Items We use and recommend
Everyday Life Items
We wish when we first bought our first bulldog we had a good list of everything we needed. Over the years we compiled a list of must haves to use with your new little potato. We tried just about everything, so now you don't have to. We are affiliated with Amazon and do get a small commission from them (at no cost to you) for using our links. Thank You!
We have had a few crates and this one is the best size for all our adults. The 2 doors make it easier depending on where you put it and the bulldogs love it. There is a divider to shorten it for puppies. You can put old towels in for sleeping until potty trained.You can even buy the cover for it for a real den experience.
This one fits great in their crate (LARGE). I wouldn't recommend a bed until potty trained. This one is waterproof and washable however.
We have found these stairs to be the best. You can take the last two steps off for the couch. Washable and has a handle to carry. Oh and they are light. Please do not let your pups jump on and off furniture they can tear their ACL or develop joint pain as they get older.
Gates offer a way to block off access to certain parts of the house. This one has an extra wide door that we like. Puppies should not be aloud to roam where ever they want until they are potty trained. They need boundaries and safe places. Limiting access as pups will also help later with anxiety if you have to leave.
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This one is great because it's plastic so it's stronger than mesh but doesn't scratch floors like metal. You can pop these apart to make smaller or buy more to make bigger. Puppy's need a safe place to play when you can't watch them. I have even removed the door and zip tied to their crate for more room.
This is the most important thing to get. First it's the most quiet I could find. It comes in other colors. Get them started on day one with this. Once a week get them used to doing this or you will have a huge pain in the neck with anxiety.
I would never suggest a regular collar for walking. Regular collars can damage their airway for starters, so are only good for holding tags and info. This harness we have used for years with all our bulldogs. Very sturdy, I love the colors and most important is they are comfortable and easy to put on.
As a breeder we use these for our pups. I normally wouldn't recommend them for owners, simply because the puppy wont be potty trained as fast. However, I understand some owners need to work outside the home so this might be a better option than pee pads on the floor for them to rip up. Easy clean out vs the grass type (fake grass holds a horrible smell even after washing) we tried them and NOPE.
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We have only had this for a short time but let me tell you.... IT'S A GAME CHANGER!
You will find out soon enough how much these potatoes shed. What is great about this machine is that you can use it so many different ways. Dog attachments, household attachments, and human uses like the clippers for you hair and beard. Works well in the car as a small vacuum also.
I love this stuff for cuts, stings, and cleaning. This is used in so many products from butt wipes, eye stain removers, shampoos and foot soaks. We buy it by the gallon because it's cheaper that way and make our own cleaners.
We used to buy the cases of generic unscented at Sam's Club, but there are still too many chemicals in there for my liking. I found these, at close to the same price as the generic, with more water than anything else.
Been down the road of buying expensive Bulldog creams and nothing worked and reading the backs of the stuff that did I found it's simply Clotrimazole. Why not just go right to the product then!!!! This works great for tear stains, ears, yeast issues and best of all it's so much cheaper! Same with Hydrocortisone for itching!
We always have a big jar of Colloidal Silver in our house. It's great for humans and your pets! Check out my blog post for all about the wonderful healing properties.
Toy's
We tried LOTS of toys and these are the ones that held up the best. Stay away from anything with string or stuffing, like rope toys and stuffed animals. These have been known to cause so many obstruction issues in stomachs and intestines. If you do play with them take them away when you are not there to supervise. With any toy once you start seeing a lot of wear or chunks missing throw it away.
If you have a bulldog that likes to play ball this one is it. You can even get the glow in the dark version too. It does break down (in the blue) to the point you can grip the fabric really tight for those hard pullers. Don't let them chew on it or have it without you there. They will rip it up.
I can't say enough about this toy. It's not toxic and has lasted with 4 bulldogs for 3.5 years now. It's starting to get some wear and tear now but wow I get excited for more than one year on a toy. I only have one bulldog that can find the squeaker but the other dogs love to play with it too.
Another toy that has lasted 3.5 years in a 4 bulldog house. This is a slightly softer toy (easier to squeak) so we only allow them to play with it certain times of the day. Maybe why it's lasted so long? Anyway it's a great toy for power chewers and it's natural rubber.
If you are lucky to have a hunter you can get them free. BUT you can always buy them too. I would not suggest the small unless it's a puppy. These are amazing and last a long time. Once down to a point to which they could swallow throw away and get another. Great for teeth and power chewers.
Nylabones are always around our house. These do wear down gradually and just throw away once they get to a point where they could swallow or get them stuck in their mouth.
This is another great one we have had in our home. It lasted more than 2 years with 4 bulldogs. Lots of different chewing parts and aids in dental care, since you could put doggy toothpaste in it or peanut butter.
Supplements & Health
These are products that we have used for years. The supplements can be added to a RAW diet or with kibble to add nutrients. They can promote gut and skin health along with joints. We try to stay as holistic as possible and only want products that don't contain a lot of chemicals or fillers in them.
We absolutely love this company. Made in the USA, Non GMO, and best of all 100% natural ingredients! We try to stay super holistic and natural. All their products are amazing. A little pricey for what you get but I will take their quality over price every time. The link is to their whole line.
We have used this everyday for years now. We are always complimented on how soft our bulldogs are. You can put this or RAW or Kibble food
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We love this company and this product. We don't always use it but off and on we add a splash of it to their food. A lot of boutique stores carry this line but I sent you to the link to their store and you can see a list of sellers in your area. OR you can make your own.
This is what we use and we buy it in cans of 3, but you can also get Organic Pumpkin at your local grocery store. Just make sure it's Organic Pumpkin Puree no additives or anything. This is a great source of fiber and can help constipation or diarrhea. You can just add a spoon full of this to whatever food you are feeding.
If you are lucky enough to find a farmer that sells RAW Goats Milk, even better! Most have a hard time finding it, so the next best thing is to get it in powder form. This is human grade and we keep in our cabinet not only for us, but when we have puppies. We use as a momma milk substitute or give to the our dogs as a great supplement. Just pour some over their kibble or RAW meal.