Bulldogs For Dummies E-Book

Susan M. Ewing

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Seitenzahl: 424

Beschreibung

Find out how to select, train, and care for your Bulldog Though originally bred for bull baiting, today's Bulldogs are calm, dignified, and courageous - and make great pets. Whether you're already a Bulldog owner or you're thinking about becoming one, this friendly guide will answer your questions and help you and your Bully live happily ever after. From choosing your dog to training, diet, and health, it's just what you need for Bulldog success! Discover how to * Understand the breed and its history * Buy or adopt a healthy Bulldog * Housetrain your Bulldog and teach basic commands * Keep your Bulldog well-groomed and active * Watch for breed-specific health problems

Leseprobe

Bulldogs For Dummies

by Susan M. Ewing

Bulldogs For Dummies‚

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005935148

ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-9979-8

ISBN-10: 0-7645-9979-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8

1B/RV/QY/QW/IN

About the Author

Susan Ewing has been “in dogs” since 1977 and enjoys showing and trying various performance events, with the emphasis on “trying.”

She holds a Master’s degree in Television/Radio from Syracuse University and has attended canine seminars at Cornell University. She is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America and of the Cat Writers’ Association and is listed in the 2005 edition of Who’s Who in America.

Ewing has been writing professionally since she was 16 and is the author of several books: The Pembroke Welsh Corgi: Family Friend and Farmhand; The New Owner’s Guide to Pembroke Welsh Corgis; The Pug; and The Dachshund. Her column, “The Pet Pen,” is in The Post-Journal (Jamestown, NY) every Saturday. One of her essays is a part of the book, Cats Do It Better Than People.

Her articles have appeared in AKC Gazette, Family Dog, Bloodlines, German Shepherd Dog Review, Good Dog!, Pet Odyssey, Dog Fancy, Dog World, Puppies USA, the national Schipperke Club newsletter, ASPCA’s Animal Watch, and Bird Talk.

She has been a radio copywriter, owned and operated a boarding kennel, and served as the director of the Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown, NY.

Ewing currently lives in Mesa, Arizona, with her husband Jim and two dogs, Griffin and Rhiannon.

Dedication

For Jim, who is the “purple bead.”

For my mother, Joyce Morris, and my brother, Greg Morris.

For John Monroe-Cassel. I raise a wee dram to toast minister, counselor, friend. Iechyd da.

And to the memory of Robert Morris, Gladys Taylor, and Walton Strahl.

Author’s Acknowledgments

When I was young (okay, not so young) and foolish, I thought writing a book was a solo act. Now that I’ve written a few, I know writing is the work of an ensemble.

Special thanks to everyone at Wiley, with huge thanks to Acquisitions Editor Stacy Kennedy, Project Editor Natalie Harris, and Copy Editor Carrie Burchfield. You are all fantastic. Another huge thank you goes to Jennifer Joseph, health chair of the Bulldog Club of America, whose technical advice was invaluable.

More thanks go to Glenn and Kathy Rea, Bulldog people extraordinaire. Glenn was always available to “talk Bulldogs” and let me sift through hundreds of photographs, so I could pick my favorites for this book.

Thanks also to Lon DiSunno, Anthony Ficarotta, Dorothy Wysaski, DVM, and Christine Dresser, DVM, for their help. I’d like also like to say thank you to Amy Munion, DVM, and the staff at Pet Haven Animal Hospital.

Thanks and cyber hugs to those on the Dog Writers Association of America e-mail list for general advice, answers to specific questions, and moral support.

Thanks to all the breeders, judges, handlers, and exhibitors over the years who generously shared what they knew, all for the love of dogs.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editor: Natalie Faye Harris

Acquisitions Editor: Stacy Kennedy

Copy Editors: Carrie A. Burchfield, Jennifer Bingham

Editorial Program Assistant: Courtney Allen

General Reviewer: Jennifer Joseph

Editorial Managers: Christy Beck, Michelle Hacker

Editorial Assistants: Hanna Scott, David Lutton, Nadine Bell

Cover Photo: © Terry Husebye/ Getty Images/Stone

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Maridee Ennis

Layout and Graphics: Andrea Dahl, Stephanie D. Jumper, Barry Offringa, Melanee Prendergast, Julie Trippetti

Proofreaders: Jessica Kramer, Aptara

Indexer: Aptara

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

What You’re Not to Read

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : A Bully for You

Chapter 1: Bulldog: A Tough Name for a Big Softy

Transitioning from the Bull Baiter to Loving Companion

Getting to Know the Bulldog

Caring for and Feeding Your Bulldog

Showing Your Bulldog

Chapter 2: Acquainting Yourself with the Bulldog Package

Bull-Baiting to Bulldog Hugging

Picturing the Bulldog

The French and American Bulldogs

Chapter 3: Deciding on a Bulldog

The Bulldog Point of View

Examining the Cost of Ownership

Chapter 4: Finding the Best Bulldog for You

Picking Your Pup

Finding a Bulldog Breeder

Perusing Pet Shops

Adopting an Older Bulldog

Registering Your Puppy

Part II : Living with Your Bulldog

Chapter 5: Preparing for Your Bulldog

Making the Outdoors Safe for Your Bulldog

Safeguarding Your Home

Examining Crates: All-Purpose Doggy Dens

Buying Beds for Bulldogs

Collars and Leads and Harnesses, Oh My!

Toying Around

Gauging Grooming Tools

Evaluating Food and Water Bowls

Chapter 6: Bringing Your Bulldog Home

Bringing Home Bully

Giving Your Bully the Guided House Tour

Getting to Know the Kids

Meeting the Other Pets

Setting Up Your Puppy’s Schedule

Surviving the First Night

Tackling Problems before They Start

Chapter 7: Feeding Your Bulldog

Reading the Label: Important Stuff about Your Dog’s Food

Making the Choice: Dry, Canned, or Semimoist

Cooking for Your Bulldog

Considering the BARF Diet (No, It’s Not as Gross as It Sounds)

When to Feed Your Bully

Giving Your Bully Doggy Treats

Sharing People Snacks with Your Bully

What Not to Feed Your Bully

Looking at Chew Toys

Special Diets for Your Bulldog

Chapter 8: Grooming Your Bulldog

Brushing Your Bulldog

Getting the Skinny on Skin Care

Puppy Pedicures

The “Eyes” Have It

Ears to Good Health

The Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Tooth

Bathing Your Bully: Water, Water Everywhere

Part III : Training, Working, and Traveling: The Busy Bulldog

Chapter 9: Housetraining Your Bulldog

Housetraining 101

Considering and Conquering Crate Training

Preparing for Paper Training

Going Indoors Rather Than Outdoors

Teaching Your Bully to Go on Command

Cleaning Up after Bully

Chapter 10: Mastering Good Manners and Basic Commands

A Few Things to Keep in Mind While Training

Following the Leader: Lead and Collar Training

Knowing the Basic Commands

Conquering Common Behavior Problems

Finding Help

Chapter 11: Showing and Showing Off Your Well-Trained Bulldog

Becoming a Canine Good Citizen

Exploring Conformation Shows for Your Bulldog

Tackling Obedience Trials

Competing in Agility: Yes, Bullies Can Do It!

Sniffing Out the Fun in Tracking

Rallying Around!

Working with Your Bulldog as a Therapy Dog

Chapter 12: On the Go: Taking, Leaving, or Looking for Bully

Investigating Your Travel Options

Packing for Your Pooch

Bulldog-Friendly Places to Stay

More Great Vacation Spots for You and Bully

Leaving Your Bully Behind

Knowing What to Do If You Lose Your Bulldog

Part IV : Keeping Your Bulldog Healthy

Chapter 13: Knowing Your Veterinarian, Vaccinations, and Common Treatments

Choosing a Veterinarian

Selecting Alternative Medicine

Finding a Specialist

Knowing Your Vaccinations

Mulling Over Medicines

Chapter 14: Recognizing and Tackling Bulldog Health Issues

Spaying or Neutering Your Bulldog

Alleviating Canine Allergies

Preventing External Parasites

Guarding Against Internal Parasites

Recognizing Skin Problems

Taking Care of Interdigital Cysts

Knowing the Truth about Bulldog Breathing Problems

Handling Heatstroke

Eyeballing Eye Problems

Getting Hip to Hip Dysplasia

It Hurts When I Sit! Ingrown Tails

Speaking of Spines: Hemi-vertebrae

Patellar Luxation

Chapter 15: Familiarizing Yourself with Fido First Aid

Keeping Your Kit Stocked: First-Aid Supplies

Knowing the First-Aid Basics

What To Do if Your Bulldog Gets Hurt

Chapter 16: Caring for Your Senior Bulldog

Easing Your Bully into the Autumn Years

Feeding a Sensible Senior Diet

Exercising Your Older Bully

When It’s Time to Say Goodbye

Part V : The Part of Tens

Chapter 17: Nine Great Resources for Bulldog Owners

Finding Bulldog Information on the Internet

Contacting the Kennel Clubs

Checking with the Local Breed Clubs

Browsing for Books

Acquainting Yourself with Agility Sources

Pursuing Holistic Medicine

Rescuing Bulldogs

Recovering Lost Bulldogs

Providing for Your Bulldog When You Can’t

Chapter 18: Ten Good Reasons for Not Breeding Your Bulldog

Assessing the Health Risks to Your Bulldog

Dealing with Behavior Problems

Having to Separate Your Love Birds (I Mean Bulldogs)

Tackling the Messier Details

Testing, Testing, and More Testing

It’s the Human Who Becomes the “Mommy,” Not the Bulldog!

Three (Or More) Is a Crowd

Bulldog Breeding Is More Technical than Natural

Subjecting Your Dog to Cesarean Section

Adding Up the Bill

Facing the Likelihood of Heartbreak

Chapter 19: Ten Important Things to Do for Your Bulldog

Cleaning Your Bully’s Collar

Washing the Food and Water Dishes

Freshening Your Bulldog’s Bed

Vaccinating Your Bulldog

Grooming Your Bulldog

Exercising Together

Balancing Your Bulldog’s Diet

Keeping Up to Date on Bully Information

Forgiving His Behavior

Simply Enjoying Your Bully

: Color Insert

Introduction

T he title pretty much tells you what this book is about: Bulldogs. My instructions for writing this introduction include the phrase “what the topic is all about.” That phrase reminds me of the wonderful BBC series As Time Goes By. One of the characters on the show wrote a book titled My Life in Kenya, and people constantly asked him what the book was about, to which he replied, “My life in Kenya.” So the answer to what this book is about is Bulldogs.

I suppose that the next question is how is the book about Bulldogs. Well, you won’t find a how-to manual, with step-by-step training instructions within these pages, but you get a good overview of the Bulldog — history, development, and temperament.

Why may be the next inquiry. Why write this book? That question can be summed up in one word: Roscoe. Roscoe, as a stocky red and white Bulldog puppy, captured my heart. All puppies are usually adorable, so the allure wasn’t that, although Roscoe certainly was adorable. He reminded me of an animated parson’s table — short, stocky, and squarely built. Roscoe didn’t belong to me but to a neighbor, but he seemed to like me or at least to find me an interesting person worthy of examination.