hi, im about to purchase a...

Question
hi, im about to purchase a 9 month old english bulldog. i know this is not an easy breed to take care of, and im planning to breed her and start to have a nice good kennel for my dogs... can u give me any important facts, details on what is the best way to get my dog in tip-top shape? what is the best year for her to get breed? what do you think is the best dog food suitable for english bulldogs? how long should i excercise her? is this breed good with other dogs? im planning to put her in my room which i heard that they shouldnt get to much sun and all. and can u tell me the important do's and donts

Answer
Good day,

Congrats on your decision to get yourself a loyal and loving bulldog!  Obviously, they are my favorite breed, and enjoy them immensely.

First off, I want to warn you that breeding a bulldog is unlike breeding most other types of dogs.  From conception to weaning, the bulldog requires a lot more care that most people are willing to put into it.  Generally, I do not recommend that new bulldog owners even consider breeding until they are more familiar with the breed.  And then, only with the supervision of a seasoned ethical breeder or veterinarian.

Bully bitches are most commonly artificially inseminated, due to difficulty that the males typically have with mounting.  The birth is also most likely to be caesarian section due to the large head and shoulders of bulldog pups.  Dilligent care must be taken with the pups, as the mom can accidentally kill the pups (often by smothering them when moving around).  The possibilities of defects in the pups are also greater in bullies than other breeds.  "Water babies" (grossly enlarged pups that are filled with fluid) and pups with cleft palates/lips are fairly common in the litters of bulldogs whose lineage is not researched to insure as healthy of a litter as possible.  Therefore, if you decide to breed her, please do your research.

The dog food that we feed ours is Diamond Lamb and Rice.  The food that you choose is mostly your preference, but I would stay away from those with grains as the main ingredient.

Most bullies require very little exercise.  They are very sendetary, and are also bred to be more "fat" than most other breeds.  A daily walk during the cool part of the day would be adequate.  Needless to say, you can cancel any hiking trips that you had planned with her....

Bulldogs are good with other dogs, though they can become somewhat food dominant.  Consult a behavior specialist if this becomes a concern.  Also, bullies, for the most part, are excellent with kids.

As for care, make sure to wipe her face in the creases daily, and keep them clean and dry.  Avoid strenuous activities with her and also avoid temperature extremes and drafts.  Bullies can not regulate their body temps very well, and this could be fatal.  Make sure to check her ears and clean them out as necessary, and assess their paws and skin for infections, cysts, and the like.

All in all, if you have the time to dedicate to their care, a bulldog can give you 10+ years of love and enjoyment.  There is a lot to caring for them, but I feel that it is worth it.

Hope that this helps.  feel free to follow up if needed.

Stephen