With the sturdy American Bulldog, there aren’t many styling options. So, how intensive is their grooming regime? Their short coats don’t allow for much to be done to change their appearance, but grooming and regular care are vital to the health and skin condition of American bulldogs.
Read on to learn more about how to groom this large dog.
American Bulldog grooming does not need to include a haircut because they are short-haired dogs, and their loose hair falls out naturally. The National Breed Club suggests grooming an American Bulldog weekly, incorporating:
You should wash your American Bulldog’s coat every six weeks at least. Regular baths will benefit the dog’s coat because they will increase the production of natural oils and keep their skin moisturised.
The American Bulldog breed has a number of skin issues that can cause major health issues and require veterinary medicine if they are not taken care of quickly. These concerns can be addressed with meticulous grooming and dieting, including a regular washing routine.
One huge benefit of owning an American Bulldog is that they require minimal grooming, which means they are one of the easiest to maintain at home. So, there is no need for regular trips to the groomers, and you won’t be paying tons of cash to keep your Bulldog looking in peak condition.
Here are some steps to grooming your American Bulldog, all from the comfort of your home.
With a high-pressure hair dryer or a hard bristled brush, remove excess loose hair that your dog has not shed yet. This will make the upcoming bathing and drying process easier.
Because American Bulldogs can have sensitive skin when compared to other dogs, it is important to ensure your shampoo is free of harsh ingredients or anything that could trigger your dog’s allergies. Organic and hypoallergenic shampoos are your best bet.
Ear cleaning is important for all dog breeds. Mites like to make their homes in dog ears, which can cause discomfort for the dog and lead to health complications. It is also possible for loose hair to get stuck in the ear if they have floppy ears, as there’s no way for the hair to escape once it has been shed. Take time to check your dog’s ears and keep them clean and free of build-up.
Promoting the production of natural oils is essential to the skin health of your American Bulldog. By working the shampoo into the skin, you will draw blood to the skin’s surface and encourage the natural production of healthy oils.
Using an intense moisturiser or conditioner will help your dog from developing dry, itchy skin and having problems with allergies. While you bathe your dog, work the moisturiser into their skin and coat to provide relief from the itchiness of dry skin.
Remove excess water on your dog by drying it off with a towel. This will remove any leftover dead hair that didn’t come out in the wash. Dry in their skin wrinkles as well, to ensure you don’t have damp areas that could breed bacteria.
Once you have washed and conditioned your dog, be sure to give it another good brushing to ensure there is no excess soap left on it and to get the conditioner to penetrate the skin. Try to incorporate weekly brushing into your grooming routine.
Did you think grooming your American Bulldog stopped at brushing and washing? While they might require minimum maintenance, there are a few more key steps you’ll need to incorporate.
One of the main attractions to American Bulldogs is their abundance of wrinkles and loose skin on the face, which give them that unique and squashable look. While adorable, skin folds are prone to infections if not cleaned well. Be sure to clean in between each of the wrinkles and make sure there is no skin irritation or chafing developing where there is skin-on-skin contact.
Lift up your dog’s ears and check that there is no buildup of hair or other debris. If your dog is scratching its ears a lot and showing discomfort, take it to the vet to check its ears for mites or other problems.
Nail clipping looks different for all dogs. The length of the hair on their paws, as well as the colour of their nails, are two of the determining factors in how easy or difficult it is to cut their nails.
White nails make it easier to trim because the quick – the sensitive cuticle with blood vessels and nerves – is easy to see. Therefore, there’s less chance of you cutting it and hurting your pup.
For dogs with black nails, it is more complicated to trim the nail because you cannot easily see the quick and thus don’t know how far back you can cut without hurting your pup. If the nails are black, only cut very small sections at a time using nail clippers for dogs, and never cut beyond the curve of the nail.
Start by holding their paw firmly and pushing on the top and bottom of the toe to fully expose the nail. It is useful to look at the underside of the nail with black nails to ensure you are not cutting too much. Take off tiny amounts at a time, and never cut more than a few millimetres at a time to avoid cutting the quick.
Your American Bulldog dog needs its nails cut once every two weeks to help the quick recede and keep the nails at a manageable length.
Starting to groom your Bulldog as a puppy will help them to enjoy bath time more as they grow up. Try bathing your puppy from as young as 12 weeks.
At least every six weeks, but more regularly than that, it will benefit your dog’s health.
It will be helpful, but it is not necessary if you are committed to grooming regularly at home.
Your dog is a perfectly insulated system by design. These incredibly low-maintenance dogs do not need to be shaved to stay cool; they will self-regulate according to the temperature. They naturally have a short coat; a shave will not make much difference.
With the intensity of the Australian sun, dog owners must be cautious of shaving their dogs because they could be exposing them to harmful sun rays. It is recommended that you find alternate ways of keeping your dog cool, like investing in a dog pool or allowing them inside on hot days to cool off on the tiles.
American Bulldogs make a wonderful family pet because these dogs are gentle and good-natured. ANKC, AKC and United Kennel Club recognised this dog breed is one of the most popular dogs for its temperament and low-maintenance, short coat.
Able to get along with any other dog breed, with enough exercise and a watchful eye on their physical condition, American Bulldogs can be the perfect family pet and companion.
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