Face full of wrinkles, but a heart full of love is probably a good way to describe the Bulldog. These dogs are sometimes referred to as English Bulldog, British Bulldog, or simply as Bulldog, but they are still the same good natured guys and gals. It’s hard to believe that the original Bulldogs were used in the ‘sport’ of bull-baiting. English Bulldogs are a very old breed and their development began way back in the time of King Henry III of England. This was at a time, in the 13th Century, when bull-baiting began.
It’s hard to imagine our Bully friends being pitted against bulls, but such was the case. Fortunately, bull-baiting was outlawed in 1835, which was obviously a good thing, but was it? Eliminating bull-baiting was obviously good, but it almost led to the extinction, as a breed, of the English Bulldog. After all, with no bulls to bait, of what use was the dog? Dog shows came to the rescue in 1860, not only breathing life into the breed, but also showing what a great companion dog the English Bulldog can be. The personality of Bulldogs had been softened to make them good friends, and their appearance had been altered somewhat too. All in all, we wound up with a happy buddy with a unique appearance.
Wrinkles, Wrinkles Everywhere
Why does a Bulldog have so many wrinkles? Skin wrinkles help to make up the defining characteristic of the English Bulldog. There is no mistaking this fellow for any other dog. There are actually some valid reasons for all those wrinkles, though. The facial wrinkles came about when the dog’s muzzle was shortened. This shortening allowed the Bulldog’s nose to remain free for breathing while they held onto the nose of the bull during bull-baiting. As for wrinkly skin, well that has a purpose, too. Since these dogs were also used for dog fighting, a loose skin meant an opponent would have a hard time doing too much serious damage to important bits.
I met a Bulldog a couple of years ago in a nearby town. I was used to the fairly loose skin of French Bulldogs, but this guy was another matter. As I petted him, it seemed that his skin was only attached at the nose, eyes, and feet. It was as if there was a dog inside a skin bag. A little disconcerting, but obviously this served a good purpose historically.
Okay, but don’t Bulldog wrinkles need some kind of special care? Indeed they do. If you get your Bulldog while he or she is a puppy, get them accustomed to wrinkle cleaning early. Our Frenchies didn’t like it when we cleaned their wrinkles, so be prepared for some resistance, even from a puppy. Clean gently and use treats and praise to help the process go easier.
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Uncleaned wrinkles can easily become irritated and painful. Not only that, but they can become smelly, too. To help keep your Bulldog’s wrinkles healthy, a good wipe like Petpost Bulldog Wrinkle Wipes can be a great help. These wipes also soothe with aloe and coconut oil.
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Sometimes, despite your best efforts, those deep wrinkles can become inflamed and painful. A bit more care may be needed in this case. If your Bulldog is still having problems with his or her winkles after cleaning, or perhaps for use as a preventive, Natural Dog Company Dog Wrinkle Balm could supply some real relief and help.
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For wrinkles that my have become infected and overly irritated, this cream put out by the Natural Dog Company may be the answer. This vegan cream contains ingredients such as rosemary extract, avocado oil, and Vitamin E to provide an all-natural approach to wrinkle care. This would be handy to take along while traveling, too.
Taking care of a Bulldog’s wrinkles isn’t really hard, but it must be done regularly to prevent problems. You will probably find these products also useful for taking care of the wrinkles around the tail, because those can become inflamed and infected as well.
Keeping Control
While an English Bulldog is generally a pretty laid-back and relaxed type, it’s still important to keep him or her under control while out in the world. Not only will using a collar, harness, and leash help to keep your Bulldog from unwanted interactions with people or dogs, it can keep your Bulldog safer in general. Dogs that have been let off leash can run out into traffic, and the results can be disastrous. However, these problems are easy to prevent as long as you keep your Bulldog under control while out in public. Our Frenchies only wore their harnesses and leashes while they were outside the house, and it’s easy enough to remove collars or harnesses once safely inside again.
I would recommend harnesses rather than collars for your English Bulldog. Bulldogs have thick necks and it’s quite easy for a collar to just slip over the head. This will usually happen in the last place you would want, too, such as near a busy road. Harnesses are a much safer and more comfortable option for your pal. No strain or pressure is put on the neck and throat. If you’re getting your Bulldog as a puppy, get a small, lightweight harness, but as your dog grows, you’ll want a heavy duty harness like the Petmate Step-In Harness. Now, when your Bulldog pulls, any pressure will be put on their chest and shoulders rather than on their throat.
A light lead is all you will need with your Bulldog puppy. As your Bulldog grows, you will become aware of how strong they are growing, and it will be best to replace that light leash with a heavier one. We always had good luck with nylon leashes, they were relatively lightweight and were super strong. Most have tough nylon clips as well that make attachment fast and easy.
Sweet Dreams, Bulldog
Bulldog lovers all know that this breed can have problems with their joints due to their unique build. While this is one reason to watch your English Bulldog’s weight, it’s also important to provide a comfortable bed for your buddy. A good bed can not only provide a warm and snug place to sleep, but will also cushion sensitive joints. There are plenty of dog beds to choose from, good beds that will help your dog get the sleep he or she needs, to help assure a pleasant rest.
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I can’t imagine that any English Bulldog would be disappointed with the Le Bed Orthopedic Leather Dog Bed. Not only does this bed offer the ultimate in sleeping comfort, but it would also be useful for elevating your Bulldog away from a cold floor during the winter months.
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If you’ve just gotten a small Bulldog puppy, you’ll also want to give your new friend a snug, safe-feeling, comforting bed. from the wide choice available. Finding the perfect bed for your Bulldog puppy is easy when such a wide range is available from Majestic.
Some people have no problem with their Bulldog sleeping on their bed with them, and it’s easy to use a throw like the Frisco Throw to keep your bed free of dog hair. If you worry about your Bulldog getting injured while jumping off the bed, or having trouble getting up on their own, a carpeted stair such as the Adobe Folding Steps can make getting up and down easier on both of you. To help your bulldog relax and settle in for a snooze, perhaps a chew from Best Bully Sticks would be perfect.
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