Puppy Tips
Caring for your new Frenchie Puppy
* FOOD AND WATER DISH ~ Your puppy should have it’s own if there are other pets. Always use either stainless steel or porcelain dishes. Plastic tends to capture bacteria. This bacteria can cause illness or rashes on the bulldogs face and chin.
* PROTECT YOUR NEW PUPPY ~ Try to protect your new puppy from drafts, dampness and chilling. Remember they likely just came from a nice cozy bed with mom and litter mates to keep them warm and snuggly.
* KEEP YOUR PUPPY CONFINED FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS ~ You should always know where your puppy is and be able to see them and exactly what they are doing. Too many accidents can happen when a puppy is unattended. They will eat anything and everything. French Bulldogs have a very small trachea (throat opening), therefore, very small objects can easily choke them.
* LIMIT YOUR PUPPY’S ACTIVITY ~ Puppies will play as long as you are playing with them. But remember they are just babies and need their rest. Try to limit your play time as to not overheat or exhaust your puppy.
* SEE A VETERINARIAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ~ It’s always a good idea to have your puppy seen by a veterinarian for a check up right away. With an initial exam out of the way, you and your Vet will be aware of anything out of the ordinary and be able to address it immediately.
Training
Potty Training
House breaking your puppy is very easy if you are consistent and dedicated. I have found it is best to crate train using a crate just large enough for the puppy to stand up and turn around. By using to large of a crate the puppy will tend to use one corner for potty and sleep in the other and the training will not work. A good guidline to try is to not feed the puppy after 6 pm. This should allow enough time for potty before bed and help them learn to hold it during the night.
French Bulldogs are very stubborn so I would not recommend training them to potty inside (unless this will be the permanent situation for the dog) Training should always start in the area which the puppy will be expected to go for the rest of their life.
Here are some suggested training tips that I have used over the years.
Take the puppy to the area in which you want it to potty on the following occasions.
* Wakes from a nap.
* Directly after a feeding.
* When you see the puppy starting to wander & sniff around the floor.
* After playtime.
* During the initial few weeks until a routine has been established, at least every hour or so, in between as needed.
* When the puppy does potty in this designated area, praise and pet the puppy. Nothing is ever to much or to over the top. French Bulldogs love to please and LOVE all the attention. This will reinforce them to repeat the behavior.