French Bulldog Care: Basic Rules for Keeping and Feeding

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Dogs are our best friends. This is confirmed by many years of human experience, when people with four-legged companions went hiking, took them hunting with them, and taught them how to catch animals. Dogs are second people, they know how to treat us, listen, understand human speech and even agree, agree on everything. You can tell a dog any secret and be firmly convinced that the secret will not be known to anyone. Four-legged friends rescued people from traps and scrapes. And a person pays them for this with the most valuable thing he has - with his own love.

In this article we will talk about such a breed of dog as the French Bulldog. Find out what his character traits, body structure, how to care for a pet. Is he really as friendly as we think?

The history of the breed

The most reliable information about how this breed of dogs appeared is unknown to mankind. However, there are two versions of how these wonderful animals saw the light.

The first tells us that the FrenchThe Bulldog descended from its ancestor, the small Old English Bulldog. Relatives of the latter are the Molossian Great Danes of Athens. According to this version of the origin of the French Bulldogs, Molossian Great Danes were brought to France by migrant workers during the industrial revolution. There they took root and gave offspring, from which wonderful dogs appeared - the heroes of this article.

But the second version tells us that the progenitors of modern French Bulldogs are not Old English Bulldogs at all, but Spanish ones. In another way, they are also called medieval Alans. Today, representatives of this breed are no longer in the world, but history says that dogs were used to take part in bullfights. No wonder their French Bulldog descendants have such a menacing and serious look.

French Bulldog: breed description

The hero of this article is not a very large dog, but this shortcoming is more than compensated for by a strong knocked down physique, the muscles of the dog are well developed, they can be easily seen with the naked eye. The coat of bulldogs is short, smooth and thick. Adult dogs weigh differently: males from 9 to 14, and females from 8 to 13 kilograms. This is the necessary standard for a French Bulldog.

This is a typical fighting dog of small size. With a powerful, well-built body, these dogs are stocky and have a naturally short tail. But with their formidable appearance, these dogs are cheerful and cheerful, reasonable, understand kind and affectionate things.relation. With proper upbringing, they love their owners very much and are devoted to them. They can safely be called a companion dog, they will gladly take a walk with you or your children in the fresh air. These animals treat the guests in the house kindly, but if the people who come do not seem too friendly, wait for a reaction. This dog has a strong character and in case of unexpected danger is always ready to rush to the rescue of any member of his family.

Also, "French" can be unfriendly to other dogs and cats. But it all depends on the upbringing and temperament of the dog.

Features of French Bulldogs

"The French" are distinguished by a massive and wide head, covered with many wrinkles. The folds on the forehead of these dogs are very pronounced. The muzzle of French Bulldogs (boys and girls) is short, the nose is small and forked. The upper lip is also forked, the ears are erect, with a wide base and rounded ends. In dogs, the superciliary arches protrude very strongly, which are separated from each other by a wide groove between the eyes. But at the same time, she does not have a continuation on her forehead, unlike their close relatives - English bulldogs.

These dogs come in many different colors. Animals in the colors "brindle French bulldog" are especially popular. This color is the presence of red hairs of wool on a black background, or vice versa. A mask may be “drawn” on the muzzle, and there may also be marks on the animal’s throat or chest.

There is another, no lessa popular but rarer species: the white French bulldog. Finding a pure white pet will be a challenge. It is much easier to find a white dog with red or black spots.

We have discussed the characteristics of the breed of this dog, now we need to find out what kind of care is required for the French bulldog.

Features of caring for a dog of this breed

Before you decide to get yourself such a dog, you should remember that this breed requires special attention and more thorough care. This is due to the fact that bulldogs have narrower nostrils than other dogs, as well as blocked nasal passages and pharynxes. Therefore, French Bulldogs often develop brachycephalic syndrome. A caring and loving owner should do everything possible to prevent this from happening. To prevent illness, do the following:

• French Bulldogs should be fed at least twice a day.
• Walk in the fresh air, letting the dog drain all the accumulated energy.
• Examine eyes, ears, teeth for foreign bodies and inflammation.
• Wash front and back paws.

This is the bare minimum of caring for a French Bulldog. Now let's figure out what needs to be done to make the pet feel as comfortable and favorable as possible.

Caring for a dog's coat

French Bulldogs are short-haired animals, so dog grooming is minimal. But according to reviewsowners of these dogs shed heavily bulldogs, so during such periods do not forget to carefully comb the dog. This must be done not only during periods of molting, but also constantly, with the obligatory subsequent bathing. So that the "Frenchman" is not uncomfortable during combing, you can buy a special mitten for bathing dogs. With its help, you can easily and quickly bathe your pet without causing unnecessary inconvenience to yourself and him.

Also take care to choose good clothes for the French Bulldog so that the animal is comfortable in it. This will prevent the wool from fading quickly and therefore deteriorating in quality.

Face care

The folds in a dog of this breed are perhaps the most tender place in the whole body. Daily care of a French Bulldog at 2 months, six months, a year and beyond requires careful treatment of all the wrinkles on your pet's body. Be sure to every day with a soft sponge dipped in warm water, carefully and thoroughly rinse them, wipe the dog's muzzle. If this is not done, then pathogenic bacteria can start in the folds, diaper rash will appear, the skin will be irritated and begin to inflame.

If the infection still penetrated the dog's skin, then simple rubbing will not help. Baby creams will come to the rescue. With a delicate structure, but at the same time quite dense and oily consistency, they perfectly cool inflamed skin and relieve pain. You can also try to wash the festering folds with Chlorhexidine, which can be bought at a pharmacy. But when using it, be careful and careful: ifthe medicine gets into the mucous membranes of the nose or eyes, then a burn may occur.

Also try to approach the choice of clothing for the French Bulldog with great care. Incorrectly selected, tight clothing can hamper the pet in movements, put pressure on its body and injure delicate folds.

Caring for your dog's ears

When keeping a French Bulldog, it is worth remembering that another weak point in him is his ears. A peculiar shape, they get dirty very quickly and often, so they will have to be washed and cleaned every day. It is necessary to purchase a special lotion for dogs that does not contain alcohol and use it to clean your pet's ears. The best way to do this is to take a Q-tip, dip it in the product and wipe the ears until you are sure that there is no more dirt left.

If your pet has begun to hear less, then perhaps too much wax has accumulated in the ear canal. In this case, pour the lotion directly into the ear hole. The product will quickly dissolve all unnecessary substances in the dog's ear, and the ability to hear normally will return to it.

Daily grooming of the French Bulldog includes checking the ears for parasites such as mites. If you suspect an uninvited guest in your pet's ear, then, without wasting time, contact your veterinarian.

Tooth care

French Bulldogs need to brush their teeth twice a month. This is necessary to prevent the occurrence of caries and tartar, which in the advanced stage are capable ofmake life difficult for the dog. Regular brushing will keep your pet's breath fresh and pleasant.

To brush your teeth, you need to purchase a special toothbrush for animals sold in a pet store. You can also buy toothpaste for dogs there. Do not worry that her taste may not be to the liking of the pet. Now there are a lot of varieties of pastes for animals, there are even products with a taste of meat! Such a valuable find your bulldog will not be able to ignore.

If you could not get a specialized toothbrush, then use a regular one. But pay attention to the bristles: they should be soft so as not to injure the delicate gums of the dog.

Regularly check the condition of the animal's oral cavity. If you find plaque on your teeth, bleeding gums, or other suspicious symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. Remember that the disease is easier to prevent than to cure.

Bathing

Here it is important to know that very small puppies do not need to be bathed. Why? At this age, their immunity is not yet sufficiently strengthened. A special protective layer on the coat and skin of the animal saves them from various diseases and viral diseases. When bathing a puppy, there is a big risk to wash off this layer, and then the dog will start to get sick much more often.

Adult French Bulldogs need to be bathed as they get dirty. Bath procedures should take place no more than once every three months. Before you give your dog a bath, you should purchase at a veterinary pharmacy or specializedshop shampoo for puppies or dogs.

Remember that the use of laundry soap is strictly prohibited, as it injures the delicate skin of the dog and can cause her to be allergic to the components in the detergent. Make sure your shampoo or soap is as natural as possible.

Claw care

When caring for a French Bulldog, you don't need to pay special attention to the claws. You just need to purchase a special nail clipper for dogs and trim them carefully as the nails grow. Try not to damage the vessel in the claw, which is sometimes very visible. If you notice it, then cut to the level where it begins. If the dog's claw is dark, and the vessel is not noticeable, then try to cut carefully, in small movements.

If you are in doubt about your ability to trim your dog's nails accurately and safely, contact your veterinarian. He will quickly and painlessly perform all the necessary procedures for your pet.

Grooming

Usually French bulldogs need grooming services only when they are preparing for a show or some kind of competition. First you need to make sure that your pet looks as neat and tidy as possible. To do this, comb the dog, make sure that the coat is smooth, without tangles and tangles. Make sure that the hairs are on the same level, do not let them stand out from the general row.

Then it is worth cutting the animal in those places where the hair has grown too much. Usually such places are on the ears, betweenfingers, elbows, etc. Please note that grooming a French Bulldog involves a neat and delicate haircut, try to carry out this procedure in a calm environment.

Site equipment

Before you get such a dog, you should properly equip and think over the place where it will sleep. The main thing to remember: you can not lay the dog next to radiators, heaters, fireplaces and other heating devices. This is fraught with the fact that the dog will get used to high temperatures and subsequently will often catch colds.

What can you offer a dog as a bed? This could be a pet store-bought bed, a soft rug, or a box with breathing holes drilled into it. At the bottom of the box, you can lay a soft blanket or put a folded baby sheet. And do not forget that the puppy must be accustomed to his place from the very first day, as he appeared in your house.

That's it. Now you know the basics of caring for a French Bulldog. May your pet never get sick!