English Bulldog - honest advice from owners!
Discussion
Hello, we have been debating in our little family (me, fiancee & child - 8y/o) which dog to get. We cannot decide on a breed, but my fiancee is dead set on an English Bulldog, and sometimes it's easier to comply than resist.
So I've read up and found out about the usual things - the slobbering, the noises, the flatulence, the stubbornness, the health issues, the cost, and so on. We've also got friends who have an English bulldog and so we've seen a little of their character.
I think they have a good personality - very easy to see the charm! - though the stubbornness worries me as having grown up with (& trained) a couple of labs, the idea of not being able to get a dog up to scratch fairly easily & quickly in obedience seems a bit intimidating.
So can anyone tell me honestly what it's like owning one? Imagine you didn't yet love the dog, would he be a good 'housemate' or an absolute nightmare? What if you never really loved the dog, e.g. the spouse of a bulldog lover!, would the presence of the english bulldog in your home be a real nightmare to put up with even if you didn't have to do the cleaning / maintenance / etc?
Thanks for any advice, would be great to hear from real experiences with them.
So I've read up and found out about the usual things - the slobbering, the noises, the flatulence, the stubbornness, the health issues, the cost, and so on. We've also got friends who have an English bulldog and so we've seen a little of their character.
I think they have a good personality - very easy to see the charm! - though the stubbornness worries me as having grown up with (& trained) a couple of labs, the idea of not being able to get a dog up to scratch fairly easily & quickly in obedience seems a bit intimidating.
So can anyone tell me honestly what it's like owning one? Imagine you didn't yet love the dog, would he be a good 'housemate' or an absolute nightmare? What if you never really loved the dog, e.g. the spouse of a bulldog lover!, would the presence of the english bulldog in your home be a real nightmare to put up with even if you didn't have to do the cleaning / maintenance / etc?
Thanks for any advice, would be great to hear from real experiences with them.
Not a breed I've owned, but there is a thread here which I think has some info (as well as lots of lovely photos 
) :
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
) :http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Brilliant dogs. Just don't buy one from a high output breeder who's init to make money! Our girl was from a small family who breed just the once.
They are actually very trainable so long as what your asking suits them You do need to stay in charge otherwise they quickly become pack leader due to their normally dominant nature. Ours loves people and will put up with other dogs without issue but get another dominant dog and she always makes her position clear. Generally very gental, well behaved but remember they can be very powerful so make sure kids are well behaved and never wake a sleeping one up by touching them, I did and ours ripped my nose wide open as she was in full defensive mode but that's unusual for them so we are just respectful of her deep sleep now.
They stink, snore like a trooper and chew everything when young. Apart from that their great, ours even likes the 2 cats the other half has.
If you get one feed them real food, cooked chicken, beef and vegetables as well as decent dog biscuits, it keeps them healthier and stops the skin complaints they can get, also don't leave them home alone for too long as they get lonely and distructive like any dog.
They are actually very trainable so long as what your asking suits them
You do need to stay in charge otherwise they quickly become pack leader due to their normally dominant nature. Ours loves people and will put up with other dogs without issue but get another dominant dog and she always makes her position clear. Generally very gental, well behaved but remember they can be very powerful so make sure kids are well behaved and never wake a sleeping one up by touching them, I did and ours ripped my nose wide open as she was in full defensive mode but that's unusual for them so we are just respectful of her deep sleep now.They stink, snore like a trooper and chew everything when young. Apart from that their great, ours even likes the 2 cats the other half has.
If you get one feed them real food, cooked chicken, beef and vegetables as well as decent dog biscuits, it keeps them healthier and stops the skin complaints they can get, also don't leave them home alone for too long as they get lonely and distructive like any dog.
And when else are they, not in "defensive mode"
"....and never wake a sleeping one up by touching them, I did and ours ripped my nose wide open as she was in full defensive mode but that's unusual for them so we are just respectful of her deep sleep now."
Kids are kids and don't often think like us, might be a great dog but, WHOA!
"....and never wake a sleeping one up by touching them, I did and ours ripped my nose wide open as she was in full defensive mode but that's unusual for them so we are just respectful of her deep sleep now."
Kids are kids and don't often think like us, might be a great dog but, WHOA!
Thanks for sharing, this is very interesting.
We currently have an 8yr old girl and are planning to have a baby in the next 12-18 months, would you be happy brining a new baby into a household where an English Bulldog is already established? Sounds somewhat of a concern if they should be left alone when sleeping, that might be difficult to enforce with a small child...
We currently have an 8yr old girl and are planning to have a baby in the next 12-18 months, would you be happy brining a new baby into a household where an English Bulldog is already established? Sounds somewhat of a concern if they should be left alone when sleeping, that might be difficult to enforce with a small child...
sealtt said:
Thanks for sharing, this is very interesting.
We currently have an 8yr old girl and are planning to have a baby in the next 12-18 months, would you be happy brining a new baby into a household where an English Bulldog is already established? Sounds somewhat of a concern if they should be left alone when sleeping, that might be difficult to enforce with a small child...
The baby will be its lunch one day. You're off your rocker if you plan to have the 2 together. We currently have an 8yr old girl and are planning to have a baby in the next 12-18 months, would you be happy brining a new baby into a household where an English Bulldog is already established? Sounds somewhat of a concern if they should be left alone when sleeping, that might be difficult to enforce with a small child...
He's clumsy...He walks through things rather than around, this includes walls and small children. The snooring is something to behold.
You will need to keep him/her clean. They're not very flexible and with a flat head they can't clean themselves as well as other breeds. You will need to clean his wrinkles often and wipe his ass every day.
My bully hates the rain and will often hide when it's time for walkies.
He loves attention and adores my kids...Obsessed with traveling in the van and gets the proper hump if i can't take him to work. He comes every day so he's somewhat used to it.
Great dogs. Love him to bits even when he tries my patience. Have a mentioned stubborn? Oh, you have no idea. Typically very obedient but when the mood takes him you have no hope...just go with the flow.
Get one. They're great companions, will love you to bits and make you laugh.
You will need to keep him/her clean. They're not very flexible and with a flat head they can't clean themselves as well as other breeds. You will need to clean his wrinkles often and wipe his ass every day.
My bully hates the rain and will often hide when it's time for walkies.
He loves attention and adores my kids...Obsessed with traveling in the van and gets the proper hump if i can't take him to work. He comes every day so he's somewhat used to it.
Great dogs. Love him to bits even when he tries my patience. Have a mentioned stubborn? Oh, you have no idea. Typically very obedient but when the mood takes him you have no hope...just go with the flow.
Get one. They're great companions, will love you to bits and make you laugh.
There are a lot of owners on the Bulldog Rescue Pages on the web and Facebook. The owners love them despite the problems some of them have. The Dave and Bob pic's are hilarious although i sometimes wonder which is the kid and which is the Bulldog. They appear to love kids in a protective way they do tend to call them "fur babies" do lots for them and are devastated when they cross the "Rainbow Bridge". They are characters and I think you have to fit in with them as much they you.
sealtt said:
Thanks for sharing, this is very interesting.
We currently have an 8yr old girl and are planning to have a baby in the next 12-18 months, would you be happy brining a new baby into a household where an English Bulldog is already established? Sounds somewhat of a concern if they should be left alone when sleeping, that might be difficult to enforce with a small child...
Puppy and a baby? Not a good idea IMO. We have a 11 month old and 5 year old rescue greyhound. That is a challenge and Herbie is very laid back. We currently have an 8yr old girl and are planning to have a baby in the next 12-18 months, would you be happy brining a new baby into a household where an English Bulldog is already established? Sounds somewhat of a concern if they should be left alone when sleeping, that might be difficult to enforce with a small child...
When we looked into what dog to get, a british bulldog was high on my list, then you go onto the net and do some reading. They can have a lot of breed related problems. However, I know there are forum regulars here who have paid out much at all.
As far as breeds for children. Bulldogs are meant to be very good
I still maintain, that a puppy and a new born will be a bad idea. One thing that did put me off was the cost. £2k for a puppy is the norm and we just couldn't find one in a rescus that weren't very old.
Thank you for all the information, it has been very helpful.
It seems the bulldog may be a good choice for us, with a few ground rules about no dogs upstairs so I can have a slobber free sanctuary! We will take a little time learning more about the breed and go through a KC breeder to actually purchase one.
It seems the bulldog may be a good choice for us, with a few ground rules about no dogs upstairs so I can have a slobber free sanctuary! We will take a little time learning more about the breed and go through a KC breeder to actually purchase one.
sealtt said:
Thank you for all the information, it has been very helpful.
It seems the bulldog may be a good choice for us, with a few ground rules about no dogs upstairs so I can have a slobber free sanctuary! We will take a little time learning more about the breed and go through a KC breeder to actually purchase one.
Every owner starts off with the best intentions including no dog upstairs, no dog on bed, no dog on sofa. I even know some owners that have managed to keep to those rules It seems the bulldog may be a good choice for us, with a few ground rules about no dogs upstairs so I can have a slobber free sanctuary! We will take a little time learning more about the breed and go through a KC breeder to actually purchase one.
We had to backtrack and not let ours upstairs. I'ts not working well. We allow ours on the sofa. How else would he get his evening cuddle!?!
bakerstreet said:
Every owner starts off with the best intentions including no dog upstairs, no dog on bed, no dog on sofa. I even know some owners that have managed to keep to those rules
We had to backtrack and not let ours upstairs. I'ts not working well. We allow ours on the sofa. How else would he get his evening cuddle!?!
Yeah, I remember those days well, while getting kicked in the back at 3am by the little sWe had to backtrack and not let ours upstairs. I'ts not working well. We allow ours on the sofa. How else would he get his evening cuddle!?!
t.Had them almost continuously since birth, so a reasonable person to comment on the child issues.
They are very placid, docile dogs; their behaviour on being surprised or woken up is no different to any other dogs'. The difference is they are very powerful and don't know their own strength. But a good parent (like mine) will teach kids to treat them with respect. I was bitten once quite firmly when I crept up on a sleeping one, but I thoroughly deserved it.
However, they are VERY good with kids, who can jump on them, pull their ears etc. and they will endure it for hours. YouTube has some great bulldog & baby vids.
In general, their temperament can tend towards the soppy, especially if you only have one. They are like big fat teddy bears. They love a cuddle, and make a very warm knee warmer when they sit on your knee.
The males can be aggressive towards other animals. They will often put up with a fair bit of ahbuse, then finally snap and fight like a tiger. If you playfight with them, they are very good at "knowing the rules". They do love to play, I'd avoid tug games as you don't want to encourage the biting/gripping tendency, our dog likes big soft fluffy balls as much as anything.
I am surprised at the comments on being good obedience dogs. If anything they are too intelligent, as as soon as the rewards stop coming they stop obeying. Saying that my current old bugger will sit, lie and give paw on command... for a biscuit.
They are very lazy and will only willingly walk for the first half of their lives unless you take them somewhere different.
Health? We've had mixed fortunes but overall good, youngest to die was 8, from cancer, oldest 13 from sheer old age.
Prone to certain common minor ailments, lots of skin problems and an eye problem called cherry eye, where the third eyelid pops up with an inflammation and has to be operated on. Every dog I remember has had at least one eye thus affected.
They can be fussy eaters, overly rich tinned food often goes through them. Bosley eats just dried food. They are very greedy and you have to control their food intake as they won't walk it off.
That about covers it.
They are very placid, docile dogs; their behaviour on being surprised or woken up is no different to any other dogs'. The difference is they are very powerful and don't know their own strength. But a good parent (like mine) will teach kids to treat them with respect. I was bitten once quite firmly when I crept up on a sleeping one, but I thoroughly deserved it.
However, they are VERY good with kids, who can jump on them, pull their ears etc. and they will endure it for hours. YouTube has some great bulldog & baby vids.
In general, their temperament can tend towards the soppy, especially if you only have one. They are like big fat teddy bears. They love a cuddle, and make a very warm knee warmer when they sit on your knee.
The males can be aggressive towards other animals. They will often put up with a fair bit of ahbuse, then finally snap and fight like a tiger. If you playfight with them, they are very good at "knowing the rules". They do love to play, I'd avoid tug games as you don't want to encourage the biting/gripping tendency, our dog likes big soft fluffy balls as much as anything.
I am surprised at the comments on being good obedience dogs. If anything they are too intelligent, as as soon as the rewards stop coming they stop obeying. Saying that my current old bugger will sit, lie and give paw on command... for a biscuit.
They are very lazy and will only willingly walk for the first half of their lives unless you take them somewhere different.
Health? We've had mixed fortunes but overall good, youngest to die was 8, from cancer, oldest 13 from sheer old age.
Prone to certain common minor ailments, lots of skin problems and an eye problem called cherry eye, where the third eyelid pops up with an inflammation and has to be operated on. Every dog I remember has had at least one eye thus affected.
They can be fussy eaters, overly rich tinned food often goes through them. Bosley eats just dried food. They are very greedy and you have to control their food intake as they won't walk it off.
That about covers it.
CaptainMorgan said:
Yeah, I remember those days well, while getting kicked in the back at 3am by the little st.
Haha! Yep. Been there. Ours does not care if any part of your anatomy is in the way of a four leg stretch t.
Edit: I remember photos of both Tank and Bosely in the dog photos thread. If memory there is another regular poster in this section with a bulldog called Winnie
Id think hard about getting a dog if you are planning a baby, not from the safety aspect (although thats the no1 concern) more the hard work involved in both and should there be any issues with either!
Got a 15 month old (and two older kids) hasnt quite been straightforward , along with 2 dogs its been bloody hard work, even more so dogs when/if the dogs have issues and need vets treatment etc
Having a baby and dog is ok a lot of the time , but it can also be a royal PITA, especially when you want to concentrate all your energy on bringing up a little one.
Got a 15 month old (and two older kids) hasnt quite been straightforward , along with 2 dogs its been bloody hard work, even more so dogs when/if the dogs have issues and need vets treatment etc
Having a baby and dog is ok a lot of the time , but it can also be a royal PITA, especially when you want to concentrate all your energy on bringing up a little one.
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