Will my Frenchie come with a health guarantee?

Will my Frenchie come with a health guarantee? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

As a potential Frenchie owner you may be wondering, “Will my Frenchie come with a health guarantee? The answer is yes. We provide a two year health guarantee on genetics. Before you pick up your puppy we will email your health guarantee which also serves as a receipt as well. You will e-sign it before pickup and a copy will be emailed to you as well. 

Before leaving us your puppy will be checked out by the vet and will have a clean bill of health. Part of the health guarantee states you have 48 hours to take your puppy to the vet for a puppy wellness checkup (96 hours if picking up on the weekend). This is important to make sure your vet agrees with our vet. If something were to appear in the check-up, you are to contact us immediately so we can deal with the issue immediately. 

You will have access to the health guarantee in The Prep for Your French Bulldog course. In one video we review the health guarantee in depth and you have a pdf version accessible to review as well. If you have questions, please ask. 

Do French Bulldogs slobber, snore, and make funny noises?

Do French Bulldogs slobber and snore? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

When determining the best breed to add to your family you may ask, “Do French Bulldogs slobber, snore, and make funny noises? These are legitimate questions as you will be spending much time with them and dedicating over a decade of your life committed to your Frenchie baby. 

Do French Bulldogs Slobber? 

Overall French Bulldogs do not slobber a lot like other breed such as English Bulldogs or Mastiffs. They can have moisture around their mouth, but you won’t be covered in drool. After eating, I do notice some moisture on their cute little chops but a quick wiping off with a washcloth is all that’s needed to accept their Frenchie snuggles. 

Do French Bulldogs snore and make funny noises? 

French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed thus have cute, short little snouts. With these short snouts they do not breathe as efficiently through their noses as longer nosed breeds. You will find they will breathe more through their mouths than these other breeds and can produce some unusual noises like noisy breathing and snorting even when at rest. We find these noises as endearing and cute and are not bothersome at all. 

Most Frenchies do snore. Some snore a little and some snore more than others. I actually find the snoring of Frenchies quite comforting. In fact, I’ve always said I sleep better with the sound of little dogs that sound like little piglets snoring in the background. Put a human snorer in the room and I can’t sleep a wink. Overall, I’d say they snore but it’s not annoying. 

When should I notify the vet? 

Excessive noises coming from your Frenchie may be due to overexertion and will need to rest up a bit. I find if I take my Frenchie on a walk when it’s too hot (over 72 degrees) that they make excessive noises panting to cool themselves off. Watch your Frenchie carefully in the heat and keep him cool. Almost all Frenchies reverse sneeze at some point in their life. If it becomes excessive, contact your vet that has experience dealing with brachycephalic breeds as he may have too narrow of nostrils or weak flaps that close upon breathing (stenotic nares), and/or excessively elongated soft palate. Both are related to brachycephalic airway syndrome and may require a simple surgery to correct. 

Do French Bulldogs shed?

Do French Bulldogs shed? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

Do French Bulldogs shed? I have received this questions numerous times. Yes, they do shed but typically not as much as other shedding dogs. There are dogs who are hypoallergenic that have more human like hair and tend to not shed like bichons, poodles, etc… We’ve all seen the opposite end of the spectrum with dogs who shed piles of hair everywhere. Frenchies are short haired and single coated and I would say that you won’t find as much hair around the home as those other breeds. 

We also find that cream Frenchies usually have the thickest and shed more. The lilacs tend to have a smoother coat and shed less. All of the other colors tend to be in between. Remember this is a basic trend we’ve seen and may not always be the case. Yes French Bulldogs shed some but really are about as good as it gets for minimal shedding for a dog who has fur.

Are French Bulldogs Sociable?

Are French Bulldogs sociable? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

Many people ask, “Are French Bulldogs sociable?” I would say 100% yes. They love people and aim to please.  When you get a new French Bulldog puppy anything that you want them to be around when they are older make sure to expose them young. If you are more of an extrovert and want your Frenchie used to going to dog parks, outdoor dining, etc… then get them used to going with you early. I recommend waiting until they have their full series of shots (around 16 weeks old) before taking them to areas where they are exposed to other dogs that you don’t know the history of. 

Also, I have noticed that your Frenchie picks up on your feelings during the experience. Such as if you are nervous about flying with them, they will be nervous and act up. Always check yourself when taking your Frenchie to a new location/experience to make sure you are calm for your little one. 

If for some reason your Frenchie starts acting unsatisfactorily in any social situation, nip it in the bud at as young of an age as possible. Take a training class to help you correct it if you do not have the skill set to correct it yourself. I learned from my first dog as an adult to never allow a little puppy to act out in any way that will not be cute when older and bigger.

Overall Frenchies are very social and want to be a part of the family. They love being involved and a part of the action. When exposed early they do well in social situations but often adjust well at older ages as well. 

Do French Bulldogs Get Along with Other Pets?

Do French Bulldogs get along with other pets? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

We get this questions often, “Do French Bulldogs get along with other pets?” The answer is most of the time yes. Frenchies are really adaptable and when introduced to other puppies do very well. They are very loving and accepting when introduced as puppies (around 10 weeks old). When you introduce them young they usually are accepting of cats as well. 

We obviously have several Frenchies. I have 5 personally. The only issue we have found is sometimes two intact females may not like each other especially when they are in heat or expecting. When we have two females that don’t like each other we have to keep them separated. If the whole clan of pets are spayed or neutered we don’t really find issues. 

Below are several pics of our Frenchie puppies who have been placed with pet siblings.

Overall, if you do adopt a little Frenchie to bring into your home the likelihood of them happily joining and getting along with your other pets is high. 

How old should my French Bulldog be before being taken to the park?

How old should my French Bulldog be before being taken to the park? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

How old should my French Bulldog be before being taken to the park is a great question. We say around 16 weeks old after your little one has had his/her full series of shots. We give a combination shot called DA2PP at 8 weeks old. Typically you pick up your puppy around 10 weeks old. Your puppy needs two more shots in the series to have it’s full immune response. Each puppy has a different immune response to the first and second shot. Some will a little response, some a big response, and the rest will be in between. This means they are not fully protected until after the third shot in their series which should be complete at 16 weeks old. 

You may also choose to give your Frenchie bordatella (protection against kennel cough) and that will likely be complete at 16 weeks as well. 

We recommend to not take your puppy anywhere you do not know the history of the dogs before they have their full series of shots. For example, keep them away from dog parks, pet stores, the floor at the veterinarians office, and puppy pee areas. You may even want to wait a couple of weeks after their final shot in the series to allow time for the immune system to develop a full immune response. 

Also, beware of other dogs if you decide to take your Frenchie to the dog park. Many owners have much larger dogs and not all dogs are well behaved or well controlled by their owners. Keep your eye out to keep your Frenchie safe. 

Do French Bulldogs Require a Lot of Daily Care?

Do French Bulldogs require a lot of daily care? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

Many people ask before committing, “Do French Bulldogs require a lot of daily care? The quick answer is they don’t require much. 

Grooming: 

Many breeds require quite a bit of grooming and frequent grooming visits. Some Frenchies have thicker coats and will require more brushing to prevent shedding. We recommend bathing no more than once a month (unless obvious necessity) and trimming nails monthly as well. You may also need to clean between their wrinkles on their nose and their tail pocket. Some owners choose to take their Frenchies to the groomer for their monthly spa day. 

Teeth: 

Keeping your Frenchies teeth clean is an important part of their overall health. Get a doggie toothpaste and toothbrush that goes over your finger. Start training them as soon as you get them home to get them used to this daily habit. Have your Frenchies teeth cleaned around 3 years old and then go with your veterinarians recommendations. 

Walking: 

Frenchies do not require a lot of walking. A quick jaunt around the block or playing in the yard is often enough for them. Most of them can go on a walk. I walk mine 2 miles many days of the week. My last Frenchie  couldn’t make it around the block. Each one is different so watch them carefully for overheating. I do not recommend walking them over 72 degrees but always watch your Frenchie and make sure they are safe on their walks. Some owners buy their Frenchie a stroller so they can join them on longer walks. 

Feeding: 

Puppies need to be fed more often than adults. We recommend starting at 4 times per day, then three times, and then two times per day. 

Overall French Bulldogs do not require a lot of daily care dedicated entirely for them but you will find yourself spending all your free time with them just because you can. 

How often should I feed my French Bulldog puppy?

How often should I feed my French Bulldog puppy? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

One of the questions we get at pick up is how often should I feed my French Bulldog puppy? Your puppy has been on unlimited food all of the time. When you bring your puppy to your home you will want to place him/her on a schedule of 3-4 times per day. If on the smaller side (5lbs), we recommend four times per day. If a little bit stouter, you can start with three times a day. We recommend giving them as much as they want at each setting while they are growing babies. As they age and grow you can take it down to 1-2 times per day. Two feedings per day seems to be the amount of times most people end up feeding their Frenchies.

 

When you place your puppy on a feeding schedule it helps with the potty training as well. After eating, take them outside to potty. Make sure to tell your little one how good he is for doing his duty outside.

Keep in mind they are used to eating their kibble soaked as when they were with their siblings they’d spill it if left dry. If you find your Frenchie isn’t liking their food, try soaking it as that it what they are used to. Basically you just fill the water up to the level of the dogfood.  If they continue to turn their nose up at the kibble, try adding a bit of canned dogfood to the kibble. Puppies are like humans. Some overeat when stressed and some undereat. Changing to a new home is an environmental stressor even though we are sure your Frenchie is enjoying being the center of your world. 

Each Frenchie is different and each human family is different. Do your best at scheduling for you and your Frenchie to live your best lives. 

How to Keep Your French Bulldog Safe!

How to Keep Your French Bulldog Safe! The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

A big question everyone is now asking is how to do I keep my French Bulldog safe? No one wants to have their very own Frenchie baby lost or taken from them. Here is a list of everything we recommend and use ourselves to keep your Frenchies safe and sound from escaping, theft, and other dogs.  

Have a collar with identification on your Frenchie.  

One of the easiest ways to keep your French Bulldog safe is to have identification on the collar or tag. If he escapes someone can easily call you and you’ll be reunited with your baby. You can add a dog collar tag to the collar or purchase a collar with the information engraved on the collar or buckle. The information you can include can be name, phone number(s), and address.  

Register your Frenchies microchip.  

We typically use AKC microhips and will give you the information to register the chip. If your Frenchie escapes or is stolen and someone scans your Frenchies microhip you can be reunited. The microchip is connected with your information. For this to happen it is essential that you register the microchip and keep your contact information up to date.  You can do this when registering your puppy with AKC or complete the AKC reunite form we provide you at pickup. Please do this simple step ASAP. I can’t tell you how many calls we’ve received in panic because their Frenchie escaped and they never registered the microchip number and can’t even find the information to do so.  Always remember to double check the microhcip number we provide you at the vet’s office. Human error is always a possibility.  

Keep your French Bulldog safe with a FitBark GPS system.

We love the FitBark GPS system where you will get Wifi safe zone alerts when your pup enters or leaves one of your designated safe areas. If lost, you can quickly tack your Frenchie anywhere in the U.S. with 1-minute location updates until reunited with your baby.  

Walk with a Taser and Pepper Spray 

I live out in the country walking on dirt roads where dogs are often left to roam. They come running up to my Frenchies which want to protect their momma. Of course Frenchies cannot properly defend themselves as their little snout usually can never sink their teeth in their target. Dogs are even more sensitive to pepper spray than humans. I carry a taser to protect against humans and a pepper spray to protect against other dogs. I used to just carry a taser but I was made aware that dogs are quick targets that are difficult to taser.  In case ever needed (hopefully not), I will use pepper spray to protect the little Frenchies.  

Set up a security system  

Consider setting up a security system for your backyard to warn you if someone/something comes over the fence or through a gate that’s not a dog.  

Add locks to gates 

Most of the time we hear Frenchies escaped because someone in the household didn’t secure the gate. Consider adding a lock and minimizing the amount of usage for the gate.  

Other good practices to keep your French Bulldog safe:

  • Keep tight lipped about your Frenchie and where you live.  
  • Never discuss how much you paid for your Frenchie.  
  • Reconsider that Frenchie Instagram account you were planning on creating.  
  • Do not leave your Frenchie alone outside.  
  • Do not leave your Frenchie alone in the car.  
  • Make sure your doors and windows are locked in your home.  
  • Set your alarm every time you leave.  
  • Double check your fences before placing your Frenchie can escape.  

Popular French Bulldog Names

Popular French Bulldog Names The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

When you are anxiously waiting for your French Bulldog to join you, you may be thinking about French Bulldog names. We realize we have named your puppy but you may or may not keep that name. We find about 1/3 of new owners keep the original name and the others change it. We do name puppies in a way that matches their look and personality. Below is a list of names in alphabetical order and also lists based off of the puppies coloring.

A – Aster, Adore, Archie, Ariel, Angus, Ace, Aqua, Arya, Avalon, Axel, Angel, Alpha

B – Biscuit, Baby, Buttercup, Bon Bon, Barker, Belle, Bean, Blossom, Buddy, Bear, Bandit, Bruno, Beau, Berry, Blondie, Blush, Blizzard, Buddha, Bianca

C – Charm, Crumpet, Champ, Cuddles, Copper, Coco, Chico, Cherry, Clementine, Cinnamon, Cinderella Calla, Cupcake, Clyde, Caruso, Cookie, Chica, Cracker Jack

D – Duke, Darling, DaVinci, Dot, Dexter, Diva, Drifter, Dodger, Diamond, Dior, Daffy, Dahlia, Demi, Duchess, Dori

E – Echo, Elmo, Eggo, Emerald, Eloise, Eager, Ebony, Elvis

F – French Fry, Felicity, Finn, Fuchsia, Fluffernutter, Fifi, Freesia, Foxy, Fidget, Fletcher, Falcon, Fievel, Fargo, Fabian

G – Guapo, Gus, Gumbo, Gizmo, Goldie, Ginny, Giselle, Ginger, Gabin, Giovanni

H – Honey, Harley, Hank, Hazel, Holly, Harmony, Hamilton, Helix, Hoagie

I – Iris, Ivory, Itsy, Indigo, Imagine, Indy

J – Joy, Jingle, Jax, Jasper, June, Jade, Jules, Juicy, Jimbo

K – King, Kitty, Kobe, Kingsley, Konan

L – Louie, Lady Bug, Leo, Lucky, Loki, Lacey, Licorice, Luna

M – Meatball, Myrtle, Mosby, Mojo, Milo, Murphy, Moose, Marley, Maverick, Mocha, Mary Puppins, Maybelline, Maisey, Muffin, Mateo, Minnie

N – Nova, Nugget, Nana, Ninja, Nala, Nacho

O – Oreo, Otis, Olive, Ollie, Oasis, Oscar, Opal, Ophelia, Othello, Oceana, Orca

P – Pace, Pixy, Pork Chop, Petal, Poppy, Peggy Sue, Penny, Pac Man, Prince, Peanut, Pearl, Pastel, Peach, Piglet, Penelope, Portia, Pebbles, Pogo

Q – Quill, Queeny, Quasimodo, Quincy, Quade, Quinn

R – Rambo, Rocky, Romeo, Rainbow, Rosey, Roscoe, Reagan, Roselynn

S – Snapple, Spud, Skipper, Sassy, Sugar, Shadow, Simba, Sunny, Sage, Shrimp, Sissy, Snickers, Scotch

T – Trace, Tobascoe, Treasure, Teddy, Toby, Tank, Teeny, Titan, Tator-Tot, Tornado

U – Uno, Urban, Underdog, Uncle, Ulysses, Unique

V – Valiente, Virgina Woof, Vance, Vaughn, Valentino, Victor, Vera, Violet

W – Winston, Willow, Walnut, Wilma, Wallace, Wren, Wyatt

X, Y, Z – Xerxes, Xena, Yahoo, Yani, Yvette, Zuma, Zeus, Ziggy, Zipper, Zeke, Zebra

French Bulldog Names by Color

Lilac – Ash, Ashley, Lavender, Lilac, Dove, Gandalf the Grey, Foggy, Hazy, Hazel, Gris (French for “gray”), Grigio (Italian for “gray”) Silver, Haiiro (Japanese for “gray”) Vapor, Wraith, Powder, Bullet, Gleam, Glimmer, Glitter, Nickel, Shine, Sterling, Tinsel, Whisp, Satin

Fawn – Cinder, Fade, Peanut Butter, Acorn, Chestnut, Chewbacca, Hickory, Brunette, Taupe, Topaz, Russet, Umber, Bambi, Tanner, Brun, Brown Sugar, Pumpernickel, Cinnamon, Whiskey, Cannoli, Caramel, Cashew, Fawn 

Blue – Agate, Azure, Beryl, Blueberry, Cadet, Cobalt, Harriman, Lapis, Sapphire, Teal, Navy, Periwinkle, Dusk, Shadow, Luster, Slate, Smokey, Stoke, Stoker, Union, Royal, Yale, Steely, Winter, B.B.King, Ajax, Blade, Lake, Ocean, Larkspur, Azurine, Velvet

Chocolate – Hershey, Tootsie, Raisin, Cadbury, Java, Guinness, Cola, Rolo, Kahlua, Clove, Godiva, Snickers, Mocha, Coffee, Cocoa, Bear, Charlie Brown, Mudd, Teak, Brun, 

Pied & Merle – Spot, Speckle, Pepper, Comet, Earl, Foggy, Rush, Crumbs, Stormy, Dusty, Merle, Bandit, Blotch, Calico, Camo, Chutney, Checkers, Dapple, Dice, Dicey, Dumpling, Domino, Dot, Dottie, Freckles, Mittens, Patches, Polka dot, Sox, Speckles, Tux, Inky, Grit, Smudge, Raven, Batman, Stallion, Black Jack, Knight, Blizzard

Cream & White – Blondie, Nilla, Brie, Aspen, Honey, Blanca, Ferrah, Bagel, Thistle, Butters, Tofu, Casper, Banshee, Marshmallow, Vanilla, Ivory, Biscuit, Sandy, Summer, Savannah, Tuscan, Sesame, Buff, Buffy, Beige, Chowder, Pearl, Sprite, Dazzle, Cream Puff, Waffles, Buttercup

Brindle, Black, or Black & White – Coal, Orca, Oreo, Shadow, Specter, Phantom, Ink, Cinder, Jet, Soot, Witch, Onyx, BlackBerry, Caviar, Licorice, Butler, Iron, Mica, Lava, Char, Diesel

What French Bulldog Names do you like?

What should I do if my French Bulldog eats poop?

What should I do if my French Bulldog eats poop? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

Many owners are shocked when their sweet little French Bulldog eats poop. It is common enough to have its own name called coprophagy. Not all Frenchies will do this but some will. Let’s help you understand why and how to prevent it.

Medical Reasons Your French Bulldog eats poop.

  1. Enzyme Deficiency: 

Wild dogs were depending on eating whole prey for food which would provide them with additional digestive enzymes that just the ones they produce. Think pancreas. With kibble as most dogs main source of food they aren’t provided much in terms of digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes help break down nutrients in a way that they can be digested. If they are not getting enough nutrients they could turn around and eat their poo. 

2. Parasites

Your Frenchie could have parasites. Parasites need food too to stay alive and may cause your French Bulldog to not be able to absorb nutrients. 

Increased appetite from conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, or taking steroids may make your little one feel hungry 

3. Hydrochloric acid deficiency

If your Frenchie doesn’t have enough hydrochloric acid he may not be able to properly digest food resulting in a loss of nutrients. He may then turn to finding those nutrients in his feces. 

5. Underfeeding. 

If your French Bulldog is losing weight he may not be getting enough nutrients from his food.  A hungry dog will look for other sources of food. 

Behavioral Reasons Your French Bulldog Eats Poop. 

  1. Learned behavior from mother.

One of the reasons they might is they learn it from their mother. Momma’s eat their puppies puppy poo to keep things clean and tidy. Some of their little ones just might catch on and make it a habit.

2. Exploration

Most puppies put everything in their mouths to learn more about their environment…including poop. Fortunately, I have noticed most Frenchies who do tend to grow out of it in a few weeks, months, and at the latest around one year old.

3.     Boredom. 

Sometime they eat poop because they don’t have anything else to do. 

4.    Scavengers. 

Dogs are natural scavengers and unlike us it smells great to them. 

5.     Stress.

Some dogs eat their own poo to relieve stress. 

6.     Attention seeking

It may seem weird but some may think bad attention is better than no attention. They may do it for attention. 

7.     Punishment. 

Some dogs are concerned with being punished so they eat it to hide the evidence. 

How to stop your French Bulldog from eating poop. 

  1. Keep it clean. 

Go outside with your Frenchie and pick up the poop as soon as he goes. 

2. Develop Play. 

It’s important to keep your Frenchies mind stimulated with play and toys that stimulate his brain. Make sure they are safe and always supervise when playing with toys. 

3. Feed a good quality diet & consider adding a multivitamin, digestive enzymes, and probiotics. 

Add a good quality multivitamin with minerals. Giving your French a good multivitamin/mineral can prevent him to looking at his poo to meet his nutritional needs. 

For a hydrochloric acid deficiency consider adding apple cider vinegar in their water or mixed with food at 1 tsp per 25lbs body weight. If your puppy is around 12lbs then give about 1/2 tsp as a reference.

4. Check for parasites. 

Call your vet and ask for him to do a fecal sample. Deworm your Frenchie regularly as well.

Studies show punishing your French isn’t effective. The food additives are only effective 2% of the time. Keep your French Bulldogs digestive tract in consideration when eating poo. He may be deficient in something. I will tell you that each of mine has outgrown it. Sometimes it’s a few weeks, months, and others stop around 1 year old. 

Does a male or female French Bulldog make a better pet?

Does a male or female French Bulldog make a better pet? The French Bulldog of Colorado Blog

I am asked this question often, “Does a male or female French Bulldog make a better pet?” I say both. French Bulldog male and females have beautiful personalities. We have several of each and love each ones own unique personality. They are considered the clown dog and are all goofy in their own way. Just as people have differing personalities so do Frenchies. Some are shy. Others outgoing. Some are bossy. Others are laid back. Some are bold. Others are cautious. Some are calm. Others are excitable. Part of the personality is given at birth and part is developed by the environment in your home. Every Frenchie is unique and special and to me it’s easy to love them all.  

Males do tend to be larger than their female litters mates and typically have larger heads. This isn’t always the case as some of our girls at first glance you’d think they were males with their larger heads. I always say all shapes and sizes of Frenchies are beautiful!  

Frenchies love people and get along great with other pets except two of our girls that just don’t like it when the other one is allowed to eat. But typically these behaviors are avoided if you spay/neuter your Frenchies. Females do tend to have mood swings and be territorial around their heat cycles. Males may act territorial, mark territory, and display humping behaviors if left in tact. To avoid these behaviors we recommend spaying or neutering your Frenchie.