Bulldog
Bulldog Training
With lovingly stubborn personalities, Bulldog puppies need patience, consistency and positive reinforcement. They have short attention spans, so start with quick lessons in the basics—sit, stay, down, etc.—and reward good behaviour with praise and a treat. But for the sake of their health (and their weight), lose the treats once they learn the commands. Learning "leave it" and "drop it" commands are also important because Bulldogs tend to guard their food and will chew on just about anything. Keep training sessions positive—negative reinforcement will just make Bulldogs dig in their heels. Bulldogs aren't exactly agile, but with their low centre of gravity they can be surprisingly good at skateboarding and surfing (seriously!).
Selecting a Bulldog Puppy
Bulldog Puppy Ears
Puppies have sweet, squishy faces, but the mark of a well-bred Bulldog is symmetry and proportion. Ears should be set high and wide on the skull, about the same width as their shoulders. So-called "rose ears" are the most desirable shape. Healthy puppies will have clean ears with no signs of discharge, redness, inflammation or pungent odour. If the puppy is aggressively scratching or pawing their ear, tilting their head or excessively flipping their head, it may also be a sign of discomfort. Breeds with floppy ears are more prone to infection or disease.