Old English Bulldog - info and support sought

[The Snark]

I blame my wife for this. She volunteered me as an animal expert.

A woman was given one of these dogs and has completely fallen in love with it. She's also never encountered one in her life and is doing a lot of research and guessing.

First, this is the most massive one of these I've ever seen or heard of. Using a bathroom scale one end at a time we came up with 160 pounds. I measured it at ~16 inches tall at the shoulder and ~32 inches tip of nose to end of rump. It appears to be somewhat overweight but between all that loose skin and the muscle bulk it's darned hard to tell. Does anyone have a guess what the ideal weight for one this size?

Next. I've clearly told her this is the highest maintenance dog in the galaxy. She already has a bit of a clue there. She's chosen to keep it as an inside dog so it won't be bothered by fleas or other parasites and knows it takes at least 15 minutes to give it a proper bath. Any hints on bathing these things, getting into all the skin folds, would be a blessing along with any other ideas or suggestions as to how often to bath it and any skin treatments that would help.

And along with all that. The dog has never been properly trained and is guessed at around 4 years old. The owner is studying every training book she can get her hands on. The dog is very cooperative but not the brightest bulb in the light factory and insists on following her around the house. Work is underway to get it to park in certain places and just relax. It isn't so bad in the kitchen and family room but the living and dining rooms are carpeted which means chairs are always getting accidentally knocked over and all other furniture moved around the house with every trip the dog takes. Graceful it isn't. Your favorite training tricks would be nice.

And any other hints, tricks and tips on how to live with the Hulk and make their life together happy would be very much appreciated.

Oh yes. The most gruesome aspects of all this. She has chosen to call it Sweet Pea.

PS I didn't detect any indication of hip displasia of other obvious bone problems. Any hints about watch-for signs there?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

"highest maintenance dog in the galaxy"

Let me doubt about that sentence. Khagyr, my loved (R.I.P) Mastino Napoletano actually was (is, the breed) the perfect candidate for that. They are strong giants, loyal like no one, indeed.. but also very "weak", let's say, especially in/around the eyes part.
Hungry like the giant "Gargantua", a lot of money for the vet... great breed of dogs, btw. They can instill fear into a strong man. Used here as "soldiers" during the war for unification (meaning, the theft of the Kingdom of two Sicilies from Borbone) against Piemonte (Piedmont) soldiers. Lol.

Had also a French Bouledogue named Hooch, (in an era were, at least here, those weren't "fashion" dogs like today) and IMO they are a bit more harder.. he was a damn, little "rock". He lived 11 years, almost. He was a full pedigree dog (his father was a champion).
They are sweet, they love to play, they are perfects for childrens. Loyal, very sensitive. They love to fart H24 ah ah, mine loved to take a "bath", in summer, into pigs "puddle", full of their oop:
Not so delicate like the Mastino Napoletano.

I haven't owned the English Bulldog.. people here who had, told me that is a bit more delicate in general (health, i mean) than the French, but at the end this can vary.

 

[cold blood]

OEBD are not the highest maintenance dog, far from it, not even close really as they're pretty low maintenance, actually...zero grooming involved, although they do need significant exercise. They are different from an English bulldog as they are a MUCH more high energy dog and not the slow, lazy bulldog like the English version may be considered (they're almost like a pitbull with a bulldog head). They were bred to alleviate many of the common health issues associated with the English bulldog as well as a gentler, typically friendlier temperament (although proper socialization is still a must), and while still not the most healthy of breeds, are MUCH more so than the English version and not what I would consider an unhealthy breed at all. They also have less breathing issues than the English. I'm quite fond of the breed and if they weren't so damn expensive here in the states, I'd have one...I actually looked for one for nearly a year. They are typically smart, but can be stubborn and difficult to train for the average owner and not always willing to show how intelligent they are.

That said, what you are describing is absolutely NOT an OEBD...no way, no chance...they're not even remotely as big as you described. They are a medium sized dog in the 45-75 lb range....basically less than half the dog you describe...and 75-80lb would be considered a large male...most I've dealt with were in the 55-65lb range . Their skin is also much more taught than you describe....sounds like a breed of mastiff you are describing to be honest...do you have a pic you can post?

Whatever it is, keeping it inside is a poor option....I don't understand the paranoia about fleas and parasites....my dog is outside all the time...haven't seen a flea since the mid-80's....not something that should even be thought of and also something that keeping it inside won't completely protect it from...as for parasites, well they aren't gonna hurt a dog in the short term, and with regular vet visits, as any dog should be receiving, they are a plain old NON-issue as your vet should test for them regularly regardless....gettin grid of them, well its as easy as giving a pill....plus, it can get parasites from just being in the yard to go potty. Getting a dog outside and exposing it to other situations and places is basic mental stimulation that NO dog should be without, its every bit as important as physical exercise, in fact I could argue that its actually MORE important if you want a good, well rounded animal...as we all should want for our dog, regardless of breed.

Excessive bathing is a horrible thing to do to a dog, and with a removable/flexible shower head (cheap and easy to install if she doesn't already have one), a short haired dog should be a breeze to wash, regardless of size, as long as the dog is well mannered and not fighting the issue (if it is troublesome, lots of practice WITHOUT soap). Its just a massage with water and soap, the dog should enjoy the experience. The biggest thing is making sure all the soap is rinsed completely (don't use too much to start with) as this can cause skin issues, like flaking and itching....I prefer to use shampoo designed for puppies, as it tends to be gentler. Baths should be infrequent, in fact, a damp cloth will do the trick for most quick cleanings surprisingly well with a short haired pooch.

As for training, a dog that consistently follows like you describe, is typically an easy dog to train (something I see as a sign of intelligence very often), its the aloof ones that ignore you or are easily distracted that are most difficult IME. Consistency in both training and life's basic routine are a must...dogs thrive on consistent routine and this will help the training, as will regular exercise, both mental AND physical. Accomplish this and you won't have to try to get the dog to relax, a dog of the size you describe should spend half the day or likely more, resting and sleeping. Big dogs need more sleep and rest. Daily walks and socialization will be of a huge benefit, just don't over do the walks with such a large dog and bring water (an hour isn't too much)....if there is a lake, pond or river, water can be an excellent place to "work out" a larger dog, especially when its warm out.

Tell her to adjust her furniture and home to make things easier for the dog, don't put things in a manner that it always needs to squeeze through furniture or objects to get anywhere, a cluttered, or tightly assembled home may look nice, but its basically setting up the dog for the undesirable instances you describe. Just like puppy proofing a home helps a pup, you need to make home adjustments to make an exceptionally large dog comfortable as well as his movements will be less graceful and obviously require more room. Get the dog a large, soft bed (or two) and place them in areas you would prefer it to be...big dogs really appreciate soft places to lay and sleep and are a must IMO.

---------- Post added 09-23-2015 at 10:35 AM ----------

Ha Chris, doesn't is almost sound like he's describing a Neapolitan mastiff?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

OEBD are not the highest maintenance dog, far from it, not even close really as they're pretty low maintenance, actually...zero grooming involved, although they do need significant exercise. They are different from an English bulldog as they are a MUCH more high energy dog and not the slow, lazy bulldog like the English version may be considered (they're almost like a pitbull with a bulldog head). They were bred to alleviate many of the common health issues associated with the English bulldog as well as a gentler, typically friendlier temperament (although proper socialization is still a must), and while still not the most healthy of breeds, are MUCH more so than the English version and not what I would consider an unhealthy breed at all. They also have less breathing issues than the English. I'm quite fond of the breed and if they weren't so damn expensive here in the states, I'd have one...I actually looked for one for nearly a year. They are typically smart, but can be stubborn and difficult to train for the average owner and not always willing to show how intelligent they are.

That said, what you are describing is absolutely NOT an OEBD...no way, no chance...they're not even remotely as big as you described. They are a medium sized dog in the 45-75 lb range....basically less than half the dog you describe...and 75-80lb would be considered a large male...most I've dealt with were in the 55-65lb range . Their skin is also much more taught than you describe....sounds like a breed of mastiff you are describing to be honest...do you have a pic you can post?

Whatever it is, keeping it inside is a poor option....I don't understand the paranoia about fleas and parasites....my dog is outside all the time...haven't seen a flea since the mid-80's....not something that should even be thought of and also something that keeping it inside won't completely protect it from...as for parasites, well they aren't gonna hurt a dog in the short term, and with regular vet visits, as any dog should be receiving, they are a plain old NON-issue as your vet should test for them regularly regardless....gettin grid of them, well its as easy as giving a pill....plus, it can get parasites from just being in the yard to go potty. Getting a dog outside and exposing it to other situations and places is basic mental stimulation that NO dog should be without, its every bit as important as physical exercise, in fact I could argue that its actually MORE important if you want a good, well rounded animal...as we all should want for our dog, regardless of breed.

Excessive bathing is a horrible thing to do to a dog, and with a removable/flexible shower head (cheap and easy to install if she doesn't already have one), a short haired dog should be a breeze to wash, regardless of size, as long as the dog is well mannered and not fighting the issue (if it is troublesome, lots of practice WITHOUT soap). Its just a massage with water and soap, the dog should enjoy the experience. The biggest thing is making sure all the soap is rinsed completely (don't use too much to start with) as this can cause skin issues, like flaking and itching....I prefer to use shampoo designed for puppies, as it tends to be gentler. Baths should be infrequent, in fact, a damp cloth will do the trick for most quick cleanings surprisingly well with a short haired pooch.

As for training, a dog that consistently follows like you describe, is typically an easy dog to train (something I see as a sign of intelligence very often), its the aloof ones that ignore you or are easily distracted that are most difficult IME. Consistency in both training and life's basic routine are a must...dogs thrive on consistent routine and this will help the training, as will regular exercise, both mental AND physical. Accomplish this and you won't have to try to get the dog to relax, a dog of the size you describe should spend half the day or likely more, resting and sleeping. Big dogs need more sleep and rest. Daily walks and socialization will be of a huge benefit, just don't over do the walks with such a large dog and bring water (an hour isn't too much)....if there is a lake, pond or river, water can be an excellent place to "work out" a larger dog, especially when its warm out.

Tell her to adjust her furniture and home to make things easier for the dog, don't put things in a manner that it always needs to squeeze through furniture or objects to get anywhere, a cluttered, or tightly assembled home may look nice, but its basically setting up the dog for the undesirable instances you describe. Just like puppy proofing a home helps a pup, you need to make home adjustments to make an exceptionally large dog comfortable as well as his movements will be less graceful and obviously require more room. Get the dog a large, soft bed (or two) and place them in areas you would prefer it to be...big dogs really appreciate soft places to lay and sleep and are a must IMO.

---------- Post added 09-23-2015 at 10:35 AM ----------

Ha Chris, doesn't is almost sound like he's describing a Neapolitan mastiff?

Uh, i'm sorry now.. ah ah, maybe you're right, cold blood. I mean, i don't know dogs (in a general way, i mean) like i know T's.. but isn't supposed to be the "Old English Bulldog" a no more existing breed?

When i saw The Snark, OP, title, i tought about the English Bulldog (or British Bulldog) hence a dog just a more bigger (and IMO delicate) than the French one, or better, Bouledogue français (i owned one, amazing dogs).
Also not to mention i'm not into inches.. go figure Oz, pounds, lb etc

Anyway, if the dog is a Mastino Napoletano, The Snark then is correct. IMO is the most, probably, highest maintenance dog of the galaxy.
Those lovely giants have a short (at least for my standards.. i'd expect from a friend..) lifespan (6 to 8 years) and lot of issues, around the eyes.. a lot of those i don't know if i'm able to translate in decent English.. like (i try) Harder Gland serious issues (vet. operations costs were higher back then) "Entropion" and "Ectropion", then skin diseases (rare but).. stomach issues, they are "weak" (compared to other dogs i mean) to cold.. however the important thing is their DNA, so be sure who his/her parents was, diseases etc

Let me say however that NOTHING is like a Mastino Napolitano. NOTHING.

:cry: R.I.P my friend, years passed.. i'm not anymore a children, but i will never forget you

 

[The Snark]

Please forgive my incorrect name of these dogs. Not 'English', just bulldog. Not sure why I always think English when I see them.
Think Neopolitan Mastiff body with 6 inch legs.

 

[cold blood]

Uh, i'm sorry now.. ah ah, maybe you're right, cold blood. I mean, i don't know dogs (in a general way, i mean) like i know T's.. but isn't supposed to be the "Old English Bulldog" a no more existing breed?

Around 1970 the breed was essentially re-created in an effort to bring back the old essentially, while at the same time, alleviating the health issues commonly associated with the English bulldog (breathing, birthing, etc.)...pit bull was, in fact, one of the dogs used to re-create the healthier breed it was supped to have been in the distant past....bull mastiff and American bulldog were the others combined with the English (50% English essentially with the other half attributed to the other breeds). The credit is given generally to a David Leavitt. They have only been recognized as a true pure-bred since 2014 (UKC)...so while they have been around for some 40 years, their recognition as purebred is relatively new.

---------- Post added 09-23-2015 at 04:12 PM ----------

Please forgive my incorrect name of these dogs. Not 'English', just bulldog. Not sure why I always think English when I see them.
Think Neopolitan Mastiff body with 6 inch legs.

Bulldogs have specific names to differentiate between them....I now suspect American Bulldog...a much bigger and taller animal. But 6 inch legs:? I dunno, I'd love to see a pic....perhaps its a French mastiff.

 

[The Snark]

Look, excuse me for inciting a riot. Until I get back down there, remembering to get our camera fixed first, suffice with look at a picture of a bulldog and add about 80 pounds. Like I said, I've never seen one anywhere near this bulk. Colossal describes. It's skin is the biggest concern as it's zero personal hygiene with that build.
It's legs are probably normal for that sort of breed but on her they look like a basset hounds.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I hate to resort to Wikipedia (joking.. sometimes can help).

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastino_napoletano

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogue_de_Bordeaux

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_corso_italiano

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog_inglese

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouledogue_français

Is one of those, maybe?

 

[The Snark]

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog_inglese then add some skin from the neopolitan. And thank you. That is where I got the 'English' part of the name.

Aside from her looks and shape, she's a very sweet critter with a gentle disposition. She's shy and appears to have never had someone give her affection. Discovering being fawned over she has taken to following her new owner everywhere. Right at her heels all the time like a portable speed bump-road block: More petting? Hello, are you for real? Am I in heaven now?

 

[cold blood]

Look, excuse me for inciting a riot.

What in the world are you talking about:?

I'm done

 

[The Snark]

On a comical note. Being a typical oriental household, strictly no shoes in the house. Well, the owner summed it up by saying she's going to have to grow calluses on the tops of her feet. Sweet Pea will step on your feet, steps on her feet all the time. *CRUSH* with those horny pads grinding the pain in.

Indoors. You people in the temperate zones don't know what flea infestations are. Imagine a dog with white ears that are a dingy grey-red from the fleas and their blood poop. That's pretty common here. Billions of fleas during the season. Going outside in my white socks they quickly turn speckled black from the fleas. The thought of being a dog unable to scratch anywhere is unbearable to the owner.

Fleas: I'm checking with the local entomologist about how to set up a isolated small yard and keep it flea free. Flea repellents, safe guards and so on. Sweet Pea will need some outdoor romps of course.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

On a comical note. Being a typical oriental household, strictly no shoes in the house. Well, the owner summed it up by saying she's going to have to grow calluses on the tops of her feet. Sweet Pea will step on your feet, steps on her feet all the time. *CRUSH* with those horny pads grinding the pain in.

Indoors. You people in the temperate zones don't know what flea infestations are. Imagine a dog with white ears that are a dingy grey-red from the fleas and their blood poop. That's pretty common here. Billions of fleas during the season. Going outside in my white socks they quickly turn speckled black from the fleas. The thought of being a dog unable to scratch anywhere is unbearable to the owner.

Fleas: I'm checking with the local entomologist about how to set up a isolated small yard and keep it flea free. Flea repellents, safe guards and so on. Sweet Pea will need some outdoor romps of course.

I can't figure out what breed the dog is (Bulldog + Mastino Napoletano skin - Dark, btw? Or the brownish one? I assume dark - i can think to the third "Wiki" option, Italian Corso Dog, suits well.. size, color, related to Mastino Napoletano..) however i'm sure that, except for that, you will enjoy and love Sweet Pea.

 

[The Snark]

Think brindle but the dark glossy brown is more the Neopolitan grey tan brown. Along the lines of 'she looks like she's just been rolling in a nice patch of mud.'

For me it's heartwarming. Dogs that have never known affection suddenly getting all that love and support are endearing and she seems almost shocked she keeps getting all this petting. -> Please, don't EVER STOP!

 

[cold blood]

Indoors. You people in the temperate zones don't know what flea infestations are. Imagine a dog with white ears that are a dingy grey-red from the fleas and their blood poop. That's pretty common here. Billions of fleas during the season. Going outside in my white socks they quickly turn speckled black from the fleas. The thought of being a dog unable to scratch anywhere is unbearable to the owner..

Simple basic care prevents this. Controlling fleas isn't rocket science, regardless of where you live.....there are dozens of basic applications that prevent infestations for months at a time...with single applications. Fleas jump onto the dog, and promptly die. There's neglected animals in EVERY part of the world in exactly the conditions you describe, even in colder climates, I've seen it even here in Wisconsin and there's always a common denominator, lack of care....same for ticks, and all kinds of worms. Maybe its just a cultural difference in the care we take with our animals, I dunno. But there a lot of places in this world where animal care is a very low priority, other places its mandatory or you face criminal charges. Some people/countries just have more important things to worry about than a pets comfort.

Color won't help id the breed.

That desire for affection, while it can come from neglect, isn't always the case (in fact most cases of neglect have the opposite effect on a dogs desire for affection), some dogs are just like that....Dobermans for instance, crave attention like that, regardless of how much they receive its never seemingly enough. People used to always comment that our dobs appeared to be so overly affectionate that they always asked if the dog was ever pet...truth is they were pet almost constantly, cause they wouldn't have it any other way, they couldn't get enough no matter how much they got...I agree, its a very endearing quality. Tell her to keep those nails nice and short. This is especially important with large dogs because when they get too long it can be very difficult to cut them back enough...and long nails don't just hurt peoples feet that get stepped on, they can cause much discomfort for the dog as well....it will help, but with a dog that size, its just another thing to get used to...like the constant begging for affection.

 

[The Snark]

Trying again

Okay. The breed of the dog is academic. It is bulldog in shape. It is about 2 to 4 inches taller than a normal bulldog and about 6 inches longer, as my original post. It may have Mastiff in it's parentage but that is besides the point.

Being a heavy muscular bulldog in physique as is typical for the breed, it cannot scratch or chew on itself at all. If it has an itch is has to rub against something or roll on it's back.
It's skin is extremely oily and it has that typical musty bulldog odor. The odor is acceptable. The concern is keeping it's coat as healthy as possible, as well as itch free as possible. any tricks and tips??? Suggestions? (These dogs with fleas are being tortured. Keeping it flea free is very highly desired. Of course the owner will be giving it flea treatments as required.)

The animals weight. It doesn't seem to have an excess amount of fat. It is just extremely over built. If you know horses, it is much like my buddy at 16 hands and a fat free 2400 pounds. Built like the proverbial brick outhouse. 16 inches tall at the shoulder and about 32 inches long. Around the shoulder area it is nearly a foot thick. CHUNKY. How can we ascertain it's ideal weight??

Disposition and training. I suspect it was rescued from a puppy mill operation. It is shy around humans like it hasn't had any contact with them and doesn't know what to expect. Of course it is going to get buried in love and hugs but the owner wishes to gently guide it to being obedient and try to minimize household damage by getting it to act sedate. Sedate is the key and goal. Mellow it out, make it feel comfortable and content. Tricks and tips? (If you have ever encountered a hyper bulldog you know what I mean. They can easily blast your feet out from under you with a playful shove.)

 

[cold blood]

Consistency in both training and life's basic routine are a must...dogs thrive on consistent routine and this will help the training, as will regular exercise, both mental AND physical. Accomplish this and you won't have to try to get the dog to relax, a dog of the size you describe should spend half the day or likely more, resting and sleeping. Big dogs need more sleep and rest. Daily walks and socialization will be of a huge benefit, just don't over do the walks with such a large dog and bring water (an hour isn't too much)....if there is a lake, pond or river, water can be an excellent place to "work out" a larger dog, especially when its warm out.

Tell her to adjust her furniture and home to make things easier for the dog, don't put things in a manner that it always needs to squeeze through furniture or objects to get anywhere, a cluttered, or tightly assembled home may look nice, but its basically setting up the dog for the undesirable instances you describe. Just like puppy proofing a home helps a pup, you need to make home adjustments to make an exceptionally large dog comfortable as well as his movements will be less graceful and obviously require more room. Get the dog a large, soft bed (or two) and place them in areas you would prefer it to be...big dogs really appreciate soft places to lay and sleep and are a must IMO.

Disposition and training. Of course it is going to get buried in love and hugs but the owner wishes to gently guide it to being obedient and try to minimize household damage by getting it to act sedate. Sedate is the key and goal. Mellow it out, make it feel comfortable and content. Tricks and tips? (If you have ever encountered a hyper bulldog you know what I mean. They can easily blast your feet out from under you with a playful shove.)

I thought I covered that in detail in my first post:?

 

[The Snark]

I thought I covered that in detail in my first post:?

Yes, and I appreciate your input. Noted down.

Isolation. It isn't going to have contact with other dogs and if it does get a yard to romp in it will be quite small. Getting it leash trained where you aren't in danger of getting dragged or your shoulder dislocated will obviously be a long term endeavor.

Right now her chairs all reside on the dining room table. As you suggested, clutter isn't going to work. Definitely convert the house to dog-centric, at least until it adapts.

Bed is a problem. Dogs shun beds here, preferring cold ceramic tile floors. Always hot. So the dog has half the house to kick it back in. Owner is very unsure how to designate one particular location. I have no clue. Specific training instructions??

What about bringing canine company over for it to socialize? Again, I'm clueless there. As for mellowing it out, could you give specific training regimens? Do's and Don't's. Is there some specific ways to train a dog to be aware of it's space and not plow into things?

The bath thing. Rub your hands over her a couple of times. They will shine with oil. When you give these oil factories a bath it takes 10 minutes to get a bubble. How often should they be bathed? Any herbs or whatever to keep it's skin healthy? Special tricks?

 

[The Snark]

It seems providence has taken a hand in things. The owner of Sweet Pea was offered a second dog in the form of a Yorkie of about the same age. The former owners of the Yorkie couldn't handle her rather hyper personality. So she enters the house and their lives, goes up to Sweet Pea and proceeds to wash her face. The Yorky, logically renamed Soup, has discovered her true calling in life: Washing a bulldog. She doesn't take no for an answer either, bullying until Sweet Pea cooperates. Soup is also very well trained and it is hoped her training will rub off.

Fingers crossed!

 

[fowlmoodmandy]

Hi. In my 20 years of experience of vet teching with bully breeds....they tend to have TONS of allergies. Where she lives is a big thing. I live in the south where it's hot and humid and every bacteria, fungus and yeast known to man likes to grown on anything and everything around here. If many facial and body folds the new owner will need to keep an eye on them...they can get mega bacterial infections down in them if they are deep. Cleaning with a mild NON SOAP solution like diluted chlorhexidene on a q tip in the folds works wonders. Watch the ears as well. Repeat ear infections are a sign of allergies often a food allergy or inhaled allergy. They can have skin allergies. In between the feet and pads as well. Other than lots of skin and eye problems (if they have them) they are ok dogs. They can be VERY stubborn but are usually sweet. If the dog has very wide set front legs it will be more prone to arthritis in the front legs rather than the rear. I think a good diet and regular cleaning (no more than once a week but preferably every two weeks) and it will be a great dog. They can also get yeast infections on their skin too as an afterthought. Remember, I live in the south, GA, where everybody wants a OEBD because of UGA football and the south is a bad place to have one lol. I know people who have them in better climates and they have much better luck with keeping them healthy. They can overheat in a heartbeat due to the squashed face.

 

[The Snark]

Thanks very much, fowlmoodmandy. Sounds like the tropics is not the ideal place for these animals.

It's very hard to tell if she is wide stance/bow legged. She's so massively built it's confusing. She makes a friends 100 lb Basset hound look fit and trim. But at present she doesn't favor any leg and shows no discomfort, walking, trotting or galumphing. She lithely gets up from lying on her side and is a little on the hyper side which tells me she isn't too much overweight fat wise. This coming from someone who knows horses far better than dogs so it's a 'for what it's worth'.

Very good to know about the heat and already a warning bell has gone off. She is allowed out of the house onto a shaded patio but it's been getting up over 100F and in a few minutes she is panting big time. So keeping her in a cool house seems to be a must.

She has enough skin for another normal sized bulldog so folds galore. Chlorhexidene. Easy to come by. If she has a reaction to that could you give alternatives?

Could you recommend a diet? After one of our cats became extremely ill from the local cat food, their quality control being a joke at best I suspect, the owner has decided to make her own dog food using human grade ingredients. But this is a big question mark. Just knowing basic raw supplies that she can cook up would help a lot.

She needs to know a recommended bathing regimen. How often, what soap??


And for an update I've been getting regular emails. They are gooey drippy oh how cute stuff for the most part. Sweet Pea has come out of her shell, thanks to the Yorkie for a large part. They are inseparable, rolling around together all over the floor and acting like puppies. They are also a serious hazard when they play tag. If Soup zooms past you, or the dreaded zooms between your legs, get ready to jump high and wide when Sweet Pea barrels into view.