Bulldog Haven NW - FAQ's

Our rescue helps English Bulldogs and French Bulldogs, and French Bulldog Mixes. We also help Olde English Bulldogge as space and funds allow.

Sometimes the breed names are confused, especially with Olde English Bulldogges. When in doubt, visit the Bulldog ID site. Still can't tell? Feel free to send us a few photos of the dog in question to [email protected]. We would be happy to help you try and identify the dog's breed(s).

If you have a Bulldog type other than English or French, a great resource is petfinder.com. Search petfinder.com for available dogs in your area that are the same breed you have. Contact places that have them listed; they may be able to help.

We do not have a location where all of our dogs are. We are a network of foster homes that open our own homes to the dogs who need a place to live while they heal, learn and wait for the right home. This is why the public is not able to "come visit" them.

We accept applications throughout WA and its surrounding states. Please take into account, though, that we like to keep some dogs close to their foster homes in case the match with their new home does not work out.

There are so many bulldogs available all over the world that many times we do not feel that transporting is in the best interest of the dog. Please visit rescuebulldogs.org, petango.com, or petfinder.com for bulldogs in other areas.

No, all dogs from BHNW are spayed or neutered prior to placement. No exceptions.

Unfortunately, no. We understand that it can be confusing, but BHNW does not actually have a relationship with most third-party online aggregators. If you would like to adopt a dog from BHNW, you will still need to follow the BHNW Adoption Process as outlined here.

The Facebook Groups Seattle Bulldog Fanciers and Seattle French Bulldog Fanatics are wonderful resources for Bulldog and Frenchie parents! These are communities of experienced owners and rescuers that love the breed and are happy to answer questions.

We work hard to place each dog in the right home, but there are times that either the dog or the new family just cannot adjust to the new life. When BHNW places a dog, the new owner signs a contract stating that the new owner may never sell or rehome the dog for any reason. It also states that if, for any reason, the adoption does not work out, no matter the length of time at the new home, the dog must always be sent back to our organization. This is a signed contract, so it is not negotiable. If your dog is not working out, please contact us as soon as possible.

Although some come in with names, and some are given names in their foster homes for training, you are always able to change their name. If the dog is older or impaired, you may want to reconsider this if they have had their name their entire life and/or if learning a new name would be more of a hindrance for the dog.

Yes, although it is not a Poodle, they still require grooming. Daily wrinkle wiping with something along the line of fragrance-free baby wipes. Some will also need their bum or tail wiped after they potty. They do shed, so brushing them with a rubber mitt or other tool made for short coats will help keep the loose hair off them and will keep their coat shiny and healthy. Like all dogs, they need their nails trimmed at least once a month, if not twice, to ensure they stay short, as long nails can make walking difficult and can cause joint problems in the future if their paws are forced to roll over onto nails instead of the front of the pads on the paws.

Owners who can no longer care for them, shelters, breeder retirees, unclaimed stray dogs, some are taken from puppy mill situations or surrendered to us by the authorities from neglect or abuse cases.

We are always more than happy to help you find a bulldog-savvy vet in your area. If you are in an area where we do not have a regular vet, we will try to help you as best we can. Ask the dog's foster parent first; if the vet we have been using is close to you, they would love to keep your new dog as a client since they grow attached to them too!

Each dog is different. Some are good with children and have been around them in their prior homes. Others may have surrendered because they did not do well with children. Please read over each available dog's description, and if you still have that question, the best thing to do is ask.

Some dogs have a high prey drive. We do our best to get information about the dog's prior homes when possible, and some of our Foster Homes have cats in them. If you have cats in your home, make sure to check with the Foster Home if it is not clear in the dog's description. Please remember that a dog-friendly cat is something you should make sure you have first.

There can be issues with same-sex aggression, especially among females. Some Bulldogs are very dominant and should not be placed with other dogs. Again, each dog will vary, so be sure to read the bio of the dog you are interested in. Some will get along just fine with either or. Male with Female pairing usually gives you the best odds, but even that is not foolproof.

Since they have flat faces, snoring is quite common with all Bulldogs and Frenchies. A rescued Bulldog may not snore, but snoring should be something you prepare for no matter what.

Like a child, if they are starving for attention, it is likely they may bark. Spoiling can lead to a demanding dog, also leading to the possibility of barking. If they have a barking issue, we will try and include that in their description.

Most Bulldogs enjoy the company of people. We do get cases from time to time when the dog has never been socialized with strangers or other animals. In some cases, this is a permanent issue, and you may end up needing to go to a quiet home with no children or other pets. Other times foster homes can work on correcting this with rehabilitation and socialization, but that depends on the dog and will be listed on their bio. Occasionally, these Bulldogs are placed in very experienced bulldog-savvy homes.

We get dogs from all walks of life and situations. All the dogs are fully vetted and cared for by foster homes to ensure that when a dog is ready to be placed, they are the healthiest they can be. Sometimes a dog is placed in a new home while still recovering, if the home has the experience to continue with the recovery process. When a dog is adopted, the new home is brought up to speed on the status of the dog, and all known medical issues, if there are any, are discussed with the new home. Our goal is to place dogs in good health or medically stable and on the road to recovery. A rescue is also a place for ailing dogs, so we do adopt out dogs who will have lifelong special medical needs.

NO, Bulldogs & Frenchies overheat quickly because of their flat faces and inability to effectively cool the air they are breathing in. Like any dog, Bulldogs should NEVER be left in cars, even on "cool" days; this can and will result in the death of your dog. Air conditioning units are a great investment and, for most Bulldog owners, are a must for warm days at home. Also, remember that walks in the warmer months should take place in the mornings or evenings when it is the coolest. Always bring a squirt bottle to mist them down with water if needed. Also, pack water for them to drink, even if you are only going a block. There are many cooling devices for pets that you may want to look into in addition to the above information.

NO, they sink like boulders! ALWAYS buy a properly fitted life jacket for your Bulldog or Frenchie if you play near the water or go on things like docks and boats. Even if they seem to be able to swim, this is not something to take a chance on, and they won't be able to stay afloat long!

You can contact the following: the Bulldog Club of America or The Bulldog Club of Greater Seattle; both have breeder referral programs, or contact your local Bulldog club if you are not in the Seattle area. Though BCA or BCGS membership is no guarantee that a breeder will be ethical, the vast majority of members should strive for healthy puppies.

Please do not buy puppies in pet stores, as you will be buying from and supporting puppy mills and backyard breeders. These types of breeding operations care about nothing more than money, and you are likely to end up with an unhealthy, temperamental, and often different-looking dog as they mature. Newspaper ads and internet ads, no matter how nice they look, are also generally troublesome. Responsible, ethical, and reliable breeders will be there for you for years to come; they should always offer help and give advice for the dog's lifetime, as well as a guarantee on what they breed. They also do not advertise in classifieds.

There is so much that goes into both Bulldogs and Frenchies before they are even born. Well-bred dogs come from other well-bred dogs, who were expensive to acquire for the same reasons. Even then, both parents are fully health tested prior to the thought of breeding. Many partake in AKC shows to earn their Championships, which also costs money. There is a lot of testing on the mothers themselves before being bred to ensure they will be safe and are able to go through a pregnancy. They are artificially inseminated and require C-sections for the safety of the mother and the puppies. On top of that, you have puppy care, vet visits, shots, etc. It all adds up to a large total that usually never equals what the litter sells for.

If you get a bargain on a pup, the breeder has probably left out much of the important testing to help you get a healthy pup in the end.

The average lifetime for a Bulldog is around 10 years. An excellent diet, exercise, regular health care, and great living conditions can help add years to their life. There have been some Bulldogs known to live until they were 15, 16, 17, and even 18 years old.

Although it really is personal preference, if you already have a dog, the best matches are commonly the opposite gender, especially if your dog is more of an alpha or dominant. Many times the same sex lives happily together under the same roof and are great together. It all depends on the individual dog and temperaments.

Never buy a dog at auction. If you hear of a dog auction in our area, please tell us about it immediately, and we will see what we can do if our breeds are involved. Thankfully, dog auctions are not common in our area. If any AKC registered dogs are involved, remember to also report it to the American Kennel Club.