Why bulldogs?

I know what you’re thinking. “Why on earth would a dog groomer specialize in a breed that doesn’t even need to be groomed?!” Well- to put it frankly- because they DO. (All dogs require at least minimal grooming from time to time!) Believe it or not, while they’re not usually thought of as high maintenance in the grooming department, bulldogs actually have several distinct characteristics that make specialized grooming absolutely essential to their wellbeing! (Also, I just REALLY love bulldogs.)

Bulldogs are….

• Brachycephalic!
• Highly sensitive to heat!
• Covered in wrinkles!
• Prone to skin issues!

Brachycephalic

According to Merriam-Webster:

brachy•ce•phal•ic / short-headed or broad-headed with a cephalic index of over 80

Basically, the term refers to any dog whose head is wider than it is long…. in other words, the smoosh-faced variety (though some breeds considered bracycephalic DO have a small snout, such as the boxer and the chihuahua!)!

And while that smoosh-face is undeniably adorable, with it comes an array of complications….

Bulldogs have an elongated soft palate which obstructs their airway. This, combined with the narrow nares (nostrils) that some have, contributes to the loud, snorty breathing that bulldogs have unfortunately become well known for.

Compromised airway of a French Bulldog:

See that tiny hole? That’s it. That’s all the room he has to breathe. Crazy, right?!

Heat Sensitivity

The bulldog’s short muzzle not only means less room for air, but less room for regulating the temperature of that air. The graphic below shows the difference in the portion of the nasal cavity designated for temperature regulation between a bullie and a German Shepherd.

This is why bulldogs are so prone to overheating and why a cage dryer should never be used on a brachycephalic dog.

Wrinkles

Although those irresistible wrinkles are often touted as the most adorable part of bullie ownership, the truth is…. well, they can get a bit gross. Dirt and bacteria tend to harbor in the folds, which frankly can get quite stinky and even cause mild to severe irritation for your bullie.

Around the tail is another trouble area…. the corkscrew shape of a bulldog’s tail creates a fold known as a “tail pocket”, which is prone to bacterial build-up and infection.

Skin Issues

A few other common bullie issues include allergies, yeast, and Seasonal Bulldog Flank Alopecia (though this one is a benign condition, SBFA causes hairloss on the sides of the torso. As always, if you notice anything new going on with your bullie, please be sure to consult your veterinarian to rule out other possible causes! Never assume!)

I know…. it’s a lot. That’s why I’ve developed my special “Bullie Bath”- a unique, customized grooming service just for bulldogs! To learn more about this one of a kind service, visit our “Bullie Bath” page!