The English Bulldog Pug mix requires very little grooming compared to some other crossbreeds like a Whoodle or Labradoodle.

If you’re willing to spend the time yourself, then should not need professional grooming. If he has a coat more like his Bulldog parent a weekly brushing will be all he needs. If on the other hand, he has the double coat of a Pug daily brushing may be required, especially during the shedding season. 

It’s a good idea to get your pup used to brushings at a young age. Be sure to make the experience pleasant. This will help him to look forward to his brushing instead of having to have a weekly brushing battle with him. 

Apart from brushing his coat, there are a few other areas you need to be aware of when it comes to grooming your Bullpug.

1. Bathing

The BullPug will only need to be bathed if he starts to smell. The BullPug will often have sensitive skin, so too much bathing can disrupt his skin’s natural oils. This, in turn, will irritate his skin. When you do bathe him, be sure to use a very mild dog shampoo. 

Do not clean the facial folds when you are bathing your BullPug. They can get too much moisture in them and this can make it hard for them to dry out. This, in turn, may cause bacterial growth in the folds. You should clean the folds separately, as explained below.

2. Cleaning The Face and Facial Folds

A Bulldog Pug mix may have many skin folds and these will usually be concentrated on the face. Just like with the English Bulldog, these folds can be prone to infection if they are wet or damp for extended periods of time. As such, regularly cleaning the folds is an important part of BullPug grooming.

Signs that your BullPugs folds need to be cleaned include: a smell emitting from the folds, visible dirt on the face, or just if you know that your dog has been sticking his face in dirty places.

To clean the facial folds you will need either fragrance-free baby wipes or fragrance-free wipes that are made for cleaning facial folds. You are also going to want to have some treats on hand. Treats will help to make face cleaning a positive experience and not one that the dog will try to hide from.

Wrap the wipe around one of your fingers. Use your other hand gently lift the skin folds. Then clean the exposed skin with the wipe. Be especially careful around your dog’s eyes. You can use a cotton ball to dry the folds after you have completed the cleaning. Be sure you don’t leave any dampness as this may cause bacteria to grow.

Here’s a really nice video explaining how to clean the face folds of an English Bulldog called Lincoln.

3. Ear Cleaning

Your English Bulldog Pug mix may occasionally need his ears cleaned as well. If you see an excess of wax (some wax is normal) or smell something awful coming from his ears it’s time to clean them.

Use a solution of half apple cider vinegar and half filtered water. Dip a cotton ball in the solution and use the cotton ball to clean the visible part of your dog’s ear.

You can also drip some of the solutions into your dog’s ear, follow that with an ear massage to work the solution in. Apple cider vinegar will help to clear out any bacteria as well as dry the ear. 

4. Nail trimming

Because the Bulldog Pug is generally very sedentary it is a good idea to trim his nails on a bi-weekly basis.

Long nails can lead to pain and misalignment. Having nails that are too long for an extended period of time can cause back problems. Keeping your dog’s nails short and healthy is a great way to prevent joint problems down the road.

5. Dental Care

Oral hygiene is important for all dogs. So, daily toothbrushing is recommended for your English Bulldog Pug mix. Be sure to use a dog appropriate toothpaste. These are made to be swallowed, as dogs cannot spit out toothpaste. 

Another important aspect of dental hygiene and mental wellbeing is to provide your dog with plenty of appropriate things to chew. Choose treats that are full of healthy nutrients and chewy. Good options include bully sticks, lambs ears, trachea, rabbit ears, pig ears, pig snouts, beef snouts, and raw meaty bones.

Never give your dog a cooked bone, this includes the smoked bones that they sell as dog treats. Cooked bones are likely to splinter and poke or rip through your dog’s digestive system resulting in an expense vet visit and a miserable dog.