Chances are you have fallen in love with a cute, sweet Bulldog and you are eager to invite him or her to join your family. Before you scoop the pup into your arms and race home to begin your happily ever after, you will want to learn a few important things about Bulldogs. Your goal is to feel confident that you are able to provide a good, safe and healthy home and life for a Bulldog.

·        Time – Bulldogs require constant attention. For this reason your Bulldog will want to spend a lot of time with you. So if you are at work or away from home most of the day, you may come home to a depressed dog and behavioral issues. Make sure you have time in your schedule to spend with your Bulldog. Factor in normal everyday requirements such as exercise and play time as well as feeding.

·        Home Environment – Bulldogs need to live indoors and are perfect for apartment living. You will need to keep your home clean and puppy proof for most of your Bulldogs life.

·        Health Issues – Bulldogs are prone to a variety of health issues including breathing issues, cherry eye, knee and hip problems, skin infections and sensitivity to extreme hot and cold temperatures. You will want to feel confident that you are able to afford veterinarian bills when a healthy crisis arises, in addition to the regular veterinarian bills for vaccinations and check-ups. Many veterinarian offices offer convenient payment plans and there are a variety of options for pet health insurance available to help along with medical expenses for your Bulldog.

·        Exercise Requirements – Although Bulldogs have sensitivity to heat that can result in heatstroke, you still need to exercise your Bulldog on a daily basis. Healthy Bulldogs are able to walk quickly for short periods of time. You will want to take your Bulldog on a brisk short walk every day. You can also choose to break up the walk into increments of two or three and create a few walks a day. If your Bulldog does not get enough daily exercise he or she will most-likely develop behavioral issues.

·        Temperament – If you are looking for a guard dog to protect you and your family, keep on looking. Bulldogs may have an intimidating appearance but they are actually gentle, kind and sweet. They are affectionate and great with children.

·        Grooming Requirements – Bulldogs have short, smooth hair that is easy to care for. They only need to be brushed when necessary. One important grooming procedure you will need to feel comfortable with is cleaning in between their adorable face wrinkles. Most Bulldogs have wrinkles on their face that need to be cleaned with a damp cloth and then immediately dried on a daily basis. Not caring for the wrinkles can result in an infection or skin ailment developing in the creases of the wrinkles.

Now that you have learned more about what is required to own a Bulldog, do you feel it is the right choice? If you are looking for a sweet family dog that gets along well with children and loves attention this may be the right choice for you. However, if you feel that medical expenses from common health issues will cause you stress or you are unable to cope with dealing with issues, you may want to think carefully. Bulldogs make wonderful family pets that will fill your life with happiness. Choose to welcome a Bulldog into your family today!

Photo credit: Moyan Brenn/Flickr