A friendly old bull (Bulldog)

Member Name: metzti

Product:	Bulldog
Date:	30/06/07 (188 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fabulous, great with kids and dogs, loving, lazy. Practically perfect.

Disadvantages: Cannot clean their self, prone to health problems, expensive.

It all began 10 merry years ago when we decided that we wanted a Bulldog.
I don’t remember much of the initial puppy search because I was only 10 years old at the time. Anyway, pretty soon we found an appropriate advert with two male Bulldog puppies, and so we went to see them.

It is absolutely key to find a decent breeder, as Bulldogs are prone to quite a lot of illnesses, and it’s incredibly stressful having them put under anaesthetic due to their flat nose giving them breathing difficulties. In fact, although unrelated to his breeding, our guy did once cost around £1000 in vets bills, luckily the insurance company paid up.

I can’t describe how utterly adorable Bulldog puppies are. They are the most beautiful, fabulous piles of flab, cowardly, but perfectly divine. So when the two little guys came running in, I think I died and went to Heaven.
They were SO friendly and playful, very happy little guys, of course when they heard something bang they went sprinting out of the room like they’d been shot - but they soon came back. Unfortunately our guy remained a coward with fireworks, and would spend all evening panting, although I did discover that violins seemed to calm him down. He’s not so bad now, though.

I believe here is the appropriate time to mention how disgustingly expensive they are. Ten years ago our boy cost £800, now they are more in the region of £2000 and up. This is because they need to be born by caesarean as their heads are so large, and various other complications, so really the breeders need to pay vet bills rather then make a profit.

Anyway, after meeting the boys fabulous mum, who was an absolute gem, if a little on the clumsy side, we made the agonising choice of choosing which puppy. We decided on the brindle chap, paid the deposit and then had to wait a lifetime (a week) before we could bring him home.

At the time we had our dearest, Chihuahua (I say Chihuahua, he was built like a tank and was actually mistaken for a tiny Sheltie), who was a bit on the grumpy side, to say the least. However he would always tolerate any new dog we bought, and would keep them in line, so introducing the puppy wasn’t a problem.
Within a few minutes of arriving in his new home, young Bryn was happily chasing a ball around the garden and galloping up and down, before going to sleep all day long, (the long sleep is quite possibly the worst part of buying a puppy - wake up and be fun!).

The young sir loved his company (still does), and like most puppies the night was an absolute nightmare, thankfully my older brother was able to sleep in the front room, not with the dog, but Bryn knew he was there and so he kept quiet.
That went on for about a week until he settled down and normality was restored, somewhat.

Then all the fun began when he was able to be walked, he’s never really pulled that badly, so I was able to walk him on my own.
He was fabulous protection, because although he would never, ever hurt anyone, he looks pretty mean if you don’t know him, and don’t look at those beautiful big eyes properly. He did once reduce a small girl to tears when she looked at him, and he actually seemed pretty upset by it. He does sulk if people ignore him, he seems to take it personally, I should mention here that I’m not crazy.

Walking him hasn’t always been easy. In his younger days he liked to stop suddenly and have a little break, perhaps a little lay down in a nice patch of sun, just for a few minutes, however, I’d rather he did that instead of stopping in the middle of road, as he did a few weeks ago.

When out in public with a Bulldog you have to appreciate that some people find them terrifying and/or disgusting looking and don‘t want them near. I tend to take it to heart, because he’s my beautiful, sweetheart and I don’t see what gives these people the right to look at him like muck, after all, I don’t glare at ugly children.

We’ve been very fortunate with our guy that he isn’t a typically squat, fat and flabby Bulldog and he doesn‘t dribble, he is pure muscle with quite an athletic build; this seems to have cut down drastically on joint and breathing problems.
Bulldogs sleep an awful lot, making them ideal for the not so active household as they will take or leave a walk; however, the snoring is REALLY loud.

Bryn worships the sun, and will happily spend all day outside in a nice patch of sun, however Bulldogs do not cope well in the heat, and so he does have to be forced inside for his own good, as well as having sun cream applied to the white part of his muzzle, as he tends to get a bit pink there.

Of course, as I‘m sure most people are aware, Bulldogs do break wind, quite a lot, it’s the silent and deadly ones you need to be aware of, if you hear a noise, then it’s probably safe to stay in the room.
Of course, being a true gentleman, Bryn will hurry out of the room looking pretty embarrassed.
My advice is to invest in a nice big box of charcoal dog biscuits, we’ve also found that it’s certain types of food that seem to trigger it more often, so luckily we’re pretty safe from his flatulence.

They have a nice flabby chin, which is lovely, but it does hang in the water bowl, so you have to be ready and waiting with a cloth to dry them, otherwise it can get a little bit sore and red, and they will drip water everywhere.
Bulldogs are an awful lot of hard work. “Yeah, yeah, all dogs are hard work“, I hear you say, but Bulldogs require more work, they are like children.

The way the breed is they cannot clean their self properly, they can just about manage their front paws, so you have to wipe them over with a cloth, grooming wipes are much more hygienic as you can throw them out.
It is boring, but it’s necessary if you want your dog to be comfortable and to not stink.

Bryn used to be a nightmare to have his claws cut, and after much blood, sweat and tears, my brother was sort of able to cut them, unfortunately one day Bryn struggled too much and so his quick was caught. This was it for Bryn and it was thereafter impossible for my brother to cut his claws.
Funnily enough I don’t have a problem cutting them or bathing him. I think I’ve established with Bryn that he will not win, and so now he stands there quite patiently while I cut his claws. I’ve found the best way to cut his claws is much like cleaning a horses hooves, bend his leg and away you go.

He used to hate having a bath, especially after he grew up, at around 55 pounds he’s no lightweight and had to be bathed in the garden.
Luckily he’s a sucker for warmth and a belly scratch, so just as he’s about to try and run away, on goes the nice warm water and straight to his chest for a tickle.

Unfortunately Bryn has had ear troubles throughout his life that simply will not go away so it’s case of maintaining it, and he absolutely DESPISES eardrops, which is lucky as he has twice daily medicated ear drops to look forward to.
Also, they can get a lot of skin problems, such as eczema.
Bryn currently has a skin complaint which, to be honest, is making him absolutely stink, so he has to be bathed with medicated shampoo, from the vets, twice a week until it clears up. Fortunately after only one bath the smell has pretty much gone.

Regarding training I think the key fact here is that Bulldogs are NOT stupid, they are just incredibly stubborn often with selective hearing. This can be incredibly irritating, however, you just have to stick to it and be aware that you won’t have a champion obedience dog. Bryn will sometimes go to his bed after being told a few times, he will sit, and give his paw. Fortunately as he’s asleep 22hours of the day his obedience isn’t really a problem.

Exercise is minimal requirement, although Bryn has enjoyed going to Cornwall and running, (when I say running I mean walking quickly), around the moors and the woods, he is more than happy to stay at home. Although, despite his age, he runs around with our Jack Russell and often has to be separated from him so that he doesn’t get overtired.
Of course just because they’re quite slow normally, believe me when I say that they can also run really, really fast - when they want to.

They have a beautiful personality and temperament, Bryn has put up with my young niece sitting on his back and riding him indoors.
All he really wants in life is someone to give him a cuddle and to scratch his belly, (and a big bowl of food).
He’s an absolute rock, he doesn’t mind that our Jack Russell keeps jumping in his bed to cuddle up to him, he trots away when our tiny Chihuahua X Yorkie is guarding a biscuit and growls at him.
He really is an absolute darling.

The general age of a Bulldog is around 7 or 8, however Bryn has reached the ripe old age of 10, and although he’s getting that worrying sleepy look about him and we do have to keep checking that he‘s breathing, (although I think it‘s mainly paranoia after losing our dear Robbie just a few years ago), he’s still going strong, with a good heart and vision.

Summary: Bulldogs are truly a wonderful family pet.