Just like diets for humans, dog food brands market a variety of fad diets. These diets have a wide range of proposed benefits, but some may not have benefits at all, and others could be dangerous. In the case of the grain-free diet, research is being done to determine whether it increases the risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (a type of heart disease). Benefits of a Grain-Free Diet Those who support dogs eating grain-free say that it has many benefits. Including:...
We haven’t always recommended pet insurance. However, as it becomes more common, and vet bills become more expensive, we believe it could be helpful. Now, we recommend that you at least consider getting pet insurance. You may decide you don’t need it, but it’s worth looking into. What is pet insurance? Insurance for your pet is just like health insurance for you. You pay a monthly bill, and they will pay for your Bulldog’s veterinary care. Depending on your plan,...
English Bulldogs have a moderate temperament that makes them ideal for city life and apartment living. They also have lower exercise needs than other breeds, which allows them to thrive in small homes. However, even with a dog well suited for apartment living, there are a few things to consider. Helping your Bulldog thrive Daily exercise Even though bulldogs are low-energy, they still need daily exercise to stay mentally and physically healthy. Not getting enough exercise can cause dogs to...
A puppy play yard is a great piece of puppy equipment It’s perfect for anyone who can’t spend their whole day watching a puppy but doesn’t want to leave them in a crate. We use ours for potty training, and to contain a puppy without restricting them to their crates. By: Bruiser Bulldogs / Nov 1, 2021 For inside Inside the house, it’s a play space. If you’re working, and you don’t want to be distracted, put the puppy...
Every pet owner needs to find a good vet to make sure their pet stays as healthy as possible. For an English Bulldog owner, there is an added layer of complexity. Because Bulldogs commonly have health issues, many vets have the policy to perform surgeries on things like pinched nostrils. Bulldogs also have more problems with anesthesia. In the case that they do need surgery, too much anesthesia can be dangerous. We have spent years breeding Bulldogs who are healthy. That...
A puppy and child relationship is beautiful and special. We love to see a bulldog who grows up with a close bond to their families. However, if a bulldog has a bad experience with children, it may cause them to be wary of children in the future. It’s especially likely if it happens when they are young, or if it is the only experience they have had with children. That’s why, if you have children, you should prepare and make...
We are dog breeders For a lot of people, hearing the phrase dog breeder brings up a very negative picture. They think of someone who is greedy and unethical, who is willing to overbreed their dogs with no care for their wellbeing. Unfortunately, there are some breeders who fit that description. But, it doesn’t apply to them all. By: Bruiser Bulldogs / Sept. 1, 2021 What is a dog breeder’s job? In general terms, a...
Obedience class is a must for English Bulldogs. A dog who has been through an obedience class is a very well-behaved family dog. A dog that hasn’t been to obedience class can cause problems in its new home. We want our dogs to be the best fit possible with their families. The English bulldog can be a great family dog. Part of what goes into making sure they become the great family dogs they can be is taking them to...
We all want the best life for our dogs. If you own an English Bulldog, that means being aware of your dog’s breathability and the risk of heatstroke. Starting at 3-4 years old, if an English Bulldog isn’t able to breathe properly, it can hyperventilate, and have heat stroke. That causes heatstroke to be the leading cause of early death for the breed. Why can’t Bulldogs tolerate heat? A dog’s ability to tolerate heat is tied to its ability to...
Once your new puppy is home, you’re going to need to start giving them baths. It’s not just to keep them clean, it’s also a valuable socialization tool. The more consistent you are with bathtime now, the easier it will be to give your bulldog puppy a bath as they get older. Getting ready Before you start, make sure you have everything you need right next to the sink or bathtub where you intend to bathe your dog. It’s not...
The pinched nostril problem Most English Bulldogs have Stenotic nares, or pinched nostrils. Pinched nostrils mean that their nostril opening is very small or pinched together. This small amount of space can easily lead to difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, this has become a side effect of the approach of traditional bulldog breeders. Why it is an issue? Restricted airflow can spell disaster for bulldogs. Years of breeding have created multiple different health problems for bulldogs. Such as...
So you’ve bought your first AKC registered healthy English Bulldog from us. After a few months, life has hit full swing and is pushing you in every which way, diverting your time from the newest addition to your family, Jack. We all understand when life hits those busy seasons whether around the holidays or during the school year and encourage considering doggy daycare for those busy seasons. PUPPY HEALTH While some people may discourage daycare, we...
Whether it’s the toddler or puppy running around your house, potty training often receives a groan of exasperation. It can be frustrating and feel like a long process, to potty train your new English Bulldog puppy. With discipline and dedication, a new bulldog puppy should master the potty training process in a few weeks. As English Bulldog breeders focused on the health and wellbeing of our bulldogs, we encourage our adopters to implement potty training methods focusing on the instinctual...
Bulldogs love to eat and can eat extremely fast. Eating too quickly is not ideal and can cause aspiration pneumonia. That’s when the dog inhales a piece of food or a food particle into the lungs. So the question is… how do I slow down my bulldog from eating too quickly? First, you want to make sure that your bulldog is eating at the correct height. This isn’t a huge issue with bulldogs because they are pretty low...
After much research and many phone calls to manufacturers, we decided to go with Diamond Puppy/Adult food. This decision came after many years of using Royal Canin which we were mostly happy with. We felt that we should find a food formulated for our Bulldog moms. Diamond puppy food is specifically designed for pregnant, nursing moms, and puppies. It exceeds the minimum amount of calcium and phosphorus that a pregnant and nursing mom needs. I include that information to help...
People often ask us about toy selection for our young bulldog puppies. When you choose toys for your Bulldog, it’s important to remember that every puppy has unique preferences. But, a few general recommendations can be made that are typically accurate of most bulldog toy preferences. We can break down appropriate toy selections according to the age of the bulldog. Toys for 8 Weeks Young, English Bulldog puppies prefer to have a wide variety of toys. A shotgun approach to...
At Bruiser Bulldogs we like to take a macro approach to understanding our adoption process. That’s how we view whether our bulldog and adopter relationships are eventually “good”, “bad” or somewhere in between those extremes. After health, the most important factor within an English Bulldog puppy and an adopter relationship is personality. Every Bulldog will be the perfect dog for a family. That doesn’t mean that they are the perfect dog for every family. It is extremely important to understand...
There are always moments in life that you will never forget. Points in time, that are so important that you remember every detail. One of those moments is when you bring your English Bulldog puppy home for the very first time. There truly is nothing like the excitement that fills a home with a brand new puppy. Imagine the devastation for many families when their new puppy becomes sick only days after coming home. It replaces puppy kisses and playtime...
Is there anything better than sweet bulldog puppy kisses? How many pleasures top snuggling with a 10-week old bulldog on a sleepy Sunday afternoon? In the world of Bruiser Bulldogs, there is nothing better! Many a bulldog pup has pitter-pattered its tiny feet across our hardwood kitchen floor and yet the sound never tires; it’s always new, always welcomed. The kisses, the snuggles; they are always precious, never a drop of monotony. We hold our...
You bought your first AKC registered English Bulldog from us, but after a few months, life hit full swing. It’s pushing you in every which way, diverting your time from the newest addition to your family, Jack. Life hits busy seasons whether around the holidays or during the school year. That’s why we encourage considering doggy daycare for those seasons. PUPPY HEALTH While some people may discourage daycare, we believe it helps develop and maintain a healthy English Bulldog....
Ever feel like the rules are stacked against you? Like you literally cannot win no matter how hard you try? Recently, I took a trip to beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada – the land of fun and fantasy. The buildings, food, and even the shows are dripping with luxurious entertainment. It’s easy to forget that Las Vegas is simply a business model with rules designed to take money out of your wallet. We are drawn to the allure of winning big,...
There is nothing like tooting your own horn right? Some days it seems like our Bulldog health “message” feels exactly like that; self-complementary and aggressive. We repost testimonials that tout the extraordinary health and experiences past adopters have had. The content on our YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook has frequent reminders about our differences in our approach to breeding. Part of this reasoning is the disgust that simmers in our hearts as we have watched how the bulldog has been bred...
Recently we agreed to partner with a trusted breeder within our network to use their stud, Hollywood (pictured above) in a series of 4 breedings. Hollywood is everything that I believe in and want in our bloodline. From a phenotype standpoint, he breathes better than any bulldog I have been around. That means he has a huge trach and no palate issues. His snout is extended slightly by about 1/2 inch which gives more room for his palate and reduces...
This photo has been on my mind for the last couple of days. It’s a photo of one of our offspring cleaning house at an ABKC (American bully kennel club) bulldog show. She took on 150 English bulldogs in the ring and won best of breed. What you all need to know is that this would have never happened in an AKC show ring. The ABKC has intentionally developed a bulldog breed standard that requires dogs to have athletic and...
Occasionally I am asked what the most important factor in producing healthy, English Bulldog puppies is. My answer is always the same. The studs. Having a line of studs that produces high-quality Bulldog puppies is by far the highest priority in our breeding program. The ratio of females to males in a breeding program is typically 3:1 or greater. So, each male has a greater impact on the breeding program as a whole. A single stud can change the...
