29/08/2022
ALL BULLY PARENTS OR NEW OWNERS SHOULD READ THIS.........
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
💞36 Things new bully owners should know about their bullies.💞 It don't hurt for an experienced bully owner to read as well........
1. No long walks in hot weather, like over 70. Don’t assume that because you live in a hot climate that the dog is used to the heat. Bully’s do not get used to extreme heat because their internal cooling mechanism does not work properly and they can overheat easily. If your bully starts panting and salivating heavily, get them out of the heat immediately. Learn how to cool them down. If your summer months are hot, the a/c should be going 24/7, except on particularly cool days.
2. They won’t chase a ball a long way. Don’t expect that. Light indoor play is fine. They like tug of war but do not pick up their front legs when doing that.
3. Memorize the list of foods they cannot have. They often have food allergies that commonly cause most skin issues. You can find on google the preferences for the breed.
4. Get pet insurance. And have the Wellness Plan.
6. Do not feed cheap supermarket grade dog food. Get the best that you can afford. Do not feed them table scraps or any fluid except water. Check the ingredients of sweetened foods like peanut butter and honey and make sure it does not contain Xylitol, which can be fatal to a dog.
7. Fruits such as berries, bananas, peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon , apples(no cores) are great for them. Eggs are good also.
8. Use a harness, not a leash attached to a collar.
9. Get a good vet who knows the bulldog breed. Don’t assume the vet knows the bully breed. I would avoid the vets at the Pet Stores such as Banfield. Usually staffed by young and inexperienced vets.
10. It is normal for them to bite and snap a bit as puppies. They do stop. It is not a sign of an aggressive dog. It’s what they do as puppies. They will
Actually jump at you and bark, but it’s just excess energy. They calm down when the adult teeth are in.
11. Raising a bully takes patience, perseverance and experience. I would not recommend bully’s as a first dog unless you do your research on the breed.
12. They will follow you everywhere. If you plan to take a step back, look before you do, there might be a bully behind you. Wanna take a shower with the bathroom door ajar...you’ll have company!!🤣🤣🤣
13. No cheap rawhide chewy toys. Get odorless bullysticks, tires and tough ropes and always supervise. Try to avoid toys with stuffing. They will destroy those inside one hour. They are power chewers.
14. Dogs love routine. Try to establish one with your bully. Same feeding time, bed time and walking schedule. But unscheduled walks are great too!!
15. If you spend a lot of time switching furniture around, it freaks them out believe it or not. Try to keep things the same if you can.
16. I see many people use crates to put doggy in for whatever reason. I’m not a big fan and I use a pen instead. Lots of room and they can walk around in it.
17. This one may cause some controversy but I’ll say it anyway; if you cannot afford pet insurance or a trip to the vet whenever needed, I would suggest another less demanding breed of dog. An animal should not suffer because you don’t have the financial resources to provide proper care. You don’t have to be wealthy, just smart. I have read far to many posts from owners of bully’s whining about how sick the dog is but they can’t afford a trip to the vet. Would you let your child suffer??
18. If your bully becomes sluggish, lethargic or seems to avoid moving, see the vet and get a chest X-ray of the heart. Many bully’s get heart problems as they age because their hearts have to work so hard to circulate oxygen.
19. In the same vein, I highly recommend that when your bully is spayed or neutered, the vet, (who should be experienced with surgery on bulldogs) check the soft palette and make sure it’s not elongated and impeding breathing. If so, they can cut the soft palette back and improve breathing at the same time they do the spay or neuter. This often also prolongs their lifespan and reduces cardiac disease with in the breed.
20. You see and interact with your dog daily. The vet does not. If doggy has behavior which you believe requires a trip to the vet, try to get a video on your phone to show the vet. If doggy is a bit “off”, it’s your responsibility to advocate for your dog. The dog can’t.
21. If there are heart, skin, eye or cancer issues, there are veterinary specialists that deal with them. Find one. Don’t assume your regular vet is an expert on such problems. He or she probably isn’t. If your vet doesn’t give you satisfactory answers, get another vet. If the dog gets cherry eye, go to a veterinary opthamologist.
22. They are quick, strong and stubborn. Make sure you wrap your leash once around so they can’t bolt by surprise.
23. I have yet to find a bully who knows the difference between shoes bought at DSW or Jimmy Choo. If you have expensive shoes or clothing keep them in the closet and beyond their reach where they belong.
24. Despite their tough look, they are very delicate animals. I don’t recommend a lot of roughhousing with them. Gentle play is great.
25. Although I have heard some people claim that their bully can swim, most can’t and will sink like a rock. Water is not the place to experiment. Keep an eye on them around water and don’t let them go beyond the depth of their paws. They do make dog floatation devices which you can put on them in the pool. A small kiddie pool works great for them.
26. Remember this...you have your job, your life, your family and your hobbies etc. Your dog only has you. So include them in as many things as you can.
27. Head tremors are common although the exact cause is unknown. It scares the crap out of us owners but doesn’t really affect the dog that much. Many people say it’s a blood/sugar thing and to give some honey and/or peanut butter. My first bully had it and the honey/peanut butter trick seemed to work. But it can also be a calcium deficiency.
28. They can also get seasonal flank alopecia which is when the fur on their flanks falls out. It’s common and may actually grow back the following season when they grow a new coat. It’s harmless but a trip to a veterinary dermatologist doesn’t hurt just to confirm the diagnosis. The vet will likely recommend 5 mg of melatonin twice a day. If you are patient and do this for 6-8 months (approx) the hair may grow back sooner than expected. Add a little vitamin E oil to a spray bottle and misting then promotes hair growth. It did with mine.
28. The dog does not need a weekly bath unless they wallow in filth on a regular basis. Always use hypoallergenic soap, and or antifungal soap without the fancy fragrances.
29. If you have a dog, I just don’t understand this no bed no couch crap. Their inclination is to hang out with us humans.
30. Always wipe their folds, and rear ends, and tail pocket after a walk. Baby wipes for rear ends, however the folds can be trickier. I prefer something dry to remove the moisture like a tissue. Also invest in antifungal wipes and bully wrinkle paste.
31. For female bully’s you should clean the ge***al area gently with baby wipes.
32. They will love you unconditionally, you should do the same for them.
33. If your bully throws up white foamy stuff, that’s bile. It happens when you feed them in the evening but nothing else till the morning. I give my bully some treats at bedtime and the problem no longer happens. Their bully belly’s are always churning. If they just have an upset tummy give them a little pumpkin puree.
34. If you are getting your bully from a breeder, ask to see the relatives, I.e mom, grandma, etc if they are available. You can get some idea of the puppies future temperament by seeing the mommy etc.
35. Ask the breeder about any health issues with the relatives. Many of these health problems are Genetic and may be passed on to the puppies. Some breeders breed to eliminate genetic issues ask them.
36. If you change your dogs food, do it gradually over time, gradually increasing the amount of the new food. Sudden food changes will result in diarrhea. This will also happen if you give your dog table scraps or things they can’t have. I suspect many cases of diarrhea are caused by dumb feeding decisions.
