Here are the Costs of Maintaining an English Bulldog

English Bulldogs are full of love, compassion, and a whole lot of snorting. They are a unique breed that comes with unique characteristics, so understanding the costs associated with getting an English Bulldog is essential.

What are the costs of maintaining an English Bulldog? English Bulldogs have specific needs based on their brachycephalic breed qualities that can cause health concerns regarding their breathing and snout. These medium-sized, relatively sedentary dogs have their own set of perks and disadvantages when it comes to cost.

Here are some top items to consider:

Food
Bedding
Training
Health and Vet Visits
Grooming
Toys, Bones, and Accessories
Daycare / Dog Walking

English Bulldogs have become famous for those big, loving eyes and that devastatingly adorable underbite. They require specific diets, a whole lot of love, and a caring pet parent who understands all their needs. Learning more about the breed and what they need will help you grasp the costs and responsibilities associated with English Bulldogs.

Are English Bulldogs Expensive to Maintain?

The costs to maintain an English Bulldog are pretty consistent with many other breeds. But each breed comes with individual costs and things to consider. Their maintenance expenses can get steep over time, which make them a more costly breed to own. But with proper healthcare, planning, and some creative budgeting, they can be very affordable.

We’ll cover all the aspects of those costs along with how to best plan, prepare, and find the most affordable ways to have an English Bulldog.

When considering maintenance costs, it’s important to look at the little things too. Many people will remember the more essential items on the checklist of costs, but those little ones add up quicker than you might imagine.

Whenever you’re considering getting a dog, their health and safety need to be your number one priority. Estimating and understanding the costs involved in those two things is a big part of that. Make sure that you’re not only ready to love and care for this dog emotionally, but that you can care for it financially.

We have an entire post about why English bulldogs are so expensive, which I highly recommend checking out.

Food

The cost of food for your English Bulldog will be one of the most significant expenses to calculate, but also an easier one. If your dog can stay on the same diet consistently, it will be an easy one to tally.

Determining the proper meal size and accumulative cost of their food will depend on the type of dog food, their size, how many meals they eat per day, their metabolic rate, and the amount of exercise they get. Since Bulldogs are known to be a more sedentary breed, you should avoid overfeeding them.

A few things to consider when calculating the food costs:

If your English Bulldog is a puppy, they will be using a puppy formula and needing higher protein and calorie counts to ensure proper growth. So your food calculations may be a little different for 0-12 months old.

If you’re unsure about what brand or type of food to be giving your dog, always consult your veterinarian. Your vet will have guidelines for you to follow regarding the nutrients your Bulldog needs, along with favorite recommendations for brands they have come to know and trust.

Some Bulldogs may end up needing a specific prescription diet that you can buy directly through your vet as well. So, whether they recommend a run-of-the-mill brand you can pick up at most retailers or a highly specific prescription diet, they will point you in the right direction on the type of food needed, therefore letting you do some research on the most cost-efficient ways to purchase it.

The location you’re buying your food can make a difference. Not only can the cost of food in different cities or states vary, but it can also differ from retailer to retailer. Do some research on the brand of food you are giving your pup to find the best deals.

Pro Tip: Companies like Chewy offer subscription deals if you order food with them. By opting for a recurring auto shipment of your dog food, they offer different discounts based on the brand and amount you are purchasing. Keep an eye on their site and sign up for emails to be alerted of new deals coming in, as they can save you a lot of money on discounts.

English Bulldogs will typically be good with any top quality brand of dog food that offers at least 18% protein. You want to see the source of protein listed first on their ingredient list, whether it is chicken, lamb, beef, or veal. It should also have high-quality carbs like rice, oats, or barley.

For reference, a 30-pound bag of quality dry food that would be good for your English Bulldog can run around $50-$65, depending on brand and location. There are prescription diet dog foods that will run you more around $70-90 per bag depending on the focus of the diet.

Once you settle on a brand and do your research for where to find the best deals, you will be able to do some quick math to pull together an annual cost based on how much food they require each day. (That number will be based off their weight, age, and recommendations from the food brand themselves, or your vet)

Bedding

English Bulldogs are known to be great family dogs that love to be around you and spend time lounging the day away. So, a little dog bed or some additional cushions and blankets for the living room or the foot of your bed will go a long way in their big, loving eyes.

Unless your Bulldog has an affinity for tearing apart every blanket so he can mark it “his,” this shouldn’t be a recurring cost in your calculations other than every couple of years when it might be time for an upgrade.

You can find dog beds that will be a good size for English Bulldogs anywhere from around $30 and up. If your Bulldog has any orthopedic or arthritis issues, it will be worth spending a little more to get them a proper bed that will help ease any joint or muscular pain they may have.

For reference on some higher-end beds, something like this Treat A Dog Puprug from Amazon.com would be an excellent choice for a Bulldog with any joint pain.

If the bed is the right size for your dog and it’s made from quality materials, you really can’t go wrong with a basic bed for them. So, unless they have specific needs for something higher end, you can easily go with a less expensive option.

Training

English Bulldogs are known for their eagerness to please their owners. This makes them easy dogs to train. But if you decide you want to seek professional training for them when they are young or to help remedy bad behaviors once they are older, then you will want to consider it in your calculations.

Socialization and training are crucial to puppies, so making sure they understand basic commands and get to experience being around other pups and humans should be a priority.

Here are a few national retailers and resources for your reference to learn about different pricing, packages, and plans for your pup. You may also find some great local trainers with a quick Google search to find the best place to have your dog trained.

PetSmart

Petco

Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Health and Vet Visits

When it comes to their health of your English Bulldog, it should be the highest priority, but it is also one of the more challenging aspects to estimate costs for. In a perfect world, this would be $0 because your dog will be in great health their entire lives.

Unfortunately, the occasional vet visit is inevitable. And with English Bulldogs, they are known for a few health risks that should be monitored closely and can also end up costing a lot of procedures or medication.

English Bulldogs are in the brachycephalic breed category, which means they have a shorter snout and tend to have breathing difficulties. Extreme temperatures, intense activity, or bad air quality can have negative effects on them that may be worse for them than other breeds.

They are also prone to obesity if they are not exercised and fed properly, and they are known for dental issues because of the shape and shortness of the snout. Dental care can get extremely expensive over time.

A dental cleaning for a Bulldog will range from $100-$300 for an anesthesia-free cleaning, while anesthesia cleanings will go from $500-$1000. The up-front cost of these cleanings is worth it, in the long run, to not only keep them healthy but also to keep your bank account intact. Dental treatments and surgeries can also get into the $1000-$1500 range depending on severity.

Since they do have their fair share of concerns from a breed standpoint, it is always smart to have vet visits in mind when it comes to the overall cost. A great way to prepare for this is to start your mini savings account for their medical costs.

This could be as simple as stashing $5 per paycheck in a shoebox under your bed to be used in emergencies for your Bulldog. You should automatically plan on putting aside at least $100-200 per year for them. This will cover a physical exam, any vaccinations or shots, and a small prescription if any are needed. These are all standard costs that could arise and should be accounted for when planning your annual costs.

Puppies

If you get your Bulldog as a puppy, you will want to plan for more your first year. As a puppy, you will need to consider the cost of getting them spayed/neutered if they have not already been. This can cost anywhere from $50 – $175.

You can also look into low-cost services offered my local ASPCA or Humane Societies, as they offer discounts and sometimes even free services in efforts to help reduce the number of strays.

Plus, you will also need all of their first-year vaccinations. The American Kennel Club has a comprehensive list of the vaccinations you will need for your puppy, along with their costs. Most vaccinations will cost between $60-$70 on average, with the one outlier being a rabies vaccine that is typically only around $15-$20.

Flea control is an additional cost that falls outside of the vaccination process since this is administered as a topical medicine or in pill form. These pills and topical medications typically cost around $150-$200 per year. Keep in mind that this is strictly preventative.

If you end up missing a flea treatment and they end up with fleas, you will be looking at $30-$30 for a good flea or tick shampoo to help rid them of their new, annoying and unwanted friends.

Insurance

For breeds such as the English Bulldog, insurance can end up being a huge money saver for you. Especially if you get them locked in with a rate when they are young. As soon as you get an English Bulldog, we highly recommend that you buy the insurance.

Because Bulldogs are prone to certain conditions, their monthly rate can be a little higher than other breeds, but the younger and healthier they are when you apply, the cheaper your rate will be.

Insurance can help with everything from a standard appointment to major surgeries or medication costs. What is covered will depend on the type of plan and provider you go with. If you apply when they are young and healthy, you should be able to find rates around $50-75 per month.

Here are some top providers to help get you started:

Pro Tip: Make sure dental work is covered within the plan you choose. Since they are prone to dental issues and not all policies cover dental, this will be important.

Microchipping

Another vet-related cost you should consider will luckily be a one-time payment. Every dog or cat should be microchipped in case they were to get loose and get lost. This service costs around $40-$60 depending on the vet and the area you are not to overfeed them.

For specific pricing, reach out to your local veterinarian for further details.

Grooming

Our precious Bulldogs are luckily an easy breed for their grooming. Their short fur means brushing them 2-4 times per week will help keep shedding at a minimum, and you won’t be heading to a professional groomer every month for expensive trimmings.

When you do opt to take them in for a grooming, you can plan on anything in the range of $30 to $90 for a full grooming.

You can help save yourself money down the line and ensure your Bulldog will be comfortable by maintaining the wrinkles on their face as well. They should be regularly checked while you groom them to be sure the skin isn’t becoming dried out and to make sure they are clean.

So, while grooming won’t present many upfront costs for a Bulldog, which is great, proper grooming habits will also help save you money down the line. A healthy coat means healthy skin. Stay in a good routine with them for grooming, and it will keep costs low for you.

Toys, Bones, and Accessories

If you’ve ever seen an English Bulldog napping with their favorite stuffed animal toy, you know how important toys are.

These are going to be smaller considerations, but it all adds up. Here is a great checklist to get you started on those items you will want to have ready and waiting when your English Bulldog comes home.

Water and food bowls
Dog collar
Dog brush
Bones or toys for interactive play
Leash and harness
If you live in a cold-weather climate, a sweater or jacket is a great purchase (and who are we kidding? An English Bulldog in a coat is the cutest thing you’ll ever see)
Crate or carrier
Doggy water bottles to take on long walks or trips

Daycare / Dog Walking

This one may not apply to every Bulldog owner. But if you have a demanding schedule and find yourself needing someone to come walk your dog or have them in doggy daycare during a long day of work, you will need to they are costs that should be factored in.

Here are some great resources to learn more about some of the services you can find in your local area that will help keep your pup safe and happy while you can’t be around.

Daycare:

Dog Walking:

Understanding the Costs of an English Bulldog

Bringing an English Bulldog home is an exciting experience, but it can also be intimidating for a first-time dog owner trying to understand the costs associated with raising them. Consider everything covered in this article. We think it will help you get started on research for specifics in your local area, vet recommendations, and items that will be geared towards your pup.

Always plan on the higher end to be sure you have enough to cover whatever your English Bulldog will need. And every time you get a bill or buy something new for them, just look into those big eyes afterward, and you’ll know it’s all worth it.