Are You Ready for a Bulldog?
Before you
adopt a Bulldog.......
A Bulldog
may not be the right choice for every family. Living with a Bulldog can
be very rewarding, but you must be committed to meeting the Bulldog's
particular needs.
Some
things to consider:
Bulldogs
are perpetual children: they never grow up. A Bulldog does best in a
loving environment, free from fear and neglect. They are happiest when
with people and require lots of attention from people. When left alone,
Bulldogs can be very destructive. They may chew throughout their
lifetimes. They may need to be crated when they are not being
supervised. A Bulldog should never be left unattended in your backyard.
Not only is it dangerous to your Bulldog's wellbeing, but Bulldogs are
often targeted for theft.
Possible Health
Problems:
Bulldogs have
numerous known genetic defects and are subject to various illnesses that
affect many breeds. Common Bulldog health problems you may encounter
include: elongated soft palate, small trachea, allergies, dermatitis,
demodetic mange, eye lid anomalies, hip dysplasia and heart problems.
Some of them have a tendency toward self-mutilation (especially if they
have itchy skin), so owners should watch carefully for signs of skin
irritation and scratching. If you are adopting an older dog, many of
these conditions will already have been identified.
Twenty-four hour care
by a qualified veterinarian must be available. Since not all
veterinarians are knowledgeable about the health problems Bulldogs may
have, you should consult experienced Bulldog owners or the rescue to
find a capable veterinarian. Any veterinarian who will be doing surgery
on your Bulldog should have previous experience with putting Bulldogs
under anesthesia.
Danger
of Overheating:
Bulldogs
are extremely intolerant of heat. They must be kept in an
air-conditioned area with limited trips outside when the outside
temperature is over 80 degrees or the humidity is high. Close
supervision is required during outside activity, especially in spring
and summer to prevent over-exertion leading to over-heating. They also
are not usually capable of prolonged physical activity whether the
temperature is very warm or cold: a Bulldog is not for someone who
enjoys taking a dog for long walks through the countryside.
Although
all Bulldogs that we place are subjected to a thorough veterinary
examination and are evaluated for soundness of temperament, we do not
guarantee that they will not have any problems in their new homes. In
fact, a period of adjustment is expected during which the Bulldog and
the new owner will be getting acquainted with each other, and the
Bulldog will be "settling in" to a new routine.
If
we have any doubts about a Bulldog's ability to deal with certain
situations, we put restrictions on the type of home in which it will be
placed (for example, by requiring no young children and/or no other
pets.) We also provide guidelines for the new owners to ensure that they
are aware of any special treatment the Bulldog may require. With the
application of a little common sense in following the guidelines, new
owners will find the transition into owning a rescue Bulldog to be
relatively simple.
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