This guide is composed of several sections. Each section covers a major topic area. To skip to a specific topic area, you may click on the relevant link below.

[New Owner Checklist] [Puppy Proofing the Home] [Housetraining at a Glance]

Whether you are bringing home an 8-week old puppy or a 4-year old rescue,

Before bringing your new best friend home for the first time, make sure you have the items listed here:

Food and water bowls:
Stainless steel or ceramic are the best choices. Plastic bowls tend to retain bacteria which can cause your Bulldog skin problems. It is good idea to put your bowls through the dishwasher or sanitize them at least once per week to prevent bacteria build up.

Food:
Find out what your breeder has been feeding your puppy. Buy enough for several weeks at least even if you are planning to change the type of food you feed.

Collar or harness:
A cheap nylon collar is a good choice for a first collar. Your Bulldog's neck will grow rapidly and he/she will outgrow the collar. Make sure the collar is not too tight (you should be able to insert two fingers between the collar and your Bullie's neck. Harnesses place no pressure on the windpipe and are a popular choice for Bulldogs.

Lead:
Leather or nylon leads are available. Many use the retractable leads.

Baby gate(s):
Use to restrict access to certain areas of the home or to keep your puppy contained within one area such as the kitchen and its "moisture-friendly" linoleum floors.

Grooming implements:
Brushes & combs - regular brushing helps cut down on shedding.
Nail clippers or dremmel tool - weekly clipping will help keep the quick nice and short. If you choose to use a dremmel start while your puppy is young to get him/her used to the sound of it.

Shampoo:
There are several suitable dog shampoos out there. Stay away from human shampoo as they have fragrance that can irritate your puppies skin.

Unscented baby wipes (with aloe):
These are helpful in daily cleaning of wrinkles and folds. Folds and wrinkles need to be cleaned regularly to prevent infection. Can also be used to clean your puppy’s tail pocket.

Bag Balm:
Use on dry noses and paw pads to keep moist. Can also be used if your puppy’s paws get cracked by dryness.

Ear cleaner:
Ears should be cleaned out on a regular basis to prevent infection. Epi-Otic is an excellent ear cleanser.

Desitin:
Used to keep wrinkles and folds dry.

First aid kit:
See the Bulldog Medicine Chest for information.

Toys:
Chew toys will be your Bulldog's favorites. Nylabones are a very good choice. Before purchasing a toy inspect it for easily dislodged parts and sturdiness. Bulldogs love to chew and chew and can lay waste to poorly constructed dog toys in only minutes. Kong's work well and can be filled with puppy safe treats like peanut butter and kibble.

Braided Ropes:
The knot type, they are a great form of entertainment plus they keep their teeth clean.

Treats:
Ice Cubes made with water or low sodium broth. Large carrots can be dipped in water and frozen for a nice teething treat. Kongs can be filled with treats like all natural peanut butter (leave a little extra on the outside for the pups exploring tongue).

*** Be extremely careful with chew toys. NEVER ALLOW YOUR PUPPY OR ADULT BULLDOG TO HAVE RAWHIDE CHEW BONES!!!!!!!!!! Rawhide can brake off into little pieces that can get lodged in their throat causing your Bullie to choke. You may also want to think twice about any toy you bring home for your baby. If you don’t take anything else from this page, write this in stone.

Crate and Bedding:
This should be big enough for your puppy to stand and turn around in. Most prefer the wire crates to allow good air circulation. Big crates are great but you should be aware that for training purposes the ability to make the area available to the puppy smaller is a great tool. If the crate doesn’t come with a divider you can use a piece of wood to block off part of the care and expand it as your puppy grows. be sure to use washable bedding as your puppy may have a few accidents at first.

Puppy pads or newspaper:
If you are planning to paper train you will need lots of newspaper or puppy pads. Puppy pads are inexpensive and provide a plastic liner on the bottom so when your puppy uses them they wont wet the floor beneath them. They also claim to be scented to make your puppy want to eliminate themselves on them.

Introduction to your home and family:
Bringing your pup home is a wonderful, exciting time. It's the beginning of a life-long friendship. Plan to bring your pup home at a time when the household is calm and not a lot of activities are scheduled. Holidays and stress-filled periods are a "no-no."

Take time to introduce your puppy to the people living in your home. Closely supervise your puppy when introducing him/her to children reminding them to be slow and gentle. Avoid crowding your new puppy as he/she may feel scared being in a new place with a lot of people around. Give puppy space to explore people on his/her own.

Introducing your puppy to new pets may best be done with the resident pet on a leash or your puppy behind a baby gate to avoid any confrontation. Let the animals get used to each others scents but remain incontrol of both animals at all times. It may take a while for the animals in your house to become friends so be patient and don’t try to push things between them.

It is very important that you provide a safe environment for your new friend. To assist you with this we have provided a basic guide covering the major points.

Kitchens and bathrooms:

• Childproof latches to keep little paws from prying open cabinets.
• Make sure medications, cleaners, chemicals, and laundry supplies are high on shelves.
• Keep foods out of reach. It's tempting to feed your puppy table scraps, but some foods, like chocolate, can hurt or kill dogs.
• Keep trashcans covered or inside a latched cabinet.

Living/family room:

• Bundle dangling wires from VCR's, televisions, and stereos with twist ties or rubber bands.
• Keep toys out of reach.
• Put knick-knacks away until your puppy is bigger and can't put them in his mouth.
• Move houseplants out of reach. (Houseplants cannot only be taken out of the pot, but if your puppy chews or eats them, they can be poisonous).

Things you will need before the puppy enters the house:

Many Bullie owners believe in crating our friends. If you don’t want to crate then you should invest in some baby gates. Your Puppy is going to roam and investigate his new home so the best thing to do is be mentally present. When you can't be with the pup mentally and physically, the pup should be crated. Or confined to a designated puppy safe room.

Don’t let your puppy wander all over the house without supervision.

Keep your puppy confined in a small area like a crate or den.

When your puppy sniffs and circles around, take puppy to desired elimination area.

Puppies instinctively desire to eliminate after these activities:

• After being confined
• After eating or drinking
• After playing
• After resting or sleeping

5 to 30 minutes after any of these activities, follow steps 1-5 to help your puppy eliminate in the chosen area

1. Take puppy to the selected place for elimination.
2. Say special words that you want puppy to associate with desirable elimination.
3. When puppy begins to eliminate, say quiet words of praise.
4. When puppy is done, praise enthusiastically, pet, and reward with food.
5. Reward each time with praise, but as your puppy learns, give food rewards intermittenly.

Prevention is the key to sucess, but if puppy does have an accident . . .

• Don't scold your puppy
• Quietly clean up the mess
• Deoderize the soiled area (this will help keep your puppy from attempting to use the same spot in the future)

It is your responsibiliy to prevent future soiling accidents. A puppy can only hold its bladder approximatly one hour for each month of age. For example, if your puppy is only two months old you can expect them to hold it for about 2 hours maximum. It may be necessary for you to get up a couple times during the night to let your puppy out if you expect her not to soil during the night.

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