Caring For Your New Bulldog Puppy

This article will help you to understand how to take care your new bulldog puppy by step-by-step. Bringing a new bulldog puppy into the house is very much exiting for you and your family. But your puppy may feel little uncomfortable and confused by all the changes in his life. Remember your puppy is a baby bulldog, like other babies he needs lots of sleep, lots of good quality nourishing food and most important, lots of love and care. After leaving his family and known faces your new bulldog puppy can be a little scary. First couple of weeks he needs lots love and secure place for relax. Try to establish a good routine for him. During this period your new bulldog puppy needs lot of
guidance and direction which will ensure to develop a bond with you. Gradually, your new bulldog puppy will feel comfortable and start to develop trust on you.

Bedding

Bulldog Puppy Sleeping

First of all you have to provide him a suitable bed. A wire crate is recommended for doggie bed. The bed should be large in size so he can grow. The bed should be kept somewhere that is relatively quiet so that he can sleep undisturbed. You may create a partition an area around his bed so that he can feel secure. The bed should be covered with a blanket so that he can feel soft and warm.

Feeding

Your new bulldog puppy should have his own food and water bowls. These should be well designed so that he can eat and drink comfortably.

Feeding Bulldog Puppy

It is better to keep your new bulldog puppy in natural diet with good supplements. Readily available commercial food manufactured by reputed companies may also be fine for your bulldog puppy. You may also consult to a Veterinary Nutritionist who can prepare a diet chart for your bulldog puppy. Remember, the diet of first 18 months is very much important for your bulldog's life. It is the time of developing his immunity system, bones, muscles, joints and hips of your bulldog puppy. So, a good healthy diet helps your puppy to become a healthy adult bulldog.

After arrival home your bulldog puppy, you should feed him 3 times a day for the first four months. After that you can start to cut back to 2 times a day and after 12 months you can cut it back further to once a day. Remember, supplementary food must be given in addition to his normal food.

Among the supplementary food you can mix yogurt or cottage cheese (1 tablespoon per feeding) for bone development. Vitamin C is very much essential supplement for your bulldog puppy's immune system and joint development. Hard boiled egg is also essential for overall development. Corn oil (1 teaspoon per day) is great for skin and coat.

There are some human foods and household products that are dangerous for your bulldog puppy (see details here). Here are some toxic substances that are dangerous for your bulldog puppy.

Grapes and raisin

Avocados

Chocolate

Grapes and raisins

Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen

Health

When your bulldog puppy arrives home you should watch his teething. Give him many chewing toys which help with this transitional period. The toys should be well constructed and made of durable materials. Small toys are dangerous for large puppies and large toys may be impossible for small puppies to play with.

Examine your bulldog puppy's ear once in a week. Make sure that the ear should be free of debris, dirt and parasites like ticks and mites. If you find that your puppy is pawing or stretching ear frequently, shaking head excessively or fluid discharge form the ear, check him immediately. Clean your puppy's ear regularly.

Your bulldog puppy should have a preventive treatments for some unwanted guests like lice, fleas, ticks etc. Your veterinarian is the best person to prevent these pests.

When your new bulldog puppy arrives you should visit to a veterinarian. The vet will thoroughly to make sure he's growing well and shows no signs of illness. The vet may give you some important suggestion and medication for your bulldog puppy.

The bulldog puppy should be vaccinated in for every 3-4 weeks until at the age of 16 weeks. He should get distemper-parvo, rabies boosters and may also be vaccinated against health woes such as kennel cough and worms.

Monitor your bulldog puppy's health carefully. Observe his nature, feeding, urine, stool and behavior carefully. If there is any abnormality is noticed, visit to the veterinarian.

Grooming

Bathing

Bulldog Bathing

Bath your bulldog puppy when they obviously need it. If your puppy is brushed well regularly then frequent bathing is not required. When it is time for bath, first of all close his ears with cotton ball. Then gently wet him throughout the body then use mild shampoo including in between toes, under the tail, genital area. After that use a washing cloth with no shampoo in it and gently clean his face and wrinkles. Use Q-tips to those areas where finger can not be reached. Then remove cotton ball and use dry towel or hair dryer to dry him well, specially in the wrinkled area. Use vaseline on the nose to keep it moist and soft.

Brushing

Your bulldog puppy have short hair coat. It is recommended to use a soft bristled brush. Brush your puppy gently at least 2-3 times a week for healthy and shiny coat. This will remove dead hair, dirt, fleas, ticks etc. and evenly distribute the natural body oils.

Nails and Paws

You should inspect your bulldog puppy's feet regularly. Clean the dirt of the paws, specially in between the fingers. You should trim the nail of your bulldog puppy once in a week. Use dog nail clipper and just cut the curve of the nail.

Wrinkles

Wrinkles is the beauty of your bulldog puppy. There is a lot of dirt and moisture under the wrinkles which can lead to an infection if it is not properly cleaned. Clean the wrinkles twice in a week with soft cloth and shampoo then dry thoroughly.

Teeth

Brush your new bulldog puppy's teeth regularly, otherwise Plaque and bacteria can build up under the gum line causing problems there or in the roots of the teeth. Never use human toothpaste on a dog, the fluoride in the human toothpaste is poisonous to dogs. Use toothpaste made for dogs.

Training

Bulldog Puppy Training

The natural instinct of a dog is to love his owners. He always tries to please them. Simultaneously, he expects lot of love from his owners. So, training your bulldog puppy is not a very difficult job if you show some patience and perseverance. In the training, he will learn what is required of him and how to please his owners. This process may take many weeks or even month to get desired result.

The bulldog puppy can be trained around at the age of 3 weeks. Keep it in mind that a young bulldog puppy will want to urinate and defecate frequently due to his small bladder and bowel. A suitable spot should be fixed where he can relieves himself. Take him out there frequently specially after every meal or when your bulldog puppy starts squatting, circling or sniffing around. Stay with him until he relieves. Praise your bulldog puppy lavishly when he performs in the proper location. Your bulldog puppy must know why he is being rewarded and it will motivate him to do it again and again. Do not punish your bulldog puppy when he accidentally relieves himself in the wrong place, it will make him stubborn and lead him to fear and confusion.

After the completion of his vaccination course, you can take your bulldog puppy for short walks. But keep him under full control when he is in public place. Introduce collar and leash and make a habit of wearing them before going out. Once he is used to the leash and collar, you can start his basic training. In the basic training introduce your bulldog puppy some short commands, with vowels that sounds clearly. He must know the meaning of the word 'no'. Other essential words that may be introduced to him are 'sit', 'heel', 'come', 'down'. Choose a suitable name for your bulldog puppy. Consider short names that end with a vowel, such as 'Simba', 'Kassie', 'Sweetie', 'Delilah', 'Charlie', 'Tina', 'Diana' etc.
Love him after he does well in training. You may also reward your bulldog puppy which will motivate him. Do not punish him for not obeying a command.

You may also admit your bulldog puppy to puppy kindergarten, where skilled trainers will train him properly. These classes will also help him to socialize with other dogs.

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