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The doghouse

Thinking of getting a British bulldog pup. Need opinions.

109 replies

BatCrapCrazy · 21/09/2014 20:52

We currently have a pekinese dog. We have been living with MIL for the last year and are about to move out but during this time, our dog has grown awfully attached to MILs dog and FIL wants to keep him. We are happy to do this as it would be awful to separate them after all this time.
But DC would be gutted. We have been looking into getting another dog and I have fallen in love with a British bulldog pup. I have done a fair bit of research about their temperament etc and it seems they are lovely dogs to have around children (our DCs are 3 and 4).
I work school hours. I'm concerned about leaving him at home all this time. This was never a problem with our other dog as MIL looked after DS while I worked in our house so the dog had company all day. DS is in school now so this wouldn't happen with a new dog.
Any advice would be hugely appreciated

OP posts:
VetNurse · 21/09/2014 21:01

Don't. This breed should be allowed to die out. Unable to breath, eye problems, skin problems and all caused by being bred for the way they look. They can't even give birth naturally. So very wrong.

TheWholeOfTheSpoon · 21/09/2014 21:01

Bulldogs are very people orientated and need to be with their people. They really are not a breed that copes very well with being left alone for long periods of time. Ours cries when I just go to the supermarket!

HowsTheSerenity · 21/09/2014 21:05

I love them! However they have been bred into a generic horror show.
Life expectancy is about 7 years and then everything VetNurse said.
What about a rescue dog?
If you are deadset on that particular style of dog then perhaps a pug?

catsdogsandbabies · 21/09/2014 21:12

Only if you are prepared to be at the vets frequently. Google brachycephalic syndrome. Most are born by section as they the breed is so altered with massive heads they can't be born normally. They are top of kennel club list for reform of breed. Imagine not being able to breath all your life. Often dermatological issues, surgery to correct the deformities of nose, eyes, throat. Oh and some heart defects and hiatal hernia.
Apart from that go for it. But for god sake get insurance or you need to be rich.

frownyface · 21/09/2014 21:12

My bulldog is 9. He has some very breed specific issues and I would recommend reading thoroughly before commiting yourself.

He is fab personality wise and we love him dearly, but we wouldnt get another as they cant run and play as they would like to do-if you have visions of your kiddies running around playing in the summer hols with him im afraid that just isnt realistic.

We have gone the total other extreme and now have 2 springer spaniels, they run and jump and play and you dont need to fret over them in the same way.

frownyface · 21/09/2014 21:16

We have been very lucky and not had any issues, not any that any other breed of dog wouldnt have anyway.

Lovely personality lovely lap dog but needs very close attention, regular eye wiping wrinkle wiping-and they are very intolerant to extremes of temp.

Goldenlab · 21/09/2014 21:16

Exactly what vet nurse said. Same goes for French bulldogs and shar pei. Too many health problems. No fun watching a dog that can't breathe, see, has skin problems etc.

frownyface · 21/09/2014 21:18

Ps. Pugs also have breed specific issues, read read read and make sure you know your stuff before making a decision.

HowsTheSerenity · 21/09/2014 21:23

Pugs have issues I agree but they are the lesser of two evils.

LEMmingaround · 21/09/2014 21:24

Please please don't. My bil has one. Poor dog can hardly walk to the end of the road for a piddle, has ataxia (although they wont fucking listen!Angry ) and sore face from all the wrinkles. I pleaded with them not to get one "but they are just so cute" no they are not fucking cute. They are fucked up. Fucked up for what?? So they can look how people desire them to look. Do not line the pocket of a breeder of these poor mutant animals. There are many child friendly breeds - a bulldog probably doesn't have the energy to bite if the kids are too much for it.

WeAreGroot · 21/09/2014 21:38

I wouldn't touch any of the extremely brachycephalic breeds with a bargepole to be honest, they're all prone to brachycephalic airway syndrome because of their lack of a proper muzzle and there are nothing like enough breeders working towards improving the state of them.

It makes me cringe when owners of brachycephalic dogs talk about the "cute" grunting noises and chronic snoring their dogs do. It's not normal and likely the result of compromised breathing Sad

This and this may be interesting reading from UFAW.

JadeJ123 · 21/09/2014 21:43

My mum & step dad have a french & English bulldog and they both had I have cherry eye surgery at a young age as they're prone to it. They're a high risk breed to be stollen as people charge ££££ for a puppy. They're life expectancy is about 6-7 years they struggle in the heat so can't walk them they're very lazy and will only cope with a 20 minute walk once a day. They HAVE to be near people as they really don't cope well and most of the ones I've met including my parents have allergies to food & grass. My friend has pugs and they're even worse and have bulging eyes because most of them are poorly bred. I'd avoid them.

JadeJ123 · 21/09/2014 21:45

And I say this owning an American bulldog, I wouldn't own a bulldog ever again and neither would my parents as health issues and life expectancy.

Scuttlebutter · 21/09/2014 23:03

They aren't "lazy". They just can't breathe. They are a genetic horror show, and there is nothing remotely cute about deliberately breeding a dog that cannot give birth naturally, and will spend most of its life being unable to breathe properly. That is a massive welfare issue. And pugs are no better. Whenever I see one, my overwhelming reaction is pity for the poor bloody dog, and anger at both the breeder and purchaser for prolonging this cruelty (and I use that word advisedly). Don't prolong this suffering by buying a brachycephalic dog and stoking demand.

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 07:15

Oh my gosh. I had no idea. I only really thought of a bulldog as a friend of ours has one and I know how fab he is with the kids.
Back to the drawing board then.
Can anyone reccomend a breed that is good around kids? I grew up with a lab and i bloody loved her but ideally, we would need a smaller dog than a lab as the house isn't huge, although there is a fair bit of garden space.

OP posts:
JadeJ123 · 22/09/2014 07:28

Cocker spaniel
Springer spaniel
Schnauzer

HowsTheSerenity · 22/09/2014 07:30

Beagle
Jack Russell
Random mix breed

maitaimojito · 22/09/2014 07:36

My family had a Staffie when we were kids and the dog was so good with us. He used to follow us around everywhere.

They now have a cocker spaniel who adores kids so either of those would be the right size and temperament.

jonicomelately · 22/09/2014 07:52

I wouldn't recommend beagles or Jack Russell's. Beagles look cute but can be hard to train, especially in terms of recall. Some can be ok but most beagle owners I know won't let their dogs off the lead. Jack Russell's are full of personality but can be really yappy. Your dc may not mind that but a lot of children don't like thiamin dogs.
Personally I like labs, cavalier King Charles spaniels, bishons but my biggest love are boxers. If you like pugs, bulldogs etc you'll like the look of them but the ones we've had didn't have the breathing problems other breeds suffer from.

FuckyNell · 22/09/2014 08:00

Don't get a pug. My puggy is only 3 and has endured several ops (v expensive) and like a pp said her mind is willing but her body is not. It's horrible.

I thought a reputable breeder would mean a healthy dog but there you go.

Just get a Heinz 57, which is what I'll be doing next.

PitchSlapped · 22/09/2014 08:05

Ive never met a nice jack russell, every single one has been yappy or snappy. Staffies are gorgeous dogs, lovely temperaments on the whole.

bishboschone · 22/09/2014 08:07

All the ones I know look like they are about to die . In fact one I knew did just that at age 7 . They look uncomfortable and I'll all the time . French Bulldogs are a better option of you must as they are smaller .

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VivaLeBeaver · 22/09/2014 08:14

A friend of a friend had one.

She left it with mutual friend while she went n holiday. Friend walked it with her dogs on a moderately hot day. Dog kept sitting down and dawdling and she was jollying it on and it collapsed. Stopped breathing and died. Was only 2yo. Just couldn't cope with a walk on a warm day.

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 09:03

Viva thats awful!

I wouldn't want anything too "yappy". DD has ASD and wouldn't cope with anything too dominant. She absolutely adores animals and loves our dog to pieces.
Having grown up with a lab, my heart says to get one. MIL had a gorgeous boxer who sadly died of cancer last year and she had so much personality but was absolutely fab with the kids.
Its such a hard decision. A friend suggested a miniature dachshund - any experiences?
We love going on long walks as a family so would need a dog who can cope with long walks.

OP posts:
soddinghormones · 22/09/2014 09:07

Get a lab then - they're not all enormous lard-buckets! You can choose one from smaller, leaner (prob working) lines - or a golden retriever - the working strains are much much smaller than the huge white retrievers you see around.

I definitely wouldn't go for a miniature dachshund - they tend to be very noisy and most need back surgery at some point in their lives.

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