Should I buy or rescue my bulldog?
Should I spayed or neuter my bulldog?
Should I get a male or female bulldog?
Can I get a Bulldog from a dog auction?
Is my household right for a bulldog?
How old should a bulldog puppy be before I bring it home?
What type of guarantee should I expect to get from the breeder?
Do bulldogs shed?
How much maintenance does a bulldog really require?
Do bulldogs really snore?
How much does a bulldog cost?
What is this microchip thing I keep hearing about?
Can Bulldogs Swim
Should I buy or rescue my
bulldog?
That's really up to you. There are pros and cons to
each method. I personally have done both and will continue to do both.
Most rescue dogs are not puppies and tend to have health problems. Although
these health problems may be minor they tend to require extra time and
attention. If your looking to rescue a dog because you see it as a cheap way to
get an expensive dog, don't rescue a dog. Rescue dogs can in fact cost you more
in the long run due to their health issues.
It's not uncommon for rescue dogs to be animal aggressive. What I mean by this is, they have no issues around people but don't get along with other animals. You should always take into consideration any other animals you currently own. If you have young children around, you need to verify the rescue dog is not aggressive around small children.
Rescue dogs can be older dogs. It is not uncommon to see a 6, 7, 8, or older dog in the rescue for different reasons. These dogs need a home just like the younger dogs.
Buying a bulldog puppy also has it's pros and cons. You'll spend more money up front on a puppy than you could with a rescue. You really don't know what type of health issues the puppy will have (if any) as it's grows up. I personally lost a bulldog puppy at 11 months due to health issues.
With a puppy, you'll go through all the normal puppy type of stuff. House breaking, chewing, up at night, etc. With a rescue dog, they tend to be older and out of these puppy stages.
Bottom line, it's really up to
you what method you would like to use. My suggestion is, do your homework. What
works for one person may not work for another. For more information refer to the
BCA rescue web site.
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Should I spay or neuter my bulldog?
The only reason not to spay or neuter your dog is if you
will be breeding. If
your not planning to breed your bulldog (and most people should not breed
their bulldogs), you should have your dog spayed or neutered. It's healthier for
the dog in the long run and you won't have any "surprises" if your dog should
get "involved" with the wrong crowd.
It is suggest that females be spayed at six month of age. Unspayed females run the risk of mammary and ovarian cancer. To lower the chances of mammary cancer the female should be spayed before her first heat cycle.
Males should be neutered around 6 months of age. Unneutered males run the risk of testicular cancer, perianal tumors, or perineal fistulas.
Some people believe a dog will gain weight after being spayed or neutered. This is a myth! Although the dog may become less active (resulting in weight gain) the process of spaying or neutering a dog will not result in weight gain. If you see abnormal weight gain in your dog you should monitor it's food intake, cut back where needed, and exercise the dog more.
Should I get a male or female bulldog?
That's a question only you
can answer. There are pros and cons to either sex. I personally have owned both
and enjoy both for different reasons. Some things to keep in mind
when determining what sex of dog you want.
1) Male bulldogs tend to be larger
2) Female bulldogs will go through
the female cycle (unless spayed)
3) Sex has no bearing on temperament
of the dog
4) Sex has no bearing on trainability
5) It's your call, one is not better
than the other.
Can I get a Bulldog from a dog auction?
Not only should you stay
away from dog auctions, you should report them to your local Humane Society and
American Kennel Club (AKC). Dog
auctions work along side puppy mills which breed dogs for the sole reason of
making money. There is no regard to the health or quality of these dogs.
Is my household right for a bulldog?
Although these are some
key things you need to consider you should still do all your homework and
research on the breed before deciding if your household is right for a bulldog.
Please DO NOT assume that owning a bulldog is the same as owning any other
common dog. Great care and dedication MUST go into owning a bulldog.
1) Bulldogs MUST be an indoor dog.
Don't think for a second that you can throw your bulldog outside
because it's
nice out or you want to get the dog out of the house for a while. If you plan to
keep your
bulldog
outside you should not own a bulldog.
2) Air conditioning is a must. If you
can't keep your house cool (no higher than mid 70's) you should not own
a bulldog.
3) No swimming pools!!! Although most
bulldogs like water, most will sink like a rock. The rule of thumb is
bulldogs can
not swim, no if and or buts about it. Secured fences around a pool is not an
acceptable
solution. It
only takes one mistake for the bulldog to get through a left open gate and into
the pool.
Kiddy pools
are fine as long as the water is only an inch or so deep. The water level should
be low enough
allow the
bulldog to lay down in the water without it rising about the arm pit. Anything
over an inch or two
is to
deep for the bulldog's safety.
4) Kids should not be left
responsible for taking care of the bulldog. Bulldogs are a high maintenance dog.
Kids (even
your little angels) can not be trusted to give the bulldog the care they need
each and every
day. If your
planning on getting your kids a bulldog, DON'T!! We all know the story, the kids
will plead
and beg for a
dog and will tell you anything to get the dog. Shortly after the dog arrives and
the novelty
wears off the
kids lose interest in the daily maintenance. If you have kids and you want a
bulldog, that's
great,
bulldogs make great family dogs but DO NOT get a bulldog thinking your kids will
take care of it.
5) If your not willing or able to pay
high vet bills, do not get a bulldog. When a bulldog has health issues
outside the normal dog
issues they tend to be pricey.
6) If your looking to start breeding
bulldogs, DO NOT BUY A BULLDOG. Breeding bulldogs should not
be done by
most people. Breeding bulldogs should be done to help the breed not to make
money.
For this
reason, only people knowledgeable of the bulldog breed should breed them. It's
real simple,
breeding
bulldogs is expensive, you won't make the money you think you will, and it's not good for
the
breed to have
people breeding lower quality (as far as the breed standard goes) dogs.
How old should a bulldog puppy be before I bring it home?
Puppies should be at least
8 weeks old before you bring them home. By 8 weeks the puppy should have had
it's 1st and possible 2nd round of puppy shots.
What type of guarantee should I expect to get from the breeder?
Any reputable breeder will
be willing to give you a written guarantee on the bulldog puppy. Most breeders
will guarantee the health of the dog for 1 year. Regardless of the guarantee
(but don't buy the puppy without one), you should have the puppy examined by
your vet of choice within 24 hours of purchase. Make sure before you purchase
the puppy that you can return the puppy for a full refund if it fails the vet
checkup. If a breeder will not guarantee these things, find another breeder.
Do bulldogs shed?
Yes, bulldogs shed all
year long. Although they are short hair dogs, they will shed. A good brushing
every day will usually keep the shedding to a minimum.
How much maintenance does a bulldog really require?
A LOT!! To sum it up, our
bulldogs have the following done every day or every other day: Clean ears, baby
wipe wrinkles, corn starch wrinkles, nails trimmed, Vaseline nose, baby wipe
body and tail area. Lack of daily maintenance on your bulldog will result in
health issues for the dog. If your getting a bulldog, plan on 10-15 minutes
everyday maintaining your bulldog.
Do bulldogs really snore?
YES! And they have gas
too!
How much does a bulldog cost?
The average range is
anywhere from $1,200 to $2,000 depending on the blood line. I personally would
not buy a bulldog for less than $1,200 unless there was a real good reason why
it was so cheap. Anything around the $2,000 should be show quality although you
can find show quality for cheaper.
What is this microchip thing I keep hearing about?
One of the newer ways to
identifying a dog is to have a small microchip placed under it's skin between
the shoulder blades. If the dog is found by or turned over to the human society
(or many vets) the chip can be scanned for your conact information. It's just
another way of safe guarding your bulldog. All my bulldogs have this chip to
help identify them if they are ever lost or stolen.
Can Bulldogs Swim?
No! Bulldogs can not swim, plain and simple! You may read
stories about bulldogs liking the water or even wearing a life vest while
playing in the water. Those stories may be true but the fact of the matter is
BULLDOGS CAN NOT SWIM. Bulldogs will sink like a rock and a life vest is not
meant to allow a bulldog to swim but rather be a safety measure to help
prevent the bulldog from drowning. If you have a pool, you should not allow your
bulldog anywhere near it.
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