The Kibble Diet:
While many canine guardians are starting to take a closer look at the food choices they are making for their furry companions, there is no mistaking that the convenience and relative economy of dry dog food kibble, which had its beginnings in the 1940s, continues to be the most popular pet food choice for most humans. While feeding a high-quality, bagged kibble diet that has been flavored to appeal to dogs and supplemented with vegetables and fruits to appeal to humans may keep most every French Bulldog companion happy and healthy, you will need to decide whether this is the best diet for them.
Exercise, Walks, and Play:
French Bulldogs are very prone to heat stroke, so you must never expose your pet to high temperatures. This is a breed that will enjoy a brisk walk in the cool of the morning followed by a nice long nap. Photo Credit: Kathi Liebe of Starcreek Frenchies Also, Frenchies do not swim well. They are too heavy and can easily drown if left unattended near the water. Even if your dog seems to enjoy splashing in the shallows, consider all bodies of water as a danger and stay with your dog at all times. You might want to consider investing in a canine life vest if you spend a lot of time beside the pool or at a lake or river with your pet. Life jackets for dogs in the Frenchie weight range are typically sized as either small or medium and are available for $20 to $25 / £11.88 to £14.85. Always take your dog with you to the store to fit the item, or bring both sizes home so you can return the one that doesn’t work.
Limit all periods of playtime with your French Bulldogs to 15 minutes or less, followed by calm, cuddling downtime, which Frenchies LOVE, and confine your pet’s daily walk to the coolest period of the day in your region. Remember, however, that Frenchies are also intolerant of extreme cold, so in the winter, outfit your pet with a coat or sweater and on the coldest days, play with him indoors rather than attempting a walk.
Collar or Harness?
I find many vets tell owners to use harnesses. I don’t, although I had a dog that was hard to lead break and used one for a short time. I believe, during training, that one should keep the dog’s tendency to be impulsive and fearless in front of your mind. I use a Martingale Resco with a pup on a short lead and use a “tug and release” technique to keep the dog in control.
I train pups on a short lead, a bit slack around the throat. After a pup is solid in regard to obeying me, I give it more slack and then use the retractable type lead for casual walks. In the showring, I gait them on a free lead too. I don’t agree with the idea of a halter, although I don’t interfere when vets tell clients to use a halter with this breed. My idea is to give the pup little freedom until it can be trusted and is under control. I also encourage buyers to go to puppy classes.
Standard Leash or Retractable?
For the most part, the decision to buy a standard, fixed-length leash or a retractable lead is up to you. Do bear in mind that some facilities like groomers, vet clinics, and dog daycares ask that you not bring your animal in on a retractable lead as the long line represents a trip and fall hazard for other human clients. Fixed length leashes can cost as little as $5 / £2.97, while retractable leads are typically less than $15 / £8.91. Regardless of the kind of lead you choose, your dog will have to get used to responding to your control of the leash.
Never jerk on the lead or “drag” the dog with it. If your dog sits down and refuses to move, walk over and pick him up. Never let a French Bulldog have his way or he’ll be walking you! It won’t be long before your Frenchie associates the lead with positive outings and adventures with you. Don’t be surprised if your dog picks the leash up and brings it to you, which is a pretty clear message, “Let’s go!”
Some Tips on Walking Your Dog:
Because walks and going out are things that dogs enjoy, and because your pet will want to please you, you can instill some good behaviors on command around the whole process. Teach your dog the “sit” command by using the word and making a downward pointing motion with your finger or the palm of your hand. Reward the dog with a treat each time he performs correctly. Then pair the sit command with the pleasure of a walk by refusing to attach the lead to the harness until your pet sits.
Make attaching the leash and saying, “Okay, let’s go!” be the reward. Any time the dog tries to pull you or jerk at the leash, stop the walk, pick up the dog, and start over with the sit command. Praise and reward the dog for walking properly at the end of the lead and for stopping when you stop.
The more than you can reinforce the walk as a shared activity, the quieter and more calm your dog will be. Your dog’s main sense is scent, which is why when you take them for a walk they spend a lot of time sniffing everything. They gather an amazing amount of information such as being able to determine which dogs were recently in the area, their gender, their current health, and age. Incredible! When two dogs meet they are likely to go up to each other and sniff near each other’s jaw and then around the rear-end area. Have you ever visited a friend and their dog has come up to you and sniffed your groin area? This may have caused some embarrassment but this is simply a dog’s way of learning about you by picking up scents.
Establishing Basic Commands By their nature, dogs are pack animals. You want to delineate yourself as the leader of their pack. Using consistent vocabulary and establishing basic commands is always a good idea. On a whole, French Bulldogs do not bark often unless they have something they want to tell you like, “Hey! That big brown truck with UPS on the side just pulled up in the driveway again!” If your dog does exhibit barking at an inappropriate time, use the command, “Quiet,” followed by “bad dog.”
Do the same thing when your Frenchie picks something up you don’t want him to have, but use the phrase, “Drop it!” or “Leave it!” For jumping-up behavior, use “Down!” By staying consistent and speaking firmly, you reinforce your authority as the leader of the pack and cater to your pet’s natural desire to please. These and other basic commands like “sit” and “stay” are relatively easy to convey to a breed as intelligent and loyal as a Frenchie.
Generally speaking, the French Bulldog will be easy to train so long as their guardian is gentle and patient, because using harsh or loud training methods will frighten a French Bulldog and cause them to shut down.
All training sessions should be happy and fun-filled, with plenty of rewards and positive reinforcement, which will ensure that your French Bulldog is an excellent student who looks forward to learning new commands and tricks.
Dog Whispering or Dog Training?
Puppy training can begin as soon as you bring your French Bulldog puppy home from the breeder. Most humans believe that they need to take their puppy to puppy classes, and generally speaking, this is a good idea for any young French Bulldog (after they have had their vaccinations), because it will help to get them socialized.
“Come,” “Sit,” and “Stay” will be the three most important words you will ever teach your French Bulldog puppy. These three basic commands will ensure that your French Bulldog remains safe in almost every circumstance. For instance, when your puppy correctly learns the “Come” command, you can always quickly bring them back to your side should danger approach.
When you teach your French Bulldog puppy the “Sit” and “Stay” commands, you will be further establishing your leadership role. A puppy who understands that their human guardian is their leader will be a safe and happy follower.
Choosing a Discipline Sound Choosing a “discipline sound”
The best types of sounds are short and sharp. It doesn’t really matter what the sound is, so long as everyone in the family agrees to use the same sound. A sound that is very effective for most puppies and dogs is a simple “UH” sound said sharply and with emphasis. Most puppies and dogs respond immediately to this sound and, if caught in the middle of doing something they are not supposed to be doing, they will quickly stop and give you their attention or back away from what they were doing.
Beginner Leash Lesson:
You need a 4 or 6-foot leash and a properly sized Martingale training collar that fits your puppy. TIP: During early leash lessons, you can also put your French Bulldog puppy in a harness and clip an extra leash onto the harness, so that you can easily lift them over cigarette butts or other enticing pieces of garbage they may want to put in their mouth. The most important bonding exercise you will experience with your new French Bulldog puppy is when you go out for your daily walks together.
Far too many humans get lazy or impatient at this early and very impressionable time in a puppy’s life and simply ignore the importance of this critical training time. It is not only important for your puppy’s exercise, but also establishes you as their leader. Too many guardians of small puppies simply pick up their puppy and carry them outside to relieve themselves, because they are too impatient to wait for the puppy to understand how the collar and leash work.
Carrying a puppy does not help them learn the routine that will be required of them once they become adults and can also create an unstable relationship between the guardian and the French Bulldog puppy. Even though a French Bulldog is able to self-exercise to some degree when spending a lot of their time indoors, always exercising inside will not help to fulfill their natural roaming urges, because every dog instinctually needs to roam their territory.
When you take your new French Bulldog puppy outside for walks on a leash every day, you will be engaging them in valuable multi-tasking training, including: – The discipline of following their leader. – Learning to walk on leash. – Expanding their knowledge of different smells. – Exercising both their body and their mind. – Gently growing and developing bones and muscles. – Socialization with other humans and animals. – Experience in different environments.
– Trust and respect of their guardian. As soon as you bring your new puppy home, you will want to teach them how to walk at your side while on a leash without pulling. Thankfully, when you bring your new puppy home, you will have many opportunities for leash training in combination with potty training, because every time your puppy needs to go out to relieve themselves, you can slip on their Martingale training collar and snap on that leash.
During your first on-leash walk, your French Bulldog puppy may struggle or fight against having a collar around their neck, because the sensation will be new to them. However, at the same time they will want to go with you, so exercise patience and encourage them to walk with you. Be careful never to drag them, and if they pull backward and refuse to walk forward with you, simply stop for a moment, while keeping slight forward tension on the leash until your French Bulldog puppy gives up and moves forward.
Immediately reward them with your happy praise, and if they have a favorite treat, this can be an added incentive when teaching them to walk on their leash.
Always walk your puppy on your left side with the leash slack so that they learn that walking with you is a relaxing experience. Be patient and consistent with your puppy and very soon they will understand exactly where their walking position is and will walk easily beside you without any pulling or leash tension.