Terry Albert - Your Bulldog Puppy Month by Month

Publisher:Mike Sanders

Associate Publisher:Billy Fields

Acquisitions Editor:Jan Lynn

Designer:William Thomas

Compositor:Ayanna Lacey

Proofreader:Lisa Starnes

PRODUCTION, LONDON

Digital Producer:Alex Valizadeh

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DIGITAL OPERATIONS, DELHI

Head of Digital Operations:Manjari Hooda

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Assistant Editor:Etika Kapil

Operations Assistant:Tauhid Nasir

First American Edition, 2017
Published in the United States by DK Publishing
6081 E. 82nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250

Copyright 2017 Dorling Kindersley Limited
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Published in the United States by Dorling Kindersley Limited.

ISBN: 9781465457660

This digital edition published 2017
eISBN: 9781465464279

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This book is dedicated to my friend and mentor, Liz Palika. Thank you so much for your friendship and inspiration over the 25 years weve known each other. Terry

Introduction

You may have heard the saying Built like a Mack truck, or seen the U.S. Marine Corps mascot, Chesty, who exemplifies the corps Semper Fi (always faithful) motto. During World War I, the Marines adopted the Bulldog as their mascot for his loyalty, tenacious spirit, and never-give-up attitude. Meanwhile, the folks at Mack Trucks provided heavy-duty vehicles that performed well for those soldiers in the tough fighting conditions of Europe. Mack Trucks soon became synonymous with the tough, relentless Bulldog, too.

But even before that, in the 1890s, Yale University became the first college in the country to have a mascot. Seventeen generations of Handsome Dan the Bulldog have symbolized Yales fighting spirit.

Originally called the English Bulldog, todays Bulldog looks much like those Bulldogs of the past and is one of the most popular breeds in the United Statesin the top 10 of the American Kennel Clubs list of most-registered breeds. Bulldogs were originally bred to be tough and aggressive, but todays dog is a sweetheartsmart, loving, determined, and loyal. Bulldogs also have a wicked sense of humor and provide hours of entertainmentusually at your expense!

An entirely man-made breed, over- and indiscriminate breeding has caused the Bulldog to become a walking medical disaster in recent generations. However, with the help of modern screening procedures, todays responsible breeders are testing their dogs for inherited diseases and making great strides in developing a healthy, long-living family pet.

More so than probably any other breed, Bulldog owners must do their homework before buying a dog, but theyll be rewarded with a healthy, happy companion for many years to come.

In This Book

Each chapter in this book covers a month of your Bulldog puppys development. You learn what you can expect from your pup and how to deal with each stage of growth. Its easy to be overwhelmed by the challenges of raising a puppy, and we hope this book helps you through the first 12 months of this big adventure!

You learn what goes on at the breeders during your puppys first 2 months and how the care she provides affects your pups future. You also discover how to choose the right breeder and pick the perfect puppy for your family. Then, you read about how to prepare for his arrival and, once you bring him home, make him comfortable with his new family.

Further chapters explain the various aspects, month by month, of your puppys physical development, health care, nutritional needs, grooming, socialization, behavior, and training. Each chapter ends with a special section dedicated to building your friendship with your new Bulldog puppybecause after all, isnt that one of the most important things?

Although no two Bulldog puppies mature at exactly the same rate, the process is the same. If your pup grows faster or slower, it doesnt necessarily mean something is wrong. Hell catch up or slow down and turn out wonderfully normal!

The Extras

Throughout the book, we share additional information to help you raise your Bulldog puppy. Heres what to look for:

DOG TALK

These sidebars offer definitions of words you might not know.

HAPPY PUPPY

Look here for ideas on raising a happy and content puppy.

TIPS AND TAILS

These sidebars share hints and helpful advice on dealing with the challenges of raising a puppy.

Acknowledgments

I couldnt raise a dog or write a book without assistance from countless helpers. Special thanks to my advisers, Betty Fisher and Tom Geiselhardt, DVM, who offered valuable input and carefully reviewed every word. Also thank you to the many breeders, trainers, Bulldog owners, and other experts who shared their knowledge and experience, especially Liz Palika, Kris Anderson, Susan Rohringer, Jenny Lucey, Mary Aiken, and the San Diego Bulldog Meetup Group. Terry