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UKC Classification: Companion Dog Prevalence: Common The English bulldog is a brawny little powerhouse whose characteristic crablike waddle exudes great strength, stability and vigor. The dog's head is large and spherical, and the muzzle is extremely short, giving the face a flattened appearance. The English bulldog's eyes are dark and set low and wide on the forehead in the frontal plane. The nose is black and slightly upturned. The jaws or "chops" are massive, broad and undershot. The lower jaw juts out in front of the upper jaw to scarcely expose the lower incisors, producing a comical grin. The lips are fleshy and pendulous. The cheeks are well rounded and protrude sideways. The ears are thin, small and angle forward like flaps that frame the forehead. The English bulldog's neck is short and thick; the shoulders are massive, muscular and broad. The chest is deep and full, and the back is barreled and slightly arched. His rounded hips protrude slightly above the level of the back. The stubby tail is thick and either straight or screwed. His short, stocky legs have great muscle definition. They are splayed out and slightly bowed at the elbows and hocks to form a sturdy, base-wide stance. The English bulldog stands about 16 inches tall. The female weighs about 50 pounds 23 kilograms , and the male weighs about 54 pounds 24 kilograms. The English bulldog's skin is loose and pendant with heavy wrinkles and thick folds on the face and a dewlap hanging from the throat. The coat is short and fine textured. The various color patterns are brindle, piebald, and solid white, red, fawn or fallow. Personality: The English bulldog has a sweet, gentle disposition. Dependable and predictable, the bulldog is a wonderful family pet and loving to most children. People-oriented as a breed, they actively solicit human attention. However, they have retained the courage that was originally bred into them for bull baiting, so they make fine watchdogs. Although they generally get along well with other family pets, English bulldogs can be aggressive to unfamiliar dogs. Living With: English bulldogs make fine apartment pets and do not require a yard. Typically low-endurance dogs, they need only a moderate amount of exercise. They thrive best in temperate climates; they readily overheat and have breathing difficulties in hot weather, and they chill easily in cold temperatures. Generally loud breathers, English bulldogs tend to snore and wheeze. Many drool as well. They are moderate shedders and their short coats require little grooming. However, the wrinkles on the face should be wiped regularly to prevent skin infections. History: Named for its use in the sport of bull baiting, the English bulldog seems to have originated in the British Isles sometime prior to the 13th century. One of the few references to the sport dates back to , and talks about a butcher's dogs that chased a bull through the English town of Stamford. This pursuit so pleased the earl of the town that he inaugurated bull baiting as a sport in his domain. Today, the English bulldog makes a fine family pet. The AKC recognizes the breed simply as the bulldog. Related Pet Care Articles. Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic Bulldog Overview The Bulldog, a beloved and iconic dog breed , holds a special place in the hearts of many, with a history that spans centuries. With a history dating back to the 13th century, Bulldogs have evolved into the lovable and devoted companions we know today. Their journey from the bullbaiting pits to becoming cherished family pets is a testament to their adaptability and resilience. This breeds appearance is instantly recognizable, with its distinctive features and unique physique. Their short-muzzled head is massive and square, adorned with dense wrinkles that add to their endearing charm. These wrinkles serve a functional purpose, helping to protect their eyes and funnel moisture away from their face. Bulldogs have a muscular and low-slung body, coupled with a sturdy build and broad shoulders, giving them a powerful and determined appearance. Despite their strong physique, Bulldogs are surprisingly gentle and docile, making them excellent companions for families, including children. Their stocky legs and wide chest contribute to their distinctive gait, often described as a waddle rather than a typical walk. This amusing gait, combined with their snorting, snoring, and grunting habits, endears them to their owners and adds to their unique charm. Their devotion to their families knows no bounds. They thrive on human companionship and seek out attention from their owners. While Bulldogs are generally calm and dignified, they are also known for their courageous and protective instincts. Despite their sweet disposition, they will not hesitate to defend their loved ones if they sense any threat. Their loyalty and devotion to their family members are unmatched. Bulldogs are prone to respiratory and joint issues due to their distinctive facial structure and stocky body. Their popularity has grown steadily over the years, and they have become cherished pets in households worldwide. Their adaptability to various living situations, including apartments and family homes, has contributed to their status as a favored breed for many families. Their unique appearance, combined with their loving and devoted temperament, make them stand out among dog breeds. Whether they are representing school mascots or snuggling up with their owners on the couch, Bulldogs continue to win hearts with their irresistible charm and lovable character. For those seeking a canine companion filled with loyalty, love, and a touch of quirkiness, the Bulldog is an exceptional choice that will undoubtedly bring joy and affection to their home for years to come. Bulldog Highlights Bulldogs, with their charming and endearing personalities, are known for being a bit stubborn and inclined to laze around. As they mature, their enthusiasm for walks may wane, but it remains essential to provide them with daily exercise to maintain their physical fitness and overall well-being. In warm weather, Bulldogs can struggle to tolerate heat and humidity. Keeping a close eye on them when outdoors is crucial, as signs of overheating should not be ignored. Many caring owners find relief for their furry friends by offering kiddy play pools filled with refreshing water in shaded spots, creating a relaxing oasis for Bulldogs to enjoy while everyone is outside. Conversely, Bulldogs are also sensitive to cold weather. During chilly days, providing them with appropriate protection, such as cozy blankets or insulated jackets, will ensure their comfort and safety. As affectionate as Bulldogs are, their distinctive wheezing, snorting, and snoring sounds are part of their charm. Yet, these adorable noises can sometimes be accompanied by sleep apnea , a condition that requires attention and care from their loving owners. Bulldogs have also earned a reputation for their occasional bouts of flatulence. While this is common among the breed, excessive gas may warrant a visit to the vet to ensure there are no underlying health concerns. Due to their characteristic short noses, Bulldogs are prone to respiratory ailments. Some may even have pinched nostrils, making breathing more challenging, and in severe cases, surgical correction might be necessary to alleviate their discomfort. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for Bulldogs, as they have a propensity to be greedy eaters. Without careful monitoring of their food intake, they can easily become overweight or even obese, which can lead to various health problems. A balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to keep these charming canines fit and happy. When it comes to reproduction, Bulldogs face unique challenges. Their relatively large heads and front structure often necessitate caesarean sections for safe delivery of their puppies. Therefore, breeding Bulldogs requires experienced and responsible practices to ensure the well-being of both mother and offspring. Discussing this matter with the veterinarian beforehand is essential to ensure their safety and well-being. In the quest for a healthy and well-adjusted Bulldog, it is vital to avoid obtaining puppies from unethical sources like backyard breeders, puppy mills, or pet stores. Instead, responsible pet seekers should seek reputable breeders who prioritize genetic health testing and good temperaments in their breeding dogs. With proper care, attention, and love, Bulldogs will flourish as devoted and cherished members of their families. Their unique personalities and delightful quirks will undoubtedly win the hearts of those fortunate enough to share their lives with these lovable and affectionate companions. By embracing the responsibility of providing for their specific needs and ensuring their happiness, Bulldog owners can look forward to years of joy and companionship with these endearing canine friends. Bulldog History The Bulldog of today stands in stark contrast to its ancestors, descended from ancient mastiff-type dogs and exclusively developed in England. It was an incredibly popular spectacle, captivating audiences in a time before professional sports, television, movies, or video games. The early Bulldogs were taller and heavier than their modern counterparts, selectively bred to excel at this gruesome activity. Their short, flat noses allowed them to breathe while maintaining their grip, and their tolerance for pain was heightened to endure the demanding battles. The wrinkled skin on their heads even had a practical purpose, redirecting blood away from their eyes during the gripping struggle. No longer bred for aggression, the Bulldog faced a transformation. Dedicated and patient breeders set their focus on the temperament of the breed, selecting only dogs with docile and gentle personalities for breeding. Over time, this re-engineering process successfully transformed the once ferocious Bulldog into the affectionate and amiable companion we know today. The journey to rehabilitate the Bulldog was not without challenges. In , the first Bulldog breed club was formed, but unfortunately disbanded after just three years. However, the tenacity of Bulldog enthusiasts prevailed, and in , The Bulldog Club of America was founded, establishing a new standard for the breed. This standard underwent revisions and adaptations, eventually gaining acceptance in and remaining in use to this day. As Bulldogs were brought to the United States, their popularity began to grow steadily, leading to their recognition by the American Kennel Club in .Throughout the s and s, Bulldogs enjoyed popularity, ranking close to the top 10 breeds. Today, they proudly stand as the 12th most popular breed among the registered by the AKC, a testament to their credentials as beloved companions. The transformation of the Bulldog from a once feared and ferocious creature to a friendly and tranquil companion stands as a testament to the human ability to rehabilitate and refine an entire breed through thoughtful and dedicated breeding practices. The once-feared Bulldog has evolved into a loving and cherished member of countless families, a triumph of human compassion and dedication. Bulldog Size A medium-sized breed, Bulldogs are known for their sturdy and compact build. Mature male Bulldogs usually weigh around 50 pounds, while females tend to be slightly lighter at approximately 40 pounds. For show dogs, the weight may be slightly higher, often adding about 10 pounds to their size. Despite their weight differences, Bulldogs maintain their iconic charm and distinctive appearance. In terms of height, Bulldogs typically stand between 12 to 15 inches at the shoulder. Their low-slung bodies and stocky frames give them a unique and endearing look. Despite their relatively short stature, Bulldogs exude confidence and presence, captivating everyone they encounter with their charming demeanor. Their compact size and well-proportioned bodies make Bulldogs agile and adaptable, making them excellent companions for various living situations. Their gentle and loving nature, combined with their unique physique, ensures that they continue to hold a special place in the hearts of dog enthusiasts worldwide. Whether as devoted family pets or show champions, Bulldogs leave an indelible impression wherever they go, becoming beloved companions to those lucky enough to have them by their side. Their mere presence is enough to deter any would-be intruders. Temperament is influenced by various factors, including genes, training , and socialization. To ensure your Bulldogs grow up to be well-adjusted dogs, early socialization is key. Expose them to a range of experiences, people, and environments during their formative months. Enrolling them in a puppy kindergarten class is an excellent way to kickstart their social education. Regularly inviting visitors and taking them to busy places will help them polish their social skills, turning them into delightful and well-rounded companions. With a blend of charm, courage, and affection, Bulldogs are truly one of a kind, canine confidants that will undoubtedly bring endless joy to your life. Bulldog Health Like all breeds, Bulldogs may be susceptible to certain diseases and conditions. Choosing a responsible breeder increases the likelihood of getting a healthy Bulldog, as they ensure vaccinations and deworming for their puppies. Responsible breeders use physically sound, mature dogs, testing them for genetic diseases relevant to the breed. The following conditions may affect Bulldogs: Cherry Eye: Cherry eye is a condition in which the gland under the third eyelid protrudes, creating a red, swollen appearance that resembles a cherry in the corner of the eye. While not typically painful, it can cause discomfort and potential irritation for the dog. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to reposition the gland and alleviate the issue. This can result in discomfort, redness, and a blue haze over the cornea. Veterinary consultation is essential to diagnose the condition accurately and provide appropriate eye drops or ointments to manage the symptoms effectively. In severe cases, corneal damage can occur. Surgical correction is often recommended to reposition the eyelids and prevent further complications. Inverted or Reverse Sneezing : While not a health problem per se, inverted or reverse sneezing is a common occurrence in Bulldogs. It happens when nasal fluids drip down the soft palate, causing a temporary closure of the airway. Owners can soothe their Bulldogs during these episodes by gently massaging their throat or offering a distraction. Brachycephalic Syndrome : Bulldogs, with their short heads and narrowed nostrils, can suffer from brachycephalic syndrome, which results in obstructed airways. This may cause noisy or labored breathing, especially during exercise or warm weather. Severe cases can lead to respiratory distress and even collapse. Head Shakes: Head shakes in Bulldogs can resemble fits but only affect the head. They are involuntary movements from side-to-side or up-and-down, possibly linked to stress or low blood sugar levels. If the shaking is unrelated to excitement or stress, a prompt veterinary visit is advised to rule out any underlying health issues causing discomfort. Timely veterinary attention is crucial to manage the condition effectively. Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is a heritable condition in which the hip joint is improperly formed, leading to poor fit between the thighbone and hip socket. Although Bulldogs often show signs of hip dysplasia on X-rays due to their naturally shallow hip joints, they may not always experience significant lameness or pain. Proper weight management and controlled exercise can help alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of joint problems. Tail Problems: Some Bulldogs may have abnormal tail formations, such as screw tails or inverted tails, which can cause skin problems. Keeping the tail clean and dry is essential to prevent infections or irritations associated with these tail types. This can cause lameness, an abnormal gait, or even joint arthritis over time. Treatment options range from conservative management to surgical correction, depending on the severity of the condition. Bulldog Care Having a low to moderate energy level, bulldogs are well-suited for indoor living. They prefer a relaxed lifestyle and are content with about 15 minutes of play before needing a nap. This adaptable energy level makes Bulldogs suitable for various homes, from apartments to houses with yards. A mile or two walk during cooler times of the day is sufficient, but even a short stroll along your street brings them joy. Due to their brachycephalic pushed-in face structure, Bulldogs are sensitive to extreme hot or cold weather. They tend to breathe heavily and struggle to dissipate heat, making them susceptible to heatstroke, especially in temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Providing a cool, air-conditioned environment and ensuring access to fresh water is crucial for their well-being. Another important consideration is their inability to swim due to their heavy heads. In terms of training, Bulldogs may not excel in obedience trials, but they are highly capable learners. They have an excellent memory and respond well to fun training sessions that involve repetition, positive reinforcement, food rewards, and praise. Patience and consistency are key to successful training with Bulldogs. Bulldog Feeding Feeding your Bulldog the right amount of high-quality dog food is essential for maintaining their health and well-being. However, the exact portion your adult dog needs depends on various factors, including size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs, like people, are unique individuals, and their dietary needs can vary. Opting for high-quality dog food is crucial as it provides better nourishment, reducing the quantity needed to meet their dietary requirements. Be cautious not to overfeed your Bulldog, as obesity can strain their joints and lead to health issues. You can do this with the hands-on test by feeling their ribs without having to press hard. For more detailed guidance on feeding your Bulldog, consider our guidelines for choosing the right food , feeding puppies , and feeding adult dogs. Proper nutrition is vital for a happy and healthy life for your beloved Bulldog. The head is adorned with heavy wrinkles, and there are two loose folds forming a dewlap from the jaw to the chest. Bulldogs come in various colors, including red brindle, other brindles, solid white, solid red, fawn, fallow pale cream to light fawn, pale yellow, or yellow-red , and piebald large patches of two or more colors. Solid black is less common and not highly admired in this breed. Daily cleaning of their face is essential, paying special attention to cleaning inside the wrinkles. Dry the wrinkles thoroughly after washing, and consider using baby wipes with lanolin and aloe vera for gentle cleaning. Bulldogs are moderate shedders, and regular brushing can help reduce hair on clothes and furniture. Other grooming needs include nail care and dental hygiene. Brush their teeth at least two or three times a week to prevent tartar buildup and bacteria. Regular grooming sessions also offer an opportunity to check for any sores, rashes, or signs of infection on their skin, ears, nose, mouth, eyes, and feet. The ears should smell good without excessive wax or debris, and the eyes should be clear without redness or discharge. Bulldog Children And Other Pets An amiable temperament and sturdy build make Bulldogs a wonderful companion for children, including young ones. Nevertheless, if they ever get tired of being tormented, they will simply walk away, showcasing their sensible judgment. Teach them to be gentle, respectful, and considerate towards their furry friend. Supervising any interactions between dogs and young children is of utmost importance to prevent any unintended mishaps, such as biting or pulling of ears and tail. No dog, including the gentle Bulldog, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. While Bulldogs are known for their amiable disposition, any breed of dog may react unpredictably to certain situations. Therefore, adult supervision is vital to ensure the safety and well-being of both the child and the dog during their interactions. Beyond their affinity for children, Bulldogs exhibit a pacific nature that extends to other pets, including dogs and cats. Their sociable demeanor makes them generally great companions for various household animals. However, like any dog, Bulldogs may display some reserve or caution when encountering unfamiliar dogs. Proper introductions and gradual socialization can help Bulldogs become more at ease in the presence of other canines. By teaching kids how to approach and interact with dogs respectfully and under adult supervision, the bond between Bulldogs and their human and animal companions can thrive in a harmonious and loving environment. Bulldog Rescue Groups Often, Bulldogs are acquired without a comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities involved, leading many of them to find their way into rescue groups seeking adoption or foster care. However, opting to adopt an adult Bulldog presents several compelling advantages. Adult dogs frequently come with pre-existing housetraining and basic obedience skills, making the transition into a new home smoother. Moreover, they have already outgrown the boisterous puppy phase, sparing potential adopters from dealing with the inevitable mischief and destruction associated with young pups. English Bulldogs are up there with Dalmatians and Golden Retrievers for being one of the most easily recognizable dogs around. They have a distinctive look to them, with their most prominent characteristic being their short snouts and chubby faces. English Bulldogs are short - only about a foot tall - and extremely stout. They're tough little guys and were originally bred to fight bulls. These days, they've lost all of their fight and have turned into super lovable dogs. They're very friendly, don't require much exercise, and have a lot to offer for new families. However, they do have a tendency to develop health issues later in life and require some extra attention in certain areas. In this medieval sport, Bulldogs would attack and taunt tethered bulls, eventually pinning the bull down to be executed. Bullbaiting was outlawed in , however, which seemed like the end for the little fighting machines. They were notoriously aggressive, and only bred for a singular purpose - so why keep them as pets? Well, over time, passionate breeders were able to turn these little fighters into the chubby cuddlers we know them as today. They're now one of the more revered breeds of dogs, and often can be found on display at dog shows around the world. Their heads are large and round, with a flat muzzle. They have large, broadly set jaws, and have droopy jowls and skin all around their face. They have a short and thick body, with broad shoulders and stocky legs. They come in a variety of color patterns, though the most well known is white and brown. Despite their fierce appearance and history, they are some of the gentlest dogs around. The English Bulldog personality portrays to be very sociable, especially with people, so you don't have to worry about introducing them to new animals and friends. That said, they are still loyal and brave, making them great watchdogs. They don't scare easy and will do more than just bark if they sense an intruder. The most obvious is its coat color. Blue English Bulldogs have a grey and white coat mix, as opposed to a brown and white coat. The second difference, and the characteristic most people seeking out Blue English Bulldogs are interested in them, is their blue eyes. Blue eyes are rare on just about any dog, but especially when it comes to English Bulldogs, who traditionally have dark brown and black eyes. While this may not seem like a big deal to most, this one change can be very difficult to breed for. And as a result, these dogs are much, much more expensive than traditional English Bulldogs. British bulldog British Bulldogs are the standard English Bulldogs that you think of or see the majority of the time. They have a brown and white coat with dark brown eyes and are the least expensive of the English Bulldog variations. Mini bulldog The Mini Bulldog - sometimes called the Toy Bulldog - is a variation of English Bulldogs that is the same in just about every way, except that they are much smaller. They also tend to have less wrinkly and chubby physiques, which may appeal to certain owners. Unlike other toy breeds, though, the Mini Bulldog is not as small as you might expect. It's somewhere in between the standard English Bulldog and a Chihuahua. So think of them as a slightly smaller Bulldog rather than a tiny one. Mini Bulldogs have been bred since the s, though they didn't really find their footing until the s and s. While the breed became popular, the reduction in health issues has mostly been negligible. They can eat any dog food and be ok, though high-quality dog food is generally recommended. Just make sure that whatever dog food you are feeding them is relevant to their needs puppy, adult, senior, indoor, outdoor, etc. The one thing to keep in mind about English Bulldogs when it comes to their diet is that they can be particularly prone to becoming overweight. This is because they don't exercise as much as other dogs. So, make sure that you aren't ever overfeeding your English Bulldog. Treats are ok to give them during training, although it's easy to overfeed them on treats if you aren't careful. Grooming English Bulldogs are prone to shedding more than most dogs, so you'll need to make an active effort to keep their coats in check. This can be done by giving them a thorough brushing two to three times each week. When shedding is heavier, you may find that a rubber curry brush works best. The wrinkles around your bulldogs face will need to be cleaned periodically, as food, dirt, and moisture can all become trapped there. A cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide is helpful for cleaning their wrinkles. For drying their wrinkles after cleaning, applying cornstarch to moist areas works best. Just be sure that cornstarch is not applied near their eyes. Their nails should be trimmed every two weeks or so as well. Exercise English Bulldogs are not very athletic dogs, so laidback owners will have a nice time relaxing with their Bulldog. That said, like any dog, moderate exercise from time to time is still recommended. Casual walks or an hour or so in the backyard is usually enough exercise for these little guys. It's important to keep in mind, though, that English Bulldogs do not do well in heat. So during the summer, it's best that they stay inside, near an air conditioner if it's particularly hot. English Bulldogs will have a hard time going up and down stairs, so if you have stairs in your home, it might be good to build some kind of ramp or carry them up the stairs yourself. They should also be kept away from pools and bodies of water unless supervised closely since they are not strong swimmers. Training Like most dogs, English Bulldogs are eager to please their owners, so they are reasonably trainable so long as they are started at an early enough age, and checking out our Puppy Growth Chart may help you determine the best age for puppy training. They should also be socialized while they are young as well, or they may have a hard time interacting with new people and pets. Bulldogs love to chew, so they'll need lots of chew toys all throughout their life. However, it is also important to train them to release what they are chewing on command, as they may end up chewing something important to you or harmful for them. English Bulldogs can be very protective of their food, which can cause them to be aggressive as they get older. In order to curb this behavior, train them to get used to people and other animals taking food from their bowl at a young age. Health The primary health concern that most English Bulldog owners will face on a regular basis is overheating. English Bulldogs, due to their size and the way they breathe, are not good at keeping themselves cool. This means that it's your responsibility to keep an eye on them on hot days and keep them indoors during the summertime. If you live in an area of the US that is particularly hot year-round - like the southwest - it might be advisable to consider adopting another breed. English Bulldogs typically weigh around 40 to 50 pounds and live to be between eight to twelve years of age. They should stay indoors most of the time, and only go out for occasional exercise and playtime. They do not do well as outdoor pets because of their sensitivity to heat. While any well air-conditioned home will be suitable for an English Bulldog, they are very prone to overheating. So if you live in a particularly hot or desert-like climate, your Bulldog will end up spending the majority of its time indoors. They do extremely well with families, and in fact, love all of the extra attention and social interaction that comes along with kids. They can be territorial when it comes to other animals, though, as they prefer to have the attention on themselves. Health Issues In English Bulldogs Dry eyes English Bulldogs are notorious for their health issues, with some of the most common being related to their eyes. They often have inadequate tear production to keep their eyes as moist as they should be. This can lead to them developing a blue haze on their eyes, which can damage their vision and cause significant pain. Fortunately, there is a medication that your vet can prescribe to combat this issue. Another issue that Bulldogs are prone to get in their eyes is cherry eye. This is when one of the glands in their eyes starts to protrude, resembling a cherry in the corner of their eye. This will sometimes need to be surgically removed by a vet. Sneezing Sneezing may not sound like a serious health issue - in fact, most of the time it's a normal part of how your dog's body functions. In the case of English Bulldogs, though, they can have challenges related to sneezing and their health. Reverse sneezing, also known as inverted sneezing, is when nasal fluids drip into your Bulldog's soft palate, causing it close. This can be scary for them and cause them to cough and choke. It's generally not serious, however, so the best thing you can do is comfort your dog during a reverse sneezing fit. Brachycephalic Syndrome Brachycephalic syndrome is pretty common among dog breeds with short snouts like the English Bulldog. While the name is a little medical for most of us, the condition itself is pretty straightforward. There can be a few different causes, but the general issue with this syndrome is that your pet's airway is obstructed. This can be due to issues with their nostrils or palate. In mild cases, this just means your English Bulldog will have labored breathing and is likely to snort. In severe cases, though, your dog may have trouble breathing at all. This can require surgery and regular oxygen treatment to resolve. Head shakes Head shaking in English Bulldogs is exactly as the name sounds. Your dog will start to shake their head up and down or side to side over and over again for no apparent reason. While your dog may appear conscious of the movement, it is usually involuntary. This is usually caused by stress as well as low blood sugar. Most breeders recommend giving your dog a spoonful of honey if you notice their head shakes seem uncontrollable. If this doesn't work and you aren't able to come up with a reasonable explanation for your dog's head shakes, there could be a more serious health issue just below the surface. In these cases, take your dog to the vet to figure out what is causing their head shakes. Hip Dysplasia You've likely heard of hip dysplasia in dogs before, as it is relatively common in dogs of all breeds. Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition, so Bulldogs whose parents have hip dysplasia are likely to have hip dysplasia as well. This condition is when your dog's thigh bone doesn't fit snugly into their hip joint, causing it to move improperly. Most English Bulldogs will appear to have hip dysplasia just based on their natural build, which can make an accurate diagnosis difficult. If your bulldog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia , be sure to get a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis. While hip dysplasia is usually an inherited condition, it can also be caused by rapid growth, a sudden change in weight, or long term obesity in your pet. Reasons To Adopt An English Bulldog English Bulldogs are great pets to adopt if you have an easy-going family looking for an extra member. Aside from their health issues, they're pretty low-maintenance and don't require much exercise. English Bulldogs are also quiet for the most part, so you won't have to deal with loud barking in the middle of the night. They're also very loyal as well, making them decent guard dogs for your family. All in all, English Bulldogs are very laidback pets who love to socialize and chill with their owners. If that sounds like you, then an English Bulldog will more than likely make a great addition to your home. The biggest drawback to owning an English Bulldog is the health problems all throughout their life. You'll need to be prepared for this, as well as be an extra vigilant owner who isn't afraid to visit your local vet. While English Bulldogs are able to be kept around other pets, they tend to be pretty possessive of their owners' attention, as well as their food. So bringing an older Bulldog into a family that already has pets or introducing new pets into an older Bulldog's life can sometimes go awry. English Bulldogs are also one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the world, making them on the more expensive side of pet ownership. This upfront cost - coupled with the long-term costs due to their health issues - means you'll need to be willing and able to invest in them over their lifespan. Tips For New Bulldog Owners First and foremost, like any new dog, socialization is extremely important. If your new English Bulldog is a puppy, make sure they spend plenty of time around people and other animals. It also helps to get your puppy used to other people and animals messing with its food early on, as this can prevent them from being territorial and aggressive down the road. And lastly, make sure that you are on top of your Bulldog's health needs. This includes watching for common signs of health issues, visiting your vet regularly, and keeping them clean and healthy. He is characteristically big-boned, goofy, and full of love. Although they were originally bred as fighting dogs—and later became a worldwide symbol for toughness and tenacity—the bulldog evolved into a gentle, family oriented dog who just wants to watch the world go by from the comfort of his bed. You're also likely to see this handsome breed on TV, patrolling the sideline at a college football or basketball games, or in the movies, famously trying to keep an inflated Aunt Marge from floating away. It's no wonder you find them everywhere, the bulldog is the fifth-most popular breed in America. They're beefy boys and girls. A staple trait is their huge underbite, and sometimes the pups will " hang a fang. English bulldogs sit low to the ground and have wide shoulders, two characteristics that behooved them in their dog fighting history. They can be any combination of these with additional brindling, ticking, or black masks. Their eyes should always be dark brown or black. You won't confuse an English bulldog for the other members of the bulldog family. The French bulldog is smaller and has tall bat ears. The American bulldog is an athletic all-purpose working dog with longer legs and a leaner body made to guard, hunt, or farm. The Olde English Bulldogge, a larger, more muscular mix of English bulldogs, pit bull terriers, American bulldogs and bullmastiffs, is the least common bulldog. Temperament A bulldog's temperament is far more friendly and goofy than he may look. Although they're intimidating physically, bulldogs are actually extremely family and kid friendly. The more positive interactions they have with new situations, the better off they'll be. The bulldog is rarely aggressive. In fact, he's almost dopey. He doesn't always understand what you're saying, but he's kind and earnest in his ways. Their low energy level means they can thrive as apartment dwellers. They certainly don't need a huge yard to run and romp, as they'll get tired after 10 minutes of playing and need a snooze. The bulldog absolutely loves children and will put up with all the noise, yanking and tugging that come with them. They'll never show anger; they'll just walk away if they feel bothered. This breed doesn't bark a ton, but they make great watch dogs that can frighten someone off with their appearance alone. They are also known for having courage, and will protect their loved ones no matter what. Bulldogs prefer a slow life lounging on the couch or squeezing onto your lap yes, even at 50 pounds. They are a brachycephalic breed, meaning they have a wide skull and a flat face that can make exercise tough. Their heavy heads and chest make them poor swimmers and they should be watched closely around water to avoid drowning. Care A bulldog's coat is very fine and short, so they only require brushing once a week. The more you brush, the less hair you'll find on your furniture and clothing. More important than brushing is keeping his face clean and dry—with so many wrinkles, they can get irritated or infected if not cared for properly. Trim his nails once a month or so, until you can't hear him click-clacking on the floor. Weekly or daily teeth brushing will prevent future vet visits down the line. While the bulldog doesn't care much for exercise, he still needs it to maintain a healthy weight, as he is prone to weight gain. A daily walk around the neighborhood during the cooler hours will wear him out, as will a quick play session. He would much rather be cuddling with his child companions or taking a nap in the AC. Consult your vet about the right food for your bulldog, and monitor that food intake to prevent weight gain. Bulldogs are better off with two measured meals a day rather than leaving the bowl out all the time. If nobody stopped them, they'd keep eating. Because they can be lazy, bulldog owners need to have focus and patience with their puppy. Once he learns something, he will remember it, especially if treats are involved. That short, bullish stature can give way to joint or respiratory difficulties. The brachycephalic bulldog can get overheated quickly, so he shouldn't be left in enclosed warm spaces and must be monitored outdoors. Always have plenty of water, shade, and access to AC for your bulldog to reduce the likelihood of heat stroke. History The modern day bulldog is quite the turnaround from his ancestors. In the 13th century in England, bulldogs were used for the sport of "bull baiting," the AKC writes. Before we had professional sports, spectators would gather and bet money on this inhumane practice. One or multiple bulldogs would attempt to pin a bull to the ground using their powerful bite. These early bulldogs were slightly taller and more muscular than today's English bulldog, and only the most aggressive were bred. The AKC writes that the bulldog's tenacious character stems from their history in the ring, because they developed a high pain tolerance and kept fighting until the last second. It wasn't until that bull baiting was outlawed in England, and bulldogs faced extinction without that purpose. Many people admired the strength, determination, and appearance of the breed, and didn't want to see them die out. Luckily, there were breeders who dedicated their lives to re-engineering the bulldog. They used only the even tempered dogs to reproduce, until only the docile were left. In , the English bulldog was recognized by the AKC. The dog that originated in England has come to symbolize their people. And, well, he looked like a bulldog, too. Today, the bulldog is known as one of the most gentle, kid-friendly dogs in the world. President Warren G. Harding also had a bulldog in the White House, Old Boy. Yale was the first university in the United States to adopt a mascot—a bulldog named Handsome Dan. Today, dozens of colleges and universities use a bulldog as their mascot. Otto, a bulldog from Lima, Peru, set a world record in " the longest human tunnel traveled through by a dog skateboarder. Was this page helpful? Post by: Eric M. Once bred for sport and work, the English Bulldog has evolved into a loyal and easygoing member of the family. About the Breed With a knack for getting along with everyone, English Bulldogs can make themselves at home with any type of family. An extremely loyal breed, these pups are known to form strong bonds with children, while being laidback enough for pet parents who enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. And even though their large jaws and underbite can give the impression of sadness or concern, anyone familiar with this breed knows that these playful, even comical, pups are more silly than sad. With adorable wrinkles and a playful temperament, the English Bulldog is sure to turn a lot of heads wherever they go. Breed History Originally bred for bull-baiting in England, Bulldogs were first referenced in works of literature dating back to the s. The breed developed their stocky frame, large head, and notorious jowls due in part to the strenuous activities they participated in. As the English Bulldog transitioned from a working dog into a show dog, the breed eventually found their way to the United States in the s. Once in the States, their popularity grew. Outside of finding major success in the show ring, the English Bulldog found celebrity status, too! The original Yale mascot was an English Bulldog named Handsome Dan — the name gets passed down to each successor. During WWI, the U. Marines became associated with the breed and made them their mascot, as well. Each Marine bulldog takes the name Chesty. The University of Georgia Bulldogs are represented on the sideline by an English Bulldog named Uga and, you guessed it, each mascot proudly takes the name Uga. This unique build gave them a wide stance and bowlegged gait. The breed has short, smooth coats that come in a variety of colors, including brindle, white, red, fawn, yellow, and piebald. On average, these pooches reach 12 to 15 inches in height and weight 40 to 60 pounds. There is little size difference between genders with males tending to be just a bit heavier. An occasional bath and a few brushing sessions with a short bristle brush each week should be enough to keep their coat looking marvelous. Unfortunately, their upkeep goes beyond getting out the brush. If left unclean, these folds can be a haven for bacteria and other unpleasant surprises. Dental hygiene is also especially important with this breed due to their compressed jaw. In addition to requiring an increased focus on teeth cleaning, the shape of their head can also lead to a few other less than desirable features, including snoring, wheezing, and drooling — of course, these are all normal side effects. Learn more about how pet insurance could help you cover your pet's eligible veterinary care expenses. Training By their nature, English Bulldogs are people pleasers, even though they can be slightly strong willed from time to time. They learn best when owners make training fun, especially if it involves repetition, positive reinforcement, and, of course, a few treats of encouragement. Outside of training, English Bulldogs are known to be independent dogs who can solve problems on their own without needing help from their humans. Aside from a few preventable concerns, like their lack of swimming ability, a tendency to quickly overheat in the sun, issues with reproduction and the need for caesarean section, and exercise-induced breathing issues, English Bulldogs face a lot of genetic issues. Get a free quote now! Instead, human intervention has lead to many issues and exacerbated many others. Poor practices, selective breeding, and overbreeding have led some experts to believe that any breeding of these dogs is inhumane. While there is no consensus when it comes to the ethical quandaries of English Bulldogs and breeding, it is important to be aware of all of the factors at play when deciding on which breed is right for your family and lifestyle, while also noting the importance of knowing where a dog — no matter the breed — comes from. This is especially important when it comes to these wrinkled wonders — the price tag on an English Bulldog can reach quadruple digits. Despite their many health concerns, English Bulldogs do have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years. And, if well cared for, can live happy, comfortable lives while providing unflinching companionship and boundless entertainment in the proper home. Check out our online resources to learn more about your insurance options and get a free quote today. The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian. By Sarah Ashley Published Jan 22, Bulldogs are sweet, loyal companion dogs that make it impossible not to fall in love with them. Just ask Chrissy Teigen. Full disclosure, we talk about English Bulldogs here. French bulldogs are a different story. Frenchies are pointy-eared, tiny versions of their English relatives, originally bred in the s by mating said relatives with the now-extinct toy bulldogs. American bulldogs and boxers fall into this bull breed category, too, but are also very different animals. Breed History English bulldogs are non-sporting canines. They were originally bred for bull-baiting, a horrible practice in medieval Europe that involved forcing the dogs to taunt and bite bulls. No, thank you! Today, bulldogs have been bred to be kinder, gentler and generally more playful pups—yet physically they still resemble their rough ancestors and, occasionally, some of their ancient nasty behavior seeps out. Temperament A few of those nasty behaviors include stubbornness and aggression. Bulldogs can be super territorial of their food, so weaning them off this tendency early is key see Training below. For the most part, bulldogs are known for their loyalty, friendliness and chill factor. Tug-of-war is to bulldogs what tennis is to Serena. Size Adult bulldogs reach 14 to 15 inches tall and can weigh up to 40 to 50 pounds. Females are generally smaller than males by about 10 pounds. Build Due to their specialized breeding history, bulldogs are muscular and dense. They are also a dysplastic breed, which means their hip sockets are shallower than those of most dogs. Some have straight tails while others have little curlicues. Notable Features English bulldogs have short, glossy coats that come in a variety of colors. Life Expectancy English Bulldogs typically live only eight to ten years. Training Because bulldogs can be stubborn, training early is critical. Companion Level Bulldogs are wonderful companions and great with kids. Their sturdy build and calm demeanor make them troopers when it comes to strong kid grips and rough petting. Plus, they are loyal lovers and enjoy company. However, make sure they are trained not to bite people early on. If a child startles them, they could snip. When it comes to other pets, bulldogs are more often than not on board and ready to mingle. They tend to be more aggressive when it comes to same-gender doggie playmates, so two males in one household could cause issues. Feeding As with most dogs, bulldogs run the risk of becoming overweight, so feeding them enough to maintain their thick build without overdoing it is key. So…look out for that. The reason bulldogs are so expensive is the mating and birth processes are highly complicated aka all bulldog babies are the products of artificial insemination and C-sections. Of course, you can always adopt a bulldog from a shelter! Grooming Bulldogs are big shedders. Brushing them at least once a week preferably three times is encouraged. And beware: The skin on their faces piles up into folds, which can cause skin ailments when dirt or moisture gets caught in the wrinkles. Be sure to watch for itchy, red skin and clean between these folds often. Activity Level Bulldogs can pack on the pounds easily join the club so regular exercise is necessary. A brisk walk or rambunctious tug-of-war is great. Just watch out for heat, water and stairs. And while they can swim, deep water easily gets into their noses increasing the likelihood of drowning. Finally, going down stairs is tricky for their shoulder-heavy bodies. Health Issues Bulldogs definitely have their fair share of potential health issues. The biggest health issues bulldogs face are respiratory- and mobility-related. Due to a pesky disorder called brachycephalic syndrome, caused by their short snouts, breathing can be difficult and may require surgery if your bulldog also suffers from narrow nostrils, an elongated soft palate or a narrow windpipe. Bulldogs also experience more hip dysplasia than any other breed. Roughly 72 percent of bulldogs experience joint or bone problems due to bad hips in their lifetime. Some bulldogs develop eye ailments like extra eyelashes, flipped lids or irritated corneas. Weird Facts Bulldogs have notoriously bad gas. Despite his gloomy mug, English bulldog is the friendliest of all breeds. However, it tops the list of most popular breeds in Los Angeles and New York. Calm, friendly and courageous, this pooch is owned by many famous personalities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon, Martha Stewart, and many more! As you can see from the name, they get their name from this sport too. Bull baiting was a sport of harassing tethered animals and bulldogs were forced to take part in this sport. The broad and low stature of this breed made it a brilliant animal to harass bulls. The stout stature and under-bite made it easier for bulldogs to grab onto what they were biting. Fortunately, this blood sport was outlawed in the 19th century. But after England banned the bull-baiting, the breed has drastically changed since they were no longer needed for the original purpose. They were bred to be much friendlier and smaller and became companion animals. Earlier they were known for their aggressive and tenacious behavior, but now they are the most loyal and lovable dogs. They Closely Escaped Extinction Once England banned the bull baiting, bulldogs usefulness suddenly came to an end. Dog lovers decided to breed out the ferocious qualities. Fanciers bred these dogs to have kinder and gentler demeanor. Some bulldogs were sent to Germany and USA to work as herding dogs while some stayed back in England as companions. English bulldogs are also considered brachycephalic dogs that make them ill-suited for water. They can drown if they ever attempt to swim. Their short, stocky and broad body cannot handle it. Keep Them Cool Despite their fear of water, bulldogs need to keep cool all the time. The breed is sensitive to heat and thrives best in temperate climates. They sometimes overheat and have breathing difficulty, but they relax easily in chilled temperatures. Bulldogs Need Help With Reproduction Having such large heads and small birth canals precludes pups from being delivered naturally. Most of the English bulldog puppies are delivered by C-section because natural birth can cause injury or lead to death. Also, bulldogs have difficulty in conceiving as males have a hard time reaching females. So, to keep the bulldogs away from physical stress, breeders often decide on artificial insemination. They are problem solvers and can solve them without taking guidance from their owners. Bulldogs are very affectionate and form a strong bond with kids, which make them a perfect pick for families. However, you need to train them consistently as they can be stubborn and dominating. They are super friendly with family pets but can be wary around strange dogs. And, bulldogs are extremely social dogs. No matter if you are a human or a dog, they will try to befriend you. Along with their loving nature, English bulldogs are also suited for the night shift guarding the house. Their cute eyes and wrinkly face is what makes this breed adorable and stand out from the crowd. However, these wrinkles need to be cleaned and wiped regularly to avoid infections. Talented Skateboarders English bulldogs puppies and grown bulldogs are not considered the most active breed. But, they do have a hidden talent. They are skateboarders! Many bulldogs have gained popularity over the time for their skateboarding abilities. Otto, a three-year-old bulldog, is a skateboarding sensation. Popular Mascots English bulldogs make great mascots. Some refer bulldogs as cute and cuddle whereas some consider them sturdy and powerful, but we love to call them mascot. Nearly 40 universities in the USA have named their sports teams after this breed. Ending note: Bulldogs are dearly loved around the world, but we bet you are equally amazed by these facts. Bulldogs are undoubtedly the most adorable pet you can get for your home. Also, for us bulldog owners we know that they are forever babies. Despite their stubborn nature, they hardly get into any trouble. This cute, cuddly dog loves to relax and chill. If you have a crazy and stressful life and want to chill out, a bulldog will be an excellent pick for you. The calm, laid back and gentle nature of the dog has the same effect on their surroundings. You Might Also Enjoy:.

I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. Free Bulldog Puppy Starter Kit! At BigBullDogs. We offer the best service for purchasing the perfect bulldog puppies, and we have quality studs that have set us apart as the top breeders for bulldogs. Whatever it is that you need regarding these beautiful bullies, this is the right place for you. Here are the varieties we have; What You Need to Know About English Bulldogs English Bulldogs are very distinct from the other breeds of bulldogs and are the more prevalent breed. These sturdy, muscular dogs have a cute waddle walk that directly results from their short, stubby legs. The English bulldog also has a flat-looking face, dark and low set eyes, massive and broad jaws, and fleshy cheeks and lips that give it that signature pouty and droopy look. Its short neck, thick shoulders, and barrelled chest, slightly arched back make it one breed that you can easily identify anywhere. Our standard Male English bulldogs are inches and weigh an average of 50 pounds, while the Female English bulldogs weigh about 40 pounds. All our English bulldogs have the finest textured coats and healthiest skin with a variety of colour patterns. Whether you pick a male English bulldog or female English bulldog from us, you can be assured of their wonderful demeanor and gentle disposition. The AKC recognizes over dog breeds and rated the Bulldog as 2 for the best family dog breed. They are incredible family dogs but not the best watch dogs these days. The last nine decades of domestication has turned them into couch potatoes, considerably different from their original genetic breeding that made them perfect for Bull Baiting. Nevertheless they are fantastic at lying on the couch and giving you the stink eye when you disturb their rest. Quick Guide to French Bulldogs French bulldogs were named for their origin story, which says that they were a breed of English toy bulldogs and several unidentified dog breeds. They have distinct features that make them stand out against their English counterparts, such as their pointy, bat ears. French bulldogs are small, cute dogs that are very playful and perfect for being a home pet. Regardless of whether you pick the male french bulldogs or the female French bulldogs , you get a pet that is calm, attentive, attention-loving, and a partner to you and your kids. The male french bulldog is an estimated 12 inches in height and 25 pounds in weight. On the other hand, the female french bulldog is about 11 inches and 20 pounds. The male french bulldogs are usually a bit more muscular than females and have larger heads. However both are equally affectionate and super family oriented. Not to be outdone by their British Bulldog cousin, the female french bulldogs also made the Top 10 Best Family Dog breeds list in .Looking to Adopt Bulldogs?

History Where are German Shepherd Dogs from? Perhaps never in the history of any breed has such concerted effort been put into improving a dog, mostly due to the formation in of the Verein fur Deutsche Scharferhunde SV, an organization in Germany devoted to overseeing the breeding of the German Shepherd. Breeders sought to develop not only a herding dog but also one that could excel at jobs requiring courage, athleticism, and intelligence. During World War I, they were the obvious choice for a war sentry. The Wolfdog was later dropped as it caused many people to fear the dogs. How big do German Shepherd Dogs get? The double-coat, with a thick undercoat that sheds twice annually, loses hair continuously but can be maintained with regular brushing one or two times weekly. What are the German Shepherd Dog colors? Black, tan, solid black and solid sable. How long do German Shepherd Dogs live? Lifespan: 10—12 years What are some German Shepherd Dogs facts and information? The German Shepherd held the number one spot in American popularity for many years. Although presently it has dropped from the top spot, the German Shepherd remains as one of the most versatile dogs ever created, serving as a police dog, war dog, guide dog, search-and-rescue dog, narcotics- or explosives-detecting dog, show dog, pet—and even shepherd. Related Content. Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article.

Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic French Bulldog Overview Bat-eared but oddly beautiful, the French Bulldog has a unique appeal. Aesthetically, other breeds undeniably are more glamorous and showy, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what many behold in the French Bulldog are the attributes that make this breed one of the best companion dogs in the world today. The French Bulldog is small but substantial in build with a powerful muscular body. He sports a short easy-care coat to accompany his easygoing personality. The Frenchie likes to play, but he also enjoys spending his days relaxing on the sofa. That love of play and relaxed attitude carry over into their training sessions. French Bulldogs are intelligent, and training them is easy as long as you make it seem like a game and keep it fun. They are free thinkers and are not an ideal breed for competing in obedience or agility although some have risen to the challenge. This freethinking approach can also lead to a stubborn nature, and if they decide to dig in their heels there is no budging them. Frenchies are loving companions who thrive on human contact. If you want an outdoor dog who can be left alone for long periods, the Frenchie is not the breed for you. This is a dog who enjoys lavishing love on his human companions as much as he loves the same treatment in return. They generally get along well with everyone, including children. They can, however, be territorial and possessive of their people, especially in the presence of other dogs. Socialization is a must for this breed, but with their easy companionship this is an enjoyable task. With a nature that is both humorous and mischievous, the French Bulldog needs to live with someone who is consistent, firm, and patient with all the antics and idiosyncrasies that make him both frustrating and delightful. They can be protective of their home and family and some will try to defend both with their life. French Bulldogs do not need a lot of room and do very well in apartments or small dwellings. A couple of minute walks per day should keep them from becoming overweight. Keep the Frenchie in cool, comfortable surroundings. This is not a dog who can stay outside on a hot day. French Bulldogs are wonderful companion dogs with a gentle nature. If you work at home, the Frenchie is happy to lie at your feet all day or follow you from room to room. French Bulldog Highlights Friendly and playful: French Bulldogs are known for their friendly and playful personality. They love to cuddle and play fetch. Low-maintenance: French Bulldogs are relatively low-maintenance dogs. They only require moderate exercise and grooming. Good with children: French Bulldogs are good with children and other pets. They make great family dogs. Intelligent: French Bulldogs are intelligent dogs and can be easily trained. Adaptable: French Bulldogs can adapt to different living conditions. They are a good choice for apartment dwellers or people with active lifestyles. Healthy: French Bulldogs are generally healthy dogs, but they are prone to some health problems, such as brachycephalic airway syndrome and cherry eye. Overall, French Bulldogs are great dogs for people of all ages and lifestyles. They are friendly, playful, and low-maintenance, making them a perfect addition to any family. They were originally bred to be bull-baiting dogs, but this practice was outlawed in England in .French Bulldogs were then imported to France where they became popular as companion dogs. In France, French Bulldogs were often kept by lacemakers and other artisans who worked in small shops. The dogs were prized for their gentle nature and their ability to adapt to cramped living quarters. French Bulldogs also became popular with the French upper class, and they were often depicted in paintings and sculptures. French Bulldogs were first brought to the United States in the late s, and they quickly became popular with American families. The dogs were known for their friendly and playful personality, and they made great companions for children. French Bulldogs also became popular with celebrities, and they were often featured in movies and television shows. Today, French Bulldogs are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. They are known for their friendly and playful personality, their low-maintenance coat, and their adaptability to different living conditions. French Bulldogs make great companions for people of all ages and lifestyles. The French Bulldog thrived in France and Europe, and his charm was soon discovered by Americans as well. Males weigh 20 to 28 pounds, females 16 to 24 pounds. French Bulldog Personality This is a smart, loving dog who wants and needs to spend lots of time with his people. Hip dysplasia can exist with or without clinical signs. Some dogs exhibit pain and lameness on one or both rear legs. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. Ask the breeder for proof that the parents have been tested for hip dysplasia and found to be free of problems. Brachycephalic Syndrome : This disorder is found in dogs with short heads, narrowed nostrils, or elongated or soft palates. Their airways are obstructed to varying degrees and can cause anything from noisy or labored breathing to total collapse of the airway. Dogs with brachycephalic syndrome commonly snuffle and snort. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition but includes oxygen therapy as well as surgery to widen nostrils or shorten palates. Allergies: Allergies are a common problem in dogs. The medication for inhalant allergies depends on the severity of the allergy. It is important to note that ear infections often accompany inhalant allergies. Hemivertebrae: This is a malformation of one or more vertebrae that causes it to be shaped like a wedge or triangle. This malformation can occur on its own or with other vertebrae malformations. Hemivertebra can cause no problems, or it can put pressure on the spinal cord. This can lead to pain, weakness, and or paralysis. There is no treatment for the condition unless there is spinal cord pressure. It is caused when the patella, which has three parts — the femur thigh bone , patella knee cap , and tibia calf — is not properly lined up and slips in and out of place luxates. This causes lameness or an abnormal gait the way the dog moves. The rubbing caused by patellar luxation can lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease. There are four grades of patellar luxation ranging from grade I, an occasional luxation causing temporary lameness in the joint, to grade IV, in which the turning of the tibia is severe and the patella cannot be realigned manually. This gives the dog a bowlegged appearance. Severe grades of patellar luxation may require surgical repair. When the disc pushes into the spinal cord, nerve transmissions are inhibited from traveling along the spinal cord. Intervertebral Disc Disease can be caused by trauma, age, or simply from the physical jolt that occurs when a dog jumps off a sofa. When the disc ruptures, the dog usually feels pain and the ruptured disc can lead to weakness and temporary or permanent paralysis. In some cases surgery can help, but it must be done within a day or so of the injury. You may also want to ask your veterinarian about physical rehabilitation. Treatments such as massage, water treadmills and electrical stimulation are available for dogs and can have excellent success. It affects the clotting process due to the reduction of von Willebrand factor in the blood. Occasionally blood is found in the stool. This disorder is usually diagnosed in your dog between the ages of 3 and 5 and cannot be cured. However, it can be managed with treatments that include cauterizing or suturing injuries, transfusions of the von Willebrand factor before surgery, and avoiding certain medications. Cleft Palate : The palate is the roof of the mouth and separates the nasal and oral cavities. It is made up of two parts, hard and soft. A cleft palate has a slit that runs bilaterally or unilaterally and can range in size from a small hole to a large slit. A cleft palate can affect both the hard and soft palate separately and together and may cause a cleft lip. Puppies can be born with cleft palates, or a cleft palate can occur from an injury. Cleft palates are fairly common in dogs, but many puppies born with a cleft palate do not survive or are euthanized by the breeder. The only treatment for a cleft palate is surgery to close the hole, although not all dogs with a cleft palate require the surgery. It is important to get a diagnosis and treatment recommendation from your veterinarian. Elongated Soft Palate: The soft palate is the extension of the roof of the mouth. When the soft palate is elongated, it can obstruct airways and cause difficulty in breathing. The treatment for Elongated Soft Palate is surgical removal of the excess palate. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition. You can confirm health clearances by checking the OFA web site offa. Regardless of how healthy your dog is when you first bring them home, you should prepare for any issues that may come up throughout their life. French Bulldog Care French Bulldogs do not need a lot of exercise. They have fairly low energy levels, although there are exceptions to every rule. To keep their weight down, however, they need daily exercise through short walks or play times in the yard. Many French Bulldogs enjoy playing and will spend much of their time in various activities, but they are not so high energy that they need a large yard or long periods of exercise. This breed is prone to heat exhaustion and should not be exercised in hot temperatures. Limit walks and active play to cool mornings and evenings. When training a French Bulldog, take into account that although they are intelligent and usually eager to please, they are also free thinkers. That means they can be stubborn. It is important to crate train your French Bulldog puppy even if you plan to give him the freedom of the house when he reaches adulthood. French Bulldog Feeding Recommended daily amount: 1 to 1. NOTE: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. For more on feeding your Frenchie, see our guidelines for buying the right food , feeding your puppy , and feeding your adult dog. The skin is loose and wrinkled, especially at the head and shoulders, and has a soft texture. French Bulldogs come in a variety of colors, including fawn, cream, various shades of brindle — a coat patterned with specks and streaks of light and dark markings — such as black brindle and the striking tiger brindle, and brindle and white, known as brindle pied. French Bulldogs can be any color except solid black, liver a solid reddish-brown with brown pigmentation on the lips and nose , mouse a light steely gray , and black with white or tan. Run from any breeder who tells you that a particular color is rare and thus worth more money. Having your heart set on a fawn female is a recipe for disappointment when the litter contains only cream and brindle males. French Bulldogs are fairly easy to groom and need only an occasional brushing to keep their coat healthy. They are average shedders. Begin grooming your Frenchie at a young age and teach your puppy to stand on a table or floor to make this experience easier on both of you. When you are grooming your Frenchie at any stage of life, take the time to check for any scabs, skin lesions, bare spots, rough, flaky skin, or signs of infections. You should also check ears, eyes and teeth for any discharge or bad smells. Both are signs that your Frenchie may need to see the veterinarian. Clean ears regularly with a damp warm cloth and run a cotton swab around the edge of the canal. Never stick the cotton swab into the actual ear canal. If the edges of the ears are dry, apply mineral or baby oil sparingly. The oil can also be used on a dry nose. French Bulldogs do not naturally wear their nails down and will need their nails trimmed regularly. This prevents splitting and tearing, which can be painful for the dog. Keep the facial wrinkles clean and dry to prevent bacterial infections. Whenever you bathe your dog, take the time to thoroughly dry the skin between the folds. Bathe your French Bulldog monthly or as needed, and use a high-quality dog shampoo to keep the natural oils in his skin and coat. French Bulldogs should be easy to groom, and with proper training and positive experiences during puppyhood, grooming can be a wonderful bonding time for you and your Frenchie. That said, no dog should ever be left alone with a young child. When they are socialized to them during puppyhood, Frenchies can get along well with other dogs and cats. French Bulldog Rescue Groups French Bulldogs are often acquired without any clear understanding of what goes into owning one, and these dogs often end up in the care of rescue groups, in need of adoption or fostering. All dogs will need veterinary care at some point in their lives. French Bulldog Breed Organizations Finding a reputable dog breeder is one of the most important decisions you will make when bringing a new dog into your life. Reputable breeders are committed to breeding healthy, well-socialized puppies that will make great companions. They will screen their breeding stock for health problems, socialize their puppies from a young age, and provide you with lifetime support. On the other hand, backyard breeders are more interested in making a profit than in producing healthy, well-adjusted dogs. They may not screen their breeding stock for health problems, and they may not socialize their puppies properly. As a result, puppies from backyard breeders are more likely to have health problems and behavioral issues. Below are breed clubs, organizations, and associations where you can find additional information about the French Bulldog. Train your Frenchie here! You should start training your French Bulldog puppy as soon as you get them home. Puppy brains are a lot bigger than we think — they soak up so much good information despite their young age. French Bulldogs can be a rather independent breed of dog. In fact, we sometimes might feel like we need them more than they need us! What age can I start to train my French Bulldog puppy? You can start training your French Bulldog puppy as soon as you get them home. Build positive training experiences with Zigzag! We can start you off with a personalised training programme straight away in the Zigzag puppy training app , in fact, you can even use it before you bring your Frenchie puppy home as we have a pre-puppy section. Before bringing your French Bulldog puppy home, you can also get in touch with our Zigzag puppy experts with any of the many questions you may have! While blingy collars and outfits might be top of the list, there are some more sensible things you need to get your French Bulldog puppy that will help with your training. Here are my top picks for getting prepared for training your Frenchie. My favourite all-rounder is the Rapid Rewards treat pouch , it comes in many colours and looks stylish when on. The Mikki treat pouch is also good and a bit cheaper. You can go to town and choose pretty colours and designs for Frenchies! A lead — Around 2m is a good length for a lead. A training lead is a good idea as you can change the lengths of them to suit. A comfortable mat or a piece of non-slip vet bed. Treats The more smelly, the better. Have a look at the best puppy treats here. Chews and chew toys — lots of them! Our faves for Frenchies are West Paw Toppl and hollow buffalo horns for stuffing food into, and cow ears and pizzles for edible chews. Two identical toys : Excellent for swaps — your French Bulldog puppy will be super playful and enjoy the retrieving games in the Zigzag app. Originally, French Bulldogs were bred from English Bulldogs, who had a shady past as bull-baiting dogs. People enjoyed their cheerful nature and kept them as companion dogs after these awful blood sports were prohibited. When the need for these workers declined in England, their skills were still required in France, so the workers relocated, bringing their dogs with them. Relocate your training to Zigzag! When they arrived in France, they were adored by shopkeepers, butchers, and, most infamously, Les Belles de Nuit — the ladies of the night! What does this have to do with how I train my French Bulldog? Knowing the characteristics of the breed will help you better train your Frenchie puppy and understand why they behave the way they do. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Frenchies are incredibly loving and enjoy being in the spotlight. They can have a lot of energy possibly even more than a lot of energy and enjoy an active home life. Lack of stimulation WILL foster self-employment; provide them with items to rip up and pull apart to keep them out of trouble. By the way, if you leave them to it, they WILL go into your recycling and have a field day. Frenchies often think they are big dogs, thus they often do well playing with dogs larger than them. They look dashing in them too! Medical bills can quickly add up and frenchie owners may struggle to pay vet expenses and eventually surrender their fur baby to a French Bulldog rescue. Before getting your first Frenchie breed dog We encourage you to do as much research as possible and explore all possible health issues in the French Bulldog breed. While selecting a good responsible breeder can greatly reduce the risks of major health issues in your Frenchie, you must understand that life does not have guarantees. Breeders usually provide one year health guarantee against major genetic health issues. After the year is up you are pretty much on your own. Frenchies are not cheap! If you are struggling financially to get your first Frenchie you probably should not get the Frenchie breed. Here are the most common French Bulldog health issues: 1. While these dogs have an unusually squeezed face, they are loved by many pet owners all over the world. Unfortunately, the physiology of their face predisposes brachycephalic dog breeds to certain health conditions. The condition is not a single health problem, but can manifest in different forms including: Labored breathing Inability to exercise for a sustained period due to reduced oxygen intake Tendency to suffer from heat stroke because of their inability to pant efficiently Brachycephalic dogs suffer from all these conditions because of the shape of their head. These dogs have an elongated soft palate which obstructs the windpipe which is very narrow in brachy dogs, cutting off air supply from the outside. Paddy, a 1 year old male English Bulldog, was referred by his usual vets to see Chris Shales, one of Willows soft tissue Specialist surgeons, because his owners had noticed he was having increasing problems with his breathing. Chris found that Paddy had severe airway problems associated with his head shape a condition known as 'brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome' or BOAS, which affects short nosed breeds of dogs and cats. Chris discussed things with Paddy's concerned owners and it was decided that he should undergo surgery to try to improve his breathing and his quality of life. During surgery, Chris performed a number of procedures inside Paddy's throat to help to improve the flow of air passing to and from his lungs. The good news is that Paddy recovered well from his surgery and was soon able to go home. Paddy's at his re-check appointment with Chris a week later when he was a much happier and quieter boy! We looked at many hospitals and surgeons. We took him to several surgery consultations until we felt comfortable and confident with the doctor we chose. We asked success rate of each and every surgeon we saw. Please do not be afraid to ask their success rate as well as how many dogs died in their care. This question alone had a huge impact on the surgeon we ultimately chose. Problems with Anesthesia -due to their compromised airways, brachys face a higher risk of complication due to anesthesia compared to dogs with normal facial physiology. The reason is the dog cannot get enough oxygen during the anesthetic and while trying to wake up from the procedure. Many vets feel jittery to perform surgeries on brachys due to the increased risk of something going wrong during and after the operation. If you own a brachy which needs surgery, make sure the veterinary doctor informs you of the risk involved in the procedure and take necessary precautions. One thing the surgeon or vet will not tell you is that BOAS surgery is not a fix for life. In time BOAS does come back somewhat. The nose and other parts do close up and resort to the genes of the dog. An owner of a dog with a previous diagnosis of BOAS will never be care free however there are many ways you can help and manage this condition and give your dog the best quality of life possible. How we innovated our Health Harness Prior and after surgery we struggled to find a harness that did not choke Bluenjy while walking due to pulling. When using the back D ring in a regular harness the fabric of the neck region would pull him backwards and constricted his neck. Inspired by our Frenchie for the health and safety of your pet. On several occasions we noticed Bluenjy choking to stop for air with a cough. We couldn't find a single dog harness on the market that had all the elements we were looking for. Lastly, we wanted a dog harness that was fashionable to accommodate Bluenjy's sense of style. After months of engineering, trial and error we developed a Health Harness that is vet approved and supports the emotional and physical well being of our Frenchie Bluenjy. Furthermore there may be other charges associated not mentioned above for instance we had to get a cardiovascular assessment and tests prior to the BOAS surgery which resulted in additional costs. Is Boas hereditary? BOAS can be passed on to puppies and is inherited. This is the reason it is extremely important to find a reputable breeder. Why is my French bulldog gagging? Gagging, vomiting or regurgitating in Frenchies or other brachycephalic breeds all describe their inability to digest food and water properly due to the shape of their head. This is one of the most common symptom of BOAS. BOAS can cause heatstroke Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat because they lack sweat glands. The only way dogs release excess body heat is panting. However, brachycephalic dogs have a smaller mouth and inefficient airway, making it difficult for them to dissipate heat. This weakness makes them susceptible to heat stroke. It is important to know heat stroke can lead to death in brachys, which is why such dogs must never be allowed to become overweight. An overweight brachy dog has more fat that traps in heat, increasing the chances of heat stroke. Further read: What is the ideal weight of a Frenchie? Whether you own a French Bulldog, or Lhasa Apso, it is vital to keep your brachy in top shape by exercising the dog regularly, providing healthy and nutritious meals and be on the lookout for any sudden changes in your pet's normal sounds. The shape of the skull and nose of these dogs make it difficult for them to breathe effectively and dissipate heat. The result is that brachys tend to overheat quickly, putting them at a higher risk of heatstroke, which can become an emergency. Here, we look at simple ways to cool your brachy dogs during the hot months. It might be cool and breezy outside, but make sure your brachy dog stays indoors as much as possible during the summer. Invest in dog cooling accessories A cooling mat is an effective way to help your brachy dog cope with the high summer temperatures. You can buy a cooling mat at the store or online at relatively affordable prices. Alternatively, you can make a simple cooling mat by freezing water and wrapping the frozen water inside a heavy towel. Place the towel in the canine's bed but make sure it does not touch your dog's skin directly. Dog cooling bandana If you want an inexpensive and effective cooling accessory you can place directly on your dog you can purchase Frenchiestore cooling bandana. These pawfect innovative cooling bandanas are compact, small and effective. All you have to do is wet it, wring it and place it on your dog. The cooling light mesh fabric will stay cold for hours. The same applies to your smushed face pup. During the high heat season, make sure there is always an abundance of cool drinking water in your dog's bowl. Reduce Physical Activity While your brachy still needs to exercise during the hot months, you want to reduce the frequency of physical activity to avoid overheating. A good rule of thumb is to monitor the dog's sound. If the breathing becomes labored or too noisy, let your dog rest immediately. Remember that the head shape of pug face dogs makes it difficult to breath, and physical activity increases the energy needs of the animal. Exercise your brachy during the summer, but in moderation. You can reduce the risk of overheating by providing a kiddie pool to cool down the summer heat. However, the pool must be under a shade and you need to change it whenever it becomes warm or hot. Otherwise, you will end up overheating your adorable pooch. This condition affected our family. Brachycephalic dogs need constant supervision. As a responsible pet owner, know your dog and pay attention to their sounds. Make sure to provide as much comfort and love. Support their physical and mental well being and give them the best quality of life possible. BOAS is not a death sentence, with your help your pooch can live a long and healthy life. Eye challenges in French Bulldogs Due to the smushed face of brachy dogs, the French Bulldogs eyes have limited socket space. Further, the overly exposed eyes of brachycephalic dogs make their eyes dry and irritated frequently. This is one of the reasons a collar is never recommended for daily walks and could potentially be dangerous especially if your Frenchie dog is a puller. Checking for a Corneal Ulcer in an English Bulldog If you own a French Bulldog chances are you dealt with eye ulcer at some point in their life. This is a very common injury since they don't have a nose to protect their eyes. Conjunctivitis Pinkeye Conjunctivitis or pink eye in French Bulldog is an inflamed eye tissue. Symptoms include but not limited to: swollen eyelid, red eyes, squinting or blinking excessively, discharge from the eyes and rubbing the eyes with paws. Conjunctivitis can be caused by allergies, dry eye, or other irritants. Treatment can include antibiotics in the event of a bacterial infection. Other eye issues that can be found in the French Bulldog breed: Entropion. Skin Allergies in the Frenchie Does your dog itch constantly? There are so many different type of skin allergies they can be difficult to identify at times even by a professional vet. In this blog we look at the five most common skin problems that affect dogs, identify symptoms and solutions to prevent them. The allergic reaction also can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. To examine if your dog is allergic to a certain food, your vet will create an elimination diet comprising non-allergic foods. Most vetrinarians recommend duck protein as it is the least known protein to cause allergies to dogs by modern medicine. For itchy paws we recommend Iodine foot soak. Atopic Dermatitis Atopic dermatitis or atopy is an environmental allergy resulting from contact with allergens such as pollen, mold spores, plants, and grass or dust mite among others. Environmental allergies are a common cause of discomfort for many dogs, often requiring a visit to the vet. Brachycephalic dogs are more prone to environmental allergies because of the skin folds and short snout. As a pet owner, you should always be on the lookout for signs of these allergies. If left untreated, the affected spot can become infected and transform into generalized dermatitis. It is best to prevent these allergies from happening in the first place as they cause great discomfort for your dog. Our hypoallergenic organic PJ's are scientifically known to minimize the environmental allergens. If your dog is sensitive to the environment, you may need to provide medications or steroids, medicated wash or wipes, hypoallergenic clothing , and environmental changes to manage the condition. Your dog can suffer from this condition even with one flea bite, making it essential to keep your pooch flea-free at all times. Limit your dogs contact with grass and other dogs whom you may not know, for a more natural remedy please use a shampoo that is gentle and prevents fleas. You can also use anti flea dog collar. In the most extreme situations you might have to visit your vet to get a professional medical opinion. Ringworm Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes serious itch on the affected area. The condition is contagious and an infected dog can spread it to other dogs and humans. Call your vet for advice immediately. You can manage ringworm with oral medications and medicated washes based on the level of infection. Dandruff In dogs, dandruff results from skin irritation or excessive skin dryness. If your dog has dandruff, increase his intake of high quality protein and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for enhanced skin and coat health. Giving your dog supplements like fish oil might help significantly. Breeders also swear by CBD oil and coconut oil. There are several skin problems that can affect your dog. But many of them are preventable with the right precautions. If your dog experiences any extreme allergic reaction please contact your vet immediately. It even looks like it is an obsession. French Bulldog are the type of breed that suffer from allergy problems quite often. The changing seasons can also play a major role in this, so if you are a new Frenchie owner just because your puppy didn't seem to have an issue last summer doesn't mean that allergies won't develop next season. Be sure to be on the look out for any signs or distraught in your Frenchie. If your dog is exhibiting any of the above mentioned issues you may want to consider a foot-soak. Karen Becker, a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian discusses about pets foot soaks. Mix povidone iodine and water until it looks a bit cloudy, and soak your pup's paws 5 minutes. You can find povidone iodine pretty much anywhere that has a pharmacy or you can get it online. It's anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, It will NOT irritate your dog in any way and it doesn't stain. A completely safe method to give your dog some relief and comfort! Reverse Sneezing In French Bulldogs Reverse sneezing in Frenchies is not necessarily a health concern but rather a result of a breed with breathing difficulties. Reverse sneezing also known as a snorting attack is a common phenomenon in dogs and especially French Bulldogs. In a regular sneeze, your Frenchie pushes air through the nose; in a reverse sneeze air is pulled into the nose. Reverse sneeze is usually triggered byexcitement or stress and may be related to allergies, nasal irritants or nasal inflammation. It can also be triggered by a viral infections like the common cold or a dog collar pressing against the throat too tightly. It happens more often in small breed dogs Brachycephalic breeds like pugs and bulldogs perhaps because they have smaller throats and windpipes. Symptoms of reverse sneeze attack Your dog will look distressed. May besnorting or choking. Will have rapid and long inspirations Struggle for air. Its important to keep calm and not to panic!!! Karen Becker, a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian discusses reverse sneezing. A reverse sneezing attack may look scary however, it is not a harmful condition and there are no ill effects. Reverse sneezing attacks are generally quite brief lasts a minute or two and not life threatening. You can try placing your fingers over his nostrils for a second or two. Your dog's automatic reaction is to lick, and this is followed by a swallow. A couple of licks will usually resolve the situation. Stimulating saliva. Stroke or massage your dogs' upper throat area to encourage relaxation and dilation of the trachea. Can reverse sneezing kill a dog? Your French Bulldog will come out of an attack of reverse sneezing without help and will not suffer permanent damage quite shortly. Just as dogs sneeze intermittently throughout their lives, most dogs have at least a few reverse sneezing episodes during their lives as well. In the vast majority of cases, the episodes are temporary and intermittent, resolving on their own, and leave the dog with no aftereffects to be concerned about. When should you seek for help? How do I stop my French bulldog from reverse sneezing in the future? To minimize the chances of a future snorting attack episode try to be as cool and calm around your dog as possible. Excitement can be a major trigger when it comes to sneezing attacks in Frenchies. Bad odor in Frenchies We all love kissing our French Bulldog however if your dog has bad breath kissing your dog would be the last thing on your agenda. Foul odor can indicate a health issue in your Frenchie so it is best to do your research, be well informed, treat the cause and prevent it from happening in the future. Just as human beings, the development of plaque and tartar can prompt bad breath. A lot of plaque and tartar can push the gums from the teeth, uncovering new microscopic organisms. This arouses the canine's gums, and can prompt gum disease, and discharge. Obviously, it will come with incredibly, terrible breath. Dietary Habits - where has your dog been? Dogs once in a while will get into things they shouldn't have such as: drink from a toilet, get into trash and even eat their own feces. Some pooches eat the feces of other canines, a condition called coprophagia. In addition to the fact that this is foul, it is incredibly unhygienic. The above will cause awful breath in dogs and every so often even make them sick. Diabetes -If your Frenchie's awful breath has a sweet or fruity smell to it, you should see your veterinarian. Sweet, fruity breath is an indication of diabetes. Kidney Disease -If your Frenchie's awful breath has a has a pee scent to it, you should see your vet. This can be an indication of kidney disease. Liver Disease -If your French Bulldog's gums have a yellow tinge it may indicate of liver issues and you need to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Infected or blocked anal sac gland -can produce a foul smell. Fish Oil -can have a fishy smell linger around your Frenchie's mouth. Facial Folds -can produce a bad smell if not cleaned daily. Ear Infections -like any other infection can produce a bad odor and needs immediate medical attention. Paw licking -can cause odors especially is the paw is injured. Treating your French Bulldog's Bad Breath As critical as it is to apprehend the underlying issues of your Frenchie's breath, what we really need to understand is why it is happening and how we can prevent it. Curing awful dog breath relies upon the cause. Your veterinarian may run blood work and other tests to be certain your Frenchie can endure anesthesia. Prevent bad breath in Frenchie puppies The most effective manner to prevent bad breath in your Frenchie puppy is to brush the dog's teeth on a regular basis. Tooth brushing reduces plaque and promotes higher oral hygiene. With a bit of training most puppies learn to adjust to having their teeth brushed. Offering your canine with plenty of chew toys can also be helpful. Chewing prevents plaque and tartar construct-up and relieves boredom, maintaining your dog healthy and happy. Smaller dogs may require extra dental care than large dog breeds as they are more prone to periodontal disease, according to the akc health foundation. Smaller breeds have a tendency to have teeth that are closer together, which promotes plaque and tartar build-up, so make certain you provide them with lots of bite toys from a younger age and brush their enamel frequently. Feeding your Frenchie a well balanced diet and providing plenty of exercise will prevent health issues like diabetes. There are different oral health products apart from dog toothpaste in the marketplace. Talk in your veterinarian about the options and what is best for your French Bulldog. There are a lot of products on the market that can help stop foul breath. If you're looking for a cheaper, healthier alternative to commercial products, try these homemade dog treats for bad breath. Why does my canine smell like fish? When was your dog's anal sac gland checked? It is possible your Frenchie has an infected or blocked anal sac gland. If the anal sac s are not operating properly, the fluid builds up inside those glands and might result in a foul smell. What are anal sacs glands? Despite the fact they are usually known as anal glands, they're technically not glandular in structure. Anal sacs are small sacs located on both aspect of the anus between the inner and outside anal sphincter muscular tissues. There are instances, however, that they may not function the way they were supposed to and turn into bags of fluid. If your dog has been experiencing watery stools or diarrhea chances are that no sufficient strain is being applied and the sac can possibly get full. A tell tell sign your Frenchie's anal glands are full: A fishy smell may not be the most effective and only sigh that your French Bulldog has a full anal sac s. Another sign that you could watch out for is your canine dragging his or her bum throughout the floor. We've all seen it before and even though this may seem funny to some, it is probably a sign that your dog is stricken by a blocked anal sac and is experiencing pain. Other signs your French Bulldog's anal sac glands might be blocked A foul odor. Butt scooting or sitting awkward and uncomfortably. Red accompanied by swelling around the anus. Dog scratching or nipping at the rear. Are blocked anal gland sacs in French Bulldogs dangerous? A full anal sac s can inflict bodily pain on your Frenchie making him or her act out of the ordinary. If a full anal sac is a reoccurring occasion and left untreated it may cause an infection on your dog. What can be done to relief a dog's blocked anal gland? Proper diet and regular exercise is key. As referred to above, a healthy bowel movement is greatly affected by your Frenchies' diet. You can try increasing your dog's fiber intake if the stool is not firm enough. Raw food diet may help your dog to have a ordinary bowel movement. Treating your French Bulldog allergies to prevent anal gland infections. If your French Bulldog gets sufficient amount of exercise and has healthy bowel movements, but still experiencing blocked anal glands, you might want to consider allergies. Your likely wondering, how do allergic reactions causes my Frenchie to have a blocked anal gland? Allergies are a reaction of the immune system when it releases histamines that cause swelling and infection. The swelling and infection precipitated from hypersensitive reactions and can cause your dogs anal glands to become blocked and inflamed. If your dog suffers from a blocked anal gland,we recommend seeing your vet. There are natural remedies you can try but we suggest you first see a vet to rule our other causes. Visit your vet Your veterinarian can manually empty your dog's glands. Although this method will work in emptying the gland, it does not solve the issue of why the gland didn't empty on its own in the first place. Your vet will help you identify the core issue until it is resolved. In some cases with chronic anal gland blockage, you may choose to surgically remove the gland. Why does my French Bulldog's breath smell like fish? It is possible that a blocked anal gland can cause a fishy smell in your Frenchie's mouth indirectly. A natural response of your Frenchie dog would be to bite and lick their rear ends in an attempt to relieve the discomfort due to a blocked gland. As gross as it may sound some fluid in the anal sac can release onto your Frenchie's tongue or mouth which can ultimately affect their breath. Treating the source will fix the bad breath in your Frenchie. If the source is stemming from a blocked anal gland you need to treat the condition in order to see improvement. Are you giving your Frenchie fish oil supplements? Fish oil can have great health benefits for your French Bulldog however giving it to your dog does come with a fish breath price. Your Frenchie dog or puppy just like humans do and with that may come the foul linger fish smell. Good Frenchie oral hygiene may be helpful in preventing fish breath. Brushing your French Bulldogs teeth on a daily basis will prevent plaque and tartar and prevent any bad odors coming out of your dog's mouth. You should check your dog food ingredients to see if it contains fish products. If you see omega-3 or omega-6 then there is a good possibility that it contains fish product. Other ingredients to look for that might cause fish smell in dogs: Fish oil. One of the characteristics of the French Bulldog is their large, upright ears. But believe it or not, these dogs are born with their ears flat. They look much more like English Bulldogs before their ears spring up! The time it takes for their ears to stand up often correlates with the puppy teething period. Some puppies may show signs of their ears perking up within a few days, but this is not the norm. Why do French Bulldog's ears stand up? Back when people were trying to breed English Bulldogs, there was a set of standards for the most desirable dogs. One of the undesirable traits was upright ears. This meant dogs with "faults" like being too small or having upright ears were more often classed as "toy bulldogs" and traded to France. Over the years, the upright ears became synonymous with the toy bulldogs and emerging French Bulldog breed until eventually, it became the standard. So one undesirable trait for one dog became a much-treasured feature of another! How long do French Bulldogs live for? The French Bulldog lifespan is fairly average and you can expect your dog to live for at least a decade. Some dogs can even make it into their early teens. Generally, the average lifespan of a french bulldog is around years. Sadly, they are not an exceptionally long-lived dog. This is partly due to the fact that Frenchies are prone to many health problems, so it is unsurprising that some individuals have a shorter lifespan. But if your pooch is exercised regularly and fed a high-quality diet that combats the conditions the breed is prone to, you can expect your pooch to live a long and happy life. The famous French artist forever linked with the Moulin Rouge. The dog had a pretty interesting owner too. More specifically, Nottingham. They were popular companions for lace makers and when they moved to France to find work after the industrial revolution, the little dogs went with them. They are so top-heavy because of their large head and front-end, they have a tendency to sink. Facts about famous Frenchies Popular influencers French Bulldogs have been owned by plenty of celebrities over the years, but nowadays they can even be celebrities themselves. Manny the bulldog is one of the most famous dogs on Instagram with over a million followers. The ill-fated Romanov dynasty also had a fondness for Frenchies. Grand Duchess Tatiana was given a Frenchie puppy in and named them "Ortipo". The pup would even be honoured with a likeness created by Faberge. The pooch would follow the family into exile along with two other dogs. The poor pup met as sad an end as the royal family. One brave Bulldog When we think of dogs serving in the armed forces, we usually think of Springer Spaniels as sniffer dogs, or German Shepherds working as guard dogs. But did you know that during the First World War there was a brave little Frenchie called Mutt who worked as a delivery dog on the Western Front. He belonged to the YMCA and delivered cigarettes to soldiers and boosted morale with his love and affection. He was even wounded twice in the line of duty. Many animals were left behind when the war ended, but lucky little Mutt was smuggled on board a ship by a kind soldier. Even when the furry stowaway was found, he was saved from being tossed overboard because the soldier insisted he would go overboard with the dog. Mutt made it safely to New York and lived a few more years in comfort before passing away due to natural causes. An artist's muse Plenty of artists have taken inspiration from the adorable Frenchie over the years such as Faberge, Toulouse-Lautrec, and even Andy Warhol. He owned two Frenchies, both called Moujik. Moujik II was the only dog ever painted by Andy Warhol, and his portrait was the last painting he completed before his death. French Bulldog puppies French Bulldog puppies are well known for their high price tag. This is partly due to their popularity, but also because of how much work a good breeder must put in for healthy dogs. Not only must parent animals be screened for various health issues, Frenchies are notoriously difficult to mate and rarely give birth naturally. This is because of the dogs' small hips, which make successful mating difficult for males and natural birthing a problem for females. On top of that, Frenchies usually have very small litters of only 3 pups. These dogs are also known to take longer than average to housetrain, so be patient and persistent. French Bulldogs are notoriously good at understanding your tone, and are sensitive souls. When do French Bulldogs stop growing? Your French Bulldog puppy should stop growing between the age of 9 and 12 months. However, they will continue to put on weight for a few months afterwards. Their heads might also change shape and become squatter and wrinklier. By the time your dog is 2 they should be fully grown and have reached their adult weight and shape. If your pooch is packing on the pounds after their 2nd birthday, they will be on their way to being overweight. Obesity brings with it a lot of secondary health conditions, but it is especially bad for Frenchies as the breed is predisposed to suffering with luxating patellas dislocating kneecaps. Too much weight will put more strain on their fragile knees, so make sure your pup is walked regularly and fed a healthy diet to stay slim. French Bulldog names There are hundreds of potential names for your new friend. You could take some French inspiration when naming your pet, such as Bijou or Gaston, or you could even name your dog after one of the many famous Frenchies throughout history. French Bulldog vs Boston Terrier Telling the difference between these breeds can be tricky, as they look incredibly similar and even share ancestors. French Bulldogs are more muscular and stocky compared to the Boston Terrier, standing slightly taller and having broader, more square-shaped heads. They also have more rounded ears. Other than that, these dogs are similar in their size, lifespan, and grooming requirements. Frenchie lifestyle How much space do French Bulldogs need? Not a lot! French Bulldogs are not an active or energetic dog and they have low exercise needs. They do need daily walking to keep them healthy and to prevent obesity, but it only needs to be a short stroll once a day. How much exercise does a French Bulldog need? As we said, Frenchies are not an active or energetic breed by any stretch of the imagination. A short walk around the block once or twice a day is perfectly fine for these pups. Because of their short noses, they overheat easily, so your pooch is best kept at home in hot weather to prevent illness. Here are some ideas on how to protect your pup from the heat. Meanwhile, you might want to buy some boots or a coat for your pooch come winter, because these dogs are just as susceptible to the cold. So when it comes to exercising throughout the seasons, stay out the sun, and bundle up for winter. Do French Bulldogs have health problems? Yes, sadly French Bulldogs are predisposed to a few health problems. These include: Breathing problems. Your browser does not support the audio tag. Description The French Bulldog is a sturdy, compact, stocky little dog, with a large square head that has a rounded forehead. The muzzle is broad and deep with a well-defined stop. The nose is black, but may be lighter in lighter colored dogs. The upper lips hang down over the lower lips. The teeth meet in an underbite and the lower jaw is square and deep. The round, prominent eyes are set wide apart and are dark in color. The bat ears stand erect, are broad at the base narrowing in a triangular shape and rounded at the tips. The height at the withers to the ground should be approximately the same as the length from withers to the base of the tail. The tail is either straight or corkscrew. The chest is broad and deep with the front of the dog being wider than the back end, forming a pear shape. The dewclaws may be removed. The medium-fine coat is short and smooth. The skin is loose, forming wrinkles around the head and shoulders. Coat colors include brindle, brindle and white, cream, cream and white, fawn, fawn and white, fawn brindle, white, white and brindle, white and fawn, black, black and fawn, black and white, fawn and black, fawn brindle and white and gray and white. Temperament The French Bulldog is a pleasant, easy-care companion who is playful, alert and affectionate. It is enthusiastic and lively, without being yappy and loud. Curious, sweet and absolutely hilarious, it has a very comical personality and loves to clown around. It is bright and easygoing. The Frenchie gets along fairly well with strangers and other animals and enjoys being with its owner. It plays well with other dogs. Those Frenchies that are allowed to believe they are alpha may become dog aggressive. This breed needs leadership and will not thrive without it. The Frenchie cannot be owned and ignored. When it senses an owner is meek or passive toward it, it will become very stubborn and even snappish. They can be trained if the owner is calm, but firm, consistent and patient. Proper human to canine communication is essential. Do not give them affection or sweet talk them if they are displaying any type of unwanted behaviors; instead correct them sternly with an air of calm authority. French Bulldogs are clean, and most will try to avoid puddles. Most cannot swim so take caution around water. This breed does best with considerate children who know how to display proper leadership. This breed may drool and slobber ; however a good percentage of them do not. They are also a relentless hunter of mice. Do not allow this sweet little bully to develop Small Dog Syndrome. Height, Weight Height: 12 inches 30 cm There are two weight classes of French Bulldog: 19 - 22 pounds 9 - 10 kg and 22 - 28 pounds 10 - 13 kg. Over 28 pounds is a disqualification. Health Problems French Bulldogs are prone to joint diseases, spinal disorders, heart defects and eye problems. Dams often have to deliver pups by cesarean section, because pups have relatively large heads. They often have respiratory problems. They tend to wheeze and snore and have trouble in hot weather. Prone to heatstroke. An overweight Frenchie may have trouble breathing, because of a swollen abdomen. Do not overfeed this breed. Putting them under anesthesia is risky because of their breathing issues. French Bulldogs are high maintenance and potential owners need to be aware that their vet bills may be high. Take this into consideration before choosing a Frenchie puppy. Living Conditions Frenchies are good for apartment life. They can be fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. They do not do well in temperature extremes. Exercise The French Bulldog needs to be taken on a daily walk , where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Simply running around a large yard is not going to satisfy their migration instinct. Take care in hot weather. They love to run and play and can play for hours if you let them. Some have higher energy levels than others. Life Expectancy. Email In , the French bulldog, commonly known as a Frenchie, became the most popular dog breed in America , dethroning the lowly Labrador retriever for the first time in 31 years. At around 20 pounds and perfectly sized for carry-on luggage, Frenchies have been marketed as the dog best suited to the lifestyles of the rich and quite possibly lazy. In , they were the most popular pup in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco and in the top five in many other cities. The Frenchie is the most hashtagged dog on Instagram. There are also the breathing issues common to all brachycephalic breeds — those with flat faces — that can cause respiratory distress, heat intolerance since the dogs have to pant to cool themselves off , and frequent vomiting. Later in life, Frenchies can show signs of more serious issues like painful spine deformations and nerve pain. Frenchies make it easy for owners to project themselves onto their dogs without having to listen to what the dogs are actually saying. Rather than buying a puppy, she spent years contacting rescues before she adopted her first one, Wu, followed by Donut a year later. She fell in love with the breed, and when Pongo died, she got two more Dalmatians — a male and a female — who went on to produce a giant litter of 15 puppies. When a live-action remake of the movie came out in , their popularity surged again. This time, though, the press began reporting on a perhaps predictable consequence: Dalmatians were winding up in shelters in higher-than-usual numbers. Travel-size mini-Aussies, with their colorful coats and tendency toward eye colors more often found in humans, also had a moment. And untold curly-haired hybrid doodles have become popular thanks to their hypoallergenic fur. On Instagram, the most popular dog breeds currently are Frenchies, pugs, and bulldogs, which, in turn, only make them more popular. Their flat faces scream cute while the high prices for a puppy make them as aspirational as multi-step skin care routines, Le Creuset kitchenware, and living in a remodeled van. Dogs were bred for purpose, not aesthetics. A foxhound in one part of the country was taller or shorter depending on the style of hunting. Retrievers were any dog a hunter trained to retrieve game without biting it. Greyhounds looked different depending on whether their intended racing course was located on flat or hilly ground. The change from purpose to aesthetics came about with the beginning of dog shows in the mids. Judging animals based on how well they did a certain task, like retrieving a bird their owner hunted, was hard; judging whether they were the right color, height, shape … well, that could be done quickly and seemingly more fairly. So, by definition, all purebred dogs are inbred, related to each other in one way or another. The development of purebreds made it easier to show dogs and sell them. More than ever, their worth was tied to their genetics. Throughout the 20th century, however, Americans got better at mass-producing everything — cars, clothing, meat — and purebred dogs became another mass-produced consumer item newly available to the middle class. Tellingly, none of the features humans seek are particularly beneficial for the animals. We expect the latest iPhone or laptop to operate smoothly and improve battery life with every generation but keep breeding dogs with more likelihood of disease, disability, and early death. On average , the life span of purebred dogs is shorter than that of mixed breeds. But so far, no one has found a way to make thousands of dollars from a genuinely mixed-breed puppy. That left two guide-dog puppies without homes. At the time, Labrador guide dog puppies had a three- to six-month waiting list but nobody wanted these mixes, creator Conron said in a interview. After that, Bernstein says, people realized that if you could breed dogs to be hypoallergenic, you could also breed for big eyes or long ears, or a spotted Frenchie, or a dog so small it could be photographed sitting comfortably inside a teacup. For some, that might mean owning an Instagram-friendly Frenchie or Pomeranian. For others, it might be rescue dogs that have become trendy for the same virtue-signaling reasons that people proudly drive electric cars or shop at the farmers market. But even as the AdoptDontShop movement gains traction, more people still buy dogs than adopt them, and every year , shelter dogs are euthanized rather than finding homes. But it can be for dogs that are bred to fill a fad. What kind is it? It takes a lot of time to get to know a dog, and we have to choose based on first impressions. One study found that among 31 owners of dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS , 18 reported their dogs had no breathing problems at all. Kipperman knows that these dogs, despite their health problems, are beloved by their owners. He had a pug named Winston for 13 years who has since died. I understand what great companions they are. Puppy-selling websites such as PuppySpot. When breeders are located outside of the United States, as is often the case for Frenchies and other trendy breeds, treatment can be even worse for the puppies. Last year, a plane from Ukraine arrived in Toronto carrying French bulldog puppies. After the hour flight, the young dogs were weak and dehydrated. Some were vomiting. By the time the plane landed, 38 had died. Dogs entering the US for resale are supposed to be 4 months old and have certain vaccinations, but dogs often arrive much younger than that, and veterinary paperwork is often falsified. In her rescue work, Bernstein has encountered multiple businesses in the US that import dogs while claiming to breed them locally. This is what it takes to fill that instant demand. When asked about the future of the Frenchie, both Bernstein and Kipperman had grim predictions. Today, the average life span of an English bulldog is now only about six years. Sixty percent of golden retrievers now die from cancer , though the rate was comparable to other breeds only a few decades ago. Dogs that are overly fluffy or have cosmetic alterations like cropped ears or docked tails may have trouble communicating with other dogs. For some dogs, the circumstances of their birth and genetics are profoundly damaging. Frenchies are marketed as easy, friendly dogs that can adapt to anything and need minimal exercise. Bernstein calls this ironic. But is it fair to our dogs that being a good owner so often consists of fixing the problems we as consumers created in the first place? We buy pet clothes and toys and grieve deeply when the dogs, with their shortened lives, inevitably leave us. Tove K. Danovich is a writer based in Portland, Oregon. Update, March 16, , am ET: This story was originally published in December and has been updated to reflect that the Frenchie is now the most popular dog breed. Kathryn Gamble for Vox We're here to shed some clarity One of our core beliefs here at Vox is that everyone needs and deserves access to the information that helps them understand the world, regardless of whether they can pay for a subscription. With the election on the horizon, more people are turning to us for clear and balanced explanations of the issues and policies at stake. We need to add 2, contributions this month to hit that goal. Will you make a contribution today to help us hit this goal and support our policy coverage? Any amount helps. Post by: Annie M. Of course, our Frenchie friends also have a reputation for being a high-class breed. Historically, the French Bulldog was so elite that one pooch named Gamin de Pycombe was one of only 13 dogs aboard the Titanic. So what are French Bulldogs really like? Want to learn some facts about Frenchies? Keep reading! About the Breed Classified as a companion dog, the French Bulldog is an incredible family dog and one of the top 10 breeds in the United States. These pups are sweet and friendly people pleasers who adore cuddling, enjoy following you from room to room, and love being the center of attention, especially when they have an audience. Fully grown, the average, healthy weight for a French Bulldog is pounds, and they stand approximately 12 inches tall at the shoulder. The average French Bulldog lifespan is years, but life expectancy can be affected by many factors. These pups are cousins to the English Bulldog, which descended from the Bullenbeisser sport dogs, a subfamily of the ancient Greek Molossian breed that was originally used for bull-baiting. When blood sports were outlawed in England in , English Bulldogs emerged as companion dogs and were bred with terriers and Pugs to reduce their size. The toy size became very popular among the lace workers in Nottingham because these docile and loyal pooches would warm the workers' laps by day and rid the workshops of rats by night. The Industrial Revolution mechanized laceworks in England, and many of these skilled workers immigrated to France, taking their pups with them. The curious toy-sized, bat-eared bulldogs were an instant hit with the French bohemians. Soon writers, artists, fashion designers, and working girls all over Paris were requesting the lovable pups. The English breeders couldn't believe their luck—they'd always considered the breed's ears a flaw. So, they happily began sending over all of the bat-eared bulldogs, whom the French began calling Bouledogue Francais, as in boule for "ball" and dogue for "mastiff" or "molosser. The breed first appeared in the United States in the late 19th century. They were very well received, earning the nickname "Frenchie," as well as the affection of notable pet parents like the Rockefeller and J. Morgan families. Attributes Aside from their size and bat-like ears, what makes French Bulldogs unique? In addition to the elongated ears, other key differences from the English Bulldog include more alert facial expressions, rounder eyes, and a wider range of motion. Appearance French Bulldogs keep a low center of gravity with their compact, muscular build and large, square head, and they walk with a recognizable bow-legged gait. A brachycephalic, or "flat-faced" breed, these pooches have those adorable smooshy faces that are just perfect for smooching. Their skin is loose and soft, forming wrinkles at the head and shoulders. Frenchies have a short, smooth coat that comes in a variety of colors. Most commonly, their coat color comes in shades of brindle, fawn, or tan. They can also be white with brindle patches, an effect known as "pied. French Bulldogs are easygoing, fun-loving additions to any family. True companion dogs, they thrive on human contact. They are patient with children, friendly with strangers, and loyal to their pet parents—sometimes to the point of being overly protective. Since they can be territorial, remember that socialization at a young age is a good idea. These social butterflies also enjoy the company of other canine companions. Despite yearning for affection, Frenchies make excellent watchdogs because they hardly ever bark without reason. This trait also makes them a good fit for apartment dwellers who might worry about their pooch disturbing the neighbors. Grooming and Care With a short, fine coat, your Frenchie's grooming needs will be fairly easy to maintain. You'll want to brush your pal weekly with a rubber hound glove or soft bristle brush. During the fall and spring shedding seasons, you can remove any excess hair with a stripping comb. French Bulldogs need a bath about once a month. Just make sure you use a high-quality doggie shampoo, and follow these tips for bathing wrinkly dogs. It's very important that you keep your pup's wrinkles clean and always check for scabs or lesions that could lead to infections. Make sure to clean their ears regularly with a damp cloth and keep up with nail trimming, too. Special Care Tips Frenchies are fairly low energy and don't need a lot of exercise. However, make sure your pooch is still getting a couple of minute walks a day and some low-key playtime. They don't need a lot of room; just a ball and a little open space will do. Be that as it may, it's very important to know the signs of heat exhaustion in your dog. Due to your pal's bulky shape, naturally compacted airway, and thin coat, they have a tough time regulating their body temperature and are thus susceptible to overheating. If you live in a hot climate, your Frenchie will be safer if you have air conditioning in your home. Limit walk times to early mornings and late evenings when the temperatures are more comfortable. Also, always make sure your pup has access to shade and water if they are outside. Similarly, in cold weather, dress your canine companion in an extra layer to be safe. If you're planning a trip, be aware that some commercial airlines do not allow French Bulldogs to travel. Due to the low temperatures in the cargo space, it can be dangerous to your Frenchie's health if they were to fly. Additionally, French Bulldogs are not good swimmers, so if you own a swimming pool, make sure your pup does not have access. Training French Bulldogs French Bulldogs are relatively intelligent little pooches, so training can be a positive experience for both of you, especially if you incorporate lots of food, praise, and play. Make training feel like a game, and remember that Frenchies are people pleasers by nature. They are sensitive and respond far better to rewards than criticism. French Bulldogs are free thinkers, which can lead to stubbornness. This also means that they are not the best-suited breed for obedience and agility competitions. But with patience and consistency, housetraining and a few tricks should be easy enough to accomplish. This affects dogs with that classic short head and narrow nostril combination and can result in all that adorable snoring and grunting that Frenchies are known for. But, unfortunately, it can also lead to complete airway collapse. Other respiratory issues include allergies and elongated soft palate, which can obstruct the airways. French Bulldogs are prone to chronodysplasia, a general term for back, spine, and disc issues. Of these, the most common are hemivertebrae, a malformation of the vertebrae that puts pressure on the spinal cord, and Intervertebral Disc Disease IVDD , which is caused by a ruptured or herniated disc. These pups also have a lot of experience with hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, or having their kneecap slip out of place. In terms of blood disorders, Frenchies are predisposed to Von Willebrand's Disease, a condition that affects clotting ability. Early signs include nosebleeds, bleeding gums, prolonged bleeding. No one dog breed is completely immune to all health problems, so it is important to take your pooch to the veterinarian for their regular checkups. The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.

Degenerative Myelopathy Von Willebrand Disease Perhaps the most well-known is hip dysplasia, a condition that causes the hip joint to develop abnormally. This can lead to pain and lameness, and eventually requiring surgery. German Shepherds are also at risk for elbow dysplasia, a similar condition that affects the elbow joint. Other common health problems include allergies, intestinal issues, and eye problems. With proper care and diet, however, German Shepherds can live long and healthy lives. Finding a German Shepherd puppy for sale from a reputable breeder can dramatically — although, not eliminate — the risk of your dog developing some of these conditions. While German Shepherds are often considered to be low-maintenance when it comes to grooming, their coats do require some care and attention. The most important thing to know about German Shepherd coat care is that the breed does not shed uniformly throughout the year. After the shedding period has ended, you can reduce the frequency of brushing to once or twice a week. In addition to regular brushing, German Shepherds also need to be bathed on occasion. How often you need to bathe your German Shepherd will depend on factors such as how often they play outside and whether they have any allergies or skin sensitivities. Generally speaking, however, a once-monthly bath is sufficient for most dogs. German Shepherd Puppies For Sale. But we also want sensible dogs that will curl up in front of the the T. A hip X-rays done before being bred. S military. It talks about early neurological stimulation of very young pups so that they can develop to their full potential. We raise our dogs in our home, perform, in a warm and cozy environment, and perform early neurological stimulation to get the best possible performance from these super confident rock star pups. European Bloodlines in the U. A dog that shows courage and fearless in protecting its owner. A dog that bonds closely and is well integrated into its family. A dog that a burglar will run from but a child can hug. We thus feel we need imported dogs. Our German Shepherd puppies are from great parents. I looked for a high quality working line breeder, and I was willing to drive all the way from Pittsburgh, P. A to Jersey City, NJ for the right pup. Would highly recommend this breeder. Has extensive knowledge about the breed and excellent bloodline working dogs. Great communication before and after I purchased my pup. Have already recommended him to friends for future litters… Bella von Gonta Haus Kelly Leigh It was great to have someone understand exactly what we were looking for in a dog. My husband is a police officer and knows a lot about working dogs, but as a mom, I wanted a dog that first and foremost would be a terrific family member, and safe with our kids. We are an active family and wanted a dog that was built correctly, anatomically, that could go hiking or family trips. We wanted a dog with an excellent off switch, that although she could be trained in dog sports, but could settle well and be a well adjusted family dog. We met Alex via his Facebook advertising and decided to visit. Located in Nottingham, Pa, this breeder has extensive over 40 year-long! They approach breeding and raising their dogs as parts of their family: all puppies are raised in the house, surrounded by other dogs and people. E-Z Brook goal is to raise German Shepherds with superb health and excellent temperaments. Susie Zeiner, the owner of the Kennel, is a former vet technician herself and has plenty of experience tending to animal health and wellbeing. This gives her a strong ground on which to base her decisions when it comes to all aspects of breeding her dogs. This Kennel does thorough health testing of all their puppies and parents. All their dogs are AKC registered and are sold with all their papers and a contract. If you are interested in learning more about them, you can do it here. According to their website, the owner of the Kennel has harbored love and respect for animals for over 50 years, with dogs being one of her favorite. Today, she specializes in beautiful German Shepherds with red and black pigment, beautiful conformation and fine temperaments. To achieve this goal, only the best dogs out of the best bloodlines are used for breeding. Her dogs have high titles including Sieger VA, and all are health screened and hip and elbow certified. Having been a vet technician herself, Brenda has broad experience in caring for animals and maintaining their perfect health. She understands dogs and puppies very well, which helps her achieve great results as a breeder and dog owner. She also has lots of dog training experience which also comes in handy in helping her dogs and their litters to become polite, well-behaved citizens of the world. This is a small hobby kennel treating their dogs as family members. As said on their website, the pups and the adults all live in the house and are treated as family members. Their approach to breeding German Shepherds is to preserve the correct conformation, stable personality, intelligence and drive. This Kennel has bred multiple ACK champions. Some of their graduates serve as Therapy dogs, Rescue dogs and participate in other Service work. All their adults are thoroughly health screened before breeding. They are all hip and elbow certified, screened for degenerative myelopathy, as well as some other health conditions. As a small Kennel, this breeder has a limited number of breedings per year. Click here to find out more about Lindel Shepherds. According to their website, this breeder uses superior lines to produce German Shepherd puppies with excellent qualities, both of the body and the mine. To achieve this, they use selective line breeding. All of the dogs are OFA hip and elbow screened. The parents have impressive pedigrees including IPO titled dogs as well as other titles. All of the puppies go to their new home after their first visit to the vet and a detailed check-up. Every puppy comes with a two-year health warranty, and all puppies are AKC registered. They come with all their papers including their pedigree. According to their website, this breeder cares deeply about the health and well-being of their puppies as well as the best placement for each new puppy into a home that will be most suited for them. They have been responsibly breeding German Shepherds since .In their breeding, they use exclusively imported bloodlines, Schutzhund Titled, fully health checked and with excellent health, appearance and temperament characteristics. All puppies and parents are hip and elbow certified. They only breed dogs with working titles and breed to SV standard. This is also one of the few breeders that actively work with their puppies to perfect their abilities and earn working titles. The result of their breeding is the puppies that are well known for their superior intelligence, beautiful conformation, gorgeous colors and excellent working abilities. Many of their pups have gone on to shine in such activities as agility, Obedience, Search ad Rescue, Police work ad other services. As said on their website, they are a small family kennel striving to produce quality, top standard German Shepherds with beautiful red and black coats, correct conformation and lovely temperaments. Their breeding dogs are health screened and IPO titled. Their puppies are all AKC registered and come with 2-year health guarantee. Every puppy is raised surrounded by a family of both humans and dogs and is well socialized by the time they go to their new homes thoroughly chosen by the Kennel for each puppy to achieve the best fit of personalities of the puppy and their future family. If you re interested in this breeder and their puppies, please visit their website. The owner of the Kennel is a member of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America and takes an active part in many dog shows with their dogs. They have many excellent testimonials on their website, along with photos of their gorgeous dogs. Check out their website here. According to their website, they produce up to 8 litters per year, using fine German and American lines and following the responsible breeding ethics in their work. All their puppies are hand-raised, surrounded by a family of other dogs and people. Their dogs go on to be excellent family companions as well as serve in Search and Rescue, work as Therapy dogs and protection dogs. While this kennel mostly produces pet and show-quality puppies, they also occasionally have breeding dogs for select clients. Their breeding program is highly selective, aimed at the preservation and improvement of the best qualities of the breed. All dogs are regularly examined by the vet and screened for genetic issues such as hip and elbow issues. This breeder is a member of Bred with H. T since .Shadowbrook Kennels only place their dogs in the most suitable homes where the puppies will receive proper care and lots of love. If you are interested in this breeder and their dogs, this is their website. This is a wonderful dog, but there are a few considerations you need to take into account. There are lots of upsides of having a German Shepherd. These are highly intelligent dogs, very easy to train and eager to perform. If you love teaching your dog tricks, or if you have work for the dog to do such as guard and protect, for example , this will be a great breed for you. German Shepherds are very loyal towards their family members. They can also be friendly to other pets provided they are acquainted at the young age. This dog will make you much more active! They need lots of walks and active play, so you can sell your gym membership now. This is also a gorgeous dog that will be your pride and joy. However, there are also downsides to keep in mind. These are large dogs, and they need a lot of space. A one-bedroom apartment or any apartment, really is not a good place for a German Shepherd to live. A farm, or at least a large house would be a much better option. German Shepherds are also quite loud. Not that they bark much although that depends on how you raise them. But the do everything quite loudly: they snore when they sleep, they breath loudly etc. Take that into account when thinking of adopting a German Shepherd. Your house will never be clean again. German Shepherds have long coats which are perfect for carrying dirt and dust from outside onto your perfect new sofa. They will also drag dirt and sand on their feet. And, of course, there will be dog hair everywhere, especially during shedding season. German Shepherds do smell. Your German Shepherd will need lots of training if you want them to be polite and obedient. Otherwise you risk raising a disobedient, uncontrollable and potentially dangerous dog. Other than that, this is a wonderful dog to have. You just need to see for yourself if you are ready to live with certain downsides of this breed. Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article.

Feeding your puppy a high-quality , complete and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog. This raises a lot of questions for first-time and even veteran puppy owners, though. How much should you feed your puppy and when? When should you stop feeding puppy food? Get answers to these questions and more in our complete puppy feeding guide below. Our experts answer your questions and offer advice to help set you and your puppy up for success. What to Feed a Puppy When it comes to feeding puppies, there are a lot of factors to consider. Overall nutrition, breed size and the type of food all play a role. Feeding puppies a complete and balanced puppy food ensures they get the proper nutrition to develop and grow into healthy adult dogs. Puppy foods are formulated with a balance of nutrients to help puppies grow up healthy and happy. Look for formulas rich in high-quality proteins to support their growing bodies. Fat and carbohydrates supply the energy active and playful puppies need, while calcium supports developing teeth and bones and DHA helps support healthy brain and vision development. If you have a large breed puppy, he may benefit from a large breed-specific puppy formula. Small breeds can also benefit from small breed-specific puppy formulas. Regardless of breed size, the food should be complete and balanced for growing puppies. The difference in formulas comes down to the unique needs of large and small breeds. Large dogs have a higher risk of developing joint problems, so a large breed puppy food should include proper levels of nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. Small breeds may prefer smaller kibble so they can more easily chew their food, which helps ensure they get all the nutrients they need. This results in a nutrient-dense, high-energy formula which adults and puppies need to support a healthy lifestyle. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy food s. This can make it harder to decide what to feed your puppy. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence. You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option. Use the calories reported on the package to understand how much wet food will replace the dry and vice versa. In this scenario, you could substitute a thirteen-ounce can of wet food for one cup of the daily dry food recommendation. How Much to Feed a Puppy Now you know what to feed your puppy, but just how much food does he need each day? A Labrador Retriever will weigh more at maturity than a Russell Terrier , for example. So, the larger dog requires more food as a puppy. The chart below can help you determine how much dry food to feed your puppy. You should also review the specific feeding instructions on the back of his puppy food and consult with your veterinarian. Puppy Feeding Chart. A low-calorie diet is enough for an older dog, but it should still be full of nutrients. Moderate protein and fat content are still needed. Typically, Golden Retriever puppies need to be fed at least three times daily. Meanwhile, adult and senior Golden Retrievers are satisfied with two meals per day. A Golden Retriever puppy should be fed three times a day at scheduled intervals until it reaches six months. You may divide the three meals into breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When your Golden Retriever puppy turns six months, you can begin feeding it twice a day until it reaches adulthood. For adult Golden Retrievers, the most ideal feeding schedule will be twice a day with equally spaced meals. You can give it high-quality food in the morning and evening. The same goes for senior dogs but with fewer calories. For an easier routine, you can create a customized feeding plan based on your daily schedule or commitments. A proper routine also prevents under and overfeeding. As Golden Retrievers have a ravenous appetite, you might be tempted to feed your dog often. But you should be firm and watchful to avoid any weight-related problems. Here, we provided the optimal feeding times you can follow for your Golden Retriever: 2 to 6 months: am — am, pm, pm 7 months to 8 years and above: am — am, pm — pm Ideally, you should not feed your Golden Retriever puppy after pm. Instead, give your pup an ice cube to chew on when it gets thirsty. Your Golden Retriever puppy should also be fed in the same area daily without distractions. This way, your young puppy can focus on eating its puppy food. Allot around 20 to 30 minutes for your Golden puppy to finish its meal. Remember that some Golden Retrievers like to gorge on more food while some are finicky. Keep your pooch lean with the right feeding schedule, feeding amounts, and proper physical activity. You can also consult your vet for more insights. You may give your pooch kibbles or cold-pressed dog food. Both are packed with necessary ingredients that are filled with nutrients! It can be a bit costly, but wet dog food is still a better choice for Golden Retrievers that are picky eaters and for senior Golden Retrievers, too. You may either mix them or alternate the two at every meal. Just make sure that when you take this approach, your pooch is getting the right food with proper calorie and nutrition requirements. Complete Raw Diet: Feeding your Golden Retriever raw food should be fine after it turns three to four weeks. However, feeding dogs with this option is linked to many food safety concerns. Meanwhile, freeze-dried dog food is also a raw food that has been repacked. Both have no preservatives added and are easy to store with long shelf lives. When choosing the best dog food for your Golden Retriever, you should take into account the ingredients, nutrient details, and feeding instructions as well. Based on the general guidelines, the nutrients you should be looking for besides meat products or animal protein and fats are high-quality grains such as brown rice. Fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals are also vital. This can be ideal for dogs that are sensitive to different types of grain. But grain-free food has been controversial due to its link with heart disease. Your vet can also help you personalize a diet plan for your dog. Curious to see what a homemade meal looks like for Golden Retrievers? Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers are known for their strong appetite, and on top of this, they are also curious. Several foods are toxic to Golden Retrievers, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. Alcoholic drinks and foods that contain xylitol are also dangerous for your dog. Even a tiny amount of alcohol can cause severe issues to your dog, such as vomiting, and diarrhea, among others. Meanwhile, xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is also unsafe for your pooch. If your Golden Retriever consumes too much xylitol, it can result in a dangerously low blood sugar level and even acute liver failure. This substance is usually found in sweet candies, gums, cookies, and the like, so make sure that you check what treats you give your dog. Read food labels or buy organic brands instead. Other vegetables that are harmful to your Golden Retriever are Brussel sprouts, kale, and wild mushrooms. The pits, skins, and leaves of avocados contain a toxin called persin. Meanwhile, cherries contain cyanide which can be extremely harmful to your dog. You may also consult your vet to check the safety of specific foods, especially if your pooch has allergies or sensitivities. These gradual transitions typically occur over 5 to 7 days. The range of amounts is based on the activity of your Golden for the day, either low, moderate, or high level of activity. Golden Retrievers should have scheduled times to eat daily. The scheduled times will help them with their energy levels and keep them healthy. You can schedule their eating times as to what works best for your schedule. For example, feeding them before you leave for work and then when you get home. As a puppy, they will eat three times a day, so you will need to find times in those first few months to feed them more often. When they are an adult or senior, the scheduling of feeding times will be easier because they will only eat twice daily. For a Golden Retriever puppy, the best feeding schedule is once in the morning, noontime, and in the evening. For example, you could feed their first meal at am, lunch at noon, then dinner at pm. Planning their mealtimes around your mealtimes will often make it easier for you and the puppy. Make sure to give them plenty of time after eating to got to the bathroom a couple of times before heading to bed. Hopefully, this will help them sleep for a longer period. After about six months, your Golden Retriever can go down to two daily feedings. This usually occurs once in the morning and once in the evening. They can usually last about 12 hours between meals. If it goes past 12 hours, they could become nauseated. Golden Retrievers can experience food allergies often caused from proteins in dairy or meat products. If your dog experiences symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or itching they may have a food allergy. They warn that feeding dogs any raw animal-source protein could cause illness because it has not gone through a process to remove harmful pathogens. However, a raw diet can be healthy if you are willing to go through the extra cleaning processes of the meat. This is a lot of work and difficult to do correctly and safely. We do not recommend it without expert veterinary help. Before starting a raw diet with your Golden, be sure to consult a veterinarian. Find one that is familiar with raw foods and can help with the proper handling of the foods. If you work hard to make sure your homemade foods are rich in the vitamins and minerals that a dog needs, then it might work for your Golden Retriever. It takes a lot more time to find recipes and make sure it has all the nutritional value of a store-bought dog food. If you are willing to research expertly formulated recipes internet is making it easier to do this , and take the time to cook for your golden then go for it! Consulting your veterinarian is a must before starting any homemade diet. A veterinary nutritionist should also review your plan before starting. Feeding your Golden Retriever table food is not the best practice but a small amount of dog healthy table food is fine. Some example table foods that are healthy for them are carrots, blueberries and plain yogurt. Just be aware that feeding them too much table food can throw their entire diet out of whack. They may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals like they do from their dog food. Conclusion Making sure your Golden Retriever is getting the right foods at the right amounts will help them live their best life. There are many choices of foods with all the right ingredients. Be sure to choose one that works best for you and your Golden. Consult with your veterinarian on which food will bring the most nutritional value to the health of your Golden Retriever. If your Golden is experiencing any health issues related to changing foods, visit your veterinarian. If this article was helpful, please consider sharing this post on Facebook with the button below! She is board certified a specialist in canine reproduction. In her day job, she is a leader in a small biotech where she and a team of veterinarians and scientists work to develop new medications for pets. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of this wonderful breed of dogs. She and her husband have 2 children, 3 dogs and one cat. They love camping and hiking and she can often be found with her head in a good book. Recent Posts. Golden Retrievers are very food motivated. If your puppy seems to be getting fat, you may need to switch to the lower end of the above recommendations. Alternatively, if their ribs are becoming too prominent, you should work to the upper ends of the guidelines. Golden Retriever puppies have much smaller stomachs than adults. This means their daily food allowance should be split into smaller, more frequent meals. Rather than just feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening, as you might plan to do eventually, their food will need to be split into 3 or even 4 portions, like so: 8 — 12 weeks: 4 meals a day 3 — 6 months: 3 meals a day 6 — 12 months: 2 meals a day However, like the feeding charts, this should only be used as a guide. Feeding too much food at once can lead to cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, and discomfort for your puppy. How to Choose the Best Golden Retriever Puppy Food Puppies need a balance of certain nutrients and vitamins to support their growth — not just as much food as possible. In fact, simply giving as much food as possible is linked to certain joint-related health problems. So, when searching for a high quality puppy food, there are a few key ingredients you might want to search for. This includes a real meat source, and the correct amount of nutrients like calcium and iron. Commercial Food vs Homemade Food There are pros and cons to every type of puppy food available. Dry food is long-lasting and easy to use during training, but can contain filler ingredients. Wet food is palatable and easy to serve, but can be more expensive and harder to use during training. Homemade food is often very appealing in terms of taste for our dogs, but is the most likely type to contain nutritional imbalances that can lead to serious health problems. So, they will continue to grow and develop physically until somewhere between 12 and 18 months. You may want to transition your puppy to a new food when you bring them home, rather than whatever your breeder was giving them. Ideally, you want to make the change over the course of a week. Replace a very small amount of their old food with their new food at mealtimes. Over the week, you can change these amounts by decreasing their old food and increasing the new. By the end of the week, they will be eating only the new food. Changing abruptly can cause stomach upsets and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. But, Golden Retrievers should generally look lanky rather than chubby. But, the most successful rewards in this type of training are often food, such as kibble or small chunks or meat and cheese. Doing all of your training in the morning can lead to stomach upsets if your puppy ends up eating a large amount of their daily allowance all at once. Instead, try and complete shorter training sessions before each mealtime, and give whatever allowance is left for each meal after training is done. This can also benefit your training, as a hungry dog will be more motivated to work for those treats! Read the full disclosure here. Being a large and energetic dog, your golden retriever has a ravenous appetite and can eat a lot. However, overfeeding is never good and could be avoided with the help of a golden retriever feeding chart. Knowing how much to feed your golden retriever is always tricky but essential for their well-being and health. Goldens are prone to obesity and joint problems, which can only be exacerbated with an inadequate feeding plan. So, stay with me to find the right feeding plan and meal schedule for your goldie. Most first-time owners think their puppies should be chubby. In truth, golden retriever puppies are supposed to look lanky and act like they are always hungry when fed the correct amount of food. To encourage proper growth and development without making your pup obese, you will have to know how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. For example, cheaper foods use fillers and have a smaller amount of calories, thus you will have to feed more than you would when using premium large breed puppy foods. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. We all want our golden retriever puppies to be healthy and happy. We envision them running through a verdant field chasing a ball. Full of energy with the beautiful, lustrous golden coat. But, just like us, eating the proper food in the proper amounts will help your golden properly grow and thrive. After all, what we eat impacts how healthy we are. How much you should feed your golden retriever puppy will vary depending on the quality of food you feed, his age, his weight, his general health, and his activity level. Your golden will be growing for up to two years. And the amount of food during that time will have to be adjusted depending on his needs. Because most people feed kibble to their pup, this article will focus on that. Kibble is convenient and cost effective. Instead, they should be lanky and full of energy. They should love to eat their food with gusto. Instead, you should be able to feel his ribs when you pet him there. There should just be a thin coating of fat under his skin. And he should have a defined waistline. Of course you should check with your veterinarian to make such adjustments. And remember a young puppy should get only so much exercise a day. Their joints and bones are developing and can be damaged if the exercise is too extreme. Assuming you have an eight-week-old puppy, he should receive three to four meals a day. From eight weeks old until about five or six months old, three meals per day are advisable. Of course, feed at the same intervals every day and split the total amount per day in half to be given at each feeding. After about six months of age through adulthood, two feedings per day are the norm. Always check with your vet regarding how much and how often to feed. These are just guidelines. Feed him at the same distraction-free location so that he focuses on eating. As much as goldens love to eat, a young golden puppy is also very easily distracted. This can lead to possible health problems, including joint and bone problems. Goldens can easily become overweight. Free feeding can also lead to a picky eater. Some puppies figure out that if their buffets are always there, and they can just go graze at will. Most foods you purchase will have guidelines on their bag or box. When you first get your puppy, feed him the same food that the breeder or rescue fed him for a few weeks. Then, if you want to change his food, do so over at least 10 days. Add more of the new food and subtract more of the old food each day. After about five days, you should be giving him approximately 50 percent of the new food and 50 percent of the old food. Switching food over such a period of time will help prevent stomach upsets and diarrhea. Overfeeding will result not only in him becoming overweight but it will also make him grow too fast. Periodically—even weekly— test whether you can still feel his ribs without them protruding. You can then increase the amount he eats. You should also feed his last meal of the day at least 90 minutes before his bed time so that he can digest his food and potty before bed. A well-balanced, high-quality food should provide all the nutrients he requires. Golden puppies require a formula made for large-breed dogs. Puppy formulas for large-breed dogs regulate their growth. Eating too quickly can lead to digestive upsets and even bloat, which can be deadly. I rescued my golden retriever Riley when he was about six months old. To say that he ate as if it were his last meal would be an understatement. He had a voracious appetite. I bought one of the maze bowls to slow him down. The kibble is placed between each section of the bowl, and he had to forage for his food. It worked! He ate at a more normal pace. Of course, dogs should be given free access to fresh water. Other Feeding Options Although I concentrated in this article on feeding kibble to your new puppy, there are other options. There are some drawbacks to them because they may not be nutritionally complete, may be cost prohibitive, or may be too time-consuming to make. Wet Food Canned food alone or mixed with kibble is an option. But wet food alone is very expensive. He may become a picky eater. Feeding raw is controversial. Dehydrated raw foods reduce some of the risks. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous is crucial to puppy development. Homemade Diet Cooking for your best friend can be very appealing. And many people do. You know what ingredients and their quality are. But it has its drawbacks. Of course, the amount you feed is important for his growth rate and general health and well-being. But there is no one-size-fits-all in determining how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. Any amounts you see are just guidelines. Adjust them as necessary regarding your own special puppy. Do you have a golden retriever puppy? How did you determine what and how much to feed him? Please leave your comments in the section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Debbie has been training dogs for over 24 years and has nationally ranked obedience and rally dogs, agility dogs, trick dogs, and therapy dogs. Post navigation. They are famously loving and playful family pets, always eager to jump in the pool or snuggle up with you on the lounge. They are patient and energetic dogs who are easy to train, making them excellent service animals as well as loyal companions. If you are bringing a Goldie into your family, you might also be aware of their reputation as food lovers. Your Goldie might want to eat anything and everything you put in their bowl — and maybe even anything left on an unattended plate. In this Golden Retriever feeding guide, Hypro Premium will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to food options for your pup. The best food for most young puppies is milk. If you are weaning a puppy, you can start to mix in a little dry kibble with their puppy milk to create a paste. You can feed this mix to your puppy up to four times a day, slowly reducing the amount of milk you mix in. Over time, your Goldie puppy will get more comfortable with solid foods, until you no longer need to include any milk in their diet. While chubby little puppies are cute, your Goldie should not build up too much excess fat once you start feeding them solids. Goldies go from a small 4kg puppy at 7 weeks old to an almost 30 kg adult dog in the space of only 10 months. At six months old your puppy will still be growing, but more slowly as they reach most of their body development milestones. This is why appropriate feeding in the first year of their life is vital to the overall health of your Goldie for years to come. Over time this can increase to up to 4 cups a day at 10 months old, though females should usually only need 3 cups a day. The amount you feed your puppy is often dependent on their size and sex. While they may have some growing left to do, it depends on your dog. Some Goldies will continue to experience growth spurts before their second birthday, while others will stay the same size. Large breeds can be at risk of growing too fast, which can make them more vulnerable to skeletal and weight problems when they get older. Golden retrievers are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be avoided through diet control. You should feed your Goldie between 3 — 4 cups of food per day over two meals. Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. This is important to take into consideration as you are establishing a feeding schedule for a Golden Retriever puppy. Puppies require more calories to support their rapid growth than adult dogs, but they also have much smaller stomachs, which means they get fuller faster. Because of this, puppies can easily overeat, especially Golden Retrievers. You can help your puppy avoid overeating by allowing them a short amount of time to eat, and then removing their bowl. All puppies grow a lot during their first year, but large breed puppies are more likely to suffer from negative health consequences as a result. In order to provide your Golden Retriever puppy with the most appropriate food to support their rapid growth, consider choosing a large breed puppy food. Goldie puppies need lots of protein, fibre, and fatty acids to support the development of their bodies and provide them with energy. These foods also take into account the difference in nutrient digestion between small and large breeds. Too much of these nutrients can cause your large breed puppy to develop skeletal abnormalities. So how much do you feed a Golden Retriever? Your adult Goldie could need anywhere between and 1, calories per day. The amount of food you feed your dog will be determined by a few important factors. The first thing to consider is the sex of your dog. On average, your male Golden Retriever will need slightly more food than a female dog. Senior dogs will usually be less active and so will need less food. Goldies in particular can have a lot of variation in the amount of food they need on a daily basis. No matter how much you feed your dog, it is ideal that you feed your adult Golden Retriever two meals a day at evenly spaced time intervals. Feeding your dog twice, once in the morning and again in the evening, can be useful for establishing a routine and avoiding overfeeding. This routine can also include exercise, and is useful for encouraging healthy behaviour around food and toilet training. Special Considerations Your Golden Retriever could be predisposed to several health conditions that are important to consider when you make decisions about their diet. Firstly, Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful coats, but their skin can often become infected. Goldies love swimming, but this can cause problems if water irritates their skin. They can also be susceptible to atopic dermatitis, which causes extreme itchiness, resulting in licking and biting behaviours in dogs that can cause even more damage. For dogs prone to skin and coat issues, a fish-based diet can help alleviate symptoms. Fish contains plenty of fatty acids, which support coat and skin health, and rarely triggers any allergic reaction in dogs. Goldies often benefit from healthy grains in their diet, especially as avoiding them can actually leave your dog more vulnerable to nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy, or nutritional DCM. This heart disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and can be triggered by consuming too much grain-free pet food that contains legumes like lentils and peas. You should consider feeding your Golden Retriever foods that are full of grains and proteins like chicken or fish. These are the benefits and drawbacks of the three most popular options — wet food, a raw food diet, and dry food. Wet food can be a great option for dogs that need plenty of protein and fat, like working dogs or dogs with certain health conditions. It also hydrates your dog while they eat, which can be useful for dogs suffering from any illness. For dogs with highly restrictive diets, raw food prepared by you can be a great way to avoid allergens. You can have complete control over a raw diet, which does require a lot more work on your part, but can have great results. For instance, a Golden Retriever with heart issues should eat a low salt diet, which can be easier to achieve if you are preparing their meals from scratch. However, low quality kibbles tend to be made up of a lot of low quality fillers, which can be hard for your pup to digest. Whatever option you choose for your Goldie, make sure it is suitable for large breeds and contains high quality ingredients. This will help prevent degenerative health disorders in the long run. Your Golden Retriever will probably love food, and will probably try to eat anything you put in front of them, which means you need to help them avoid the negative consequences of overeating. Golden retrievers, like other large and active breeds, need plenty of exercise. Not only is this vital to their physical health, but it also ensures they grow up well socialised and mentally stimulated. As your Goldie grows from a puppy to an adult dog, the amount of meals they need a day will reduce as their digestive systems become more developed. Your dog will need two meals a day, once in the evening and once in the morning, from the age of 6 months.

I'd like you to meet the litter known as "Gravy's Fixins" because the mom's name is Gravy, the dad's is Spud no, I'm not kidding, I couldn't make this up and they were born on the day after Thanksgiving, so it's a potato-themed litter! This litter is the 4th bred by Emily Hurt and are famous enough to have their own Facebook page and a large following. Emily travels the globe competing in agility with her own dogs and also teaches at her facility EmDogs in Plano, TX. Her puppies are widely regarded for their even temperament and drive thanks to a very selective breeding process and exhaustive early socialization. This makes them perfect candidates to go on to compete in agility, be valued farm hands and herding dogs and perform service work such as search and rescue. So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to The Fixins Pups, pictured below L to R: Hashbrown orange and Poutine green ; click on any image to view it full screen. Poutine will soon be heading to Kansas where he'll be known as Tonic and will begin training to compete in agility and disc and anything else he decides he wants to do! The puppies are only 6 weeks old in these images, but are already crate trained, clicker trained, and on their way to being potty trained, all before they go to their new homes. Roux will soon be heading to Indiana where she'll be known as Always and will likely be another EmDogs agility superstar. She will also be living with her canine half brother from Emily's 2nd breeding. L to R: Mash red and Tater Tot pink. Tater Tot will soon be known as Biscuit and will be joining a wonderful, active family dog and have her very own human toddler to train! And last, but not least, Banger, what she lacks in coordination, she more than makes up for with her enthusiasm. If looking for a family pet, your local shelter is often the best place to go, but if you go to a breeder, make sure to thoroughly screen them to insure your pup has been given the best chance at future success from the start! Banger will be staying in the Dallas area training to be an agility superstar; she'll be known as Pixel when she wins her first ribbon. I can report that the puppies, handlers and the photographer all slept very well that night! I wish I knew some of the things I know now from the beginning so I am going to share them with you below. Knowledge is power and it makes for a happy healthy life for both you and your Dachshund. I did my research and chose a different breed of dog to be my first as an adult. But then my roomate brought a Dacshshund puppy home. I ended up helping her take care of him and when we eventually moved apart he went with me. I was clueless as to what I was getting myself into. It was supposed to be a temporary situation but, once I realized that I was in it for the long haul, I figured I better learn about the origin, characteristics, temperament, and health concerns of a Dachshund. I think my first Dachshund would have even had a better life had I been more knowledgeable from the beginning. Note: some of the links below are affiliate links , which means that we collect a small commission on qualifying purchases. I only work with companies and product I truly love though. They were bred to hunt , covering a lot of ground, sniffing out badgers, rabbits, and other small game. This means that they are they are controlled by 2 things: their nose and their belly! Killing anything that squeaks is part of their nature. Anything that is furry and runs fast, or resembles something like that, is seen as prey. While I have seen many Dachshunds learn to live peacefully with a kitty or other pet, they will almost always see critters outside of the house as something to be chased, hunted, and eaten. Hold onto that leash when near small animals and know that random wildlife in your back yard may meet an early demise. Great ways to do this are to join a nosework class, buy a snuffle mat like this one or this one for home, or let your Dachshund chase using a flirt pole. Also remember to work on recall training with your Dachshund so they will come back to you when called. Genetically, they are the same besides whatever gene determines whether they stay small or grow larger, color, pattern, etc. Miniature Dachshunds, and standard Dachshunds that are 22 lbs and under, are considered to be small sized dogs. Standard Dachshunds over 22 lbs are generally considered to be medium size dogs. Therefore, Dachshund is pronounced Daks-huunt. There are also over 15 Dachshund nicknames , and spelling variations, for this funny looking long and low dog. Be sure to know them so you understand that someone is talking about Dachshunds when they use them, not a different type or breed of dog. They were also developed to think for themselves because they were frequently down in the burrows without a human telling them what to do. A Dachshund will keep at any problem in front of them until they solve it. When I travel with my current Dachshunds, Gretel and Summit, in the car, I use a seat belt tether, or a dog car seat with a strap to hold them in, to keep them from wandering and distracting me. I also place my groceries, dog food, etc. The key to training a Dachshund is to find what motivates them — a favorite toy or food usually — and use that as a reward during training sessions. In the end, you will likely have to adjust your routine a little to set them up for success and make sure they, and you, are happy. My Dachshunds have all been very treat motivated. I use the larger venison jerky strips when I need something they can see and smell from a distance during photo shoots. I can easily break off a tiny pieces for a reward instead of giving them the whole thing at once — have to watch those waistlines you know! While your Dachshund will melt your heart and you will want to give them whatever they want, remember that they are dogs that still need structure and manners. Most live at least until they are 11 or 12 and I have seen many, many Dachshunds live to be between the ages of 17 — .If you own a Dachshund, be prepared to be in it for the long haul. I help keep my Dachshunds Summit and Gretel healthy by giving them these supplements and feeding them these foods. Also, the pizza delivery guy may think you have a Rottweiler behind that door because this deep-chested breed has a bigger bark than people expect. Earmuffs, perhaps, but no doorbell. They bark and bark and bark and then bark some more. This is largely hardwired since they were bred to trap prey underground and then bark until the hunters could find them and dig them out. Be prepared to meet some resistance if you try walking them in the rain and be prepared to shovel a path if there is snow in your back yard. That being said, I am a huge proponent of not letting them refuse to go out in inclement weather. Potty training is not always a one time deal. Your Dachshund may need refreshers throughout their entire life! This distaste also includes getting wet when you give your Dachshund a bath. Honestly though, a huge part of why it took so long is because I had to figure out that it was his separation anxiety that caused him to pee on the carpet when I left. Having accidents in the house might be the 1 reason Dachshunds get surrendered to shelters. There is hope though. I was able to potty train my Dachshund puppy Summit in about 6 weeks. Now she rarely has accidents in the house. Do keep in mind that their potty training might slip when they become a senior dog. You also might want to keep this natural, pet-safe urine and odor remover on hand. Harnesses Harnesses are safer for Dachshunds than collars when walking because they help to project their fragile necks and backs. The chest strap on my Dachshunds always slides off to the left or right. Because the fit is a little off, the harness may put too much pressure on their delicate windpipe. For long walks or hikes, especially wet and dirty ones, we use the Hurtta Padded Y harness or the Ruffwear Flagline harness. Finding a jacket or harness to fit your Dachshund may take some trial and error. Jackets long enough for them may drown them in fabric around the neck and chest. IVDD is a hereditary disease and your dog will either have or not. If they have it, no matter how careful you are, they could develop a spinal injury in their neck or back but not always as there are other factors at play too. Owning a Dachshund is kind of like roulette in that regard because 1 in 4 Dachshunds are affected by some kind of back issue at some point in their lives. Commit these back injury warning signs to memory and print out the checklist so you know what to keep an eye out for. Sports like hiking yes, it can be safe to hike with a Dachshund , agility, and Earth Dog can strengthen their backs and keep them supple. Note: You must do these this right away if your Dachshund suddenly becomes paralyzed or has trouble walking. Make sure your friends and relatives know how to properly pick up and carry your Dachshund too. You may also have to remind any pet care professionals you hire like groomers, dog walkers, and dog sitters that Dachshunds have special needs when handling. The first groomer I took my Dachshund to picked him up by his chest and left this back legs dangling. I about had a heart attack.

Check out our beautiful puppies on our website. Fill Out an Application We want to be confident our puppies are going to a good home. Come Visit Our Home Come out to our 11 acre property south of DFW and get to know us and your new puppy before you make a final decision. No deposit required. We searched for quite some time and we are so happy to have found them! They were easy to work with, super knowledgeable and made this such a great experience for our family! Highly recommended! We are in love with our little girl. The communication and process were easy, quick, and straightforward. We are over the moon with the puppy we brought home. He is the perfect addition to our little family. Beyond being handsome and adorable our little guy is so smart and funny. He made our life so much better! The process of picking one out and picking her up was a great experience. The staff at Southland was very professional and helpful during the process. The puppy has a great temperament and has been very receptive to the crate training and potty training. She is very social and is great around people and other animals! I would highly recommend Southland to all my friends and family, great customer service! Shipping is available anywhere in the U. Additional fees apply. We specialize in breeding Mini Goldendoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other high quality breeders that raise mini goldendoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! Not all mini Goldendoodles are equal, there are a few different versions to choose from each having a little different genetic background based on the pups parents. We will explain all the differences in Mini Goldendoodle puppies and how they are bred below. We raise all versions of the mini goldendoodle breed. F1 Mini Goldendoodle Pups. A F1 puppy is also known as a First Generation puppy. The puppies mother is a Golden Retriever and the pups dad is a Mini Poodle. This version of mini goldendoodle usually has soft wavy or curly puppy fur. They will shed until they lose their puppy fur, after shedding they will shed a lot less, but will shed. This version is partially hypoallergenic and usually requires low maintenance. F1 mini goldendoodles usually need to be groomed every 6 months along with daily brushing to keep their curly hair from matting and getting tangled. The dogs usually grow up having great temperaments similar to golden retrievers. They usually get about inches high at the shoulder and range in weight from pounds. F1b Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1b is known as a second-generation mini goldendoodle with the pups mother being already an F1 Goldendoodle and the pups dad being a mini poodle also. So the difference between F1 and F1b is that the mom is not a golden retriever but an actual F1 Goldendoodle. They also have very soft curly hair but with almost no shedding. This F1b version is semi-hypoallergenic and a better choice for anyone who has pet allergies. The F1b also should be brushed on a daily basis but will need to be groomed more frequently then a F1. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is recommended to keep their coat in perfect condition. F1b Mini goldendoodles get around 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders and range between pounds in weight. F1bb Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1bb goldendoodle is also known as a third-generation mini goldendoodle. This mini goldendoodle version has a coat more similar to a poodle than of a golden retriever. This is because the pup is more of a poodle than a retriever. Making it the very best version for anyone with pet allergies. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is required to help prevent knots or matting. This version is super intelligent and loving, and usually seems to have more energy than the other versions of Mini goldendoodles. This version is usually smaller in size, weighing around pounds and only getting inches tall at the shoulders. The smaller size makes them a great size for smaller homes and apartments. So if you live near Spring Texas and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Goldendoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Goldendoodle Pups that have been adopted! You want to choose one carefully as their breeding practices will have an impact on the temperament and health of your Mini Goldendoodle puppy. Start by looking at online sources such as Google reviews, online forums, discussion groups and social media platforms to see what other people are saying about the breeder. Did they have a good experience buying from them? To take your research a bit further, you can ask Goldendoodle organizations and clubs based in your area about their opinion of the breeder you are considering to purchase from. Many Goldendoodle clubs also have their own lists of responsible breeders so they can give you additional recommendations for good Mini Goldendoodle breeders. You may also consider visiting some dog shows and events as they are a good opportunity to meet breeders in person and see their Mini Goldendoodles. You can also ask other dog owners that are showing their Mini Goldendoodles for breeder recommendations. Finally, ask potential breeders for references and consider contacting these people to ask about their experience with the breeder. Reputable breeders always prioritize the well-being of their dogs and strive for positive reviews. You should inquire about temperament and health of the Mini Goldendoodles these people purchased. Use this information to make an informed decision. All reputable Mini Goldendoodle breeders conduct them on their breeding dogs — whether they are breeding from purebred Golden Retrievers for F1 Goldendoodles and Poodles or from Goldendoodles for later generations like F2 Goldendoodles. A stipulates the health testing requirements for Goldendoodles and if the breeder is registered with G. A, you know that the breeding dogs have undergone full health testing. A heart clearance O. Ask to see documentation of these clearances before purchasing from a Mini Goldendoodle breeder. All responsible breeders should be willing to provide any health documentation. They should also be happy to answer any questions you have about their breeding program. However, if you have the opportunity to check out the facilities you should do it. Check that the kennels are clean, that they dogs and puppies have access to fresh water and also that there is not a build up of feces or urine. Comfortable living conditions: The breeder should keep their Mini Goldendoodles, Golden Retrievers and Poodles in comfortable living conditions. They should have large, comfortable kennels or dog beds and also have a decent amount of space to exercise and socialize with other dogs. Healthy breeding dogs and puppies: If you get the opportunity to meet the parents of the Mini Goldendoodle litter you are interested in, make sure they are well-tempered and also healthy. Sometimes the mother will be quite protective of her puppies so she may show signs of aggression. If you are purchasing a puppy online and getting it delivered, ask if the breeder would be happy to video call you or send videos of their Mini Goldendoodle puppies and breeding dogs to you. Ask About Socialization Mini Goldendoodle breeders should begin the socialization process before their puppies are sold. The puppies should be exposed to a wide variety of sounds, experiences, people and places so they can adjust to their new homes and adult life. Nevertheless, they should start exposing them to sounds like household appliances, provide mental stimulation with toys and games and also encourage playtime and interactions with their littermates and family. The most common ones are: Lack of registration: If a Mini Goldendoodle breeder cannot provide registration papers or other relevant documentation, it may be a sign that they are not operating a reputable breeding program. Overbreeding: Think twice about purchasing from a Mini Goldendoodle breeder who always has puppies available or offers an excessive amount of dog breeds. This may suggest that the breeder is overly focused on profit instead of the health and wellbeing of their puppies. Lack of health checks: A reputable Mini Goldendoodle breeder will conduct health clearances on their breeding dogs to ensure they are free of genetic health issues that could be passed on. If a breeder cannot provide documentation of these health checks, it may be a sign that they are not prioritizing health. Further Reading.

With their pointy bat ears, Frenchies are adorable miniature bulldogs with extremely flat muzzles. They can benefit from the right growth formula to provide immune system support and skin health, and aid with digestion to help cut down on their not-so-adorable gas during puppyhood. Royal Canin French Bulldog dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed French Bulldog puppy. This exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated for your French Bulldog puppy, with the specific nutrients to help them thrive. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system to keep their bodies growing strong. Exclusive nutrients reinforce the skin barrier for healthy skin. And a combination of highly digestible proteins, precise fiber content, and high-quality carbohydrate sources supports healthy digestion to help decrease flatulence and unpleasant stool odors. Once your French Bulldog puppy is over 12 months old, transition them to Royal Canin French Bulldog Adult dry dog food for precise nutrition into their adult years. Read more Promoting pet health and wellbeing Creating value for our entire ecosystem Committed to become certified carbon neutral by Cookie Settings. However, we are not huge fans of the fact that there are no fruits and vegetables from whole food sources, and that many of the meats are very generally labeled, meaning they could be made from sub-par animal parts. Overall, Victor puppy food may work as a high protein, supplemental food but we do not recommend it as a regular every-day kibble for French Bulldog puppies. Though most of these grains are healthy whole food sources, for the finicky Frenchie tummy, excessive grains can lead to gastrointestinal distress. The few wholesome fruits and vegetables in this food are way down at the very bottom of the ingredient list. Food made from mostly grains and added vitamins and minerals is a cheap way to give your dog food that is good enough, but not by a lot. Quite frankly, we do not think the price tag and possibility of digestive upset to your puppy is worth this mediocre-quality food. Pros First ingredient is chicken meal No artificial dyes or preservatives DHA and antioxidants for healthy eyes Cons Few whole food ingredients besides grains Most good oils, minerals, and vitamins are additives 7. However, the lack of quality in the rest of their ingredients leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, no fruits or vegetables means that your puppy will not get the benefit of most of those added vitamins and minerals. Can I feed my French Bulldog puppy raw meat? Yes, just remember to remove any small bones that could stick in the throat or shatter. The best meats for a French Bulldog are lean meats including chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, quail, and a variety of fish. Meats like beef and pork are fine in smaller amounts but may contribute to obesity if they overindulge. Can I feed my French Bulldog peanut butter? Our puppy testers love the occasional peanut butter treat! What foods are safe for a French Bulldog puppy with diarrhea, constipation, or an upset stomach? If your pup has digestive upset, your best bet is to feed them super simple and easy-to-digest food. Nutritious, soothing foods for a Frenchie belly include rice brown is best! Substitute tablespoons of their kibble with one of those, cooked and unseasoned, for a fiber-rich, nutritious aid to their digestion. A good starting point for French Bulldogs aged 8 to 12 weeks is .These pups are notoriously fast eaters, which can cause all kinds of digestion issues, so smaller meals a day will help their belly do its job better. As they grow you will need to gradually increase this amount and can decrease the number of meals over which you stretch that amount. Do French Bulldog puppies need a special diet? Unfortunately, French Bulldogs are prone to developing food allergies and gastrointestinal issues. That means you need to pay extra attention to the ingredients in your choice of puppy food and, if necessary, search out brands with fewer ingredients that are higher quality. Being small dogs, they also mature faster and can become obese more easily than larger breeds. Nutrition for a French Bulldog Puppy Just like humans, dogs are omnivores and need a variety of nutrients from both animal and plant sources. Stick to lean meats for a French Bulldog, as your puppy will grow quickly and could put on extra weight if fed too much fat-rich meat. With the proper amount of fat in their diet, your French Bulldog will see benefits like flexible and resilient paw pads and nose, as well as a healthy coat and skin. The sensitive tummy of the French Bulldog often has trouble with simple carbs, like sugars and starches, which digest quickly and for a fast burst of energy. Most whole fruits, vegetables, and grains are complex carbohydrates that give your dog a steadier supply of energy. Complex carbs are much better for your French Bulldog puppy, as opposed to simple, because they are far more nutritionally dense and often fiber-rich. Common high fiber ingredients in dog food include rice, corn, oats, other grains, and a plethora of fruits and veggies. For a pup with a notoriously sensitive stomach, it is particularly important that the fiber-rich ingredients in the food be of superior quality and carefully chosen. Vitamins and Minerals Your French Bulldog puppy will also need an array of vitamins and minerals to support various important functions within their body. They are most bioavailable when your dog consumes whole foods that contain these nutrients. Major minerals for good health include phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. Whole foods are minimally processed which makes them easier to digest and helps retain all the good and healthy nutrients they contain. That means you should be on the lookout for awesome ingredients like: Chicken or turkey Fruits, like banana and blueberries Vegetables, such as carrot and broccoli Specifically named fats from whole food sources, like salmon oil and chicken fat Organically grown foods, so no pesticides or nasty chemicals And French Bulldog puppies will benefit specifically from foods such as: Brown rice, a higher quality grain that is good for sensitive stomachs and easy to digest Sweet potato and pumpkin, which aid digestion Lean proteins like fowl, fish, and eggs Unhealthy Ingredients in French Bulldog Puppy Food Unfortunately, not all dog foods are created equal. Some brands talk big on the bag or can and regale you with mumbo jumbo about wolves or try to sell you on all the benefits of their food. Remember, dog food packaging is like the sales pitch meant to sell their food to you. Even though the information on the package cannot be technically false or misleading, it is still an advertisement. Stay skeptical and focus on the ingredients list. Wheat by-product? Hold your horses, what the heck does that even mean and why would I want to put it in my belly? Here are some common, poor quality ingredients that many companies use simply because they are cheaper: Brewers rice castoffs and fragments of processed white rice. Find on Amazon Nulo Freestyle Adult Dog Food is a high-quality, all-natural grain-free dry small kibble dog food with exceptional nutritional value. This salmon and peas recipe not only provides essential amino acids but also delivers Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to promote a healthy coat and nourished skin. By incorporating low-carb ingredients in their recipes, they ensure that there is no compromise on taste while still promoting weight management. In conclusion,Nulo Freestyle Adult Dog Food represents a wholesome option for pet owners who want to provide nutritious meals for their canine companions without sacrificing quality or flavor. Its abundant high animal-based protein assists muscle growth and maintenance while BC30 Probiotics encourage digestive health — creating a delicious yet beneficial mealtime experience. Trust Nulo to help keep your dog at their best every day. Pros Manufactured in the USA with no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors Promotes healthy coat and lean muscles with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids High animal — based protein formula for every adult breed, large or small Grain-free recipe with low-carb ingredients to maintain a balanced diet and healthy weight Cons Relatively expensive compared to other dog food brands May not be suitable for dogs with certain dietary restrictions or allergies as it contains salmon and peas Some dogs may not prefer the small kibble size Best Dog Foods for French Bulldogs to Consider French Bulldogs need a diet that is high in protein and fat, with low amounts of allergens and fillers to support their unique health needs. Protein And Fat Requirements French Bulldogs thrive on a diet that is rich in lean animal-based proteins and has a low fat content. Avoiding Allergens And Common Health Issues French bulldogs are susceptible to allergies and dietary sensitivities, which can lead to excessive gas and other health issues. We do not claim to be veterinarians. French Bulldogs can easily become overweight or underweight , especially the lazy ones. Some french bulldogs are hyperactive while others are couch potatoes. It is also critical that you maintain a consistent feeding schedule and never slack off on feeding your French Bulldog. Even more important than that is feeding your Frenchie the proper amount of food daily. Young Frenchies have high caloric and nutrient needs. French Bulldogs aged anywhere from weeks of age need a total of 1. Spreading out the meals minimizes the peaks of energy your French Bulldog will experience due to dramatic rises and decreases in blood sugar levels between meals. Feeding only twice daily can sometimes lead to gastric dilatation volvulus. By this stage, your French Bulldog is ready to get into an eating routine that they will continue on for the rest of their happy, little chubby lives, barring no serious medical ailments later on in life. From around 6 months to 1 year of age, you can start feeding your French Bulldog a very high quality adult doggy food. It is important to maintain a strict routine for your French Bulldog. You can always supplement a few treats in between. Wink wink. A half a cup at a time will make sure your Frenchie is pleasantly tubby and happy. Some days, it seems like a French Bulldog can never get enough food. This seemingly natural hunger is relative to the breed and you should be weary of overfeeding your French Bulldog. Monitor your Frenchie as she eats and make sure she only eats her own food, especially if you feed your French Bulldog near other pets. Note that non-neutered males may grow into the low 30lb range. Always consult a vet. Ideally, 2. This sort of consult is always quick and cheap sometimes free and you owe it to your companion to get the opinion of an expert veterinarian. Overweight Frenchies can suffer from some very severe health problems, including heart disease just like humans , labored breathing, and lack of physical exercise. Never take a French Bulldog out to play in sweltering heat, they can die. Generally, older French Bulldogs will require slightly less food than their young counterparts. However, do not restrict food from your French Bulldog if they appear to be underweight or hungry. A reader pointed out in the comments below that these calculations would put french bulldogs in the 40lbs range somewhere around calories per day. This is obviously an outlier situation and no french bulldog needs that many calories. This means feeding your french bulldog less food as they age. If they look thinner than usual, you can move up by 5 calories per pound of weight until you find a magic number. No french bulldog is identical and our suggestions are based on average weights computed to a mean average calorie intake suggestion. Read: I use this calculator and a pad of paper. See this guide in order to determine the appropriate weight for your Frenchie. Subject: How much should I feed my French Bulldog? Only the weights have been taken from Pawlicy. So, if you plan on using that one, follow this chart. For other foods, look at the back of the pack to get an idea of how much you could use for your puppy. Usually, the difference is not that great. Vets assign different scores from 1 to 9 to puppies to quantitatively measure how much fat they have. So, to know how many calories your pup needs based on its weight, you should know its BCS. Suppose I own a 6-month-old Frenchie. My target weight is 20 lbs. That is close enough to the Royal Canin chart I shared. Still, not necessarily exact for your dog. What is the best diet for a French Bulldog? The best diet for a French Bulldog adult and puppy should have all the necessary nutrients in the right amount. A balanced diet is, thus, super important. You could get that from the dry or wet puppy foods available in the market. One such example is the Royal Canin. However, no matter which brand you select, always make sure that it has all the recommended nutrients. NRC has laid out those requirements for puppies after weaning from 4 to 14 weeks. Both can be found here. They were misled by false propaganda that since dry and wet foods were prepared in a factory, it will be harmful. Managing a household, my job, and my hobbies do not allow me to spend that much time trying to make homemade food that rich. Besides homemade meals, I also do not recommend feeding the puppy adult dog food. As a result of nutritional imbalances arising from these reasons or any other, your pup may end up becoming sick because of nutritional deficiency. Hypocalcemia is one of those diseases that arise from a lack of consuming the required amount of calcium per day. The dog suffers greatly because of it. Therefore, buy puppy food in the first place. Should I feed my Frenchie dry or wet food? Normally, owners prefer wet canned food for a French Bulldog puppy. But my number one reason to shun wet canned food for daily use is the less calories and nutrition per portion as compared to dry food. Hence, those like me prefer dry food for its convenience in storage, feeding, and a multitude of other benefits because of its texture or grain. I choose wet canned food only when my puppy is going through stomach problems. I also change the food to wet when the pup gets fussy about eating dry kibble all the time. Or, chop an apple and garnish the food. And I want you to do that, too. Only with safe food, of course. What human foods can French Bulldogs eat? Tuna A big NO. It has high mercury content because of its size and lifespan. Avocado No. It contains Persin, which is highly toxic for dogs big and small. Green tomatoes are an absolute disaster for puppies and adults. They contain tomatine and solanine that are notorious for causing anemia. Cucumber Yes. This is safe and beneficial. In fact, it has low calories. So, you could add it to the food as a snack. Definitely yes, you should feed it to your pup. Broccoli Yes. Broccoli has more fiber and Vit C. You can even feed it raw but chopped to the animal. Peanut Butter Yes, but moderately. It contains Vit B and E along with healthy fats. Ice Cream Only occasionally. Bread Yes. Plain white and wheat bread have no allergens. However, make sure your bulldog gets plenty of exercise after it. Chicken Yes. It is one of the cheapest and most readily available sources of protein. Cook it well before feeding it to your dog as raw chicken may contain Salmonella. Carrots Yes. Carrots are rich in Vit. A, fiber, but low on calories, thus, making them a good snack. Scrambled Eggs Yes. They are a safe and good source of protein. However, I like them to be boiled for my dog. Banana Yes. Make sure you give it as a treat. They are perfect sources of potassium, biotin, fiber, copper, and loads of vitamins. Pineapple Manganese, copper, magnesium, iron, and zinc are a few of the minerals present in pineapples. A major yes. Feed it pineapple when the dog is going through a rough digestive patch. Cheese Yes, only moderately. Yogurt has protein and calcium with fiber that goes easy on the stomach and intestines. Pizza No. Pizza may have high salt, non-human-grade meat, and poor-quality cheese. All of these things the dog cannot tolerate. Shrimp Yes. Shrimps could serve as a low-calorie snack or even a meal for dogs that are put through a diet. Apples Yes, except the seeds and the core because they have cyanide — a poison. Raw Eggs No. They may contain Salmonella. Sausages No. Potatoes Unboiled potatoes have solanine, which causes anemia as I said above. But you can feed the puppy boiled potatoes. Chicken Nuggets No. Pork Yes but only after removing the fat. Also, do not add anything extra to it. French Fries Only occasionally. Instead, the high-fat content, thanks to the oil, adds to the weight of the puppy. Lettuce Yes. Lettuce is a low-calorie vegetable that could help your French Bulldog puppy to lose weight. Grapes A huge NO. Even a single grape could kill your puppy because it harms the kidneys. Gummies No. Anything that has xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener will put your pup through harm. In fact, if it ingests even one, take it to emergency asap. Beer Beer may contain alcohol, which is highly toxic to dogs. So, NO. What are French Bulldog Puppies allergic to? Anything from the Allium family is highly poisonous for your French Bulldog puppy. Some examples are onions, garlic, chives, and leaks. Whether cooked or raw, they cause anemia. Besides this, chocolate, bones of any sort, macadamia nuts, walnuts, cherries, fruit seeds, dough containing yeast or otherwise, caffeine, coffee, cocoa, blue cheese, nutmeg, milk, salt, and moldy spoiled food. How often should a Frenchie puppy drink water? According to AKC , your puppy would need an ounce of water for every pound of its weight. Keep the bowl beside its favorite places if you want it to drink as much water. Also, make sure that the bowl is clean and free from any mold or other water-borne fungi. That could make it drink more water and suffer dehydration as a result of peeing more. I usually divide the water into portions that could go with the meals. From my previous example, 5 ounces of water with each meal will suffice as my pup is above 4 months of age. However, even then, I fear that it may become dehydrated for some reason such as extensive exercising. Press its gums and count second until the blood returns back to the place. If it takes more time, then the dog has less water in the blood. Dry teeth and gums also signal the need of feeding it more water. Hold your pup from there and pick it up. If the scruff returns to its place faster, then you have an okay dog. Otherwise, feed it water. Should I add water to dry dog food? Yes, why not? Some puppies like their food wet. Otherwise, it may repel the dog. My labradoodle dislikes mushy food that looks like pudding. All you have to do is grind the food and then add water just enough for the pup to be able to chew on it easily. What else can French Bulldogs puppy drink? Water is the only drink that your dog should drink. But if you still want it to taste other drinks, then whole fruit juices will do well. In that, avoid orange juice at all costs. I feed my labradoodle freshly made apple juice with chicken on plain rice when that happens. On normal days, I avoid any kind of juices because whole fruits are still better equipped with nutrition than them. Why do Frenchies get Zoomies? Your pup may get zoomies all of a sudden. However, that could make the dog hungry as hell afterward. So make sure that you keep the meal ready afterward. Why should you listen to me? All of these will help you determine the right portion size for your dog. Wrapping Up A french bulldog puppy needs more calories than an adult. Relying on homemade food for all that is a long shot. Therefore, almost all vets prefer factory-made dry or wet canned food. So, relying on them makes sense. They can do it well. She is a trainer who posts about dog training and behavior.