Thinking about getting a bulldog or do you already have one? Here are some tips and tricks I find helpful in caring for my bulldog.
Baby wipes are your friend.
I buy them by the case at the wholesale clubs. Baby wipes can be used for lots of different things with both pets and children, but I find them most helpful with my bulldog and his tail. Dozer has that typical short stubby bulldog tail, but it is actually crooked and curves to the side. This means that his little tush doesn't stay as clean as it should. I use the baby wipes nightly to clean off the underside of his tail. I will also wipe off his face and his skin folds with them as well. This just makes sure that there is no debris in the folds. You can also use them as a quick coat refresher if your dog has gotten into some dirt like mine always does.
Diaper Ointment
After you have cleansed your pup if you notice any skin irritation, apply some diaper ointment to the areas. I place diaper ointment under Dozer's tail regularly. He actually enjoys how it feels and will lie down and lift his leg up so I can get in there better. The diaper ointment can also be used under their eyes if their eye tearing is causing more than just staining but an actual irritation. Also use it on the facial skin folds to help prevent irritation from occurring. Baby powder can also be helpful if your dog has lots of skin folds that get irritated, but it is not as easy to apply as the diaper ointment.
Bathing
There is some debate as to how often to bathe a bulldog. I say it really does depend on your dog. Some bulldogs have skin issues that require regular bathing, Dozer at one time required weekly bathing, we are now down to monthly. If your dog has no skin issues, no dandruff, no itching and stays out of the mud, I would say once a month to once every few months is sufficient. If you dog has skin issues, first and foremost see a vet and make sure there is nothing serious going on. If they are healthy but have dry skin or always seem itchy I recommend a shampoo made with oatmeal or something that is mostly organic. The chemicals in a lot of shampoos can dry the skin even more and cause more itching. I have had many skin issues with my bulldog, all stemming from the demodexic mange he had as a puppy, and I use shampoo from my vet, but you can get similar products (like MalAcetic) from different pet supply stores. Beware that these types of shampoos will bleach your clothes, I learned this the hard way.
Brushing
My dog enjoys a good scratch, so when it cam to brushing him he chose one of my horse grooming brushes as his favorite. It's called a dandy brush (stiff bristle body brush) I use it on his body but not his face, for his face I use a horse face brush, which is softer. My bulldog never liked any of the dog grooming brushes the seemed sharp or too stiff and he would flinch when I used them on him.
Ear cleaning wipes and tear stain wipes.
There are many different brands out there, I prefer the ones from Foster & Smith. I say keep these on hand as they are the easiest way to keep your dogs ears clean and keep the hair under their eyes from staining from their tears. They are simple pre-moistened pads, just wipe and toss.
Chewing
Bulldogs and many other dog love to chew. I have noticed though that bulldogs seems to be able to chew things up that other dogs can not, so here are my recommendations. When Dozer was a puppy he destroyed every bed we gave him, either chewing on it or dragging it around and even taking it outside. As a pup we gave him a large kitty litter pan (never used) to sleep in so he was at least off the floor. He did have a towel to lie on for a little bit, until that became a chew toy as well. We then purchased a Kuranda bed and it has lasted for years. I bought the strongest one they made.
As far as toys went we have gone though quite a few. The larger the better, if the toy is small and he can get his jaw around it, it is sure to die quickly. A favorite in our house is the Nylabone, we chose the ones designed for large dogs over 50 pounds. I would stay away from any of the ones that are called edible, they will last 20 minutes tops and usually cause tummy upset, because they are eaten to fast.
As always do not leave your dog alone with a toy until you are sure that they can not tear it apart and swallow things that they are not supposed to.
Water bowls can also become toys as well so I use stainless steel buckets to leave water for my dog. When full they seem to weigh enough that he is not interested in playing with it.
Have specific questions about your dog just ask, I more than likely have a tip!
Baby wipes are your friend.
I buy them by the case at the wholesale clubs. Baby wipes can be used for lots of different things with both pets and children, but I find them most helpful with my bulldog and his tail. Dozer has that typical short stubby bulldog tail, but it is actually crooked and curves to the side. This means that his little tush doesn't stay as clean as it should. I use the baby wipes nightly to clean off the underside of his tail. I will also wipe off his face and his skin folds with them as well. This just makes sure that there is no debris in the folds. You can also use them as a quick coat refresher if your dog has gotten into some dirt like mine always does.
Diaper Ointment
After you have cleansed your pup if you notice any skin irritation, apply some diaper ointment to the areas. I place diaper ointment under Dozer's tail regularly. He actually enjoys how it feels and will lie down and lift his leg up so I can get in there better. The diaper ointment can also be used under their eyes if their eye tearing is causing more than just staining but an actual irritation. Also use it on the facial skin folds to help prevent irritation from occurring. Baby powder can also be helpful if your dog has lots of skin folds that get irritated, but it is not as easy to apply as the diaper ointment.
Bathing
There is some debate as to how often to bathe a bulldog. I say it really does depend on your dog. Some bulldogs have skin issues that require regular bathing, Dozer at one time required weekly bathing, we are now down to monthly. If your dog has no skin issues, no dandruff, no itching and stays out of the mud, I would say once a month to once every few months is sufficient. If you dog has skin issues, first and foremost see a vet and make sure there is nothing serious going on. If they are healthy but have dry skin or always seem itchy I recommend a shampoo made with oatmeal or something that is mostly organic. The chemicals in a lot of shampoos can dry the skin even more and cause more itching. I have had many skin issues with my bulldog, all stemming from the demodexic mange he had as a puppy, and I use shampoo from my vet, but you can get similar products (like MalAcetic) from different pet supply stores. Beware that these types of shampoos will bleach your clothes, I learned this the hard way.
Brushing
My dog enjoys a good scratch, so when it cam to brushing him he chose one of my horse grooming brushes as his favorite. It's called a dandy brush (stiff bristle body brush) I use it on his body but not his face, for his face I use a horse face brush, which is softer. My bulldog never liked any of the dog grooming brushes the seemed sharp or too stiff and he would flinch when I used them on him.
Ear cleaning wipes and tear stain wipes.
There are many different brands out there, I prefer the ones from Foster & Smith. I say keep these on hand as they are the easiest way to keep your dogs ears clean and keep the hair under their eyes from staining from their tears. They are simple pre-moistened pads, just wipe and toss.
Chewing
Bulldogs and many other dog love to chew. I have noticed though that bulldogs seems to be able to chew things up that other dogs can not, so here are my recommendations. When Dozer was a puppy he destroyed every bed we gave him, either chewing on it or dragging it around and even taking it outside. As a pup we gave him a large kitty litter pan (never used) to sleep in so he was at least off the floor. He did have a towel to lie on for a little bit, until that became a chew toy as well. We then purchased a Kuranda bed and it has lasted for years. I bought the strongest one they made.
As far as toys went we have gone though quite a few. The larger the better, if the toy is small and he can get his jaw around it, it is sure to die quickly. A favorite in our house is the Nylabone, we chose the ones designed for large dogs over 50 pounds. I would stay away from any of the ones that are called edible, they will last 20 minutes tops and usually cause tummy upset, because they are eaten to fast.
As always do not leave your dog alone with a toy until you are sure that they can not tear it apart and swallow things that they are not supposed to.
Water bowls can also become toys as well so I use stainless steel buckets to leave water for my dog. When full they seem to weigh enough that he is not interested in playing with it.
Have specific questions about your dog just ask, I more than likely have a tip!
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