Meet Stella, our new Victorian Bulldog puppy, whom we brought home over a year ago. We forgot how much work a new puppy is! But she is a lot of fun and makes us laugh. We get more exercise chasing her.
Aside from that, we seem to track all of her bowel and urination movements. House training is not for the faint of heart, nor would I recommend it to anyone older. We decided not to wait until Spring to find her, as our home hadn’t sold yet, and figured we would be here for the winter.
Here is what to expect when bringing home a Victorian Bulldog puppy in a rural area, including supplies, behavior, travel, and safety.
Key Takeaways With New Puppy
- Bringing home a Victorian Bulldog puppy requires more supplies than most owners expect, including a crate, training treats, puppy pads, a safe travel carrier, and cleaning tools.
- Victorian Bulldogs are affectionate, fast-growing dogs that can become large quickly, so early leash training, house training, and safety planning matter.
- This breed tends to do well with families and children, and it often has a gentler temperament than its strong build suggests.
- Rural puppy ownership adds extra challenges, including long drives to the vet, wildlife risks, and the need for secure outdoor boundaries.
- Daily life with a Victorian Bulldog puppy is rewarding, but it also requires routine, patience, and planning around feeding, potty breaks, and exercise.
Things You May Need To Bring a New Puppy Home
We didn’t think we’d need much more than a dog bed, puppy dog food, and toys. Before we knew it, we went out to purchase the following items:
- Puppy pads for accidents in the house, and they do happen.
- More toys for biting to keep in several rooms throughout the house.
- Training treats – these work great to get her to sit.
- Dog crate. My husband never wanted one, but learned that it helped her to cope in a big house. She loves napping in it.
- A new pet vacuum for rugs when she doesn’t make it outside. The cost of it would pay for one professional cleaning.
- Bigger dog door, we had a smaller one for our last dog, but this Victorian bulldog puppy was growing fast.
- A car seat carrier for the backseat to keep her safe and prevent her from climbing on the driver.
- Light for her collar when she goes out at night so that you can see her better.
- A webcam to watch her when you go away.
Our Victorian Bulldog Puppy’s Behavior
Stella was a little different from our last dog, Hunter, a Poxer. A Poxer is a mix of a boxer and a pug. Hunter weighed between 26 and 30 lbs.
Stella is 5 months old and is 35 lbs. already. She is not a dog I can carry around, though my husband does in the morning to get her outside.
She sleeps great through the night, usually on our heads, as we can hear her loud snoring. However, she doesn’t like getting up in the morning to leave the bedroom.
For the first few weeks, she rarely barked, but now she does if you walk away into another room or someone comes to visit. She also takes long 3-hour naps in the afternoon most days. It reminds me of when our grown kids were babies.
Vet Visits Are An Hour Away
Again, we are in our rural home an hour away from vet services. We had to take our Victorian Bulldog there twice for shots. Thankfully, she travels very well. She’s been on several short trips with us for a few hours.
We are thankful she travels well. We did have to invest in a backseat car carrier for our truck and jeep. The days of her sitting between us are limited as she grows bigger.
Life With the Victorian Bulldog Dog Breed
They are very lovable dogs and love to cuddle with you. She often sleeps by my feet when I sit. That is where Stella is right now, snoring away as I write this.
When we first got the Victorian bulldog, we stopped by my stepdaughter’s house, as she has a 10-month-old infant. The baby was used to her dog, so she and Stella got along very well. The Victorian bulldog puppy seems to enjoy being around children, as she met my 10-year-old granddaughter.
We only feed her twice daily, and she wolfs down her food pretty fast. I’ve read about special puppy dishes to help puppies eat more slowly. This may be another item to purchase for this Victorian bulldog.
She is getting better on her leash, but this Victorian bulldog still loves to bite it; you can see that in the picture below. Sometimes she even rolls over, making it harder to get her back up and walking.
Victorian Bulldog Characteristics
The Victorian Bulldog stands out with its unique build and temperament. Unlike other bulldog breeds, this breed boasts a stockier frame and a powerful yet athletic build. The breed can grow to 60-70 lbs.
They are designed to help keep health issues at bay. According to FitPetGrow, health issues are common in many bulldog breeds. Victorian Bulldogs have fewer breathing problems, thanks to wider nostrils and a less pronounced snout.
They’re also known for their gentle and loyal nature, making them great family pets. This breed balances a tough look with an easygoing attitude, offering charm and strength in one package.
With a Victorian Bulldog, you’re getting a pet that brings a mix of robustness and sweetness to the table. (Except when they fart, it can smell strong!)
Watching Out For Wildlife With Victorian Bulldog Puppy
One thing about our rural area is a lot of wildlife roaming around our home. There are little squirrels and birds, to deer and moose, who could pose a threat to our Victorian bulldog puppy.
We started to put up an electric fence because she has begun to wander a little more around the yard and almost into the street, which is a main road where traffic can whiz by at 70 mph.
That’s why we need to have her trained on the leash sooner rather than later. She often goes to smell where the deer have walked and pooped. We have a deck where she can hang out and do her business.
Conclusion: Life With Our Victorian Bulldog
Mostly, it is a joy having a dog in the house again. But other times you think, “What did we do?” We had more freedom to come and go without worrying about when the dog needed to eat or go out.
But before you know it, you get used to that again and plan your day more with the puppy in mind. We felt life was too short to wait, and we were not getting any younger to be chasing a puppy around.
If you plan to get a Victorian bulldog puppy, be sure to set aside time for the puppy to adjust to its new home and ensure you have the supplies you will need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Victorian Bulldog Puppies
Are Victorian Bulldogs good family dogs?
Yes, Victorian Bulldogs are often described as gentle, loyal, and affectionate. In this article, Stella is shown to be comfortable around both a baby and an older child, which supports the breed’s reputation as a good family companion.
How big does a Victorian Bulldog puppy get?
Victorian Bulldogs grow quickly and become medium-to-large dogs. This article notes that Stella weighed 35 pounds at 5 months old and that the breed can reach about 60 to 70+ pounds.
What do you need when bringing home a Victorian Bulldog puppy?
Most owners need more than just food and a bed. Based on this rural area life blog, helpful items include puppy pads, chew toys, training treats, a crate, a pet vacuum, a larger dog door, a backseat car carrier, a collar light, and a webcam.
Are Victorian Bulldogs easy to travel with?
Some are, but it depends on the dog and how early they get used to car rides. In this article, Stella handled vet trips and short drives well, which made travel easier even though the nearest vet was an hour away.
What should rural owners watch out for with a Victorian Bulldog Puppy?
Rural owners need to consider wildlife, road safety, fencing, and long access times for vet care. This article highlights deer, moose, and a nearby main road as real risks, which makes leash training and secure outdoor space especially important.
Lisa moved from Southern New England to the rural mountains of Maine in 2020 with her husband. Drawing from her hands-on experience with slower-paced rural living, she shares the beauty, honest realities, and simple pleasures of life in the Maine woods, along with their rural travels across the United States and abroad.
