English Bulldogs, American Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, all the Bulldogs! What do they have in common? Well, for starters, there’s no more endearing and amusing dog than the Bulldog. They’re cute, chubby, and with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose.
These dogs possess an unmistakable appearance, courageous spirit, exceptional loyalty, and affectionate personality. It goes without saying that Bulldogs really are great family pets. But what about their shedding levels. Having to pick up dog fur is one of the unlikable parts of being a canine owner. This becomes a more serious issue for allergy sufferers. Well, let’s see what you can expect from Bulldogs.
So, do Bulldogs shed? The short answer is yes, they do. But while it might seem like these dogs’ fur gets everywhere, Bulldogs are actually considered moderate shedders. They will, however, shed more during spring and fall. The good news is you can manage their shedding with a regular grooming regime. They have short hairs, which are easy to maintain and aren’t as visible as long or thick hairs.
Having dog hair in your home can be pretty frustrating. But newsflash, all dogs shed. If you’re imagining enjoying a spotless house once you acquire a Bulldog, you’re setting yourself up for failure. It’s important to know and embrace the fact that there will be some shedding. But this is a small price to pay for such a delightful companion.
Read Also: Do French Bulldogs Shed?
The more important question is how much do Bulldogs shed. Let’s take a closer look at this breed’s shedding process, what’s normal shedding and what’s unhealthy, factors affecting their shedding, actions you can take against their shedding, and much more. By the end of this text, you should know what to expect shedding-wise if you decide to adopt this breed.
How Much Do Bulldogs Shed?
Some people think that Bulldogs’ short coats don’t shed much, which is a common misconception for most short-haired dogs. If anything, the shorter the hair, the shorter the hair growth cycle, meaning more dead hairs floating around the house.
When it comes to Bulldogs, they typically shed moderately throughout the year. But expect more shedding in spring and autumn when they shed a lot in preparation for seasonal changes. Luckily, even during seasonal shedding, they are not as high-shedding as other breeds like the German Shepherd or Jack Russell Terrier.
That being said, the number of hairs your find may vary slightly depending on which Bulldog you have. French Bulldogs are the smallest of the Bulldogs. And with less surface area for hair to grow, there will be less hair to clean up. English Bulldogs are medium-sized, while American Bulldogs are the largest in size. If you own the latter, you may notice more hairs. This is due to their larger surface area and not their shedding levels.
Why Do Bulldogs Shed?
Like any other breed, Bulldogs shed their hair as part of a natural body process that gets rid of old and damaged hairs to allow for healthy hairs to grow in their place. A Bulldog puppy will typically shed more than an adult since their coats go through rapid changes of growth and age. Additionally, puppies have fragile hairs that fall off pretty quickly.
Once they reach adulthood, a firmer and more protective coat is formed that doesn’t shed as much. You may experience increased shedding due to seasonal changes or an underlying health condition (more on this later).
Shedding Seasons And Frequency
Your adult Bulldog will go through the natural shedding process to replace old, dead hairs with new healthy fur. This happens throughout the year. But while they are moderate shedders, you may realize that your Bulldog’s shedding happens more than usual during certain seasons.
You will notice increased shedding during seasonal changes, particularly in spring and autumn. These dogs grow winter coats towards the end of fall to help keep them warm during the cold months. But come spring, they no longer need the thick fur and will shed considerably to have a lighter summer coat. Needless to say, expect to see a lot of hairs around your house in autumn and spring, although the latter will be much heavier.
Unhealthy Shedding
Life with a Bulldog means finding short, single hairs on your furniture, carpets, clothes, and sometimes even your food. But excessive shedding is a cause for concern. You want to watch out for:
- Patches of missing fur
- Increased shedding that is not caused by seasonal changes
- Dry, brittle fur
- Thin, unhealthy coat
- Shedding that is accompanied by extreme flaking and/or itchiness
- Skin irritations and/or open sores
- Clouds of free-falling hair when your doggy scratches
If you notice any of the above, your Bulldog is likely experiencing unhealthy shedding due to an underlying condition. The underlying condition may range from hormonal imbalance in pregnant or bitches in heat, to fungal and bacterial infections, improper diet, parasitic infection such as fleas or lice, Cushing’s disease, cancer, stress, self-induced trauma due to licking, inhalant or food-related allergies, reaction to a harmful environment, and so on. Visit the vet immediately to determine the cause for the unhealthy shedding and find possible solutions.
What Type Of Coat Does A Bulldog Have?
Canine coats come in many different types, and this will mainly depend on the breed’s purpose. Each fur type has different shedding levels, allergen potential, and requires different grooming needs. You may also just prefer certain types of coats to others.
Back to Bulldogs, these dogs share a similar coat with fine, short fur. If healthy, the appearance should be smooth and shiny. The coats are available in varying colors, including pure white, red, brindle, creamy colored, pale yellow or red, or patches of multiple colors.
The short and smooth coats will require minimal maintenance. Brushing once a week is enough to keep them looking healthy and shiny. They will also require occasional baths to remove dirt and odor.
How To Manage And Reduce Bulldogs Shedding?
Hopefully, by now, you understand how do Bulldogs shed. If you’re still set on adopting this breed, the next logical step is how you can manage their shedding. After all, nobody wants to find pet hair everywhere in their house. Allergy sufferers, in particular, want to know how to reduce allergens produced by this breed. There are many tips for managing and reducing your Bulldog’s shedding, and here are the most vital ones:
Bulldogs Grooming
Thanks to their short coats, grooming Bulldogs is relatively simple. A quick brush with a bristle brush once or twice a week should be enough. You may need to brush daily during seasonal shedding to keep up with the increased shedding.
Brushing keeps shedding in control in a couple of ways. For starters, it allows you to capture dead and loose hairs and dander before they are released into the environment during shedding. Secondly, when you brush your dog, you spread the natural oils of their coat all over their skin. This encourages healthy fur growth and prevents dry, irritated skin, which is a common cause of excessive shedding.
A vital tool needed for grooming the Bulldog is a bristle brush. De-shedding tools go down deeper to remove all loose and dead hairs. But this may not be necessary for everyday use if you have a Bulldog. However, they do come in handy during increased shedding.
You’ll need to keep in mind a couple more things as you groom your Bulldogs, such as nail, ear, and dental care.
Bulldogs Diet
Your Bulldog’s diet is another area to consider when managing their shedding. Are they getting all the necessary nutrients for overall health? Dogs’ hairs mainly consist of proteins, so a diet rich in protein will encourage a healthy coat, allowing for healthy shedding. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are also known to promote healthy skin and coat.
So, include things like salmon, sardine, flaxseed, and soy in your pup’s diet. As the name suggests, food rich in omega-3 fatty acids may contain a lot of fat, so provide them in moderation to avoid excessive weight gain.
Bulldogs are prone to food allergies or sensitivities that could affect their skin and fur, thus causing skin infections, itching, and excessive shedding. So, monitor the ingredients that are in your pup’s meals. Avoid commercial dog food containing artificial colors, added sweeteners, and grains.
Baths, Supplements…
Another thing you can do to reduce shedding is regular bathing. These dogs have pretty sensitive skin than most breeds. Hence, special care is needed when bathing them. First off, only use a mild dog shampoo and never human shampoo.
You also want to avoid frequent baths. All that does is extract all the natural oils from the animal’s skin, leaving it dry and flaky. Bathing once a month should be enough unless they roll in something muddy or smelly. Along with that, consider oatmeal baths as they are gentler and healthier.
As mentioned earlier, your pup could be shedding due to a deficiency in certain nutrients. This is where supplements such as omega-3 supplements come in to make their skin and fur even healthier, thus preventing unnecessary shedding.
Are Bulldogs Hypoallergenic?
As mentioned earlier, all dogs shed and have dander. Since fur and dander are the biggest allergens that often irritate a person’s allergies, no doggy is truly hypoallergenic. The good news is some are low allergen-producing breeds, making them less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
That being said, Bulldogs don’t come anywhere close to being hypoallergenic. They are moderate shedders and shed even more during seasonal shedding. Dander being the biggest cause of pet allergies attaches itself to the dog’s fur and gets released into the environment during shedding.
Bulldogs will release a considerable amount of dander into the air, which in turn affects people with allergies. Additionally, Bulldogs drool a lot due to their general head anatomy. And saliva is a recognized allergy source.
If you’re still interested in getting a Bulldog, whether an American, French, or English Bully, don’t let their shedding discourage you. These dogs have great personalities and other amazing characteristics. You can manage their shedding with proper grooming and occasional baths. This allows you to capture the hairs before they get a chance to spread into the environment.
You also want to invest in a HEPA vacuum cleaner and air filter to help remove existing allergens in the air. It would also help if your Bulldog didn’t stay in areas where you spend a lot of time, like the bedroom. Lastly, consult your doctor for some allergy medication to help manage symptoms.
That being said, if you’re super concerned about allergies or have severe allergies, the Bulldog might not be for you. Perhaps you should consider more allergy-friendly breeds like the Poodle, Afghan Hound, American Hairless Terrier, Basenji, and the Bichon Frise, just to name a few.