Bulldog FAQs

(and fictions)

it's a bulldog thing...

Are Bulldogs good with children?

--Yes! Bulldogs are not skittish around children, and are usually extremely patient with them. Due to a bulldogs large bulk, they are not as easily harmed by an inquisitive toddler, unlike smaller and thinner dogs. A bulldog's laid back personality also helps them to be pretty tolerant as well. We have found the English bulldog to be a perfect family pet for our home.

Aren't Bulldogs Supposed to be Fat?

--No! Although bulldogs should be robust in their build, they should not be obese. Most bulldogs really love food and could easily eat you out of house and home. However, bulldogs are not a particularly active breed to counteract a large calorie intake. A responsible bulldog owner will need to monitor their bulldog's food and exercise to ensure they stay at a healthy weight. To determine if your dog is obese, we recommend using the body condition score chart. Obesity in bulldogs is one of the leading causes of hip dysplaysia, elbow and other joint issues, heart conditions, and shortened life spans.

Do Bulldogs shed?

--Yes, but only moderately. Bulldogs have a medium hair coat. It should be smooth and lay flat. Bulldogs are not heavy shedders, but they do shed. Shedding is easily controlled by using a de-shedding tool such as a furminator.

Can bulldogs die in the heat?

--Yes! Bulldogs can NOT tolerate heat, and MUST be kept indoors. Due to their short noses, they are not able to pant enough to cool their great bulk. This causes overheating, and can kill a bulldog left outside on a sunny day, even in temperatures as low as 70 degrees. I have even heard first hand of a bulldog overheating and dying in an air conditioned car in the summer with the owners right there... Bulldogs are extremely heat sensitive and that warning should be taken seriously. If you are considering becoming the owner of a bulldog, they will need to be inside dogs. An outdoor kennel or shaded run is not sufficient for a bulldog.

Are Bulldogs great for cold climates?

--No, Bulldogs can NOT tolerate extreme cold, and must be kept indoors. Again, this is due to their short noses...Their nasal passage is not long enough to warm cold air up as they breathe in, so bulldogs get very cold very quickly from breathing all the cold air. Another reason why bulldogs must be indoor pets.

Can Bulldogs Swim?

Our eldest daughter, 2010

Our youngest son, 2010

--No! Many bulldogs enjoy splashing in water, however Bulldogs can NOT swim for any considerable length of time, especially as they grow and their shoulders and head become very large. They are too top heavy and tend to sink rapidly. Their short noses and limited breathing also cause them to become exhausted easily. All too frequently a bulldog drowns from exhaustion and over exertion trying to keep their massive head above the water. If you are considering becoming a bulldog owner and have a water feature in your yard or are looking for a fishing buddy bulldog, you will need to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of your dog.

Example of obese bulldog, cute but very unhealthy

How Can I Tell if My Bulldog is Obese?

--When looking from the top down on your bulldog, you should see an hourglass shape at the waist. Only the last rib bone should be visible beneath the fat layer. Our Lemondrop's topdown picture is an example of ideal weight on a bulldog and how your bulldog should look. When looking from the side at your bulldog, the stomach should sweep up towards the hips, as Lemondrop's does (even though she has some saggy teats from her recent puppies, her weight is still ideal). The muscles should be visible under the fat layer and even in spite of having extra bulldog wrinkle skin as Lemondrop does across her shoulders, her stomach is still muscular and sweeping upwards.

Do Bulldogs Eat a Lot of Food?

--No! Since bulldog's generally are less active than other dog breeds, contrary to some mistaken beliefs, they do NOT need a lot of calories each day. Their robust build and bulky look comes not from fat but from their thick bones and dense muscles, which is what makes them one of the smallest large breed dogs. They are the jumbo shrimp of the canine world! LOL

Boisebulldogs Sugarcoated Lemondrop
Example of ideal weight for bulldogs when looking top down, notice the 'hourglass' shape at the waist.

Example of ideal weight from side, showing the stomach having a nice sweep up towards the hips, with the last rib and muscle layers visible under the skin.

My adult male dogs that weigh 55lbs. eat only 3 cups of kibble total in a day. Some of my lighter weight females that enjoy running back and forth...and back and forth... can also eat 3 cups in a day and only weigh 40lbs. They are more active and just like people, dogs' metabolism can vary from dog to dog. Some of my adults who weigh 50lbs, such as Lemondrop who is pictured below, only need 1.75 cups of food total in a day or she becomes obese! I kid you not, that big girl Lemondrop only eats 1.75 cups of food each day and is still that thick. On average, the majority of my adult bulldogs eat 2 cups of premium dog kibble one time a day and are at their ideal weight and body score.

Do Bulldogs Need Vitamins?

--Yes! Bulldogs, like any living thing, will benefit from having vitamin and mineral supplements, especially since with dogs you typically don't change their food frequently. When any living thing intakes the same food on a consistent basis, deficiencies will develop, so a good multi-vitamin helps fill in the gaps in your bulldog's diet and health, just like a vitamin helps you and your children to get all you need. We recommend NuVet Labs multivitamin.

Nu Vet Vitamins

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Are Bulldogs hard to keep clean?

--No! Due to the heavy wrinkles that characterize the English Bulldog, some bulldogs will require skin fold care. This could be as simple as a brief periodic wiping of the creases in the face, or a more complex routine that may require washing and applying of powders to absorb moisture in the creases. Skin fold care can be needed daily by some dogs, or just weekly, or not at all. The amount of care each bulldog may need will vary by each dog. As for regular bathing, my dogs usually get a bath every 2 to 4 weeks. Some of them love it, some of them not so much! They are all good for me in the bath tub though :)

Do All Bulldogs Get "Cherry Eye"?

--No, but Cherry eye is fairly common to bulldogs as well as other snub nosed dog breeds. If a dog has a 'cherry eye' it is actually a prolapse of the third eyelid gland from the lower eye lid. Normally, this inner gland is held in place by a connective tissue. Since bulldogs have such short noses, the connective tissue that would normally hold the gland in place is longer and allows the gland to slip out, especially if the dog is rough housing and shaking it's head. Cherry eye, although it looks a little shocking, is not life threatening and is easily treatable. However, if left untreated it can cause eye infections that could eventually compromise the health of the eyeball. It is easily correctable, and frequently dog owners can successfully 'roll' the inner eyelid gland back into place, as shown on this youtube video.

Example of prolapsed third eyelid or Cherry Eye

Do Bulldogs Snore?

--Yes, they do! It's not super loud but it is super cute. We love to hear them snore, it puts us right to sleep.

--Not much. All puppies chew, it helps their teeth come in. Bulldogs do enjoy a good bone, however they typically outgrow the annoying chew on everything phases some other dog breeds exhibit. Bulldogs can not have rawhides, it makes them choke because they try to eat them whole as soon as the rawhide softens up. You can give your bulldogs nylabone or kong chew toys, they love them!