Tag: Frenchie puppies

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Is a French Bulldog Right for Me?

Maybe you have seen pictures of French Bulldog puppies with those adorable smoosh faces and funny bat ears or maybe your neighbor has a French Bulldog and has told you they are the best breed around. You may be mulling over purchasing or adopting one yourself but may also be wondering if it is the right breed for you. Let me start by saying these little guys and gals are not the couch potatoes you may think they are. While most of them love a good cuddling session, they can also be crazy balls of energy. As puppies, French Bulldogs can go, go and go some more and they must be watched every moment they are awake as they will try to eat everything in their line of sight. Let’s start determining whether a French Bulldog is right for you by talking more about the puppy stage.

French Bulldog Puppies

The first thing you should know is that puppies can only hold their bladder so long. The rule of thumb is puppies can hold their bladder for approximately an hour longer than how many months old they are. So, a three-month-old puppy can only hold their bladder for four hours and a four-month-old puppy can only hold their bladder for five hours. You get it, right? The point here is that you must be ready to lose some sleep in the first few months of bringing your puppy home because you will need to get up at some point during the night every night to let them do their business. So, the first thing you should ask yourself is: Am I prepared for months of sleep deprivation?

The next thing you should know is that French Bulldog puppies can take longer to potty train than other breeds and they need to be taken out often. I have an entire blog post dedicated to French Bulldog potty training (https://thefrenchiemamablog.com/2020/06/28/potty-training-your-frenchie-puppy/) but for our purposes here, I will just say that if you plan to get a French Bulldog puppy, you must have patience, lots of treats, and most importantly be able to stick to a strict routine. Therefore, the next thing you should ask yourself is: Do I have the time and patience to properly potty train a French Bulldog puppy?

Socializing a French Bulldog puppy is especially important because socializing them young will help prevent aggressive behaviors when they get older. Just be sure they have all their shots before allowing them to go around other dogs and especially before taking them to dog parks. French Bulldogs properly socialized will love to play with other dogs, especially other frenchies. They also love to socialize with humans particularly the humans in their family. They love always being with their families and can develop separation anxiety if left alone too often. So, another question you should ask yourself is: Do I plan to spend a lot of time with my French Bulldog? If the answer to this is no, you may wish to rethink this breed.

Finally, French Bulldog puppies tend to eat EVERYTHING in sight so teaching the “drop it” command early is particularly important with this breed. It is also important to have plenty of toys for them to chew on to prevent them from chewing on items such as furniture. Some of the toys I buy that my frenchies love are:

KONG Wild Knots Bear Dog Toy – Small/Medium – Assorted Colors #ad

KONG Floppy Knots Fox, Dog Toy, Medium/Large #ad

KONG Floppy Knots Elephant, Dog Toy, Medium/Large #ad

KONG – Puppy Toy Natural Teething Rubber – Fun to Chew, Chase and Fetch (Color May Vary) – for Medium Puppies #ad

(2 Pack) KONG Puppy Tires, Size Medium/Large Assorted Colours #ad

Frenchies are aggressive chewers and these Kong toys hold up great. Now let’s talk a little more about training.

French Bulldog Training

I am sure you have heard that French Bulldogs can be stubborn and that is an accurate assessment. However, they are extremely smart and if you know the correct training methods, you can teach your French Bulldog just about anything. Click here for training tips: https://thefrenchiemamablog.com/2020/08/01/behavioral-modification-using-operant-conditioning-training-your-frenchie/

Basic training commands are important for all breeds of dogs, not just French Bulldogs. The earlier you can teach these commands such as sit, stay, and lay down, the better. Once you have the basic commands down, you can start with the fun commands such as shake, high five, and play dead. Frenchies, just like any other breed of dog, love attention and love pleasing their humans.

French Bulldog Adults

While all French Bulldogs are unique, they do tend to calm down as they age. Unfortunately, many also tend to develop health issues as they age. Because of this, I suggest obtaining pet insurance. For information on some of the most recommended pet insurance companies, click here: https://thefrenchiemamablog.com/2021/01/02/best-pet-insurance-for-your-french-bulldog/

What is also important to know is there is a significant amount of maintenance involved in owning a French Bulldog. Please read this post about Frenchie Care before deciding to get a French Bulldog: https://thefrenchiemamablog.com/2020/07/11/caring-for-your-frenchie/

French bulldogs are not only expensive to purchase but their ongoing care can also be expensive so the last question you should ask yourself is: Am I willing to incur significant expenses to keep a French Bulldog?

What You Will Love about your Frenchie

If it sounds like I am trying to talk you out of purchasing or adopting a French Bulldog, nothing could be further from the truth. These dogs are loving, loyal, funny, and my favorite breed of dog. They will love you unconditionally and you cannot help loving all the unique personality traits they possess. They have these looks that just completely melt your heart. They acclimate well to any living environment whether you have a huge backyard or no backyard at all. The point of this post is to provide information so that you can make an informed decision as to whether this breed is right for you. If you have any questions about French Bulldogs, feel free to leave a reply below. Additionally, if this post helped you make a decision whether a French Bulldog is right for you, I would love to hear from you.

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Choosing a Healthy French Bulldog Puppy

You may have heard that French Bulldogs come with a wide array of health issues. While you can never guarantee a puppy will not have health issues, there are things you can look for to lessen the likelihood of your frenchie puppy ending up with these problems. First, let us review some of the common health issues with French Bulldogs.

French Bulldog Health Problems

Allergies: Both food-related allergies and environmental allergies are common to French Bulldogs. Environmental allergies often manifest as itchy paws, sneezing, watery eyes, and raw patches including hair loss. Food-related allergies often manifest as diarrhea, vomiting, bloody stool, abdominal pain, and changes in appetite. Itching can also be a sign of food allergies.

Cherry Eye: Dogs have what is called a nictitans gland, which is also referred to as the “third eyelid gland”, in the corner of their eyes. This gland can become red and swollen and is extremely easy to observe in this condition.

Eye Ulcers: Corneal ulcers are also common in French Bulldogs and are commonly caused by trauma to the eyes. Some of the signs of these ulcers are squinting, watery eyes, swelling of the eye, discharges around the eye, and difficulty opening the eye.

Intervertebral Disc Disease: The intervertebral disc is a disc located between the vertebrae. It serves to connect the vertebrae and it acts as a shock absorber. The degeneration of one or more of these discs is called Intervertebral Disc Disease. Some of the signs of this disease are a tight abdomen, yelping when being picked up, a reluctance to run and jump, and in more severe cases, weak hind limbs.

Congenital vertebral anomalies: Hemivertebrae are bones of the spine that are abnormally shaped. The spine can be twisted causing a corkscrew tail. In mild cases, there are likely no symptoms. However, in more severe cases you may see weakness of the hind limbs and an inability to control the bladder and bowel movements.

Brachycephalic Respiratory Syndrome: Brachycephalic is a fancy term used for flat faced breeds. Since their faces have been essentially smushed in, everything that you do not see has also been smushed in and this causes breathing problems. Signs of this condition include snoring, loud breathing, panting, gagging, and exercise intolerance.

Stenotic Nares: Stenotic nares are essentially nostrils that are too narrow and therefore do not allow the animal to breathe as it should. Signs of this condition include difficulty breathing, discoloration of the gums, exercise intolerance, and fainting.

Elongated soft palate: A French Bulldog can be born with a longer than normal soft palate which is the tissue at the back of the mouth. If this tissue is too long, it will block the windpipe making it difficult to breath. As this condition goes along with Brachycephalic Respiratory Syndrome, the symptoms are snoring, loud breathing, panting, gagging, and exercise intolerance.

Now that you know some of the common health issues associated with French Bulldogs, how can you ensure your French Bulldog puppy does not suffer from these ailments? Well, the short answer is that you cannot. However, there are some tips and tricks to help you lessen the chances of your puppy having these conditions.

Choosing a French Bulldog Puppy with the Least Amount of Health Issues

The first thing to look for to lessen the chance of your puppy developing the breathing issues listed above is open nostrils. The narrower the nostrils, the more likely your frenchie is going to have breathing issues associated with Brachycephalic Respiratory Syndrome. Therefore, you want to look for a puppy with more open nares. Second, look at the gums to make sure they are pink in color. A blueish tint could indicate breathing issues. Third, investigate the ears to be sure there is no redness present since redness could represent an ear infection and the potential for allergies. Fourth, look at the eyes to make sure they are clear. If they are red and watery, this could be an indication of a myriad of health issues. Finally, check their tail. If they have a very pronounced cork-screw tail, this could be an indication there is a problem with their spine and could lead to expensive veterinary bills in the future. You also want to be weary of the presence of what seems to be no tail at all since this could be an indication of the tail growing into the puppy instead of growing straight. A final tip is to play with your puppy when first meeting him or her to be sure that their breathing is not excessively labored.

Do not be afraid to ask the breeder questions about the puppy’s DNA and genetic history. There is nothing wrong with asking for DNA testing and/or a health history. Many puppies may also come with a health guarantee. The most important thing you can do when purchasing your frenchie puppy is start your search by finding reputable breeders. If you are interested in learning how to avoid puppy scams, read an earlier post I wrote entitled “How to Spot a Scam when Buying a Frenchie Puppy.”

Good luck with your search for the perfect frenchie puppy! If you have additional tips and tricks for future frenchie parents, feel free to leave a reply below.

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French Bulldog Names

When it comes to naming your frenchie, there are several ways you can go about it. You could choose a cute name, you could choose a popular name, you could choose a different name, or you could choose a French name. After all, they are FRENCH bulldogs!

Whatever name you choose, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Most importantly, dogs learn certain names more quickly than others. Your pup will learn and respond to shorter names more quickly. I would stick with one or two syllable names if possible. Two syllable names are preferable because they are less likely to sound like one of their commands which are typically one syllable words such as sit and stay. Have you ever noticed that many dog names end in the sound “EE”? This is because that sound is easier for dogs to register and therefore, they can distinguish it as their name. Other vowels such as “a” at the end of the name also work well since the vowel changes the frequency of the name. Your dog will pick up on this more readily. Ending your dog’s name with an “er” has a similar effect of changing the frequency allowing your pup to catch onto his or her name quickly. With these quick tips in mind, let us get to the good stuff! What are some good French Bulldog names?

Cute and Popular frenchie Names for girls

  1. Molly
  2. Zoey
  3. Daisy
  4. Bella
  5. Lola
  6. Lilly
  7. Lucy
  8. Addie
  9. Gracie
  10. Maggie

Cute and Popular frenchie Names for boys

  1. Dozer
  2. Chewie
  3. Gizmo
  4. Tank
  5. Frankie
  6. Bubba
  7. Yoda
  8. Georgie
  9. Louie
  10. Stitch

Different frenchie names for girls

  1. Lolly
  2. Mazie
  3. Desi
  4. Harley
  5. Carlie
  6. Fergie
  7. Arya
  8. Ava
  9. Pippa
  10. Nala

Different frenchie names for boys:

  1. Koji
  2. Ryder
  3. Echo
  4. Dolche
  5. Neo
  6. Yeti
  7. Kovu
  8. Kylo
  9. Paulie
  10. Simba

French frenchie names for girls

  1. Esme
  2. Bebe
  3. Sophie
  4. Jolie
  5. Adele
  6. Gigi
  7. Renee
  8. Marie
  9. Ava
  10. Fleur

French frenchie names for boys

  1. Pierre
  2. Henri
  3. Enzo
  4. Arthur
  5. Andre
  6. Franco
  7. Monet
  8. Beau
  9. Hugo
  10. Bleu

There are many names to choose from even beyond this list. Whatever name you choose, be sure to pick a name you and your family like and that will follow your dog into adulthood.

Good luck and congrats on your new bundle of joy!

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It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like (a Frenchie) Christmas

‘Twas the month before Christmas and all through the frenchie world not a creature was stirring, not even a merle. Although the stockings were not yet hung, there are thoughts of Christmas presents dancing in our heads. What should I buy my frenchies for Christmas this year? This is what was said.

I thought it appropriate as we are beginning our Christmas shopping to provide a list with links of ideas for Christmas presents for our little frenchie boys and girls, so here goes:

KONG KP24 Puppy Toy – Natural Teething Rubber – Fun to Chew, Chase and Fetch (Colors May Vary), 035585131214, Medium, Assorted Pink or Blue #ad

KONG – Puppy Binkie – Soft Teething Rubber, Treat Dispensing Dog Toy (Assorted Colors) – for Small Puppies #ad

KONG Floppy Knots Fox, Dog Toy, Medium/Large #ad

Kong Wild Knots Bears Durable Dog Toys Size:Med/Large Pack of 2 #ad

KONG Camo Wubba Dog Toy – Large (Assorted Colors) #ad

KONG Cozies Dog Squeaky Toy, King The Lion, Medium (2 Pack) #ad

KONG Comfort Kiddos Dog Toy – Pig Small – (4.2″ W x 6.2″ H) – Pack of 2 #ad

Bullibone Nylon Dog Chew Toy Spin-a-Bone – Interactive Dog Toy, Triggers Natural Instincts, and Improves Oral Health #ad

QUMY Dog Goggles Eye Wear Protection Waterproof Pet Sunglasses for Dogs About Over 15 lbs #ad

MIXJOY Orthopedic Dog Bed Comfortable Donut Cuddler Round Dog Bed Ultra Soft Washable Dog and Cat Cushion Bed (23”x23”) (Brown) #ad

Fitwarm Fleece Sweatshirts for Dog Coats Pet Hooded Jackets, Grey, Small #ad

kyeese Dog Pajamas Cotton for Large Dogs Stretchable Dog Jumpsuit 4 Legs Strip Pet Lightweight PJS #ad

French Bulldog Hoodie

French Bulldog Pajamas

Christmas Frenchie Blanket

Extra Softness and Fluffy 350 GSM Lightweight Microplush Fleece Throw Blanket for Small, Medium and Large Dogs, Puppies, Cats and Kittens, All Season Machine Washable Pet Bed Mat, Grey, 80 x 64 Inches #ad

BINGPET BA1002-1 Security Patterns Printed Puppy Pet Hoodie Dog Clothes #ad

Puppy Face Dog Shirts Tank Top with Wide Strips Doggie Costumes T-Shirt Pet Clothes Vest Apparel for Small Extra Small Medium Large Extra Large Dog or Cat (Large, Coral and Beige) #ad

Tylee 100% Salmon Treats

PawHut Foldable Dog Stroller with Storage Pocket, Oxford Fabric for Medium Size Dogs, Grey #ad

SCIROKKO Dog Instant Cooling Bandana – 4 Pack Chill Out Scarf Ice Towel Pet Wrap Kerchief Accessories for Dogs Cats in Summer #ad

PETKIT Dog Water Bottle with Filter, Leak Proof Dog Water Dispenser with Drinking Bowl, Food Grade Material, Lightweight Portable Pet Water Bottle for Walking, Hiking, Travel, Easy to Carry, BPA Free #ad

Max and Neo Reflective Nylon Dog Leash – We Donate a Leash to a Dog Rescue for Every Leash Sold (Black, 6 FT) #ad

Adjustable Dog Harness, No Pull Dog Harness Outdoor Vest with Easy Control Handle, Hook and Front Reflective Straps – No More Pulling, Tugging or Choking for Small Medium Large Dogs #ad

Schwinn Rascal Bike Pet Trailer, For Small and Large Dogs, Small, Orange #ad

Furbo 1080p Full HD Dog Camera

Chewy Holiday Shop

I hope this list helped you with ideas for your Christmas shopping. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

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How to Spot a Scam when Buying a Frenchie Puppy

People are buying French Bulldog puppies more now than ever despite the high price tag. This also means that people are getting themselves into bad situations and losing hard earned money now more than ever. It is too often that I see someone post on social media they were scammed out of their deposit money. They send in a deposit via some money app just to be blocked right after the transaction goes through. Many legitimate breeders also ask for a deposit. So how can you tell a legitimate breeder from a scammer?

Asking the right questions

What is most important in weeding out scammers is knowing the right questions to ask.

The first question to ask is “Can you call me, or can we Face time?” If they say no or keep skirting the issue, they just might be a scammer.

The second question you should ask is “Can you send pictures of the puppy from different angles?” If they only have one or two pictures of the puppy, that may be because they have stolen the images from a legitimate breeder’s website. You can also ask for a picture of the puppy with a piece a paper by it displaying today’s date on the piece of paper.

The third question you should ask is “Do you have pictures of the puppy’s mom and dad.” If they do not have pictures of mom and dad, this may be just another sign they are not a legitimate breeder.

With all this being said, a breeder may be uncomfortable with calling you or may be having problems taking pictures. Even so, if you ask all these questions and they are unable to call or Face time, they only have two pictures of the puppy and will not provide the specific pictures you request, AND are unable to produce pictures of mom and dad, then you most likely have a scammer.

It is also a good idea to ask for referrals and ask around to see if anyone has dealt with that breeder in the recent past. Look up their website, Facebook, and Instagram to see if everything seems legitimate. How long has their Facebook been open? Do they post a lot and do people respond to their posts? Do you see them corresponding with other people who have purchased puppies from them previously? Does their Facebook page have a lot of followers? These are all questions to ask yourself when reviewing their Facebook page.

Now what? You have done everything I mentioned above, and you may be thinking to yourself “They seem legitimate, but should I send a deposit?”

Should I send a deposit?

You must be incredibly careful when sending a deposit to purchase a puppy. As I mentioned, many reputable breeders ask for a deposit to hold a puppy so they don’t lose out on selling the puppy to another buyer. However, there are some things you can look for. For example, how are they asking you to send the deposit? If they are asking you to wire the funds or send the deposit via gift card, that is a huge sign they are a scammer.

I have personally not paid a deposit for my French Bulldogs. I found local breeders, went to pick up the puppies, and paid them at the time I picked up the puppies. However, you may be required to pay a deposit. Just make sure before you pay a deposit, you have completed your research to ensure the breeder you are dealing with is indeed a legitimate breeder. It is also important to use a money transfer option where you can get your money back unless you know the breeder personally. Many cash apps do not have this option. Once the money is sent, there is no getting it back.

If they ask for more money than you initially agreed upon, that is another red flag. The biggest red flag when looking for French Bulldog puppies is the price. If the price is below $1,500.00 for a French Bulldog puppy, you can be quite certain you are dealing with a scammer. Prices for French Bulldog puppies run anywhere from $2,000.00 up to $10,000.00. I have even seen them priced higher than $10,000.00. So, how do you spot a legitimate breeder?

How to spot a legitimate breeder

A legitimate breeder will maintain constant contact with you. They will answer all your questions and send you pictures when you ask for them. They will not say “Trust me.” When you ask for pictures and they do not send them, then say something to the effect of “Why, you don’t trust me?” that is a definite sign you are speaking with a scammer. Legitimate breeders typically have a Facebook page that has many followers, many posts, and constant dialogue between them and their followers.

There are many French Bulldog groups on Facebook which scammers seem to target. However, these groups are good resources to use to talk with other frenchie parents. Asking others which breeder they used is a good idea. Just remember, that person on the other end of the computer or phone that you don’t know could also be starting a scam. So, talk to many people, ask many questions, and do your research. If you still feel uncomfortable or unsure after your research is complete, check out the French Bulldog Club. Their site has lists of reputable breeders.

On a final note, if you have been scammed, be sure to report it to the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission so other people will not be caught in the same scam you were.

If you have suggestions of additional ways to spot a scammer or to spot a legitimate breeder, feel free to leave a reply at the bottom of this page.

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The Frenchie Mama Crew

In my last several posts I have covered many of the burning questions frenchie parents ask so I thought it was about time to introduce my crew: Dozer, Molly, and Harley.

Never did I think three little French Bulldogs would change my life so drastically. But here I am, living the frenchie dream! When my husband said he wanted a French Bulldog, I must admit, I was not even sure what a French Bulldog was. But the fact that my husband was not a dog person and he wanted a French Bulldog thoroughly intrigued me even though I knew he was already starting to become a dog person. I knew what English bulldogs were and always loved them. But a French Bulldog, what exactly was that? So, I started my google search and started reading all about these lovable little “apartment dogs.” Once I started reading and seeing all the adorable frenchie puppy pictures, I was sold and I wanted a French Bulldog too!

Dozer – The Red Fawn French Bulldog

Once I completed my research on the breed, I started my search for the perfect frenchie puppy. I found a gorgeous litter of puppies about an hour’s drive away. We made the hour long drive to see Dozer and his brother who was a sable fawn boy. The sable fawn boy was an energetic and adorable little guy. However, there was just something about Dozer. Dozer was this short stocky red fawn puppy with the biggest, most angelic eyes I had ever seen. He ran right over to me and my stepson with his funny distinctive trot that he still has to this day. He loved us from the moment he met us, and we loved him from the moment we met him. The trip home was uneventful until we decided to stop at Wal-Mart to pick up a bed and a crate. You see, Dozer had just been dewormed which we were informed of. However, what I did not know is that deworming causes explosive diarrhea. And where did this explosive diarrhea come out? Well, right in the middle of Wal-Mart and all over what was to be his new bed which was located right underneath him in the shopping cart. We were embarrassed to say the least.

In the beginning, we had a few scares with Dozer which I partly attribute my profound love for him to. About a week after we picked Dozer up, I noticed blood in his stool. Before then, I had never experienced a dog having blood in their stool, so I was terrified there was something fiercely wrong with my baby boy. It turned out he had Giardiasis. He was prescribed antibiotics and it went away, only to come back again about a week after stopping the antibiotics. The second round of antibiotics did the trick though, and everything turned out okay. A couple weeks later, Dozer developed a limp. I had not seen anything happen to him even though I watched him like a hawk, but there was a definite limp. Once again, I got really scared. Yes, I am an overprotective mama! I took him to the vet; they gave him a thorough examination, and all was good. They told me he had most likely pulled a muscle. All these scares early on gave me an immense bond with this little guy. Once you are afraid of losing something or someone, you realize how much you genuinely love them.

Dozer is a funny and loving little dog. He is charming, he is attentive, and he does not leave my side no matter where I go. He gets a mad case of the zoomies every night some time between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and he can go from zero to what seems like one hundred miles per hour in a heartbeat. He will literally go from energizer bunny mode to sloth mode in a matter of seconds. He absolutely loves toys and can play for hours. It does not matter what toy it is; he wants it. He will play tug-of-war with you for hours if you let him. He is sweet, he is loyal, and he is my love.

Molly – The Blue Fawn French Bulldog

About six months after getting Dozer, I wanted a little girl just like him. I found two sisters: a blue fawn and a merle fawn. I immediately knew I wanted the blue fawn girl. However, my husband really liked the merle fawn girl. We ended up getting the blue fawn frenchie puppy and I named her Molly. We brought Dozer to pick up Molly and my sweet little boy who had never growled before growled at this sweet tiny little girl. Being the mama’s boy that he is, he was jealous! By the next day however, he loved her as much as we did. They were immediate best friends and made cuddling a non-stop event. I made sure to give Dozer just a little more attention than the new puppy and I believe that made all the difference in getting him to accept her so quickly. Molly is our little bulldog in every sense of the word. She is sweet and affectionate but also stubborn with a little bit of an attitude. She is my real-life baby doll. She crawls up in my lap, curls up, and demands her cuddle time.

While we never had a problem with Dozer chewing, Molly was another story. This little girl loved to chew anything made of wood. She destroyed the corners of our baseboards and the legs of our bed. But who can get upset with this beautiful, sweet little girl? We just waited it out until she stopped chewing to repair the damage. Molly was also much easier to train than Dozer mostly because she followed her big brother and did what he did. We trained Dozer and Dozer trained Molly. We got them both at ten weeks of age and Dozer took several months to potty train while Molly only took about a week to get it. Dozer is the epitome of a momma’s boy, but Molly was a daddy’s girl through and through. That was however until we brought Harley into our household.

Harley – The Merle French Bulldog

Recall me saying that Molly had a merle fawn sister? Well, that was Harley. Harley had been adopted by another family who ended up returning her. When we found out she was returned, we knew it was meant to be. Even after we brought Molly home, my husband always talked about Harley and how much he liked her.

What can I say about Harley? Harley is our wild one. She’s as sweet and loving as can be but boy does she have a crazy streak. She is much more energetic than the other two and scares me with the way she jumps from the couch to the ottomans. Harley was very shy when we first brought her home. She would cower when we would attempt to pet her. It did not take long for her to realize that she was in a loving home and was going to be spoiled just like her sister and brother though.

Harley is extremely smart and hence very easily trained. She listens well and comes every time you call her name. She loves belly rubs and cuddle time. During the lazy times of day, you can typically find her resting her head on her brother or sister or cuddling on her mama’s or daddy’s lap.

While Dozer and Molly love everyone, Harley is leery of outside people. This is still a work in progress but is getting much better. She just needs reassurance from her mama that new people are okay.

While all three of my frenchies have distinctive personalities, they are all three the cutest, most loving and funny dogs I have ever had the privilege of calling mine. By the way, they are all mama’s girls and mama’s boy now! If you are on the fence about whether this is the right breed for you, I would say as long as you understand the extra expenses involved with frenchie ownership and their limitations in regards to heat and exercise and you have done your research, go for it! You will not regret it and you will have a best friend for life (or two or three). If you have any specific questions about French Bulldogs, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message on my contact page.

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Potty Training Your Frenchie Puppy


I have heard it asked time and time again: Why does my frenchie puppy keep going inside? Why is he or she so hard to potty train? Well, the answer to those questions is simply that they are not in as much of a hurry to get potty trained as you are.

Potty training a french bulldog puppy is much the same as potty training any other breed in that it takes consistency, patience, and sticking to a routine. However, with frenchie puppies, it takes MORE consistency, MORE patience, and sticking to a VERY STRICT routine.

With that being said, not all frenchies are made the same. Dozer, for example, took a good seven months to fully potty train while Molly only took a week to potty train.
If you recall from my original blog post, Dozer was my first frenchie puppy. I had potty trained many puppies and several different breeds before Dozer came along and they all took about a week (or two weeks tops) to fully potty train. So, of course, I thought the same would be true for this sweet little frenchie puppy of mine. I thought I could take him outside every half hour and give him a treat whenever he went potty outside and that was that. Well, of course, that was a great start. However, as I previously stated, frenchie puppies are in no hurry. Therefore, you have to ramp things up with frenchie puppies.

The first step is consistency. Take them out at the same times EVERY DAY and do not deviate from this schedule. Since you definitely have to take them out first thing in the morning, and say you wake up at 6 a.m., take them out at 6 a.m. followed by a feeding at 6:30 a.m. Take them out immediately after the feeding which, depending on your frenchie puppy, should be around 7 a.m. Proceed to take them out at 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m, 8:30 a.m…… You get the gist! Keep going at this until dinner time which we will say is 6 p.m. Take them out immediately after dinner at 6:30 p.m. Take them out at 7 p.m. and every half hour until bed time. It is very important to take them out immediately before bed time.

Speaking of bed time, DO NOT give them water within 2 hours of bed time. You are just asking for an accident to happen. Since you will be “cutting them off” from water before bed time, you need to make sure they are hydrated throughout the day. I do not suggest giving them free range to water as puppies though. This will just increase the frequency with which you will need to take them outside to potty.

You may be saying, “Becki, seriously, every half hour?” and I say “Absolutely!” In the beginning any way. As they get older, you can decrease the frequency to every hour or so. Slowly decrease the frequency as your puppy starts to get it. I still take mine out every hour just for good measure (and the exercise doesn’t hurt me either).

The second step is patience. You must remain patient with these little guys and gals. I see new frenchie owners getting frustrated and your frenchie puppies can sense that. They want nothing more than to please you so don’t get frustrated. Instead, when you bring them out, give them the “go potty” command and wait a minute. Give them the “go potty” command again if they haven’t gone yet. Continue with this until they do go and then give them a treat right away and make a big deal out of it by giving lots of praise. Do not get frustrated, give up, and go back inside because you have been outside 15 minutes already and they still have not gone potty. Once they get the routine down, they will know what they are supposed to do. Sometimes they will even fake potty to get the treat and praise.

Speaking of routine: Sticking to a routine is the third step in potty training your frenchie puppy. As I mentioned before, you must stick to your schedule of taking them outside frequently, but also stick to taking them to the same location every time. Take them to the same exact spot every time to potty. This will ensure they know that is where they are supposed to go.

If you’re wondering what type of training treats to use, find out what your frenchie puppy loves the best. I have found that using a different protein than their normal food is best. For example, the main protein in my dog food is lamb so I use duck or salmon treats. I also use small soft chews that I can break in half to give as the reward, Remember, you will be rewarding with treats often so the smaller the pieces are, the better. I will cover food and treats in more detail in my next blog post.

It is also good practice to crate train them for the times you can not be there with your puppy. Dogs will typically not “go” where they sleep. Make sure the crate is small, but not too small. There should be just enough room for them to move around. The biggest mistake I see many puppy parents make is buying a crate that is too big. Buying a larger crate is done with the best intentions wanting your puppy to be as comfortable as possible. However, this also gives them room to have a sleeping spot and a potty spot. This is not what you want. Remember, puppies can not hold it for too long so don’t keep them crated for long periods of time. The younger they are, the less they can hold it.

You also need to learn to recognize the clues to the behaviors your dog displays when he or she needs to go. Two of my frenchies start sniffing around while the other one will walk up to me and stare me down as to say “Look woman, I have to go pee!” Some other clues may include circling, scratching at the floor, or sometimes even whining.

One last note is you should always take your puppy out on a leash and harness to go potty. Harnesses are much better for your frenchie puppy so they do not pull and choke themselves. I personally use the adjustable no pull harnesses. You can find many versions of this harness such as Bolux Dog Harness, No-Pull Reflective Breathable Adjustable Pet Vest with Handle for Outdoor Walking – No More Pulling, Tugging or Choking on Amazon. Amazon also has these Max and Neo Small Dog Reflective Nylon Dog Leash – We Donate a Leash to a Dog Rescue for Every Leash Sold (Purple, 6×5/8) to go along with your no pull harnesses. I love these leashes!

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to send me a message on my contact page. Also, be sure to like this post if you found it helpful.

Good luck on your potty training journey and remember patience pays off!

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