The English Bulldog Puppy Blog

Cases of fraud concerning pet adoption scams keep on surfacing ending with people losing their hard earned money to extortionists. Like most scams, dog adoption scams has been around for awhile. Don’t be a part of the statistics as fallen prey to puppy adoption scams.

Adopting an adorable English bulldog puppy may sound too good to be true. Online ads of dog for adoption may also appear very convincing that makes you consider giving in to these ads. Before you do start contacting online pet sellers, here are ways to avoid being a victim to online scams.

1. Always be on guard when you read online ads promising a free English bulldog puppy. Be warned of unscrupulous dealers and puppy brokers selling puppies to innocent buyers asking for certain fees paid and sent through money order or wire transfer. Most dog sellers or dog owners pretend to be located in Cameroon or Nigeria or somewhere in Africa. Others might tell you they live in America but is far from where you are. Ads placed online usually involve someone who has moved or is moving or lives in another country.
2. Watch out for several payments requested by the dog breeder. Similar to other advance fee scams involving the promise of the puppy shipped when all necessary fees are paid. There are cases when the “dog owner” is an American serving in the Peace Corps. He promises to send the dog upon getting $200 to pay for shipping. When no shipment would come, more requests for money is made up to the point of eventually disappearing.
3. To avoid these types of scams, know who exactly you are dealing with. Independently confirm your seller’s name, street, address and telephone number. Check references including veterinarians and others who have bought pets form the same breeder.
4. If you’re dealing with a breeder, always visit in person to see how animals are treated and to determine it’s not a puppy mill. Puppy mill puppies are often malnourished and separated from their mothers too early. These puppies may have inherited health disorders which could cost you more than what you bargained for.
5. Upon knowing that the breeder is genuine not a scammer, opt to buy or adopt dogs located near where you are. Don’t purchase pets from a distant seller. You may not be aware that the puppy was born overseas in a puppy mill then sold to a U.S. broker. Thousands of dogs are shipped into the United States from puppy mills such as from Russia and China.
6. Don’t easily fall for claims when the seller offers dogs for adoption or any “good Samaritan” offering. Reputable shelters don’t place animals for adoption by sending out mass emails and shipping them out to people.
7. The best and safest place to adopt a pet is the local pound. Local breeders save you from any risks of putting yourself susceptible for scams. A puppy shipped is cruelty in itself. You are supporting puppy mills as well when you make purchases of pets online.

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A 48-year old woman from Bethlehem had long wanted to adopt a pair of English bulldogs. She paid $800 to have the bulldogs shipped to her home, police said. Alas, the dogs never arrived and the woman’s contact has asked for more money to expedite shipment.

The woman, not identified by police, of the 900 block of Itaska Street, exchanged emails with a person supposedly based in Florida regarding her intentions to adopt the dogs, police said. The person in Florida said the dogs would be sent from Nigeria and asked for a shipment cost of $ 700. By this time folks, be wary of the enormous red flag when Nigeria is merely mentioned in talks of adopting bulldogs. Scams these days comes in all sorts and sizes.

As any scammers do, the contact asked for an additional $100 later which the Bethlehem woman paid it, police said. The dogs were expected to arrive in the Lehigh Valley on Saturday, but no shipment came. When the victim asked her contact what happened, the city woman received an e-mail that stated that the dogs were in California and another $470 was required to ship them to Bethlehem.

One thing is for sure, the woman will never unite with the alleged dogs, and is unlikely to have her money returned to her.

Consumers need to exercise a great deal of caution when transacting business online. In case of animal adoption, it’s better to buy form a local source where you can meet the buyer in person. Be cautious of any products or money originating from Nigeria.

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Who wouldn’t want to hug a good-smelling English bulldog? There is one way of showing that you care for your bulldog – treat your dog to a bath on a fairly regular basis. Start your dog’s bathing regimen by learning suggestions here.

(Photo Credits: Dann Tardif/CORBIS)

Like other dog (humans too), English bulldogs will eventually get dirty and must be bathe. This breed can be allergy prone and easily develop dry, itchy skin so it is important to know the correct way to bathe this breed. Proper bathing also helps lessen the amount of hair shed by your bulldog.

Don’t neglect giving your bulldog frequent brushings and rubdowns. It turns out that when your dog receives daily brushings and brushdowns, it does not need frequent bathing. It is most recommended to bathe your dog when it obviously needs a bath, as well as when you plan to exhibit your dog. A show dog in the ring should be a squeaky clean dog in the ring.

Where should you bathe your English bulldog? Well, any place you want to and can! Always ensure you can control bathing your pet which means you can easily control the water supply and where you can rinse the dog thoroughly. You may use a big and deep sink, bath tub, kitchen sink or even on the lawn. If you’re handling a puppy, it’s best to take it outside and let it “do his thing” just before you bathe him.

Here are steps on how to bathe your English bulldog:

1. Gather all necessary things you will need to start. Prepare shampoo, any rinses you plan to use, cotton balls, Q-lips, eye ointment or mineral oil, Vaseline, wash cloth, towels. Opt for a mild and no-tears shampoo such as Johnson & Johnson no Tears or Avon Tearless. Most bulldogs use a dog shampoo such as Lambert Kay or Groom-Rite. Others also use a special whitening shampoo for white dogs (Lambert Kay Snowy-Coat, Bio Groom Super White, etc.). Many use a special shampoo for red dogs (Ring S Burnished Bronze, etc.). You may on occasion need to use a flea shampoo but since these are quite harsh, don’t use one unless you really need to.
2. Apply a couple of drops of mineral oil or a small amount of eye ointment in the eyes. Place a cotton ball securely in each ear before you wet your pet.
3. Slowly wet the dog thoroughly from just behind the ears to the tips of the toes on his hind feel. Wet the underside, too, not just the top and sides.
4. Apply the shampoo starting at his neck and working back. Work the shampoo in to be sure you get all the way through his hair to the skin. Pay extra attention and care when washing the paws (wash between the toes), his tail (clean all around the base), and the genital area. On a female English bulldog, be especially careful to clean the vulva and its folds.
5. Wet the wash cloth and use it to dampen the bulldog’s face and ears. Put some shampoo on the washcloth and wash the dog’s face. Wash the wrinkles over the nose, on the forehead, around the nose and under the eyes. Wash his nose. Wash his ears, inside and out.
6. Now rinse. Don’t stop rinsing until you are sure every area, especially in the wrinkles and tight places, is thoroughly rinsed with no signs of shampoo residue.
7. Apply a good conditioner to keep your dog’s coat soft. You can use a dog conditioner rinse like Oster Creme Rinse, Oster Coat Conditioner or Francodex Oatmeal Creme Rinse. If dog conditioner may be a bit too expensive for you, you may use a regular conditioner (for people) like L’Oreal Creme. For a white dog, you can use a rinse of 4 Tbs. Mrs. Wright’s Bluing, I qt. water, 1/4 cup baking soda. Mix enough bluing into the water to get a darkish blue not black. Pour the bluing mixture over him and work in with your fingertips. Do not rinse. Do not towel dry. Let the dog drip dry. For red dogs, try VOS Henna Conditioner.
8. Dry your English bulldog with towels. By this time, remove the cotton balls out of the dog’s ears. Make sure to clean any wax carefully using a dry Q-Tip or one with a dab of Panalog. Keep your dog’s nose soft by rubbing a dab of Vaseline. Dry your bulldog either by air dry or with the use of a hair dryer to finish the drying. It’s recommended to keep the dog indoor until it is completely dry for about two hours.

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Many bulldog show and pet pageants are constantly undertaken annually where bulldogs and other dog breeds strut their stuff on the red carpet. As a bulldog owner, the idea of showcasing your English bulldog in dog shows may have cross your mind but you don’t know where to start. Explore the world of bulldog show and what you can do to prepare your English bulldog and develop its winning streak.

Preparation
The nice thing about prepping up your bulldog for show is that bulldogs are relatively simple and easy to show. English bulldogs require very little preparation. With regular brushing, they will naturally have a clean and shiny coat greatly enhanced by rubbing it with chamois leather or velvet pad. Parts of their good hygiene are occasional bathing (especially when they are predominantly white) and daily wiping of the eyes (to avoid eye staining). Check if al wrinkles are clean and dry and make sure his ears are clean and nails are trimmed.

Show Training
When you exhibit your English bulldog, remember to emphasize the good qualities and tone down the not so good feature. Show training is long term investment which requires your bulldog to start early in life. The international Championship judge, Judith Daws, recommends letting your puppy stand on a table every day even for a few minutes preferably from the age of six weeks. Let him wear his collar without any leash. At the start, focus on getting your puppy to stand still while you continuously stroke him. The position of your dog’s legs and feet are not important at this point. Next, place one hand on his chest while the other hand cupping his rear. You hold this position for ten or fifteen seconds while continuously saying the command “stand”. After a few sessions, you will be able to move his legs into the proper square position sometimes holding his chin or his collar to stabilize your pet. The back legs should be placed slightly closer together. When viewed form the front, the back legs can be seen between the front legs.

Show training should be adjusted to the temperament of your bulldog. Be constantly patient and ensure it to be a fun time for your dog with a treat at the end of each session. Avoid getting distressed and frustrated when training didn’t end as you planned. In this case, your dog will notice you have become exasperated. It’s better to avoid showing any signs of frustration otherwise your dog will regard training as something unpleasant. As with other trainings, keep sessions short and always end it on a positive note regardless how small the achievement.

Entering Shows
Your bulldog must be at ease in the presence of other people. You should do this before you let your dog enter shows.

In UK and USA, puppies are accepted in the show ring from the age of six months on. Refrain from entering any breed shows until you are sure that your puppy and you are prepared. It is most often wiser to hold back young dogs that are not yet ready for the show ring than risk his chances of being placed.
When it is your first time to attend, just sit and watch other more experienced handlers, while your dog will get accustomed to older dogs and new environments before his debut. Unlike other dog breeds that are judged by standing sideways, bulldogs are always exhibited front-on facing the judge.

What to Wear
The author of the book Bulldogs, Christian Bruton, highly recommends handlers the following tips. Pet owners should plan an outfit that complements your bulldog. Look for something that looks reasonably professional without distracting attention from the exhibit. Women should refrain from wearing long flowing skirts that tend to flap around and detract from the general outline of the dog while moving. It is wise to leave high heels and dangling jewelry at home. Loose trousers and flat shoes are most widely accepted. For male handlers, the same author recommends “a shirt, tie and jacket. Make sure that the trousers are loose fitting enough to allow you to get down and stack your bulldog. Jackets should not be too tight across the shoulders which restrict your arms when you reach over your dog.

What to Take
Bring a breed bag containing bowl of drinking water, bottle of water, dry towels, a brush and a chamois leather, grooming chalk for the white parts of the coat, showing leads, plastic hand spray with water and diluted shampoo for last minute cleaning when the venue of the show is dusty or muddy. The emergency kit should have travel sickness tablets. Select a bag with a secure, separate pocket in which to keep the show schedule, the car park ticket and passes and ring cards. Don’t forget to bring along a crate and trolley on which you place inside the crate. Bring blanket or cushion to place inside the crate. Take plenty disposable kitchen towels to clean up the cage in case of “accidents”. A lock and key may also be very useful to secure your dog in his cage when you need to leave your dog for a short while. You can also cover the crate with a light piece of cloth, dust sheet or scarf so that your dog won’t be distracted by the crowd and other dogs.

Behavior in the ring
Be calm, confident and relaxed to avoid nervousness “traveling down the lead to the dog.” Don’t over handle your dog. Aim to show leads of the loose fitting nylon variety that fall away form the neck. A very important feature of the Bulldog is the arch and strength of the neck. Thus you do not compensate lack of show training by “stringing up” your English bulldog like a terrier.

Here is a toast to the next big winner of beauty pageants. Good luck!

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English bulldogs may not be a dog breed fit to most conventional standards of beauty. The unique combination of being pudgy, wrinkled, flat-faced all works like magic making bulldogs gorgeous creatures. It’s no surprise to find beauty pageants and shows dedicated to showcase the beauty of bulldogs.

Justin Rudd, a Belmont Shore community activist, is one of aficionados of gorgeous bulldogs that he, together with his Community Action Team, plans to stage the annual Bulldog Beauty Contest and Pet Adoption Fair on February 15 at Marine Stadium.

The main goal of the event is to gather bulldog lovers together and find homes for unwanted pets in dire need of a mother’s love. Rudd expects to see “400 drooling contestants and an estimate of 1,000 spectators.

Beginning at 11 a.m., there will also be pageants for French bulldogs, pugs and senior dogs of all breeds and mixes. Pet adoptions will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..

Starting at 11 am, there will be pageants for French bulldogs, pugs and senior dogs of all breeds and mixes. Another exciting event of the fair is the Bulldog Beauty Contest, at 1:30pm, where each pet will strut down a 100-foot red carpet as an outdoor runway, flanked by hundreds of seats, rentable for $5. Pet adoptions will take place throughout the event. The dog candidates will be judged base on personality, charm, face and first impressions.

Awards at stake are oldest contestant; congeniality; best smile; farthest distance traveled; and best legs. The top 10 will be announced in each of the breed categories and awards.

Costumes are optional. Rudd says dogs are attractive enough and does not need to be covered.

Last year, more than 300 bulldogs from at least four states and Canada participated.

The event is produced by Justin Rudd and benefits his nonprofit 501(c)(3) Community Action Team (CAT), which includes Haute Dogs and Operation Santa Paws, as well as beach cleanups, spelling bees, art contests and photography events.

Marine Stadium is at 5225 E. Paoli Way.

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Are these procedures medically needed or are pets simply undergo surgery to fulfill their masters’ vanity?

Cosmetic surgeries aren’t only limited to people nowadays. The hype of having facelifts, tummy tucks, nose jobs, breast reductions, testicular implants and cosmetic dentistry caters may sound like an extreme makeover reality TV show. Get this, patients going under the surgeon’s knife nipped and tucked are not only people but pets.

An orthopedic veterinary surgeon, Dr. Alan Schulman, performs plastic surgery to animals shares that pet are no longer considered property but family members. In this modern day of evolution, pet owners having discretionary salary sees technology and veterinary expertise both useful adversaries to help their animals achieve a better quality of life through reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Schulman often advises his patients to determine for a real medical reason to do some reconstructive repair before any surgeries. Though, the “Veterinarian to the Stars” doctor gets his fair share to perform unnecessary cosmetic procedures from celebrities.

Skin-fold problems
There are legitimate medical needs for such surgeries especially among certain dog breeds that require reconstructive procedures in the likes of an eyelift, full facelift, rhinoplasty or abdominoplasty. The costs of these procedures don’t come cheap with costs as much as $1,000 per procedure. The pet is usually hospitalized overnight and monitored closely after anesthesia.

The most common concerns are skin fold problems, particularly around the eyes, lips, tail and vaginal area. Dr. Schulman says “It’s not uncommon to have skin folds surgically reduced in size or eliminated in order to help the animal from chronic discomfort and infection.”

There a cases when the skin folds of canines becomes prone to bacterial infections due to the difficulty of keeping the areas between the folds clean. Bulldogs, most especially, have a trademark wrinkle over the nose and below their eyes. These wrinkles tend to be so deep and recessed making it hard to manage. Some pet-owners resort to skin fold reduction surgery when infections get out of hand despite application of topical antibiotics.

Nose jobs and chin lifts
Dog breeds which are the most likely candidates for nose jobs are pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers so as to alleviate breathing problems. While the sharpie and the chow, on the other hand, resort to eyelifts as a very common reconstructive to correct a congenital defect that causes the eyelids to roll inwards and the eyelashes to rub against the cornea.

A chin lift is often performed to curb excessive drooling problems in big dogs namely mastiffs, bloodhounds and Newfoundlands. Droopy lips may be innate in these breeds but excessive drooling can cause chronic mouth infections, which can lead to further complications in the kidneys and liver and worst even cause heart-valve infections.

Orthodontics for dogs
Animals are gifted of the ability to grow back lost teeth yet is subject to misalignment. Some pets are pronounced overbite which veterinary dental specialists have a full array of techniques to combat the problem, including orthodontic braces, bands and retainers. There are, however, no elastic-band color choices for Fido. Dental work can also be required after an injury to the mouth and fractured teeth. Dogs can chew on just about everything including horse and cow hoofs, tennis balls and oddly, ice resulting to dogs having root canal treatment and a crown fitted. The dental expenses are almost the same as in humans. Most pet owners don’t mind spending money just to make sure their pet is not suffering from pain. Thus, it’s not a bad idea to secure a pet dental insurance to cut down rising costs of dental repair.

Before you decide to transform your English bulldog to a wrinkle-free face (spell cosmetic surgery), make sure to discuss with you veterinarian if your pet do have medical needs. Go ahead by all means if it does make your dog’s life better. Be mindful, though, not to drastically alter that pudgy face of your pet. After all, those wrinkles make English bulldogs so adorable.

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Just like bulldogs Tillman and Tyson, your English bulldog can be a skateboarding bulldog too who can skate like a pro. The dogs recently took part in the 120th Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day showcasing their interesting skill. What else but skateboarding!

photo credits to C-had

You can train any dog to ride a skateboard. It is seen as an innate behavior based on the prey drive of dogs. When they see something moving fast, they instinctively want to chase after it. It may differ from a certain breed to another but one thing is common – training your dog will require lots of patience and work. Learn some tips on how to actually train your bulldog how to ride a skateboard.

Start it slow.
Have your dog start training with a stationary skateboard. Let your dog feel the skateboard. Lock it down and train your dog to get up on it and stand. Attach a leash to the end of the board and let your dog stand on it or sit while you drag it slowly.

Davis started Tillman with a wider board with bigger trucks because it offers stability. Tillman now rides new school, old school, long board and everything in between.

Bulldog Tyson uses Bulldog skateboards with Tracker trucks while Tillman rides Powell Peralta skateboards with revenge trucks. Puppies need not to fret about riding goofy like right foot forward, they just need to grab the boards, throw them down, push off from the closest side and ump up for a ride.

Treat him well.
Blow a whistle whenever your dog does something right as a treat. The sound of the whistle will let him know he is doing what is expected of him. You can give your bulldog a treat but is recommended to exclude treats. Training should be based on the dogs’ drive to play.

Follow the leader.
Your bulldog might not be too interested by the time you show him his skateboard. Demonstrate it to her by moving the skateboard or showing your dog how to use it.

Jim Blauvelt, owner of bulldog Tyson, had no problem of introducing Tyson to skateboards. As a puppy, Tyson would go crazy at skateboarders at the beach. Blauvelt thought his pet hates skateboards. One day, they threw out a skateboard then right away bulldog Tyson started stepping up on it. Since then, Tyson would often bother owner Davis to let him go skate. Blauvelt got Tyson a long retractable leash with harness that goes over the dog’s shoulders rather than his neck to encourage Tyson with skateboarding.

Practice makes perfect.
Take your bulldog out for practice done every single day. When he gets the hang of skateboarding, let your dog practice for two hours per day. Just like dogs Tillman and Tyson practice for two hours a day, three to four times a week.

Safety first
Don’t let your pet chase people while skating. It completely changes the motivation your dog has for skateboarding. It should be all about having fun while your dog is out exercising. Always remember to put safety first. Practice at a safe location where the board won’t wander into a road or in front of a car.

Pet owners Davis and Blauvelt met at a bulldog beauty pageant two years ago where Tyson was showing off his skateboard prowess. The two men struck up a conversation and soon became friends as well as their dogs.

The two bulldog owners along with their dogs often meet in the TNT training camp in one corner of the parking lot at Natural Balance when their pups practice for the big day in Rose Parade. The camp was set up by animal trainer Sue Chipperton of Valencia. They take turns on the track for six to seven minutes at a time, each bulldog taking a break while the other dog skates.

The practice continued with the dogs on a track in a truck that moved around the parking lot.

Watch out.
Bulldogs are known to have breathing difficulty so be wary of your dog getting overheated. Be cautious of your dog showing any signs of overheating. Some breeds overheat faster than others. Adjust the length of the training session based on how hot or cool a day would be. Shorten the training time when the weather is too hot. Let them skate longer on cooler days.

Fun time
Finally, never ever force your dog to ride a skateboard when your pet doesn’t want to. Take it as a quality time for both of you to have fun and bond as well. You might want to go skateboarding too with your bulldog. Happy skateboarding!

Watch a video of Tyson and Tillman in a skateboarding face off.  Judge which English bulldog skates better.

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The once stolen English bulldog puppy has been returned safely to his cage. It was roughly five days ago when the three month old puppy was stolen from his cage at a pet store in Camillus.

The puppy is worth $2500 which may have been enough to motivate a white man in his 20s to walk right into the kennel and walked out the back door with the bulldog puppy. The suspect was described as a man with an average build, short hair and stands at 5′10″. He was last seen wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt.

No further reports are known to confirm how the stolen puppy was found up to this time.

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