Have you been thinking about an English Bulldog as a pet?
Let me explain why a bulldog may be the right dog for you!
Raising a bulldog is different from raising any other type of dog. English bulldogs need people to take care of them. You may have heard that the English bulldog breed would become extinct without the help of humans. This is true simply due to the fact that most of them have trouble giving birth and therefore need caesarean sections as well as artificial insemination. In addition, they do not always know what is best for them. They love to lie down in the heat, although the heat will kill them, they don’t seem to care about eating if they aren’t given food. They count on YOU, your family, their pet owner, to take care of them. It’s not that they’re not smart because they’re very smart… it’s just that they’re tough, very tough, and don’t realize that they may have some “needs” that need to be met. They have also been bred from their history of bull baiting to handle a high pain tolerance. Remember, take care of them if you have one.
They are loving, loyal, and yet they would fight for you to the death, but they are by no means violent. If you come across a violent bulldog, then he has been raised that way. However, nowadays we must be careful, due to backyard breeders, inbreeding, such as brother to sister, can foster a violent tendency. Then, of course, there are the “fighting” dog owners, who try to instill this in our loving breed. But the bulldog is no longer the bullfighter he was raised to be, he is gentle, loving and loyal to the end. Bulldogs love their people, they love children, they love being part of the family and being at home with their family. They are highly intelligent and easy to train when they are not in one of their stubborn “bulldog moods.”
They are not a dog to play Frisbee in the park, but they love the park. He is not a dog to go running, but he loves his walks. They are as cute as teddy bears. It took my husband 7 years to say we could get one because I thought they were expensive and needed too much care… But I wish I hadn’t waited so long. It is important to get a bulldog from a good breeder. More important than with any other type of dog. There can be many health problems in this breed, so be sure to search for “healthy bulldog breeder.”
An English Bulldog should never be chained up or live in kennels, because they need temperature control and are in desperate need of human interaction. They don’t need big houses or big yards, just a fluffy pillow or bed, or if you leave them on your sofa, they are good “sofa protectors” 🙂
Bulldogs love to sleep in their crate or their own little “den.” They like to have personal time. They are easy to potty train, with little effort. Dogs in general are actually clean animals and they want their sleeping area to be clean. If you have to leave them for work, just wait for your bulldog salute committee to wag. They are so happy when you come home with them, and they are so adorable to live with.
And please, if you notice your bulldog panting a lot, be sure to bring him inside and cool him down immediately! Use cool wet towels around your body, ice in your water. If it doesn’t seem to be calming and cooling, go to the running vet!!! Bulldogs can’t stand the heat and I’ve heard of too many accidental deaths. Please don’t let this be a story of its own.
In general, the bulldog is a great friend, a loving member of the family, a wonderful protector of the sofa and will be your best friend if you let him. So if you are thinking about a bulldog for your family, I hope this helps!