The French Bulldog

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Size/Physique/Colors

A French Bulldog will grow to be 11-12” to the shoulders and typically not weigh over 30lbs although there are some that do. The average life span is around 10-14 years.

We breed to maintain structure and temperament. This breed is in the non-sporting group.

The French Bulldog comes in a variety of colors. 

Nutrition 

Feeding

Three feedings a day are usually adequate for young puppies. You can move to two feedings a day once your puppy reaches six months of age. Your puppy has been on a feeding schedule of 9am, noon, and 5pm.  Allowing the puppy to eat until full.  You should make your puppy’s feeding schedule to what suits your lifestyle routine. 

Raw Coconut Oil Benefits
Clears up skin problems from allergies due to dry skin, improves general skin health, makes their coat shiny while also deodorizing any doggy odor, prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections, disinfects cuts, improves digestion, reduces or eliminates bad breath, helps control diabetes, and aids in arthritis or ligament problems.

WHAT FOOD DO YOU FEED?

We feed Purina Pro Plan to our litters

You can order from:

Purina

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits

*Cleans dog's ears and treats yeast based ear infections. 

*Improves fur, skin, and odor. Treats dandruff and rejuvenates hair, also gets rid of mange.

*Soothes itchy, irritated paws.  

*Repels fleas and ticks. 

*Treats dog bruises, itchy skin, rashes, hot spots, and burns and helps with arthritis. Alleviates dog muscle sprains, soreness, and fatigue.  Boosts their immune system and helps with digestion.   

*Fights tooth decay.

*Treats urinary tract infections (UTI) and bladder issues.  

Additional Things to Know:

* Use www.dogfoodadvisor.com to keep up to date with your chosen food of choice. Formulas change frequently and the dog food company is not going to tell you they changed.

*If changing food mix the new brand with the kibble provided. 

        Start with ¼ new ¾ old and move up to half and half, then ¾ new and ¼ old until fully switched. 

·       Do not free feed.

Importance of Supplements

*NuVet – 1 tablet until 100lbs then 2 tablets, daily. 

For puppies - Fills the immunity gap all puppies experience. Shortly after birth maternal antibody effectiveness is greatly reduced. By 8 weeks your puppy’s immune system is at a vulnerable point. Once in their new home, the immune system is weakened by the stress of adoption and exposure to novel bacteria and viruses in their environment.  This is also when the vaccine series is started. Vaccines are most effective if the immune system can respond properly.  Starting NuVet Plus now is important to helping your puppy grow into a healthy adult.

For dogs in their prime - Improves the luster of their skin and coat while providing the necessary antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, mineral and more to sustain their body’s peak performance during the prime of their lives

For older dogs - Helps provide the nutritional requirements to help them live long, happy, and productive lives in their senior years.

Visit www.NuVetLabs.com and use code: 437815 to order.

*Sea Pet Oils – Highly Recommended. Omega Max provides much needed essential fatty acids to your growing baby. These are the “healthy” and “healing” fats that all animals need to maintain a healthy diet. 

Housebreaking

All dogs can be housebroken if you are consistent, as well as persistent in training them.  There are two basic housebreaking techniques: crate training and paper training.  Crate training teaches direct housebreaking. Paper training should be an intermediate step, unless you want your dog to continue to potty in a designated area indoors.

Paper Training:  Cover the entire floor of a confined space with paper. Wait for your dog to use the paper, then replace the soiled paper.  Once your dog seems to understand the paper concept, begin to leave a bare area without paper.  The goal is to have only a very small area covered with paper. 

Crate Training:  When indoors keep your puppy in the crate or under very close supervision.  Take your dog out frequently, and give your dog lots of praise for going potty.  It won’t be long before your dog gets the concept of only eliminating outdoors

·       Crates and Nap times! These are SOOOO important for Danes. They are growing FAST. They need to rest those big legs, to prevent future problems and help ensure a long life. 3-4 hours of play time and then it’s time to rest for a while, 1-2 hrs. Crates or small pens help greatly with this (as do naps on the couch). EXPECT that they are going to fuss, cry, whine and even WAIL about being left alone.

·       Keep crates away from family activities that will make the puppy want to join and play.

·       Leave the door open. This is their den, their safe place to escape to.

·       Let them fuss. It’s HARD, very hard, but it’s one of those things that is in their best interest.

·       Crate for 5-10 minutes at a time at varied times thoughout the day when you are with them to get them used to being in there. This helps them get used to being crated with the knowledge and security of knowing someone will be there to get them. 

·       I feed mine in their crates, this helps to reinforce “being in a crate is a good thing.”

Crate Bedding:

·       Fleece pads work best for crates, if they urinate on them it goes to the bottom and dog stays dry. 

·       Flannel sheets are another readily available solution and easy to wash during the potty training phase. 

BE PATIENT!!

It’s a pain, plain and simple. There are going to be A LOT of oops.

·       Take them out frequently (start every one hour) and PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE when they go potty outside.

·       Their bladders are tiny and they can’t hold it for very long. 

·       Invest in paper towels. 

·       Limit water intake about two hours before bedtime to avoid overnight accidents. 

·       Depending on your schedule and their development, this can last a week to a month. Most puppies do fairly well in about a week of good solid potty training. 

·       CONSISTENCY IS KEY!!!!

BLADDER INFECTIONS (UTI)

Bladder infections in young puppies can be caused by many things:

·       Hormone changes, particularly in young bitches, hormones set up a situation where the system’s pH balance changes and the pathogenic bacteria flourish

·       Dog foods that are carbohydrate/grain based or too high in a ratio of grain to the meat meal used, can be a problem because it changes the pH balance of the bladder. Always use a meat/poultry based dog food if using kibble.

·       Poor quality protein sources in a food requires use of synthetic amino acid supplements to be added to the food to bring it up to par. These are often not usable by the system and it can disrupt the pH balance of the urinary system.

·       Poor quality mineral package used on a food or when minerals are supplemented i.e. calcium, zinc oxide, this can disrupt the body chemistry causing bladder infections. Only sequestered or chelated minerals should be used on commercial foods. Check the package… no oxides….. should be used for minerals.

·       Lack of water – dogs who do not consume enough water are prone to bladder infections. 

·       Body chemistry – like humans, there are variations within the breed and some bodies are prone to this, regardless of diet fed, raw or commercial. Just like humans. 

TREATMENT

Many times, with young puppies you can give them 1000mg of ascorbic acid in the AM and PM – Use Vitamin C (not Ester C)

Put extra water or chicken broth on their food. Since the broth has the sodium it will cause them to drink more, therefore helping flush their system out. 

If you don’t see a difference in two days, get them a vet. Caught in early stages, you can reverse it without much problem and antibiotics.

PUPPY POOPS

·       The goal is to have soft formed poops 2-3 times a day.

·       If your puppy is having loose stools, take a picture. Then call me so we can go over your worming, feeding, and other care. 

·       Blood in the stool/vomiting are reasons to go to the ER vet (first signs of parvo, please call me ASAP)

Avoiding Anxiety

Getting a new puppy is VERY exciting and of course we want to spend every waking minute cuddling and playing with our new puppy. However, our needs are not always best for what the puppy needs. Puppies need guidance, boundaries, routine. 

To avoid a lot of issues pet owners tend to run into, it is best to teach your dog that it is OK to be alone. It is OK to be in their kennel, that the kennel is a POSITIVE thing. Only leaving your puppy in the kennel at night or when you leave doesn’t teach him/her that this is a positive place to be. It teaches them that this is where they go when their owner leaves them. Play kennel games, leave the door open, throw a toy in it and have the puppy run after it. Feed them in their kennels. Do small increments of kennel time throughout the day as you can. DO NOT LET THEM OUT WHEN THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SCREAMING! Doing this teaches them “I scream, I get out” and therefore you are setting the unwanted behavior!

Build your puppy’s confidence by teaching them it is ok to be alone, work with them daily to build a steady routine, set boundaries in your home and for yourself. Do this to build a successful relationship for you and your puppy!

Grooming
In general, you only need to bathe your dog once a month or when it is smelly or dirty.  Bathing too often can remove natural oils, making the dogs coat and skin too dry.  Brushing your dog can help to stimulate natural coat oils and is a great way to check for external parasites.  Such as ticks and fleas.  You should also trim your dog’s nails every 1-2 weeks to prevent pain when walking and to prevent overgrowth of the quick.   Grooming should be a comfortable experience for your dog. This should not be too difficult if you accustom your dog to being handled as a puppy. This will make it easier when your dog becomes an adult. 

The French Bulldog is low maintenance in grooming compared to most dogs. If nails are not done on a regular basis, their quick will grow out longer and longer. Once this happens, it will be harder to get them down to a reasonable length; but can be done after time. 

We have found that the KING KOMB has worked best with a shedding.

Tooth and Oral Care:

You have a few options for their teeth. 

            *We use a blue liquid called Nylabone Advanced Oral Care. We put this in our dog’s water and it cleans their teeth by dissolving plaque and freshens their breath. 

*Your other option includes brushing their teeth, which if you choose this option, start them off young so they can get used to it. 

**Having clean teeth can extend your pet’s life by 3-5 years!**

Ears

Ears need to be cleaned weekly or bi weekly. Use an ear solution when cleaning, it will help with yeasty ears. 

Nails

French Bulldog’s nails should not be heard clicking on the floor. 

·       Weekly or Bi weekly dremeling is recommended. Start this NOW so that it is a normal part of their routine. This will make it easier on you when they are older. 

Exercise

French Bulldogs can tend to be higher energy. They do not have a whole lot of exercise needs. Make sure you are careful with how much they run as to not over exert themselves. This breed is prone to heat stroke due to their short snouts and not being able to breath well. 

ROUTINE HEALTH CARE

Establishing routine healthcare from an early on age can help prevent disease, prolong the life of your dog, and improve the overall quality of life.

Veterinarians

When choosing a vet, make sure that he/she is KNOWLEDGEABLE of the breed and does not treat your puppy like any other dog. They are a special breed that cannot be treated as such. Ask your vet to please RESEARCH the breed so he/she knows more about them.  If you go a to a vet and you feel pressured into their beliefs and ways, find a new one.  

Your vet experience should be enjoyable and educational with any questions you may ask.
 

Parasites:

It is VERY important to keep your puppy on a regular deworming schedule. They should be dewormed every two weeks until they reach 16 weeks old, then once a month thereafter. 

Parasites:  Gastrointestinal parasites are common in puppies.  They are easy to treat if caught promptly.  Left untreated they can cause serious harm.  Your vet may ask you to submit stool samples from your dog during routine visits to keep these parasites in check. 

It is good to deworm your puppy every two weeks until they reach the age of 16 weeks old. After that, deworm once a month with HeartGuard and Ivermectin or Panacur. 

HEARTWORM: The heartworm gains entry through the bite of an infected mosquito.  Heartworms can be life threatening if left untreated. Veterinarians usually dispense preventative drugs whenever mosquitoes are active.  A heartworm test must precede the medication. This can all be prevented if you keep your puppy on a regular heart worm preventative. Given once a month. 

Here is a list of the most common types of parasites:

*Coccidiosis: The primary sign of Coccidia is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely infected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become dehydrated, and in some instances die of the disease. 

*Giardia: The usual sign of Giardia is diarrhea. It may be acute, intermittent, or chronic. Usually if infected with Giardia the puppy will not lose their appetite, but may lose weight. The feces are abnormal, pale, having a bad odor, and/or appearing greasy. Giardia prevents the proper absorption of nutrients, damages the intestinal lining, and interferes with digestion.

*Hookworms: One of the most common parasites in puppies. It can cause severe anemia and severe diarrhea. They attach themselves to the lining of the intestines and feed off of the host. The puppies gums will appear pale, they will become weak, and sometimes black tarry stools can be seen. Some pups infected will vomit, growth can be stunted, and their coat will appear dull. In severe cases the puppy can develop pneumonia as the larvae migrate through the lungs. They can become emaciated and die. 

*Roundworms: Signs of roundworms in dogs are colic, lethargy, vomiting, abdominal swelling, abnormal feces, anorexia, coughing. Coughing occurs when the roundworms have migrated to the dog’s lungs. 

*Tapeworms: Tape worms are flat worms that are segmented. A dog usually gets tapeworms from eating a flea. One of the signs is if your dog scoots his/her butt against the floor. This is due the irritation of the segments around the skin. The dog may also lick or bite the area. 

*Whipworms: Small numbers of these worms won’t cause any signs. Larger numbers can result in inflammation of the intestinal wall. Large amounts of mucous are produced by the inflamed intestine. Sometimes a hemorrahage into the intestine can occur, resulting in anemia. The dog may also have a loss of weight and diarrhea. 

NOTE – After deworming a dog that has worms please allow three days after the last dose of wormer for all of the worms to pass through it’s system. 

Vaccines

Vaccines produce immunity to distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvoirus, and para-influenza. Your puppy will receive it’s first vaccine up to 8 weeks under our care, but need to have following shots up to the age of four months. After that an annual shot and rabies shot as required by your state law. 

Vaccine Schedule

8 weeks – 5 way

12 weeks – 7 way

16 weeks – 7 way/Bordetella

1 year – 9 way/Rabies/Bordetella

Diseases Vaccines Protect Your Puppy From:

*Distemper: a widespread, highly contagious disease. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, nasal discharge, coughing, and convulsions. 

*Canine Adenovirus Type 2 (CAV2): is one of several viruses involved in the “kennel cough” complex. It is seldom fatal but can be a nuisance. CAV2 provides cross protection against CAV1. (Hepatitis)

*Leptospirosis (Lepto): causes kidney and liver damage, may also be transmitted to man. 

*Canine Parainfluenza (CPI): an important virus in the “kennel cough” complex – a hacking cough lasting up to three weeks. Many kennels require vaccination for CPI before boarding your dog.

*Canine Parvovirus: symptoms include profuse diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, blood in stool and vomit. It is usually fatal. 

*Canine Corona Virus: has symptoms similar to parvovirus and only a laboratory test can tell the difference. 

*Bordetella Bronchiseptica: principal bacterial pathogen in infectious Tracheobronchitis. (Kennel Cough)

*Lyme Disease (Borrelia Burgdorferi): A tick born disease spread to dogs, humans, horses, and other warm blooded animals mainly by the deer tick. It can produce fever, lameness, lethargy, poor appetite, weight loss, seizures, and behavioral changes. It can be fatal.

*Rabies: infects all warm blooded animals, including man. Rabies attacks the central nervous system, causing death. Ask your local vet about the rabies laws in your area. 

Related Health Issues/Life Expectancy

The French Bulldog is prone to ear infections, allergies, respiratory issues, hip dysplasia, conjunctivitis, heat stroke, cherry eye, hemivertebrae, intervertebral disc disease, and luxating patellar.

It extremely important that you don’t let your French bulldog get overheated. It is also important to note that most are unable to swim without some form of a life vest. DO NOT let your puppy or adult dog jump off of high places, they can tear an ACL, pop their patella out, or even compress a dis in their spine causing them to be paralyzed. 

French Bulldogs  have a life expectancy of under 10-14  years.