FEEDING YOUR FRENCHIE: First days at home if you plan on changing your puppy's food, mix the food for your puppy: You have got some food from me, first 3 days give only this food, next day mix 2/3 of this food with 1/3 of the new food you will be using, on a next day mix 1/2 and 1/2, and finally on the 3 day of mixing use 1/3 of my food and 2/3 of your new food, by the next day you can use 100% of your food. This will protect your puppy from digestive stress and diarrhea from changing diet. Your puppy should be eating three meals per day for the first 5 months, then you can switch to twice a day.
VACCINATION SHOTS: Your Puppy has been vaccinated against Distemper and Parvovirus, we suggest same shot again at 9 weeks, 12 weeks and final at 16 weeks along with a rabies vaccine at that time.It is said that all earlier vaccines maybe killed by mother’s immune system still active in puppy until 14-16 weeks of age, hence those 14 and 15 weeks of age vaccines are very important to give immunity to your puppy for the year to come. Parvovirus is very real and dangerous disease in puppies under 8 months of age. It is extremely contagious, very common (especially in the spring). One single ounce of infected dog feces contains about 35 millions of parvo particles, dog needs only a thousand to get infected, so you see, it doesn't take much for a puppy to get sick. So please vaccinate! These are my suggestions but your veterinarian will be your best adviser when it comes to vaccinating and dog’s health.
SUMMER HEAT: Avoid- hot sunny places without shade and water short nose dogs can't tolerate heat. At home if you can’t provide air conditioned area maybe cool basement floor or a fan can provide some comfort for the dog on hot days. Never leave dog in the car unattended, car can reach 120 degrees, in few minutes on a sunny day. Cracked open window in the car will not be enough for any Bulldog in the summer heat. Giving dog ice cubes, wetting dogs head will keep them cooler. In case of serious overheating luke warm water and rubbing alcohol applied to arm pits and groin area may help to save them. When trying to save them don't dump a bucket of icy cold water on them, this will put them in the shock. Luke warm water is enough.
FLEAS: To protect and manage against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, heart worms, I use a product called Trifexis, once there 6 months of age. It is a prescription item (you need to ask your vet about it). I give a tablet once monthly to my dogs for prevention. I love that product! Before 6 months I use Frontline Tritak for flea and tick prevention. It is a topical product.
CRATE TRAINING: If you have a new dog or a puppy, you can use the crate to limit his access to the house until he learns all the house rules—like what he can and can't chew and where he can and can't eliminate. If you properly train your dog to use the crate, he'll think of it as his safe place and will be happy to spend time there when needed. Your dog's crate should be just large enough for him to stand up and turn around in. If your dog is still growing, choose a crate size that will accommodate his adult size and use a divider. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training: the crate should always be associated with something pleasant, and training should take place in a series of small steps. Don't go too fast. Put a soft blanket or towel in the crate. Encourage puppy to enter the crate, drop some small food treats nearby, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate. Each time you feed him, place the dish a little further back in the crate. Once your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat his meal, you can close the door while he's eating. After your dog is eating his regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine him there for short periods of time while you're at home. Call him over to the crate and give him a treat. Give him a command to enter, such as "crate" Repeat this process several times a day. With each repetition, gradually increase the length of time you leave him in the crate and the length of time you're out of his sight. Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you out of sight the majority of the time, you can begin leaving him crated when you're gone for short time periods and/or letting him sleep there at night. You might also want to leave him with a few safe toys in the crate. A crate is not a magical solution. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated in it. Remember that puppies under six months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than few hours at a time. Also, puppy can hold (pee and such) for as many hours as it is old, for example: 3 months old puppy will hold comfortably for 3 hours. Just because pup can hold sometimes longer, don’t expect him to do it all the time. It is more of a mental maturity then a physical ability. Crate is a great tool that may prevent your dog from being destructive or from hurting itself.
TRAINING PUPPY TO GO OUTSIDE: When you bring your puppy home, it was exposed to and accustomed to a clean environment. Your pup would have learned to eliminate in the special indoor pan and get accustomed to a clean indoor area where it sleeps eats and plays with toys. You should immediately establish a specific “going outside” area for your puppy in your yard or at home once you bring him home. That area should be separated from the rest of your yard maybe somewhere in the corner of the yard further away from the house (dogs naturally like to go to the far end of the area allowed to do their ”business”). Remember to use firm low tone when you say the command “outside”. Praise him once he has finished eliminating in the appropriate area. Reward him with a praise that includes cue words like “good outside "etc. Food treats and "Clicker" work wonders.
REMEDY FOR CHEWING Young puppies like to "mouth" everything. I use Bitter Apple spray on all my furniture corners weekly until puppy can be 100% trusted. You don’t want to take a chance on your favorite chair. Also, when pup is putting his mouth on something you don’t want him to, say “no” with low voice (never use high pitch, exited voice to train or reprimand the dog – he/she will not respond with respect, you need to establish an authority and a low, calm voice is the key to it) and then give him a toy that he is allowed to chew on and praise him for doing so.
CAN FRENCHIES SWIM? French Bulldogs cannot swim on their own. You must watch your French Bulldog like a newborn child when they’re near any kind of water deeper than a few inches. THEY CAN DROWN. French Bulldogs can be taught how to swim while wearing a well-fitting life jacket or life vest. Note well: this requires 100% constant supervision. You should never, under any circumstances, leave your French Bulldog alone near water or outside on a hot day. You can kill your dog if you leave them alone near water above their head. Woofipedia also suggests that on top of using a life jacket, you should teach your dog to enter and exit the water on their own, helping them along the way. They also suggest practicing swimming in water without currents. [2] This is especially important for French Bulldogs because they do not have a snout to help keep their breathing pathway above even the smallest waves. Their head nearly sits beneath the water, even when wearing a life jacket. Their faces are just too smushed! So, always watch your Frenchie near water or while they’re swimming (with a life jacket) to be sure their heads do not go under. You can purchase a kiddie pool however, and that will be great. They usually love water and the kiddie pool is great for them in the hot summer heat!