Bringing home a new puppy is always an exciting time and it is easy to get caught up in that excitement when you are looking for a puppy. Puppies are cute and cuddly but you must remember that they will grow into adult dogs – a puppy is not a pet, it is a lifelong commitment. Unfortunately, many people do not honor that commitment and millions of pets including a large number of Bulldogs end up in shelters each and every year.

Why Do People Abandon their Bulldogs?

There are many different reasons why someone might surrender their dog to the shelter. In some cases the owner has no choice – he is forced to move somewhere that doesn’t allow pets or someone in the family has developed a severe allergy. In many cases, however, people abandon their dogs at the shelter because they are ill-equipped or unwilling to provide them with the care they need. This happens to all kinds of dogs but, for some reason, it seems to be very common with Bulldogs.

Bulldog puppies are absolutely adorable. With their tubby bodies and wrinkled skin they are cuddly little bundles of joy. When they start to grow up, however, people begin to realize that caring for a Bulldog requires a lot of time, energy, and money. Though Bulldogs do not need a great deal of exercise, they are a people-oriented breed so they need plenty of time and attention. Bulldogs are also prone to a number of medical conditions which can lead to expensive vet bills. Some people simply are not willing to (or they are not able to) provide for the needs of their dog so they end up giving him away.

Things to Know Before Getting a Bulldog

Before you bring home a new puppy, you should take the time to learn everything you can about the breed to make sure that it will be a good fit for your family. Bulldogs are sweet and loving dogs, but they do come with some challenges. For example, the Bulldog’s sturdy build and flat face makes him more sensitive to heat and strenuous exercise than other breeds. These dogs are subject to breathing problems in hot weather and they simply are not designed for endurance or stamina. Bulldogs are an indoor-only breed and they require air conditioning during the summer to prevent heat exhaustion.

Because Bulldog’s have very short fur they do not require a lot of brushing or grooming – this is one of the biggest advantages of the breed. However, the Bulldog’s wrinkled skin requires a certain degree of maintenance. You will need to clean his wrinkles at least once a week (the more often the better) to keep them dry so they do not start to harbor bacteria. Bulldogs are also prone to food allergies and skin allergies so you may need to feed your dog a special diet. You also need to be aware that Bulldogs have a high risk for gastric torsion due to their deep chests – they should not consume large amounts of food or water in one sitting or it could cause their stomach to twist, cutting off blood supply to vital organs.

Each and every dog breed comes with its own list of associated pros and cons. In order to make sure that a Bulldog is the right fit for your family so you don’t add to the number of Bulldogs being surrendered to shelters each year you should learn all that you can about these dogs before you bring one home.

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