Frequently Asked Questions

Bulldogs sometimes get a bad reputation as being unhealthy, troublesome to care for or a challenge to maintain. The reality is that, like other dog breeds, their health is directly related to the food they eat, their environment and sometimes their genetic makeup. Food allergies often present themselves as adverse health conditions which a veterinarian will often prescribe medications to treat indefinitely. We provide you with a detailed list of information needed to properly care for your new bulldog and avoid some of the most common health issues bulldogs can present.

Bulldogs are similar to other short haired breeds when it comes to grooming. Using the right shampoo, cleaners and wipes can make a big difference. Our Product Recommendation Page has some good products we found that work very well. Keep in mind that you DO NOT have to have a daily cleaning routine.

Absolutely. Houston English Bulldogs is proud to offer a 6 month health guarantee that covers any life threatening congenital defects that are present. What is even better than our guarantee is the comprehensive health screening that each puppy receives prior to going to their new homes. We make sure that each puppy is 100% happy, healthy and have reached specific personality milestones before they leave our home.

Making sure your new puppy receives enough nutrition during their growth periods is crucial for proper development and their overall health and longevity. When you bring your puppy home we will  provide you with the type of food they are eating, a feeding schedule and how much to increase their food as they grow. Following this schedule is crucial to making sure they develop properly.

The stated lifespan for English Bulldogs is 8-10 years and for French Bulldogs is 10-12 years. Over the 20 years we have been breeding our bulldog we have seen closer to an average age of 12 years for our English Bulldogs and 14 years for our frenchies.

Temperature sensitivities is a very serious topic for Bulldogs. Because of their short hair, they can be very sensitive to colder temps so it is important to use a sweater or other clothing when the weather gets colder. Hot temps, like those in Texas, are very dangerous for Bulldog owners. Taking precautions and paying close attention is critical to their survival when the weather turns warm. We recommend only having your bulldogs outside for 10-15 minutes to go to the bathroom early in the morning before it gets hots and again in the late evening once it has cooled down. Please remember that some bulldogs can pass away in only 30 minutes spent in the heat of summer.  Brachycephalic breeds lack the ability to cool themselves down by panting so it is important to watch them closeley.

Proper nutrition during their first year is very important to having a happy and health adult bulldog. Especially for joint health. We use and recommend Nuvet vitamins for our adult dogs and puppies. There are lots of supplements out there and we have tried many different kinds. Nuvet works the best for our bulldog and their puppies. 

Bulldogs do tend to be more allergic to ingredients like corn, wheat, and chicken. But we have read that there are some bulldogs that have a more extensive list of allergies. We recommend keeping our puppies on the food they are used to and only using certain training treats we have found to be nonallergenic. It is helpful to stay away from giving any table scraps or unknown treats as a single bite they are allergic to can cause an allergy flare up that takes weeks to recover from.

Absolutely. Bulldogs are some of the sweetest and friendliest dogs you can find. Of course, like any breed you have to be careful introducing new dogs or children to their environment. Also pay close attention to how younger children interact with any dog. Without meaning to, a child can cause a dog to act out aggressively even if they never have. 

You will find that bulldogs have very little shedding, especially compare to other dog breeds. There isn't a shed-free dog breed, but bulldogs come close. You will notice after bathing they will release some of their hair on the towel. Regular bathing will help with any shedding.

This is a questions that will have many different options. From everything we have read and the information we have received from our veterinarian, we recommend waiting until your puppy is at least 1 year old. This will allow the growth plates to fully close and avoid adverse reactions that are common when done earlier. For males, if you are looking for your puppy to grow up to be a big male bulldog with a large head and broad shoulders, they will not fully fill out until they are about 2 1/2 years old. Having them neutered before then will result in a much different looking male adult with a smaller head and more of a barrel body like a female. Asd always, the choice is yours.

When you bring your puppy home it is a good idea to get them used to being bathed while they are small. This will make your life easier when they are 50-60 pounds of bouncing bulldog. But unless they are rolling around in mud puddles they will not NEED constant bathing. Using the right shampoo is also important. See our Recommended Product Page for some that we like.

Cherry Eye is a common benign condition for all bulldog breeds. The cause is unknown, but may be related to the recommended vaccine schedule, especially Rabies. There is no hereditary link or anything related to lifestyle or environment, but the good news is easy to fix and does not impact their health in a negative way. Generally there are two ways to address the condition, tack the third eyelid back into place or remove it altogether. We recommend removal as tacking may have to be repeated several times. But the decision is up to you.

Bulldog puppies will be teething during their first few months. Having a good chew toy will help them through this stage. Bulldogs should never have any rawhide products or something small enough for them to choke on. See our Product Recommendation Page for some of the toys we use.

The calming sound of the bulldog snore. Its one of the favorite noises bulldog owners enjoy. While it is normal for this breed it is important to make sure their airway is clear enough for adequate breathing. In some cases, as a bulldog matures it may be necessary to surgically open up an airway if normal breathing is impaired. This is generally a rare occurrence and should only be considered after a bulldog is fully grown as their bodies change much during their growth periods.

In most cases, the answer is NO. When you uses something like a baby wipe you will only remove debris or dirt and not address the cause of the buildup. Using a medicated wipe, like those seen on our Recommended Product Page, will only need to be done periodically as the cause of the issue is addressed.