English Bulldogs are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the world given their manageable size and relaxed appearance. Given the amount of breeding that the species has been through, however, there are problems inherent within bulldogs now which means that they may need very special care in order to be healthy and comfortable. Breathing and joint problems are two of the main areas that affect most dogs and this means that those who own bulldogs must be very careful when caring for them. As with any animal, exercise is key to keeping them healthy and giving them the best chance of living a long and happy life. However, with some of the problems which bulldogs can experience this is often difficult. The exercise must be strenuous enough to provide the health benefits but not so demanding that it could potentially cause damage to the dog. Here are some tips for the best English bulldog exercise you can do.

Good Healthy food

One key thing you can do for your English Bulldog is provide them with nutritious food that aids in building resistance to infections and parasites. If you can, start feeding with less store-bought pet food and feed with a variety of fresh raw meat, cooked whole grains (rice, barley, oats), and cooked vegetables (peas, carrots, cabbage, green beans). Fresh raw beef bones from the butcher are great treats and keep teeth and gums healthy. This is key to a supremely healthy Bulldog. If this is not practical for your lifestyle, find local pet stores that offer some of the healthier dog food brands. If you must feed commercial food, choose one with no grain or by-products added, and meat as the first ingredient. Most dogs do great on once-daily feedings, with measured portions to avoid obesity. Here’s a list of some of the healthiest dog food brands.

Wellness Natural Pet Food (see pricing on Amazon)

Taste of the Wild (see pricing on Amazon)

Nature’s Variety (see pricing on Amazon)

Natural Balance (see pricing on Amazon)

Organix (see pricing on Amazon)

Socializing

One of the most important things for any dog is to allow them to meet and interact with other dogs. Not only will this keep your dog happy it will also encourage them to get out and move around more whilst playing or possibly living alongside another dog. This won’t be too harsh on the fragile nature of the bulldog and should help them to develop a stronger ability to move around given the motivation of cooperating with another dog.

Grooming

Even though English Bulldogs have short hair they need to be brushed or combed to keep their skin healthy. Bathe occasionally with a mild unmedicated shampoo to clean toxins from the skin. Clean the ears with a mixture of vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water as needed. Wipe the eyes, folds, and wrinkles to prevent infections as these are problem areas for our loving Bulldog breed.

Short walks

Not only important for the physical health of a dog, but bulldogs are also likely to become agitated if not taken for regular time on walks outside. These walks should not be too far as the limits of a bulldog are fairly severe compared to many other dogs. Walks shouldn’t be too fast either as the stamina of a bulldog is not one of its greatest assets. Instead short walks at a pace dictated by the dog, once a day are going to be perfect for providing your bulldog with a healthy amount of exercise without aggravating their potential health problems. You can also make it more interesting for your dog to change the scenery by walking in different places every day, this will allow them to interact with new dogs and different experiences, helping them stay happy and alert.

Throw the toys

If given toys to play with as a puppy then most dogs will grow up learning to love playing with them. This is great for an English bulldog as it allows another way to get them to do some casual exercise without them even knowing it. Throwing a ball for them and having them fetch it is a perfect way to get them moving around at a pace that is comfortable for them whilst also preventing them from becoming sedentary and apathetic. It provides stimulation for their brains as well as their muscles and respiratory system in order to give their health a real boost.

Tug of war

Using a long toy to play tug of war is also another great way to get you English bulldog exercise. Given that their jaws are exceptionally strong it allows them to focus most of their energy on using them and not on over-exerting their fragile joints. It is unlikely that they will be able to play it for very long and make sure not to overwork them as this could cause potential problems in the future, but a casual game of tug of war is a great way to work the muscles of an English bulldog without necessarily have them exercising too hard.

Preventative Care & Vaccines

Rabies vaccines are required by law in some states, but should not be given to unhealthy dogs. Distemper/parvo vaccines are not needed after 1 year of age. Other vaccines may be unnecessary as well.

Heartworms, fleas, and ticks are the big concerns with any breed so have them tested yearly for heartworm (spring is best), use monthly heartworm preventative during mosquito season (May thru November here), and use flea and tick prevention products as needed. Good nutrition helps to build your dog’s resistance to these pests as well.

Keep to a routine

Having a routine for your dog’s exercise will allow you to keep track of how much they are getting and make sure that they won’t be working their joints or muscles too hard. Ensuring that their combined play and walking times aren’t too high depending on their age and weight. Considering any possible health problems that your dog has had in the past is also important as the healthcare of each dog will depend specifically on what experiences the dog has had in the past. Making sure that the dog doesn’t end up getting too much exercise is much easier if you keep them to a strict routine regarding the amount of activity they do in a day. Working to make sure your bulldog doesn’t get too much or too little exercise is key and a routine is the best way possible to maintain this constant.

Overall, it is important to make sure that your dog doesn’t become sedentary as this can cause a whole host of health problems. However, specifically in bulldogs, it is also important for them to have too much exercise as this can also cause a variety of health issues.

Here’s an example of a good routine:

6 am–7:30 am
Wake up and go for a walk and perhaps a brisk run. Give your Bulldog an opportunity to urinate and defecate in an area they see fit (always pick up after your pets). If you have 10 minutes or so for a little playtime, that would be great for some energy release. Bulldogs love to play ball or fetch, something interactive is always welcome for this breed. Spend about 10 minutes of quality time just talking and petting your Bulldog, they love this too. Notice anything unusual about his/her demeanor, attitude, hair coat, look of his eyes, etc.

7:30 am–8:00 am
After the walk it’s time to eat and drink; change the water to make sure the bowl is full and fresh. Offer food if you feed your dog more than once a day.

8:00 am–9:00 am
English Bulldogs like to have the opportunity to go out again after they eat for the opportunity to urinate and defecate. If this is not possible with your busy schedule, make sure they have an area designated for them to relieve themselves when they need to.

9 am–12 pm
Naptime!? Or time to follow you around as you do your housework. If you are off to work – then naptime it will be. Try to provide a comfy bed that your bulldog enjoys lying in most of the day. Here’s some I found on Amazon.

Evening (after work)
Walk time again, try to play for about 10 minutes, and give your Bulldog some loving pets. These are affectionate dogs so give them as much love as possible and they will love you right back.

If you feed your Bulldog in the evening too, You may want to feed them, then walk, but that’s up to you. Feed them and give them more fresh water then let your Bulldog relax with you until bedtime.

Crate for Bedtime
We do this and our English Bulldog loves it. They like to be close to you but in their own area. This also instills more discipline at bedtime and they need it. Our Bulldog loves to play again right before bed, so the crate helps. Here are a few Crates, we got ours here.