FAQ

Facts about Bulldog Puppes
French and English Bulldogs

  • Q: How big is a mini bulldog?
  • Q: What are rare color bulldogs?
  • Q: Do your puppies come with a health guarantee?
  • Q: What are the prices of your puppies?
  • Q: How do I join the Reservation List?
  • Q: What is your shipping policy?
  • Q: Can I place a deposit to reserve a puppy?
  • Q: What do the puppies come with?
  • Q: Do I have to alter (spay, neuter) my puppy to get the pedigree?
  • Q: How long do bulldogs live?
  • Q: Can I keep my bulldog outside while I am at work?
  • Q: What is the best food for my English or French Bulldog?
  • Q: How do I get my bulldog to stop chewing on my things?
  • Q: Do bulldogs get along with children, cats and other pets?
  • Q: Should I insure my bulldog puppy?
  • Q: How can I prevent gas or indigestion in my bulldog after a meal?
  • Q: Can I teach my bulldog to swim?
  • Q: How can I socialize my bulldog? Do they do well at dog parks?
A: While mini bulldogs are not considered a separate breed, there is a big difference in a mini bulldog and a regular sized bulldog. Some breeders get a mini “bulldog” by mixing bulldogs with pugs or other breeders, and then call it a bulldog. All of our bulldogs are 100% purebred mini French Bulldogs and 100% purebred mini English Bulldogs. Female mini English Bulldogs typically range from 40-45 lbs. and/or 12-14” at the shoulder, male mini English Bulldogs average 40-50 lbs. and/or under 14” at the shoulder. You will often find standard English bulldogs weighing between 50-80lbs, with a much larger frame when compared to a compact mini English bulldog. Mini French Bulldogs are 15-22 lbs. and/or 12” and under at the shoulder. Diet and exercise are very important with keeping your dog healthy and from becoming over weight, and while nature sometimes has a mind of it’s own and we cannot guarantee that every one of our bulldogs will be mini, their parents are all mini and we expect their offspring to be as a result.
A: We breed rare color bulldogs. Chocolate, Blue, and Lilac are rare colors because it take certain genes in both parents for the puppies to present these colors, and that is why they are not seen as often. There are dominant traits and recessive traits. Dominant traits are more often seen, because they “over power” recessive traits. This is why the recessive colors of Chocolate (liver), Blue and Lilac (Isabella) are more difficult to get in litters. You can compare this to rare colored gemstones or even rare eye colors or hair colors in humans. They are not defects of any kind, and do not cause any negative traits with the dogs- and they sure are beautiful!
A: All of our dogs are up to date on shots and your puppy will come with their first set of shots. Our puppies have a one year health guarantee for any death due to genetic defects, where a full refund would be issued or a replacement puppy. You MUST have your puppy checked by a vet within 72 hrs of leaving our care. If you have other animals, we suggest keeping them apart until this vet visit.
A: Puppies are priced based on colors and features. We do genetic tests for puppy colors and can judge their features around 4 weeks of age which is when we will choose our future breeders and then AFTER that, the Reservation List chooses. After this they are available to the public. Standard color puppies are priced from $2,500-$3,500, but please be aware they are not very likely in our litters since all parents are rare color. Rare colored puppies will be priced from $3,500-$6,000. Show or breeding quality pups will be priced from $6,000 and up, according to color and features.
A: Reservation List is the deposit of $500 and the signed contract which is available on the top left corner of the website. We currently accept cash, cashiers checks/money orders or you can pay via Paypal or card on our Deposits page. Contact us for more information if you’re interested in making payments towards your puppy. The deposit goes towards the final price of the puppy. Final price does not include shipping, if necessary, please see “What is your shipping policy?” if you need it for your puppy. Deposit is nonrefundable but never expires. We want to make sure that our puppies go to a forever home, so we urge you to wait until you find “the one,” or two!
A: We can fly your puppy to any major airport that receives United Airlines or Delta Airlines. Puppies are put into air conditioned, safe, cargo space and travel well. They are sent with food and water for the trip. We can also send them with a personal escort, please contact us for information and pricing to your area.
A: Deposits are $500. You can pay with cash, cashier’s check or a money order made out to Debbie Howe to reserve a puppy or be put on the Reservation List. For the Reservation List, deposits are kept in the same order they are received. We reserve the right to keep puppies for future breeding, but otherwise you would pick a puppy in the same order. So, if there are 2 deposits before you and none are being kept for breeding, you would have the third pick. If you do not get a puppies from that litter, you would be notified of the next litter born. Puppies would be chosen at around 4 weeks. Deposits are nonrefundable, but never expire. You can feel free to wait until you find “the one” (or two!) that is perfect for you.
A: Health Certificate, New Bulldog Puppy Care Sheet, a blankey that smells like their mother and a sample of the food they are eating. After Huggabulls receives proof of being neutered or spayed, customer will receive AKC registration papers.
A: Yes. Our puppies are for pets only, and per our contract must be spayed or neutered within one year of age to receive their pedigree. Simply make a copy of the detailed receipt from your vet and either mail or email it to us at info@huggabulls.com. Breeding animals is very risky, and takes a lot of responsibility and years of training and education to do safely for the animals. There is a lot that could go wrong, and it is better for the health of the animal that you do not risk this as they are our top priority.
A: French bulldogs typically live for 10-12 years and English bulldogs typically live from 8-10 years. As with any breed, and even humans, with proper care, nutrition and exercise, they can live longer.
A: Bulldogs are prone to heat stroke and should not be kept outside in warm or hot weather without water, shade or even a fan for very long. When going for walks, try to avoid the hottest time of the day and walk on the grass to avoid hot asphalt. Do not EVER, for any reason, leave your bulldog or any other pet inside of a car. Signs of heat stroke are excessive panting, temperature or 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, stumbling, weakness or fainting. If you find your dog gets tired outside quickly, you can try a cooling pet mat, Kool Collar or other cooling vests to keep their temperature down some. Every animal is different, and some bulldogs can play outside on a warm day for an hour just fine where others are too hot after just 10 minutes. Pay attention to the needs of your dog, because after all- they cannot verbalize that they are over heating.
A: We believe in giving dogs as much natural, whole food and ingredients as possible. Some people choose a raw diet, but for a lot of families this is not always possible. If you are unable to do a raw diet for your pets, going towards a grain-free all natural food is the next best thing. You can always do a mix of both to save money, just make sure that any changes to your pets diet be done VERY slowly so that their digestive system can get used to the new proteins and learn to digest them properly, avoiding a mess around your home and a sick dog. We suggest Fromms, Taste of the Wild and other grain free foods, both dry and wet. Those with fish are especially good because of the great Omega oils which are good for their digestion, coat and overall health. We also suggest a drizzle of oil on top of their food- they love it! When you give your pet food that nourishes them, their health will improve, they will be excited to eat and less likely to try and eat other things around the house.
A: This is a common concern for a lot of new puppy owners, and is not exclusive to bulldogs. When puppies are teething, they need an outlet for their sour teeth. If you do not give them their own chew toys, they will absolutely find other things to chew on! The #1 way to keep them from chewing on your shoes, bags, pillows, etc. is to keep them out of reach. #2 is to be sure to keep toys that THEY LIKE around. It is key that they like them. Experiment with different toys, bones, hides etc. to find their favorite to keep them busy. Do NOT ever give them cooked chicken bones or other small bones that are a choking hazard. #3 is to give them positive reinforcement when they chew on their toys instead of your things, and they will learn what is theirs quickly.
A: Bulldogs are very social animals, and they love to feel a part of the family. Socialize them with other animals and kids are early as possible. It is important to remember that they love to chase and play with kids, so if you have children who are small or not used to this, ease them into it. Bulldogs have a tendency to think they are much smaller than they are and their stocky frame can easily knock a toddler down when trying to play. Never leave small children alone with any dog, because accidents happen and it is better to be safe than sorry. There are so many videos online of bulldogs and their best friends being other animals or children and we highly suggest having other pets if you will not be home every day with your dog. They get lonely just like people do, and we will give special discounts to those getting two puppies from us for this reason.
A: It depends on the dog and their environment. Some dogs want to put everything in their mouth and are so curious that they seem to be constantly getting into things, (see “How do I get my bulldog to stop chewing on my things?”) but others don’t ever have an issue with this and stay busy with their toys. You may want to insure your puppy if you can tell that they are eating and getting into things that may harm them, or if they climb and jump off of things that are too tall for them and may break a bone. We highly suggest puppy proofing your home before getting a puppy, but accidents happen and you may want to be prepared. Most dogs have some kind of health concern, and when it comes to pure bred dogs you can prepare for certain issues specific to the breed. Feeding your bulldog a proper diet, keeping them up to date on all shots and giving them the proper exercise and care that they need will eliminate a lot of these concerns. As dogs get older, just like humans, they are more prone to joint and other issues. You may want to insure them at an older age, or at a younger age, or for their whole life span. It is entirely up to you, and we urge you to do the research and ask your vet who is familiar with bulldogs before making a decision.
A: Bulldogs can be VERY excited about meal time, especially if you are giving them nutritious food! This sometimes means they “vacuum” or “inhale” their food instead of slowly savoring it. This can lead to large amounts of air being swallowed, which can lead to burping, flatulence, upset stomachs or even vomiting. None of these are good for the dog, and are actually easy to prevent. There are “interactive pet bowls” that have knobs or rows that are raised throughout the bowl to create obstacles that the dog has to move around to eat. This makes them take more time to eat, and prevents less air from being swallowed. You can buy these at most pet stores, online or you can make a DIY version as home. You can use a cupcake/muffin pan to divy up their food, or take golf balls and put them inside the bowl, or even take a much smaller bowl and turn it upside down and place it inside their regular bowl, (this will look like a bundt cake pan, which you could use as well!) just make sure that there is enough room for them to get the food in all of these options.
A: Because of their large chest and short legs, they are not very good swimmers and can drown very easily because they have difficulty jumping or climbing out of the pool. Never leave your bulldog alone around a large body of water for this reason. If you want to take them in the pool with you and hold them while they enjoy the water, or put dog floats on them, this is fine. You can even set up a kiddie pool for them to cool off in- but stay close by with all of these options. You can also let them run through a sprinkler to cool off outside.
A: Bulldogs generally want to be best friends with everyone! Having other pets (which we highly suggest unless you stay home with them) is a very easy way to get them started with socializing. You can plan play dates with those who have other pets if you do not have any yet. If you have a local dog park or beach, they would love to go with you. Make sure to follow the parks rules for keeping them on a leash, waste pickup etc, and do not let them over heat, (see “Can I leave my bulldog outside while I am at work?”) or stay out for too long. This is a great time to test their obedience training and burn off some energy while getting great exercise.