldog wrinkles. Take a clean, wet washcloth with NO SOAP OR SHAMPOOand gently wipe around the Bulldog’s eyes, nose, outer ears and inside/outside the wrinkles. Once again, never put soap or shampoo on your Bulldog’s face and never pour water directly on this area as well. You can now towel dry your English Bulldog and remove the cotton balls.

Wrinkles

Both English and American Bulldogs have wrinkles that need to be cleansed thoroughly. We have found that bathing your Bruiser is not the only time to clean wrinkles. Wrinkle cleaning should actually should be done daily. The area inside the Bulldog’s wrinkles can trap moisture and debris. This in return becomes an ideal breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria that can eventually lead to infection. To prevent this from happening, clean the wrinkles, inside and out, daily with a wet washcloth. Remember to never use soap or shampoo on the facial wrinkles. After cleaning those Bruiser Bulldog wrinkles, gently dry them with a blow dryer set to low or cool heat.

Bedding

Deep down, your Bruiser really wants to sleep in your bed with you!  If that is not an option, and we do not blame you if its not, there are some great bedding options out there. Bedding material used for your Bulldog should be warm and comfy.  We have found the best material to be cotton rugs or blankets which can be washed with ease. Fake sheepskin rugs, available from most pet stores, also make good beds as they are soft and wash and dry with ease. The important thing for bedding is that it be easily washable and provide a soft resting area for the Bulldog.

Exercise

Bruiser Bulldogs should be exercised every day.  You will find that many English Bulldogs often will not desire to go outside to romp and play.  It is important to get your English moving around in some way or another.  We have found that walks, short rounds of fetch, and fun in the sprinkler are great ways to exercise an English.  American Bulldogs are a different story.  Many of our American Bruisers have high drive and can’t wait to get out and play.  American Bruisers love high energy forms of exercise that allow them to show off their athleticism.  Large areas to run, fetch, swim, and hike are ideal for our American Bulldog Bruisers.