In This Chapter- Utilizing Bulldog resources
- Joining kennel clubs
- Planning for your Bully’s future
The resources included in this chapter offer a lot of extra information that you can look up on all aspects of Bulldogs, from the history of the breed, healthcare, information on Bulldog rescue, shopping opportunities, and books to read just for fun. And if you’d like to join a club just for Bulldog lovers, find out how in this chapter!
Finding Bulldog Information on the Internet
If you search the Internet by typing
Bulldogs, you will literally get thousands of hits for sites to search for information. One good site, supported by the American Kennel Club, is The Bulldog Club of America’s site. Visit
www.thebca.org for a variety of general information about Bulldogs. Discover the annual specialty show; find breeders; subscribe to
The Bulldogger, the club newsletter; get information about joining the Bulldog Club of America; and learn about rescue.
For more Bulldog info, visit some of the following sites:
Contacting the Kennel Clubs
Kennel Clubs provide many resources and connections within the Bulldog world. For that reason, getting registered with a recognized club has many benefits, even if you choose not to show your Bully.
The American Kennel Club
The AKC’s Web site,
www.akc.org, gives you information on all the AKC events, as well as general articles on dogs and their care. You can even shop at the online store. Contact the AKC by mail at 5580 Centerview Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606. For registration information, call 919-233-9767 or e-mail
[email protected].
The United Kennel Club
The United Kennel Club is the second oldest and second largest all-breed dog registry in the United States. Its Web site,
www.ukcdogs.com, has information on registering your Bulldog, as well as UKC-sponsored events, and a store. Its address is United Kennel Club, 100 E. Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49002-5584. The phone number is 269-343-9020. Fax: 269-343-7037.
The Kennel Club
The Web site for The Kennel Club (United Kingdom) is www.thekennel-club.org.uk/. The club has registration forms online, as well as an e-mail form. The address is 1 Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB. The telephone number is 0870 606 6750. Fax: 020 7518 1058.
Checking with the Local Breed Clubs
Local Bulldog clubs can provide you and your Bulldog lots of hands-on help, great new friends, and practical advice. Bulldog breed clubs also give shows and matches for Bulldog fanciers, and they also often give conformation and obedience classes. The Web sites of some clubs are listed in other sections of this chapter, and you can find more through The Bulldog Club of America:
www.thebca.org.
Browsing for Books
For more information of the Bulldog breed, consider reading The New Complete Bulldog, by Bailey C. Hanes (Howell).
Also recommended are health books for dog owners. These books are not intended to replace your veterinarian, but to guide you in understanding canine healthcare and what you can do, with your veterinarian, to ensure your Bulldog’s good health:
– Pet Care in the New Century: Cutting-Edge Medicine for Dogs and Cats, by Amy D. Shojai (New American Library)
– The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs, by Darlene Arden (McGraw-Hill)
– Pills for Pets: The A to Z Guide to Drugs and Medications for Your Animal Companion, by Debra Eldredge, DVM (Citadel Press)
For training your Bulldog, Dog Training For Dummies (Wiley), by Jack and Wendy Volhard, is a good basic book that will get you and your Bully off to a good start.
If you’re interested specifically in clicker-training your Bulldog, read anything by Karen Pryor. Also, visit her Web site at
www.clickertraining.com/home. This site provides a wealth of information, from the basics of training to conferences and events you can attend.
Flipping through fabulous dog fictionThere may be a reference or two about Bulldogs in the following books, but they make great reading no matter what breed is featured. Dog lovers love to read about dogs, and it doesn’t matter what breed the dogs are. These are some of my favorites: – Any book by Albert Payson Terhune. Stories about his Sunnybank Collies make great reading. – Any book by Susan Conant. Conant writes mysteries featuring a dog writer named Holly Winter and her two Alaskan Malamutes, Rowdy and Kimi. – Any book by Carol Benjamin. Her detective, Rachel Alexander, has a pit bull named Dashiell, as well as various other breeds in each novel, from a Dachshund in The Long Good Boy to a Puli in Lady Vanishes. – Virginia Lanier wrote a book series based on trailing with Bloodhounds. Besides being gripping stories, you can learn about trailing. – Rita Mae Brown’s mysteries feature a Corgi and a cat. |
Acquainting Yourself with Agility Sources
Do you want your Bulldog to be quick and clever? Well, he’s not going to be the fastest of all the breeds, but to help with his agility, check out these helpful resources:
– The United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) promotes the international standards in dog agility. For the complete text of the official rules and regulations, visit www.usdaa.com/rulesReg_eBook.cfm.
– The North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) lists its information at www.nadac.com/rules.htm.
– If you’re not particularly competitive, but you’d like to enjoy agility anyway, consider Just for Fun: Dog Agility For the Rest of Us. Check out the Web site, www.dogwoodagility.com/JustForFun.html.
– For advice on training for agility, try the book Having Fun with Agility, by Margaret Bonham. The guide is easy to read and understand, and may be just what you need to get you and your Bully started in agility. For more information on Bonham’s book or agility according to Bonham, visit www.havingfunwithagility.com.
Pursuing Holistic Medicine
You may pursue holistic medicine for your Bulldog for personal reasons or for general relief from chronic disease. With holistic medicine, the possibility exists to reduce medications, which in turn reduces side effects and improves your pet’s health.
Acupuncture is one component of holistic medicine. The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society is a nonprofit organization with a Web site that can help you find a certified veterinary acupuncturist in your area. Visit
www.ivas.org for an acupuncturist directory.
Homeopathy, another part of holistic medicine, is a system of treating disease based on the administration of small doses of a drug that in massive amounts would produce symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of the disease itself. For further information, you can visit
www.holisticdog.org or
www.alternativesforanimals.com, or contact your local veterinarian’s office.
Rescuing Bulldogs
Hundreds of sources exist in print and on the Internet as references for rescuing Bulldogs. Every year many Bulldogs are placed in rescue organizations’ care because their owners have mistreated, abandoned, or forfeited their right to their pets. If you want to be part of these kind of organizations or wish to receive your Bulldog through rescue, try perusing the following Web sites to get the process started:
– Cascade Bulldog Rescue, www.cascadebulldogrescue.org
– Long Island Bulldog Club, libcrescue.tripod.com
– On the Rebound Bulldog Rescue Foundation, www.ontherebound.org
– Smoky Mountains Bulldog Rescue, www.discoveret.org/smbc/rescue.htm
– The Bulldog Club of America, www.rescuebulldogs.org
Recovering Lost Bulldogs
AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR), at www.akccar.org, gives you information to enroll your Bulldog in its program. AKC CAR keeps track of your dog’s microchip number, as well as information on how to reach you should someone find your dog. All animals are eligible for enrollment in AKC CAR regardless of identification brand or type, or microchip, tattoo, or AKC CAR collar tag. The AKC CAR database stores close to 3 million enrollment records and has been used to perform nearly 300,000 recoveries If you have questions about the program or need to update your records, e-mail [email protected].
Providing for Your Bulldog When You Can’Tip
A time may come when you are no longer able to care for your Bully. As sad as that day may be, you owe it to your dog to plan ahead. Who will take care of your Bulldog in the case of your death? What will you do if you are physically unable to meet the daily needs of your dog? Death or losing our capability to take care of our dogs is not something any of us likes to think about, but thinking about your future and the future of your Bully is the responsible method of long-term care.
Many sources are now offering information and help to pet owners facing this dilemma, offering information about shelters and sanctuaries, as well as explanations of trusts and wills. The Washington State University Office of Veterinary Medicine and the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine are only two examples of places you can contact for more information. Their Web sites can be found at:
Lisa Rogak’s book PerPETual Care: Who Will Look After Your Pets If You’re Not Around? (Williams Hill) also provides useful information on this subject.
by Susan M.Ewing
