Dec
25
2009
Thinking Of Someday Getting A Bulldog.?
Posted by: Alan in Cat Health Problem, tags: Bulldog, Getting, Someday, Thinking
My husband had to babysit a bulldog puppy at work one day. He always was interested in the breed and fell heavily in love with this dog. I told him “maybe someday” and I started to look into them and I was told they can have health problems. How high of medical maintenance are these dogs? I think unless my husband finally lands the art job he’s looking for… he won’t be getting one. Also, what is their behavior like to other house pets such as cats, ferrets, birds?
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December 25th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
See people make it seem that every single bulldog will have these problems, just because they are predisposed to getting health problems, this does not mean all will have it. I have to wonder if people truly realize where lots of health fund money comes from, yes it is bulldog breeders. OFA is now doing trachea research because of bulldog breeders, it is fairly new, preliminary tests only now. I have only seen one well bred bulldog with a debilitating issue (spine) and he is still able to do service work for his owner, she has a pup in training but will not switch till he can’t do it anymore. I have seen minor issues like seasonal alopecia here and there. Yes this breed CAN have issues, operative word being can, not will. So yes us bulldog breeders would rather our dogs go to people who have more stable jobs, it is just how it is. But we also want our bulldogs to go to the best homes, so if you can provide a really good home you should be good, rescue I believe would definitely be more strict.
My guys really do not cost me tons and tons in vet bills, and I have 6 and will definitely have more. Now of course my guys are out of my breeding so I know what goes into them. I do suggest if you really want this breed, then you do as much research as you can. This website has all the info you will needhttp://www.thebca.org/
It has a breeder referral, mind you this is an expensive breed to buy because we put a lot into this breed.
Health info, breed info, history, a list of bulldog vets, and many more.
Bulldogs if raised with them are really good, one of my pups that I sold just absolutely loves his kitties. My guys however would not know what to think of a cat or ferret or birds (which I can’t anyways because I have high prey driven dogs also) They are a great family pet, they love children some can be quite rough with them so that would be something to watch out if there are small kids around.
You always have to remember that even though they are one of the only bully breeds that do have a good rep,they are still a bully breed. That means they can be stubborn/bull headed. Training is a must, specially crate training because they are smart dogs so boredom will drive them nuts and bullies tend to get destructive when they are bored. I would suggest finding a good obedience club in you’re area to take you’re dog to training when you get it/if you get one. Just because they are cute does not mean you can slack off on training. And you have to have a firm hand with them when training.
Good Luck
December 26th, 2009 at 3:30 am
Where should I start? Bull dogs have more problems than most other breeds when it comes to potential health issues. First of all, because they’re deep chested and brachycephalic (they have the squished nose that makes them snore) they are prone to respiratory problems. They also are known to have a predisposition to congenital heart disease and heart attack. Due to their size, nostrils, and shape, they are more likely to suffer from heat stroke than most other animals. Their skin folds have a tendency to cause skin problems, whether it be allergies or recurrent yeast infections. They are definitely high maintenance dogs. They also tend to be overweight because people don’t know what they’re supposed to look like and only see the obese dogs that most people have. If you want to be able to care for a bulldog, be ready to open up your wallet.
As far as how to do with other animals, I’ve never had one so I’m not sure. I think any breed can be good with other species as long as their brought up from a young age around them and disciplined so that they respect the other animals.
December 26th, 2009 at 8:30 am
In general, they are the #1 breed for health problems. ( I have an almost 7 year old Bulldog that originally came from a Mennonite puppy farm) She was diagnosed with severe Hip Dysplasia at 6-7 months old and has been on medication for almost 4 years. She also has luxating patellas and arthritis. They are known for skin problems, eye problems, allergies, the #1 breed for joint problems, they can’t take the heat or the cold, are very stubborn and hard to train. HOWEVER, they make a wonderful family dog and ours gets along well with all pets. We just have another dog and 2 cats right now, but we have had birds and other critters in the past. We’ve had NO problem at all, but every dog is different. If you decide on this breed, research, research, research…..and find the BEST breeder you can.
December 26th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Like all breeds, Bulldogs are prone to certain diseases and conditions. Not all Bulldogs will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them so you can be informed when you interview breeders and can know what to look for throughout your Bulldog’s life. Here’s more info.http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/bulldog/he…
With their pacific nature, Bulldogs also get along well with other pets, dogs and cats. They may be less sociable toward strange dogs, however.http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/bulldog/ch…