
About
The Beautiful French Bulldog
and How it all began.
The French Bulldog originated in England and was created to be a toy-size version of the Bulldog. The breed was quite popular among lace workers in the city of Nottingham and when many lace workers emigrated to France for better opportunities, they naturally brought their little bulldogs with them.
The French Bulldog thrived in France and Europe, and their charm was soon discovered by Americans as well. The United States saw its first French Bulldog at the Westminster Kennel Club show in 1896. The breed was quickly nicknamed "Frenchie," and it is still an affectionate name that is used today.
Why choose a Frenchie
Bat-eared but oddly beautiful, the French Bulldog has a unique appeal. Aesthetically, other breeds undeniably are more glamorous and showy, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what many behold in the French Bulldog are the attributes that make this breed one of the best companion dogs in the world today. The French Bulldog is small but substantial in build with a powerful muscular body. They sport a short easy-care coat to accompany his easygoing personality. The Frenchie likes to play, but they also enjoys spending their days relaxing on the sofa.
That love of play and relaxed attitude carry over into their training sessions. French Bulldogs are intelligent, and training them is easy as long as you make it seem like a game and keep it fun. They are free thinkers and are not an ideal breed for competing in obedience or agility although some have risen to the challenge. This freethinking approach can also lead to a stubborn nature, and if they decide to dig in their heels there is no budging them.
Frenchies are loving companions who thrive on human contact. If you want an outdoor dog who can be left alone for long periods, the Frenchie is not the breed for you. This is a dog who enjoys lavishing love on his human companions as much as he or she loves the same treatment in return. They generally get along well with everyone, including children and other animals alike.
They can be territorial and possessive with their humans especially in the presence of other dogs. Socialization is a must for this breed. However with their easy companionship this is an enjoyable task.
With a nature that is both humorous and mischievous, the French Bulldog needs to live with someone who is consistent, firm, and patient with all the antics and idiosyncrasies that make him both frustrating yet adorably hilarious, very loving delightful.
French Bulldogs make excellent watchdogs and will alert their people to approaching strangers but it's not their style to bark without cause. They can be protective of their home and family and some will try to defend both with their life.
French Bulldogs do not need a lot of room and do very well in apartments or small dwellings which is one of the reasons they are so popular in urban areas for example New York City and Los Angeles. A couple of 15-minute walks
per day should keep them from becoming overweight. Keep the Frenchie in cool, comfortable surroundings. They are very susceptible to heat exhaustion and need an air-conditioned environment. This is not a dog who can stay outside on a hot day.
French Bulldogs are wonderful companion dogs with a gentle nature. If you work at home, the Frenchie is happy to lay at your feet all day or follow you from room to room. People who love them describe them as mischievous clown like goof balls and can't imagine life without them. They are a constant presence, and they'll love you with all the strength in their small bodies, proving time and again that beauty is on the inside as well as the outside.
What Should I know Before Choosing A Breeder?
To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible greed breeder, puppy mill or pet store. Take your time and do your research. Make sure to check that the breeder you choose is in good standing with the AKC.org and that there are no complaints, active or not, on the Better Business Bureau pertaining to your State. Also look at Yelp and Google Reviews. Accredited breeders will be listed because they want to be found! Ask other Frenchie owner's as word of mouth references are always a good option. Don't be afraid to ask a million questions as no accredited breeder will ever mind informing you accordingly. Your Frenchie is a very expensive investment wether for a family pet or breeding purposes, so if a breeder refuses your request for information or a random live video chat for viewing the puppy of your choice, DON'T WALK, RUN!!!
What is a GREED BREEDER?
A Greed Breeder (as we like to refer to this type) is a puppy mill type of irresponsible breeder who is in the breeding business strictly for the money and takes very little effort to ensure that their litters are healthy. They will whelp many litters in the same heat cycle using just one Sire to stud multiple Dams, very rarely provide necessary veterinary needs for both mommy and babies with the exception of (in this breed) a C-Section for the birth and in many cases, inbreed just to produce fad colors.
GREED BREEDING practices result in lot's of offspring which are always more than likely born sickly with genetically untreatable health issues, stillborns or puppies that will pass within the first three weeks.
GREED BREEDERS very rarely allow anyone including potential clients into their breeding area and do not like to conduct live on the spot video chats as they have much to hide.
GREED BREEDERS never hire outside seasoned professionals for any of their processes and since they typically lack the man power needed to provide the satisfactory amount (24-7) of attention to all of the offspring and lactating Dams, most of the time only half of all birthed will actually make it through the first 7 days.
GREED BREEDERS will promise you the world, paint a very pretty picture and won't hold themselves accountable for the health guarantees they swear by in their contract.
Mia Bella Frenchies and Partners learned this lesson the hard way and so to help all for the love of the Frenchie, we choose to pass on this info to all.
The Mia Bella Frenchie program is devoted to preserving the healthy bloodline of the French Bulldog even if that means referring a client to another accredited breeder. We promise to help you steer clear of GREED BREEDERS.
Caring for your new Frenchie fur baby
French Bulldogs do not need a lot of exercise. They have fairly low energy levels, although there are exceptions to every rule. To keep their weight down, however, they need daily exercise through short walks or play times in the yard. Many French Bulldogs enjoy playing and will spend much of their time in various activities, but they are not so high energy that they need a large yard or long periods of exercise. This breed is prone to heat exhaustion and should not be exercised in hot temperatures. Limit walks and active play to cool mornings and evenings.
When training a French Bulldog, take into account that although they are intelligent and usually eager to please, they are also free thinkers. That means they can be stubborn. Many different training techniques are successful with this breed, so don't give up if a certain method doesn't work; just try a different technique. To peek your Frenchie's interest, try to make training seem like a game with lots of fun and prizes.
It is important to crate train your French Bulldog puppy even if you plan to give them the freedom to roam the entire house upon reaching adulthood. Regardless of breed, puppies explore, get into things they shouldn't, and chew things that can harm them. It can be expensive both to repair or replace destroyed items and to pay the vet bills that could arise, so crate training benefits your wallet , your puppies obedience as well as their well being.
French Bulldogs are fairly easy to groom and need only an occasional brushing to keep their coat healthy. They are average shedders. Begin grooming your Frenchie at a young age and teach your puppy to stand on a table or floor to make this experience easier on both of you. When you are grooming your Frenchie at any stage of life, take the time to check for any scabs, skin lesions, bare spots, rough, flaky skin, or signs of infections. You should also check ears, eyes and teeth for any discharge or bad smells. Both are signs that your Frenchie may need to see the veterinarian.
Clean ears regularly with a damp warm cloth and run a cotton swab around the edge of the canal. Never stick the cotton swab into the actual ear canal. If the edges of the ears are dry, apply mineral or baby oil sparingly. The oil can also be used on a dry nose.
French Bulldogs do not naturally wear their nails down and will need their nails trimmed regularly. This prevents splitting and tearing, which can be painful for the dog.
Keep the facial wrinkles clean and dry to prevent bacterial infections. Whenever you bathe your dog, take the time to thoroughly dry the skin between the folds. Bathe your French Bulldog monthly, bi-weekly or as needed, and use a high-quality dog shampoo to keep the natural oils in his skin and coat.
French Bulldogs should be easy to groom, and with proper training and positive experiences during puppyhood, grooming can be a wonderful bonding time for you and your Frenchie. If you're uncomfortable with any aspect of grooming, such as trimming nails, take your dog to a professional groomer who understands the needs of French Bulldogs.
Feeding Recommendations for your Frenchie Fur Baby
Recommended daily amount: 1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. While Grain Free seems to be the fad these days, it's not a one size fits all type of diet. Typical fillers used in Grain Free foods such as peas and sweet potatoes have been proven to contribute to coronary conditions in canines. Instead, try to pick a food with healthy grains such as quinoa, barley and brown rice with a real protein as a main ingredient. As for snacks and treats, we love frozen blueberries and green beans. They're a very healthy alternative to boxed store biscuits and chews.
NOTE: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don't all need the same amount of food. It almost goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog. The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you'll need to shake into your dog's bowl.