Bad to the Bone Bully’s

Advice for new Parents:

I thought I would write down a few suggestions for you. You are so lucky to have been selected to be a Bulldog parent!!!

1. Be very careful with your pup, others will want to see them and yes even others would steal them. Keep your circle small with your pup.
2. Be very careful with English Bulldogs, they cannot take extreme heat or cold, they are not exercise dogs. They can’t do a run with you but love to walk and greet people.
3. I suggest using a harness on Bulldogs, the regular collars tend to give them problems, and they can easily choke.
4. Use metal or ceramic food and water bowls, bacteria doesn’t cling to them, but plastic bowls get scratches in them that retain bacteria.
5. Check out the dog food I have sent you. It is the food I feed my pups and I feed the adult version to my adult dogs.  Bulldogs can have skin issues.  Make sure you always use a good vet recommended dog food for your baby (salmon and potato or fish and potato).
6. CONTROL the water at first, you will eventually be able to leave a bowl down for them, but for now give them some water every hour or so.
7. Change water frequently and rinse/wash water bowls. Bulldogs tend to drool into their water bowl as they drink and when it gets low, the water takes on a syrupy consistency.  We have seen dogs that had skin infections on their face from owners just adding more water to the bowl over and over and never actually cleaning the water bowl.
8. Check the food bag for feeding instructions. Typical 9-week-old puppies get around ½ cup morning, midday and for dinner. Total 1½ cups a day. Check the bag, however.  The amount you feed goes up as they get older and gain weight.
9. I use a probiotic with my dogs for yeast control; you can give them yogurt, cottage cheese etc.
10. IF you ever have to give a pill form of anything, USE Greenies Pill Pockets. Just a suggestion, makes life easier.
11. Shampoo them once a week. You will know when.  They will give off the wonderful odor of Fritos!  I use an oatmeal shampoo from Petsmart.
12. They have been socialized with cats and dogs and at this point get along with them. Make sure you keep them socialized so you have a well rounded pup.  Bulldogs can be well…bullheaded so make sure they mind when out and around.
13. I always suggest dog training of some type. We use Pawsitive Pets here in Boise.  It makes a world of difference, and a trained pup is a happy pup.  You can also do puppy daycares.  They LOVE to play with other dogs and that can keep them socialized.
14. Use denti sticks for treats and to help clean their teeth
15. Avoid toys with stuffing (can get stuck in intestines), toys with small squeakers (we had a bulldog that had 2 operations to remove small squeakers), socks, and anything else they can easily swallow. Avoid rawhide chews, because bulldogs are prone to swallow the rawhide chew while it is still in large chunks and choke on them.
16. Toy snakes with BIG squeakers are good, Nyla bones and Tennis balls are great: mine love a 16 oz empty plastic coke bottle to chew up. (Remove cap, cap ring and label first).
17. As with all dogs never leave in car, and check out the pavement/concrete to prevent paw burns and overheating.
18. Be very vigilant of them and their surroundings. (I hear horror stories of dogs being stolen)
19. Always be a reasonable pet owner, carry your pup bags with you and clean up after your baby

I have provided you with the healthiest puppy I can.   Typically our puppies have had their first 2 sets of shots and always have been micro chipped.  I will always be here for any questions you might have but I will always suggest you stick with what your vet says to do. When you get your new puppy, they have a welcome package with them.  Their chip info is in this as well as their shot record, a blanket with familiar smells of their first home to help them transition to your home, and some new toys.

1. Pull out the chip set and follow the instructions to chip them in your name, if they ever get lost or stolen this is your best chance of getting them returned to you.
2. I don’t just breed and hand the pups off, I will always take pups back and help you find a new owner if you find you cannot keep them. I never want one of my babies ending up at the HS or in a rescue.  Them being my responsibility doesn’t stop with you buying them.  I will always put the well being of my pups as a number 1 priority in my breeding ventures.
3. Some of the things I suggest may seem silly, but I would rather sound silly than to have one of my babies hurt.
4. My phone is always on. Please feel free to call me with ANY questions.  I will always help you.
5. The Vet I use is on the card on the front of the health record, if you have any questions, our vet is also willing to answer any questions that you have.

 

Final list:

1. 3 sets of shots 3 weeks apart at 6/9/12 weeks of age. After that yearly boosters
2. Sentinel or other similar product monthly
3. Rabies -> yearly until your vet says she can do the 3 year. Some states require rabies shot to be done by a vet in their new home state so this is the buyers responsibility
4. Keep face folds and ANY other folds clean > gently wipe with diaper wipes
5. Send Sherry lots of pictures.

Congratulations on your new baby!

Bad to the Bone Bully’s