The predictable and dependable English bulldog is a very popular dog breed for families with young children. It forms strong bonds with children because of its generally docile, sweet, and gentle personality. Bulldogs develop such strong bonds that they are gentle and protective. This people-oriented breed is an ideal family pet as it likes to solicit the attention of humans enthusiastically.
This roughly 16-inch beloved pooch with a predisposition to drool and snore loves the company of children. An English bulldog has an unusual shape and very distinct physical characteristics. It has a thick neck, heavy wrinkles on its face, and its actual head is large and spherical.
The English bulldog’s muzzle is short, which gives it its standout characteristic – a face with a flattened appearance and a black nose that is slightly upturned.
Add to its odd appearance its massive, muscular, and broad shoulders, its full chest, and its short, stocky legs, and we’ve got a superstar breed that you can easily pick out from a group of dogs.
Due to its unusual shape and appearance, many English bulldog pet owners seek information on cleaning and bathing them properly.
How Often Can You Bathe an English Bulldog?
So, the question remains: How often can you bathe an English bulldog? Bulldogs can be bathed as regularly as once a week. It cannot remain unwashed for more than six weeks, though—the frequency of bathing – from once a week to every six weeks-depends on the dog’s lifestyle. Although not as high-maintenance as other furry dogs, this breed needs to be groomed and bathed regularly because it is essential to maintain its skin and smooth coat.
Can I Bathe My English Bulldog Every Week?
If you’re an owner of this low-maintenance breed, you might be asking how often can you bathe an English bulldog. Although it is possible to bathe your bulldog every week, especially when it stays in an environment that makes it dirty, it is not ideal to do so.
If you bathe this pooch too often, its short little coat will be stripped off the good oils and may eventually be bad for its skin.
As mentioned earlier, it is essential to bathe a bulldog regularly but not as often as every week. Due to its short nose, it tends to overheat in the summer, so it always needs shade to rest and a nice cool bath.
This stocky breed has loose skin and heavy wrinkles on its face, which need to be washed.
Bulldogs are huge droolers and can get smelly, too, so regular bathing is necessary. Aside from being neat and clean, one of the main reasons why dogs need regular bathing is to keep their smooth coat in prime condition.
Bathing Regimen of Bulldogs
A bulldog’s bathing regimen is pretty simple. Here are some essential things to remember when bathing bulldogs:
- Schedule a particular time for bathing.
Since bulldogs don’t bathe frequently, it is ideal to clear a time in your calendar and make it a special bonding time with your wrinkly, lovable pet.
While bathing every two to three weeks does not fly for humans, it is perfectly suitable for this low-endurance dog.
- Don’t submerge them in water.
There are dog breeds that are excellent swimmers, but the bulldog is not one of them. They have a huge head that drags them straight down in deep water. Their tail is stubby and thick, and their legs are short, so they can’t really paddle. In fact, they have a characteristic awkward waddle when they’re walking on land.
This means when you’re bathing them, they shouldn’t be in a deep tub or pool of water. The temperature of the water should also be just right – not too cold and not too warm.
- Loosen dirt and dander before bathing.
Loosen the dirt on your bulldog’s entire body using a dryer. To help accelerate shedding, brush out the dog’s majestic coat before bath time. A brush with soft, rounded bristles is ideal because a bulldog has sensitive skin.
- Gently massage the dog shampoo.
Your bulldog doesn’t need major scouring. Just gently massage the dog shampoo into its coat. Wash your beloved pet starting at the neck, working your way up to its tail. Don’t neglect the legs and undercarriage. When you rinse off your dog, make sure that you’re doing a thorough job of getting all the shampoo out of its fur.
- Use a hydrating spray after bathing.
To help lock in moisture in the dogs, coat, use a hydrating spray. This should be followed by a stimulating massage using a grooming mitt. Do this in a circular motion to stimulate the release of natural oils.
How Do You Clean a Bulldog’s Face?
A bulldog’s face is its trademark. First, let us talk about its eyes. They are set wide and low on the forehead. The wrinkly, loose cheeks are well-rounded and protrude towards the sides.
Bulldogs have massive jaws, fleshy, drooping lips, and a lower jaw that juts out in front of the upper jaw. They already look comical and adorable with these head features alone, but add to that the pushed-in nose, and you’ve got a cute face that’s hard to resist.
Due to its unique facial features, keeping a bulldog’s face clean is important and requires careful attention. To prevent skin infections, the wrinkles and jowls on their face should be wiped every day. Use a damp cloth to clean the whole mouth, the folds, and its dewlap, taking special care to clean inside the wrinkles, which may contain bacteria.
You can also use a cotton swab that’s dipped in warm water to wipe sensitive areas. The inside of the wrinkles should be kept completely dry after they are washed. Don’t forget to clean a bulldog’s nose and apply petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is used on the nose to prevent dryness and flakiness.
When Can I Bathe My English Bulldog Puppy?
Pet owners who ask how often they can bathe an English bulldog are also curious about the frequency of bathing a puppy. Bathing a puppy, no matter what the breed is, always requires special care and a level of gentleness.
They are babies, so they are pretty delicate and prone to being hurt or harmed, so we need to be extra careful. Bulldog puppies should be bathed only after it reaches two to three months when they are big enough.
How Do I Bathe an English Bulldog Puppy?
Unlike the benign, quiet, and almost-lethargic adult, English bulldog puppies can get frisky. Ideally, small bulldog puppies should be bathed in the sink and not in a bathtub.
The sink should have a bath mat so that the surface is not slippery. You don’t like them sliding all over the sink. Make sure that the water temperature is lukewarm. Use a sprayer and ensure that you’re staying away from the face, neck, and nose area. Just get the puppy’s entire body wet.
Caring for Bulldogs
Bulldogs are affectionate, adaptable companion dogs. To keep your bulldogs safe and healthy, here are other ways to care for them:
- Keep bulldogs in a relatively cool environment.
Bulldogs don’t thrive in warm outdoor weather, particularly when it is more than 85-degrees out in the summer. They tend to breathe quite heavily when they’re hot. They don’t dissipate heat well because of their pushed-in face. Since they don’t do well in hot environments, they like to stay indoors most of the time.
Many bulldogs love staying inside air-conditioned rooms and are not very active. That is why it adapts well to apartment living.
They need to be walked when the sun is not at its peak, usually in the late afternoon when it’s cooler. However, bulldogs can also be sensitive to very cold weather, so it is crucial to keep them in a temperate climate.
- It needs regular exercise.
English bulldogs are phlegmatic creatures, particularly adults. After a few minutes of playing, they’d rather spend the rest of the day snoring on the sofa. To prevent getting overweight, it needs regular exercise at least for a few minutes each day to stay trim.
Bulldogs are often thought of as lazy animals, but they’re actually not. They enjoy brisk walks, particularly in cool weather. If their characteristic stubbornness gets hold of them, they may not be very enthusiastic about walking.
- It needs healthy, high-quality food.
Since bulldogs suffer from gassiness, giving them high-quality food filled with fiber is important. The recommended daily amount of food for bulldogs is cups daily, divided into two meals.
The better the dog food, the further it will go in keeping your bulldog healthy and robust. Any diet should also be appropriate to the bulldog’s age. While training your dog, take care when you’re giving out treats.
While it is an important training tool, too many treats may cause obesity.
- Socialization Skills
Bulldogs need socialization skills – exposure to different sights, sounds, and people. It is best to do this while they are young. Early socialization of bulldog puppies will ensure that they will grow up to be well-adjusted dogs.
Just take your dog everywhere – to busy parks, stores, and malls that allow pets and strolls around the neighborhood.
How Often Should My English Bulldog be Groomed?
English bulldogs belong to the short-coated breed of dogs, so grooming them is relatively easy. It doesn’t need to go to a pet grooming salon. Even though its coat is short, it tends to shed heavily. In fact, many pet owners are surprised at how much their bulldogs shed!
They have thick, coarse hairs that stubbornly stick to furnishings and clothing. Depending on their dog’s color, owners sometimes see solid red, fawn, solid white, or piebald hairs around them when their bulldogs shed.
The goal is to keep your bulldog’s coat smooth, glossy, and short.
When it comes to grooming bulldogs, the American Kennel Club gives the following advice:
- A bulldog needs light brushing every day to get rid of dead hair and dirt. Use a soft brush on your dog for at least 10 minutes each day.
- Brush the bulldog’s fine coat once a week using a firm bristle brush. If you can brush your bulldog more than once a week, it is better. This reduces shedding.
- Trim bulldog’s nails twice a month. Long, unsightly nails are uncomfortable for the dog.
- Brush your bulldog’s teeth twice or three times a week. Brushing is vital as it removes bacteria and tartar.
- Clean your dog’s ears. They should be checked by a professional pet groomer monthly, just in case you miss out on anything.
- Check for sores, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin while grooming. Your bulldog’s eyes should be clear. Watch out for redness or discharge.
What Shampoo is Best for English Bulldogs?
Choosing the best product for your pet’s bathing and grooming needs is essential. It is recommended that you don’t just get one product to clean all parts of the bulldog.
Just like a human body, a bulldog needs specialized care for each body part. Get a facial cleanser to clean the dog’s sensitive facial area thoroughly. A moisturizing spray or conditioner is also important to maintain its glossy, sleek coat. The best dog shampoo for bulldogs is something that has all-natural ingredients.
Check out the chemicals and components of your dog shampoo before purchasing.
The Health of English Bulldogs
This laid-back dog breed exudes vigor and stability, and for years has been a symbol of strength and courage, making it a popular university mascot. It is even associated with one of Britain’s most extraordinary prime ministers, Sir Winston Churchill, with its unflinching demeanor. However, an English bulldog has various health problems due to its unusual body and head structure.
Be sure that you monitor your dog’s health closely and that you have the financial capability to pay for medical expenses. Expect to spend a lot of money in veterinary care when you own an English bulldog. It has a short lifespan compared to other breeds, so having health tests is crucial for them.
The Bulldog Club of America recommends three health tests for your bulldog: (1) patella evaluation, (2) tracheal hypoplasia evaluation, and (3) cardiac exam.
Here are some of its health problems:
- Hip Problems
The medical term for this is hip dysplasia. This occurs when the dog’s thighbone doesn’t fit into the hip joint. I
t should be able to fit snugly, but in this instance, it doesn’t since bulldogs have naturally shallow hip joints. Some have this condition, particularly when they become overweight.
- Heart Problems
A bulldog can quickly become overweight when it doesn’t get enough exercise, leading to heart problems.
- Skin Problems
Bulldogs who have weak immune systems may be susceptible to the Demodex mite, which can develop demodectic mange. This occurs when there are several bald patches on a dog.
The bald patches may also have red, scaly skin. In severe cases, the dog may have skin infections all over its body.
- Eye-related Issues
Bulldogs tend to have a cherry eye, a condition in which the third eyelid’s gland bulges and resembles a cherry jutting out of the corner of one eye. If this occurs, your vet should remove it. Another eye-related issue that bulldogs might have is dry eye, which results from insufficient production of natural tears.
Your vet should be able to diagnose dry eye, primarily from symptoms such as a blue haze in the eye, and prescribe the appropriate medication. Another possible condition that a bulldog might have is when its eyelashes turn inward, causing it to rub against the eye. This is called entropion, and surgery may be needed to correct it.
- Respiratory Issues
Due to their short noses, some English bulldogs suffer from respiratory issues. One way to prevent this is to keep them away from very hot environments and supervise them during outdoor activities.
Owners should check whether these creatures are over-exerting themselves, which may lead to overheating and exhaustion. Other bulldogs have developed pinched nostrils, or their airways are obstructed, making it difficult for them to breathe.
To correct this, there are several treatments possible, including oxygen therapy, or they may need to undergo surgery to widen their nostrils.
- Flatulence
Bulldogs have a lot of gas to expel. This is common for short-faced breeds because of the way they ingest food. They tend to gulp air when they eat. If their flatulence seems to be out of control, it is time to go to the vet.
- Sensitivity to anesthesia
Bulldogs who need surgery are vulnerable to this concern – they ar are sensitive to anesthesia due to their flat noses.
- Obesity
These adorable dogs are greedy eaters, so they quickly gain weight. If owners don’t monitor their food intake, they can quickly become obese. The ideal weight for a mature male bulldog is about 50 pounds, and mature females typically weigh 10 pounds lighter.
If you could keep them within that range, that would be perfect. Make sure to limit feeding to twice a day rather than leaving food out all the time.
- Difficulty Giving Birth
Many bulldog mothers require caesarian to deliver their puppies. Their large heads and fronts cause them to have difficult births.
That is one of the reasons why inexperienced breeders are discouraged from trying to breed English bulldogs. Ensure the health of puppies by avoiding backyard breeders, puppy mills, or dubious pet stores. It is best to get puppies from reputable breeders to be sure that you get the healthiest bulldog possible.
Other Bulldog Characteristics
Here are other English bulldog characteristics that you should be aware of:
- Stubbornness
Its characteristic stubbornness is what makes this breed extra special. If it wants to do something, it exhibits tenacious determination. Teaching a bulldog to obey its owner is relatively easy, especially when your pet goes through a basic dog training course. But as bulldogs mature, this characteristic fades away, and they become easygoing docile creatures.
- Possessiveness
It may sound unbelievable, but the usually docile bulldog can get aggressive when its food is being threatened. It can be extremely possessive of its food bowl.
- Noise
English bulldogs seldom bark, but they make other noises. They often snort, snuffle, wheeze, grunt, or snore loudly when sleeping. Although this is normal bulldog behavior due to their smashed-in faces, some people who are not used to these strange sounds may not like it. Others, however, find it quite endearing.
- Slobbering
Many people are surprised to see how much bulldogs drool and slobber. This is one of their main characteristics, which again can be divisive. Some people find it endearing, and some people can’t stand it.
- Seldom gets Aggressive (or not at all!)
An English bulldog tends to get along well with other dogs and other domestic pets. However, once it’s aroused or senses an intruder, the dog’s usually peaceful demeanor can change.
Our Final Say
Finding the answer to how often can you bathe an English bulldog and other important bulldog grooming queries may not always be straightforward, but what is clear to us at the end of this article is this: the loose-jointed English bulldog with its adorable wrinkles needs all the care and love it can get.
The joy that this pet gives to families, with its shuffling gait and gentle disposition, is without equal. They are so loyal to their owners, and they make fine watchdogs, too. It generates so much love within a family that when an English bulldog goes missing or is stolen from a family home, it causes a lot of distress. Despite its gloomy face, it is indeed the most amiable of all breeds and should be cared for properly.
