OK, so you have come to the ultimate decision that an English Bulldog puppy is the must-have, oh-my-goodnesses, can't-live-without, gonna-die-if-I-don't-get-one breed of dog for you.

Congrats!

Now take off your coat, sit down and listen up....you sure about this?

There are many articles that will list all the wonders of Bulldog ownership: how loving they are, a great family dog, cutest puppies you've ever seen, handsome looking adults, and on and on.

Today we will cover some of the adverse sides of having an English Bulldog. Now don't take me wrong - I am a Bulldog fan for life! BUT!! Bulldog are not for everyone.

Here we go.......

Cost of a puppy: English Bulldog puppies are not for the faint-of-wallet. Starting price for a puppy is in the $1300 range, with show prospect pups upwards of $3000+. If you find a puppy priced under $1000, be very careful. It could be a scam, or possibly the owner already knows the pup has some health issues.

More puppy costs: Add to your initial investment, costs like food bowls, a collar, leash, toys, brush, nail clippers, shampoo, a cage, bedding wee-wee pads and all the puppy vaccinations. If you're keeping a running total, also throw in another random $200-$300 to replace or repair your belongings that are going to get broken, chewed up, wee-weed on or just disappear. AND! Spay or neuter.

Ongoing costs:Yearly vet bills should be a given for any dog owner to take into consideration. Flea and heartworm control will cost a bit more too, since the dosages for these as well as the price goes up with the weight of the dog. Extra funds will always need to be available for emergencies or illnesses. Pet health insurance is an option too. Food will be a big cost. Due to the many health issues Bulldogs can have, going to the grocery store and getting the 40lb yellow bag of dog food just won't work well. For best health maintenance, you'll have to find yourself a feasible ultra premium dog food. (Don't groan! Pay a bit more each month on some really good food or pay big bucks later to the vet for treatment.)

Behavior/Training: Some folks refer to the English Bulldog as stubborn, difficult, determined or just flat out obstinate. A few may tell you they are just this side of being untrainable. Truth is, some are just as trainable as any other breed, while others will always be a challenge. In either case, keeping your dog's behavior under wraps will be an ongoing endeavor. (My dog's basic philosophy seems to be that obedience commands are just suggestions.) Another point to take into consideration is that these are not dainty foo-foo dogs, and their movements about the house will reflect this on a regular basis. Small kids, cats and anything not nailed down have the chance of being knocked down when your Bully starts romping through the house.

Time commitment: Daily cleaning of face wrinkles and eyes is a must. Weekly checks/cleaning of nails, ears, between toes and tail folds will also be needed. Bulldogs also tend to be on the needy side. Many will want your full attention on a regular basis. Exercise is not a big time commitment for Bully owners, 20 minutes of brisk walking should work. However, they do no mix well with temperatures over 80 degrees. They are not dogs to jog with, run along side your bicycle or hike up the mountain with you. An unexpected time commitment will be taking your Bulldog out in public. A surprising number of people will want to pet him/her, ask a few questions, and generally oooh and awwww. I have actually had people stop in their cars to see the Bulldog while we are out on a walk, and a 'quick trip' into the big box pet store for my turtle supplies can turn into a two hour outing.

"Oh, yuck" factor: Ahhh...stinky stuff, slobber and snoring. Plan to get use to it. 'Nuff said.