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bulldogs tend to mature slowly. a truly fine specimen may not finish maturing until three years of age; frequently a dog will be almost two before he is ready to win in the show ring. that doesn't mean that earlier maturation never occurs, but the full majesty of the dog usually unfolds later.

a puppy is born usually weighing between 10 ounces and a pound. its nose is pink and its eyes and ears are closed. its eyes open around 10 days to two weeks and between two and three weeks its ears open. before that, it can't hear at all.

at about three weeks, the puppies are beginning to walk; there may be some back sliding as the puppies gain weight and their muscles are unable to support the new load. by about six or seven weeks, all the puppies should be scurrying around on their own.

all puppies this age are adorable. if you're looking for a show puppy, you can expect changes over time. unfortunately, the exact changes cannot be predicted perfectly. most puppies will go through a gangly stage from 4-8 months; their parts seem to grow independently of each other. they usually mature out of this stage.

this stage is not very different from adolescence in humans. however, if you're hoping to show the dog, it can be a disheartening time. don't worry too much. your breeder can tell you how his or her lines develop and generally what to expect.

as your puppy matures, the pigmentation around his eyes and on his nose will fill in.

this sometimes takes until the dog is a year old to complete itself, depending on its genetic make-up.

don't worry if a dark line has not entirely surrounded the eye or if there is pink on the puppy's nose when you get him. this usually fills in with maturation and you have to give it the time nature requires. however, ask the breeder whether this is an issue in the lines.

teething    your puppy will start losing his puppy teeth and getting his permanent teeth at about three and one-half to four months of age and continue for about two months. some lines are on the early side, some develop later. ours tend to be early. the first teeth are generally the smaller teeth in front - probably the middle teeth in the lower jaw first. the adult teeth are broader and whiter than the baby teeth.
check to see that he's lost the baby teeth as the adult teeth are coming in. you or the vet should push out any baby teeth that remain when its adult replacement breaks through - otherwise his teeth will be crooked and he may have problems eating. it's just like with children's teeth and the dogs don't seem to mind it. they especially appreciate hard rubber toys now - and so will your furniture. the toys may help him loosen teeth on his own.
puppies' reactions to teething vary widely. some dogs show almost no signs that they're teething, other than an urge to chew almost anything. other dogs are obviously in pain - their eyes may tear, ears drop, and they may lose their appetites.
if your puppy is one of the latter, ½ an ascriptin, 3-4 times a day, may help over the worst spots. also, a water-soaked, frozen rolled-up washcloth to chew on may reduce the swelling and pain. offer food he especially likes and cuddle him a lot. it's only temporary, but it does hurt.
permanent teeth don't set firmly in the jaw until up to 10 months of age - so chewing may go on for a while. the puppy's lower jaw will start to lengthen and turn up as he teethes, giving him the distinctive undershot jaw that bulldogs are known for. his head will broaden later as he matures.

as your dog matures, major changes will occur>