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Me like happy Bulldog. You like happy Bulldog. Bulldog like happy Bulldog.
Let’s just jump right into it, shall we?
1. Take him/her on a gersh dern walk.
Yeah, I know, sometimes it’s easier to sit there and binge watch “House.” But the Bulldog does need a walk (sometimes) to keep the pooch mentally stimulated and physically fit!
2. Clean the creases.
If you are a Bulldog owner, chances are you already know this. But make sure you do it. Somebody once asked me what it smells like, and the best answer I could come up with is “Doggy B.O.”
3. Teach them stuff.
Although being extremely stubborn, Bulldogs do like to learn and be taught. Recently I taught my Bulldog to go in the crate. You know how I did it? I sat there and threw Cheetos in the back of the crate and said “crate.” Guess what? Now he LOVES the crate (and a plethora of Cheetos).
4. Let them socialize.
This applies to any dog breed, but dogs really love to socialize with other dogs. It’s hugely beneficial to a dog’s mental health.
5. Give ’em good toys.
Bulldogs freakin’ LOVE chew toys (and really any toy). However, they can get bored with toys and/or destroy them. Oh, wait, what is that I hear? There is an awesome product for that? Check out our Bullymake Boxes:
Yeah, dogs love this stuff – especially Bulldogs.
6. Show some love!
Not like that’s all that difficult. How can you resist that squish face?
7. Introduce new activities.
Sometimes taking them for a walk can get old. Introduce new activities like hide and seek, tug of war, or fetch.
8. Groom.
Although your Bully might be stubborn and fight it, they secretly like being groomed. Clean the ears and coat, clip the nails, clean the eyes – and of course, the creases.
9. Avoid Rawhide like the plague.
Never, ever, ever, give your Bulldog rawhide. It is a huge choking and digestive hazard.
74 Comments
really chipotle?? what are the best toys for a 2 month old bully?
right! chipolte?! elk antlers are good, tug ropes, puppy nylabones that are soft on the gums. a kong wobbler is good so they can knock it around and get a piece of kibble.
Haha. We certainly aren't suggesting every meal, all the time. I let my little guy lick the bowl when Dad is done. Maybe some chicken, too :)
I feed mine chipolte as well...they love there special treat
We give our pup cappuccinos From Starbucks and grilled cheese no butter from sonic SOME TIMES
I found that Elk Antlers gave my Frankie gas and I mean the kind that clears the vets waiting room lol. Moose Antlers are not as soft as Elk and lasts Frank longer and without the gas issue. Kong Extreme chews are great, tennis balls used to only last 3 mins before they was shredded.
Angie, try green beans! So low in calories and my bully LOVES them..great "filler food" without the fat and calories. His allergies are not effected either. Win win since we love to make our food driven babies happy (vets approve green beans too)
Vincent is a healthy 10 year young 50 pound hunk of love!
Our Winston loves garden peas!
My vet. Recommended green beans also! My bully is a little chubby so we cut her food in half and filled with green beans in its place my princess loves it!!
I have 2 new 10 week old bullies, we are new bulldog owners had a mastiff before them. Do you give them fresh raw green beans?
Our bulldog is 3 months and he loves the dogwood chew toy. It is safe and made of real wood. Does not leave mess on the floor either.
Ours loved to chase milk jugs, and had a ball with them. They loved to play keep away with each other.
Ours love tennis balls that sqeak and frisbi and something to play tug of war.
although i agree with most of this post, i disagree with the reward foods. since bulldogs are prone to obesity they should be limited in 'treats'. i know its hard to resist that face, but that pic of the dog eating an entire hamburger? i dont think so. maybe a 1/4 of the hamburger. moderation people!!! also they tend to have skin issues and can be allergic to certain foods.
My boy is very food driven which him very easy to train with "treats". He'd eat rocks if we gave them to him so "treats" in our house are pieces of apple, broccoli, oranges, banana, green beans (his personal fave) and unseasoned cooked meats. When carrying those things around in your pocket is not really doable, I grab a handful of his kibble which when hand fed seem like "treats" to him. Oh...an d natural peanut butter...he'll do anything for a bit of PB smeared inside a kong.
So true! It's nice to have good eaters. Mine even love their daily turmeric.
We give bananas, green beans and sliced canned carrots as treats. He LOVES them!
Can u give them banana s
Yes
My bully Charlie loves tug-o-war...they absolutely LOVE to play this and will happily do this for hours..
Awesome, Amy... This month's Bullymake Box is coming with a tug toy - maybe perfect for your pup(s).
Be sure not to confuse stubbornness with stupidity. Bulldogs aren't as dumb as some would seem. Talk to them like a person, challenge their minds and they will surprise you with what they come to understand and know.
Absolutely, Ju!
Mine is not dumb at all. I have been the owner of many breeds and my Bulldog is the smartest by far. He understands language much more than even the Aussies.
I too agree with everything except for the treats. Bulldogs have very sensitive systems, hence the gas and of course as mentioned in another comment, obesity can be a problem too. I think you can have a super happy bulldog with the top 9 of these suggestions. :) Especially toys and lots of love!! :)
Awesome, Dena! Thanks for the comment.
I have a 3 year old bully and an 8 month old frenchie..they get to go get a treat every Friday. Neither of them are obese and they are in excellent health...everyone deserves a treat...and they know exactly when its Friday lol soon as we get home they are headed to the car...they LOVE it
Wrestle! My 8yo bully loves to wrestle. Also, we chase one another around the house. I chase her until she gets in a corner, then I run and she chases me. I growl as I chase her and she loves it. we call the game "monster" and when I mention the word, she is up and running. Makes for great excersize.
I do limit her snacks, however, one thing I do is I put a tablespoon of plain, greek yogurt in her food. It helps her digestion and when she does pass gas (which bulldogs excel at!), the smell is far less toxic most of the time.
Please be careful with rope toys. The strings can be swallowed and be hazardous. Our Bulldog
Does agility and LOVES it.
Mine love to play Tug and Find it! No rope or stuffed toys for my two. They just destroy them. I buy sturdy chew toys and balls made in USA. Anything that squeaks is a favorite. Antlers irritate my bully's throat and make him reverse sneeze. No treats because they break out in skin issues, but that's okay because they think a piece of their kibble is a cookie!
My Deuce goes to work with me or my husband every day! He loves all the attention and periodically throughout the day when he's at my office somebody comes in and plays fetch, tug of war or one of the girls will come and see "I need a mental break, I'm taking Deuce for a walk" and grabs his leash. It's like have an office full of bully-sitters!
My BuIIy Bogart eats dog food pIus whatever he wants he is 57 Ibs at 3 yrs oId His favorite is pizza and mac & cheese!
Finally someone else does this. My 2 1/2 year old olde English bully eats everything pizza mac cheese all meat McDonald's he is 70 lbs of lean muscle. No allergies and only has gas once in a while.
Guess my 90 pound ol english is a lil over weight but still heathy. Loves anything himans eat but limit him to things we k ow safe. onions etc. not good.
My bulldog Frank loves fruit, substitute the "fatty" foods with blueberries and bananas and he'll do anything I ask. He's 9 years old and still moves around like a young pup.
No grains (Cheerios, pizza crust). Most EBs are allergic and grains/chicken will cause flare-ups like ear infections, IDCs, and yeasty itchy skin. Frozen blueberries, bananas, green beans, carrots, apples (no core) are great treats, along with their kibble. Be careful with tug of war games though. Some EBs misunderstand and could latch onto someone/something they shouldn't so the "release" or "let go" command should be taught.
Just want to address the heat and cold situation. Don't walk your Bully mid day on a hot day or an extremely cold day. Their cooing and heating systems are not like most dogs. They cannot take extreme temperatures. This can be fatal! Walking in the mornings or evening is perfect.
There are cooling mats that you can also buy for your bully which they love to lay on in the summer. You fill it up with water and it regulates the temp to being cool.
-8 we were out for a walk. Granted it was only 3 minutes. Then inside for fetch with a tennis ball.
Frozen greenbeans!!!!
Charcoal treats (we get Old Mother Hubbard Char Tar Treats) have worked WONDERS on the gas problems of our bulldog. It's neutralized him! He loves the treats, and so do I! Highly recommend!
Many comments about burgers and treats. Make bully burgers. I designed them over years of testing.
- 1 lb ground beef lean
- 1 finely shredded carrot
- 1 finely shredded celery stick. emphasis here on shredded. There should be no celery strings.
- 1 baked potato (you need the starch and the skin on for minerals). It must be baked otherwise the mixture will be too wet to bind. The potato is also good for the GI tract. I like it better than pumpkin (which you can substitute for the potato but you need to dry it out by squeezing it with paper towels and a strainer --- messy)
- 1 egg
- Shape and fry in a non-stick skillet (no oil). Even though you are using low fat ground beef I still drain them on paper towel. Cook to well done. This usually makes about 6 patties. I give a chopped up 1/2 patty with every meal with her dog food.
- For those who don't know -- flour to bind (ie crackers or bread) is not a good idea for bullies. If you find your mixture is too wet, I've used about an 1/8th of a cup of cornmeal or rice flour. Also do not be tempted to use any form of onion, garlic, salt or any spices like you would for human burgers. Never any dairy. Trust me. They will snarf them up as quick as you can serve them. I'm sure most of you know these diet no-nos already but I only mention them for new bully parents.
- You can easily make more than this and freeze them uncooked or cooked. If you are freezing them raw I use wax paper between the patties for ease of thawing.
- If you can catch a good sale on ground beef (or if you are lucky to grind cheap cuts yourself) this is cheaper than most high end dog foods.
- Lastly, I do not use this as a recipe to replace dog food. I use it to augment dog food. Most notably for the protein increase that is good for them. Also, too much softer foods lead to tooth decay so I usually serve the 1/2 patty with hard kibble. (though sometimes I wonder if she even chews her food at all. Piglet.)
- Good luck and happy and healthy bulldogs to you all! PS - These patties are a great way to get them to eat their medication too.
PPS - Years of testing also meant me becoming aware of food sensitivities for my bullies. You can often find healthy substitutes if you know what works for your bully. As we all know, what works for one may not work for another. If you are new parents your vet is a good person to ask what are the most common dietary irritants for bulldogs. Any veg (see caveat above about onions and garlic) substitute you may try, make sure it is in the smallest form possible. They are carnivores so bigger chunks of veg tend to be not absorbed and end up getting 'discarded' via the other end the next day. Happy and healthy cooking!
Sounds like a great idea! Would you mind e-mailing me the recipe? kimberlyanngrace@ gmail.com. We lost our English bulldog Tinkerbell a year and a half ago, but now have a Frenchie and plan to get another English bulldog within a year. They're the best dogs!
CHIPOTLE? ARE YOU INSANE MAN??? THE GAS WOULD BE DEVASTATING!!!!! :)
I give my bully girl a supplement of coconut oil. She thinks it's a great treat and her skin and coat are beautiful. Plus her eye 'leaks' less and her poots aren't near as bad. We also upgraded to a quality food mixed with a diet of boiled chicken and rice. That seems to have cut down in her flatulence and she doesn't beg for people quite as much.
Our 3 year old english bulldog has decided he doesn't a few people...one of them being my daughters best friend. She has been at the house since he arrived and he has played with her too many times to count. One day he was in the car and she walked up to the car to pet him and he growled at her. Don't know if he didn't recognize her at first? Either way, he has been growling ever since if she tries to pet him. I've had her give him treats too, that didn't work. Now I have to put him outside or in the crate, which he doesn't mind at all, but I hate having a dog that I have to put away now. Any thoughts or advice?
She may have hurt him by accident and he remembers, or perhaps he is jealous of her (my bully only growls and barks at a man who touches me...he doesn't bite. Just wants my attention for himself)
Or he may sense she is afraid of him.
I would suggest leashing him and keeping total control of him, bring him to neutral territory and have friend behave as natural as possible, ignoring bully at first. (If he growls, command him to stop and sit) when any only if he is quiet and behaving. Friend can give bully some attention. Nice praising voice, and pat (be sure to have total control until u and friend are comfortable leaving him off leash. Friend can have "treats" to give bully (no one else give treats except friend) in no time he should be friends best friend. (Not knowing age of friend, not sure if friend is old enough to walk Bully...but bonding with walks may help)
My 18 month old bully Matilda loves to go out for Dairy Queen Ice Cream. She loves it .
I love this article, except I would think Chipotle would make my boy fart and later explode, lol. Good job.
Layla gets Starbucks Pupachino when I go once a week. Its whipped cream in a small cup and free to the dogs when you order something for yourself. She has been known to pull some free scones from the girls that work there as well. Snooki on the other hand turns her nose up at the offer.
ive got two tia and brandy they are 4 now and they are so funny they have to have a bag of wosits and slice of toast every day for breakfast , and if im late doing it they cry at me
Vasoline their noses weekly
Amen!!
Joe, Vaseline is a petroleum product, a much better choice for dry noses is Coconut oil. And the bonus is, it is good for them, I give a teaspoonful to my girl when her nose is done.
We use coconut oil! ❤
I tried to vaseline my bully's nose, but she is a vaseline addict and goes crazy for it and licks it off and begs for more, often she gets her tongue to my finger before I can even get it onto her nose, a lost battle. I also give her a tablespoon of plain, fat free yoghurt each day on top of her food, it really keeps the gas emissions down to an acceptable level. When she is boarding at the vets if they run out they nip to the store to buy more, they know all about my bully's emissions!
My male Bully has the worst tear stains...I have tried everything and can't get them to go away! Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
We fill up clean and empty milk jugs (no lid) with ice cubes and let him play with that in the summer. He loves the noise and the ice. We also freeze chicken broth into ice cube trays and give him one after a walk so that he can cool down faster.
I thought bulldogs couldn't have cheese and milk products?
My 7 year old half French half English bully, Hercules, has never been good with other dogs or a lot of people. I know he'd be so much happier if he could socialize but we don't know how. And it's getting worse as he gets older. We're looking for specialists in LA to help.
I would agree with the spoiling, but I learned a very big lesson recently. Bulldogs are susceptible to bloat and pancreatitis, hamburgers or any table food can be death to a bully. Fortunately mine was saved by an emergency clinic to the tune of 2k. Just thought I would pass this along!
My bully Diesel loves ice cubes. I also give him berries occasionally and green beans and carrots. He loves whipped cream and gets that occasionally too for a treat (along with O'Malley our cat)! ? Have never tried Bullymake...currently have BarkBox subscription that runs through April 2016...but am going to try BullyMake afterwards. The Barkbox is great, but now that he's 10 months old, he basically tears up every toy in a matter of days and so,etimes within a few minutes!
I have enjoyed reading all the comments. Just wanted to mention that my 2 yr old bully, BO, LOVES his BullyMake Box! He always gets toys he's never seen before and has loved them all. Well worth the cost for the joy it brings.
thanks my pupy lovse me
Thank you for all your comments, I have a 17week old puppy and I worry about what to feed him, I now have more foods to try in his Kong, he already has kibble, but he loves carrots, apples and hot dog sausages. I think I'll try bananas and blueberries but I may freeze them in ice cubes so he can enjoy them and also make sure he says hydrated.
Our abby sue is 14 months didn't start with allergies till about 8 mos. we finally found fromn
No more bad skin problems. .treats not many. Totally has to b grain free ect..loves ice chips..but has a attitude in late in the evening wanting to bite my feet I take her out side and play ball she try to knock me down..I hope she calms down I still love her!!
Bulldogs are awesome. We have had 3 litters now and each are so sweet and just want to be loved. Feed them good food. Treats and people food in moderation and they will be just fine. Just like people, they can have health issues. No different than any other breed if taken care of. Clean the wrinkles and show them some attention. That's about it.
i have a 5 month old english bulldogg and he seems like he has an anger problem! he plays with his toys and then when he gets bored with them he try to use me as a chew toy. when i tell him no he tries to charge me and bite at me. i usually put him in his crate and tell him no! dont kno what to do!
My Olde English Bulldog would get aggressive with me at that same age. They want to think they are the boss. Changing your voice to a firm voice and stand up and tell them to stop. If that doesn't work find a time out spot like you've been doing and put him in it for 10 minutes. It will get better. Mine is now a year and a half and listens so much better. She is my best friend, best dog ever. She likes to chew so keep plenty of chew toys around, she'll still try to chew at my hand sometimes but not anything like when she was little. I go on long walks with her and that gets her energy out, she loves her walks. Your dog is a baby he will get better in a few months, be consistent with time out????????
I have two female bully's one is five years,miss Bella, the second Kena seven months old I started out feeding them both blue buffalo they hardly have any allergies ,they are great bully's, are very intelligent, my girls are my best friends.
My 1 year old bully has been on antibiotics for several months after developing allergies at 8 months old. We feed him hypoallergenic food but he still scratches. The next step is a dermatologist. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
We feed our allergy prone English Bulldog Diamond Natural Lamb and Rice for large dogs. He is pretty good size. He also gets Carrots and apples. We give him one Apoquel a day. That is a prescription from the vet for the allergies. He seems to do pretty well. He is allergic to sage brush and when it is out in bloom his allergies are the worst. Soon as snow flies he is one happy camper.
My furbabies love their Kong toy with a layer of cream cheese placed inside it. I put just a thin layer inside of it and it's durable enough to last for their chewing habits.
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