Why do English Bulldogs Cost So Much? If your first question is PRICE. Maybe this is not the breed that you should be looking into. In order to breed HIGH QUALITY and HEALTHY bulldogs it is NOT cheap! There is a great deal of time, effort and expense involved in raising a Bulldog litter. Without going into too much detail, it can cost up to $2000 to breed, deliver and raise a litter, without consideration for the time invested. The average litter size is 4. Getting the female ready for breeding requires pre-breeding testing, ovulation testing, etc. - approximately 3 trips to the vet. Then the female is usually artificially inseminated, another 3 trips to the vet, not to mention the expense for the semen/stud service which is $500 and up. Then you wait 4 weeks for an ultrasound and/or x-rays. (It is important to be sure the female is pregnant). Special diets and constant monitoring for the next 5 weeks, plus getting the nursery getting with heating pads, bottles, blankets, medical supplies, milk replacer, puppy scale, and the list goes on and on. Then comes the C-section which can cost upwards of $500 assuming she went into labor DURING regular office hours and all went well. Females produce only a few litters. This is a special breed which requires the help of humans to bring a litter to 8 weeks of age. In spite of their appearance the Bulldog, as a newborn puppy is extremely fragile. It requires constant monitoring of the puppies (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Bulldogs don't make the best mothers because they may lay on a puppy on accident and not even realize it. The puppies are normally checked by the vet at least 4 times during their first 8 weeks, including wormings and puppy shots. It is a breed that requires MAXIMUM effort on the part of the breeder to make sure that all the puppies turn out healthy. The whole procedure is VERY costly. You will find that most breeders range their pet bullies around the $2000.00 mark. Beware of "great deals" and "cheap puppies", they may cost you a lot more in the end - not just money, but heartache too! How long is the lifespan of a bulldog? Bulldogs usually live about 8 to 10 years. Some have been known to live to 12. Are Bulldogs Good with Kids? Bulldogs love kids! They are very patient and tolerant with children, they are very gentle and loving. However, no child should ever be left unsupervised with ANY dog because children many times do not understand the proper way of handling a puppy. Is a Bulldog right for me? Sure! Just leave the dog at home if you are going running. The bulldog is not an active breed as an adult and cannot take long periods of exercise. Running, except for very short spurts, is not something that the Bulldog is built for. He will be much happier watching t.v. with you when you return home. However, they love going to the park or beach or anyplace else that requires only moderate exercise. They love car rides; just please, NEVER leave the dog unattended even for short periods of time. Do Bulldogs Make Good Watch Dogs? No. Not if you mean would they attack someone entering your home. Because of their temperament, Bulldogs simply won't act like a trained attack dog. They may bark, and make no mistake they will protect their family if they feel they are in danger. How long does it take for the head and chest to grow? The bulldog reaches his height by about 4 months, usually. Some go through a long lanky stage, then they start to widen. At about 8 to 9 months, the head and chest start to grow, and will do so until 3 to 4 years old. What do I feed my puppy? The breeder should give you a written diet sheet telling you what foods, how much and how often the puppy has been fed. You should keep to this diet for a few days before gradually weaning him onto the food with which you have decided to continue. Your new puppy must receive the correct diet to give him the best possible start in life. Any mistakes at this stage of his life can have serious and long-lasting effects. His diet must provide all the nutrients he needs for healthy growth and development - not only in the correct amounts but also in the correct proportions to each other. Don't feed your puppy uncooked meat or food that may have gone bad. Commercially prepared pet food is the safest diet, delivering optimal nutritional balance for the best value. Young puppies need relatively large amounts of food in order to meet the demands of their rapidly growing bodies and their hectic lifestyle. However, at this age they are still small and their stomachs cannot hold much food at one time. In order that they eat enough to fulfill their needs, they must be fed several small meals each day, and their diet must provide all the right nutrients in a comparatively small volume. Fortunately, feeding your puppy need not be as complicated as it sounds. Diets that are specially formulated for growth take all the guesswork out of rearing healthy puppies and provide a balanced and highly digestible diet that he enjoys and thrives on. The feeding regimen for your puppy depends greatly on his age and individual characteristics. Your puppy's condition is the best indicator of whether you are feeding the correct amount. Generally a puppy should be allowed 15 to 20 minutes to eat at each mealtime. After 15 minutes remove any uneaten food and serve fresh food at the next meal. Although milk is a useful source of nutrients for young dogs, it is not an essential part of the puppy's diet once he has been weaned. Many puppies and dogs cannot efficiently digest lactose, the sugar present in milk, and this causes digestive upsets if given to them. While bones provide chewing exercise and calcium and phosphorous, they can also be dangerous if they splinter. Rather than bones, feed your puppy specially designed chewing treats from reputable pet stores. Make sure that your puppy has his own feeding and water bowls and that they are kept clean. Fresh water should always be available. Training your puppy Both you and your puppy will be much happier if he is well-trained. His natural instinct is to submit to the discipline imposed by his pack leader - this is your role. Through training he will learn to understand what is required of him and how to please you. Take a little time and trouble over this and you will find the companionship of an obedient dog more than repays your efforts. House training House training rarely presents a problem with puppies who have been reared under proper conditions - puppies instinctively want to be clean and they are eager to please their owners. You should begin training as soon as you bring your puppy home. Any delay in establishing a proper routine can make training more difficult later on. Patience and perseverance are required. young puppy will want to urinate and defecate frequently because he has a small bladder and bowel. If you have an enclosed yard, take him out and place him on a suitable spot whenever he indicates that he wants to relieve himself. In addition, take him to the same spot first thing in the morning, last thing at night, after every meal, and whenever he has been inside for long periods. Make sure that you go with him and stay with him until he performs; then praise him lavishly. Don't punish him when mishaps occur. This will only lead to confusion and fear. Never "rub his nose in it" if he makes a mess. Basic Training You will need to teach your puppy a few basic commands. For training to be of any benefit, he must first respond to his name and understand the meaning of the word "no." Once your puppy has completed his vaccinations, you will be able to take him for short walks. You must keep him under control at all times when he is in a public place, and for this a leash is essential. Introduce him to his collar and leash and let him get used to wearing them before you first take him out. Once he is used to the leash, you can begin his basic training. All members of the household should be involved in the training program. Use short words for commands, with vowels that sound clearly different. The first four essentials are heel, sit, come and down. Be clear in your commands and, above all, be consistent. Reward him with a show of affection and by stroking him when he does well. Remember, you don't necessarily need to provide a food reward while training. Don't punish him for not obeying a command - simply withhold the positive reinforcement. Otherwise, he will associate the command with punishment. You may later want to join an obedience class for puppies or dogs in order to extend your puppy's training. A skilled instructor can also help you to overcome any problems that have arisen. Puppy kindergarten can start as soon as your puppy has been fully vaccinated. These classes are fun for you and your puppy, and they also allow him to socialize with other dogs. |
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