The Mini Bulldog is a small dog but with a big character. Why? Because it’s an English bulldog, but in a smaller package. Yes, that’s right. Breeders managed to get the classic breed but just smaller.
But, how does that work? How is it possible to make a dog smaller? By mixing two dog breeds. In this case the English Bulldog and Pug. This is a designer dog. So, if you don’t like that, then this dog is not for you.
I’ll be honest. I don’t like the idea of mixing two breeds either. But, the Mini Bulldog is cute. We, people, feel drawn to puppies. So it’s no wonder the world went crazy over this dog. It’ll stay small for the rest of its life!
Mini Bulldog – What you should know
The English Bulldog is a loved dog, so it’s no wonder people adore the smaller version too. They are gentle and calm. Bulldogs love to love and show affection.
But, they also have many health issues. The biggest being respiratory problems. This is because of how their head is shaped like.
Besides this, they tend to overheat easily. They also have skin problems like eczema, dry skin, and even acne. Hip dysplasia and joint problems are very common too.
But, we’ll see how the small version of this dog is like. If they have the same issues or not.
Get to know the mini version
There are many great things I can say about the Mini version of the Bulldog. But, let’s start with their size.
The name says it all, they are small dogs. They are around 10 to 14 inches tall and weigh between 25 and 40 pounds. So, very small! And, they can even be smaller. But, that’s not advised.
Smaller is not better. This is because they can even more health problems if they are too tiny.
You don’t want your dog to suffer its whole life, do you?
How the small version is made
You might be wondering, how can breeders make a small version of a dog. Well, there are three ways to do that.
It doesn’t matter which breed it is, this is how it’s done.
There are three ways:
- crossbreeds
- dwarfism
- runts
Firstly, crossbreeding is mixing a breed with a smaller breed. In this case the English Bulldog and the Pug.
But, the thing with crossbreeds or designer dogs, is that you don’t know how the puppies will turn out. You can’t predict how they will look and behave.
It’s sure that they will look more like one parent, but we just don’t know which.
There’s also the risk of inheriting many health problems.
Secondly, we have dwarfism. It’s when breeders put the dwarfism gene into a dog. So they will have short legs and look smaller.
But, this is in my opinion terrible to do. It comes with so many risks and health problems. We have an article on dwarf German Shepherds. You can read more about dwarfism there.
But, if you want a healthy dog, never get a dwarf version.
Lastly, we have runts. It’s when breeders puprosely breed the smallest members of a dog breed with each other. That’s how the toy Poodle came to life.
With this method, breeders are making sure no trait of the breed is lost. But, this is a long process, and it can take many generations to get a real size difference from the original breed.
How much they cost
Mini Bulldogs will cost you a lot of money. Between 500 and 2000 dollars.
But, you should always be careful about who you’re buying from. Look for a reputable breeder. Someone you can trust. Reputable breeders will ask for more money. But, with them, you know what you’re getting. You know they are selling you a healthy puppy. Ideally, you would also meet each parent breed. That way you will get an idea of how your puppy will be like.
There are a lot of people that don’t care about the dogs. They just want the money. So, don’t support those breeders. Even if you buy a cheaper puppy, it’s very likely that they will have more health problems.
You can check out our articles on how to find a good breeder and what to look out for.
All the traits of the Mini Bulldog
Let’s learn a bit more about the Min Bulldog.
The Mini Bull is a sensitive and loving dog. He is very loyal and attached to his humans. Especially children. They hate being left alone for long periods of time. So, if you’re out of the house a lot, they will be miserable. The Miniature Bulldog also loves attention. They could be the perfect family pet if all of their needs are met.
Because they tend to be a bit stubborn when it comes to training. So you will need to be firm, but not mean! Don’t yell at them or punish them.
As puppies, these dogs have a lot of energy and are playful, but they do calm down with time. The older they get, the calmer they will be.
Also, they are messy then they eat and slob a lot. And they snore. This dog is definitely a couch potato. They love just curling up next to you and take naps all day.
Exercise and training
The Mini Bulldog doesn’t need a lot of exercise. But you should take them on a couple of walks a day. A few play sessions and visits to the dog park during the week are also a good idea.
As mentioned, when training the Miniature Bulldog you will have to be firm. They do tend to be a bit stubborn and won’t listen to you. The Pug in them is a smart dog, but the Bulldog is not that bright. Don’t think that just because of his smaller size you won’t have to do a lot of training.
You will have to be patient and use positive reinforcement. Be consistent and have many treats ready. Of course, as it always is, early socialization is a must.
Grooming
The coat of the Miniature Bulldog is short and sleek. It can be silver, black and white. Usually, it’s a combination of white and some other color. But any combination is possible.
This dog doesn’t shed as much as a Husky or a German Shepherd. But they do shed a bit. You will have to brush them daily though.
You shouldn’t bathe them too often. In fact, a bath every three months would be perfect. Or when they really need it. This is because shampoos can damage the natural oils they produce.
Clean their ears regularly and brush their teeth. This is something many dog owners forget, but it’s very important.
If you know how to do it, you can also clip your dogs nails. However, if you are inexperienced in this area, rather leave it to a dog groomer.
Health problems
There are many health issues the Mini Bulldog can have. These dogs are brachycephalic, so they have a flat face. Therefore, similarly to Pugs they will have certain breathing issues. However, this will vary on how dominant the Pug genes are.
Their skull is short so it compresses the nasal cavity, causing them to have serious breathing problems. This is known as brachycephalic airway syndrome.
Other health problems brachycephalic breeds can have are:
- sensitive eyes
- problems when giving bitrh
- skin infections
- skin irritations
- spinal conditions
- severe breathing problems
Hip dysplasia and patellar luxation are also very common. In spite of all of these possible health problems, a the Miniature English Bulldog can still live for up to 12 years.