Listed below is a summary of our required reading pages. We reserve the right to refuse to place a puppy with you if you are not prepared physically or mentally for a new puppy.
If you do not follow the instructions laid out for you here in preparing for your new puppy, we will return your deposit to you and place the puppy with a family that has done the work required.
NO DRAMA, NO EXCEPTIONS.
This information and resource page will answer many if not all the questions you should have about Preparation and Success With Your New Puppy!
Puppy Fever!
Puppies. Those cute little baby dogs that make just about everyone's heart melt.
Almost everyone has said at some point in their life, "Man, I really want a puppy."
The idea of a puppy is a magical idea full of happiness and cute puppy kisses.
Because of this idea, you (and maybe your significant other/children) decide to get a puppy.
Your "Puppy Fever" can sometimes get the best of you when it comes to being sensible in your decision making!
Unfortunately this is the number one reason dogs and puppies end up in shelters and/or euthanized.
An impulsive decision, coupled with poor preparation is a recipe for failure and a horrible experience for all involved.
Owning a puppy is less about the puppy kisses and more about the potty training, teething, and whining.
Time Well Spent
One thing that happens when you make these preparations for your puppy is that you carefully think about the decision to add this family member. You also think about what kind of puppy is best for you. And you'll be focusing on the day-to-day practical aspects of dog ownership-especially the puppy stage.
You also get your household, your extended family and your friends on board with the changes coming in your lifestyle. Your veterinarian, groomer, puppy class instructor and we as your breeder help you get ready. You meet other dog owners in your community in a new way.
This is all healthy, and builds a great network to support you and your dog. Some people even find that their friends give them puppy showers!
Before the New Puppy Comes Home
A new puppy is a big job and commitment, with a lot to do and plan in advance. Most of the preparations are the same for an adult dog as for a puppy.
Whether you are waiting for a planned canine family member or have placed a deposit on a puppy, you must be ready.
It can make the difference between a smooth or rocky start with your new pup, or success or failure.
Use the following checklist to help prepare home, family, schedule, and more. So much to do!
What to Buy, What to Do, Who to Ask
1. Research thoroughly the French Bulldog Breed.
Now is the time to change your mind if you realize the breed characteristics don't fit your situation.
2. Review or learn about our Legal Documents and our New Puppy Instructions:
3. If you do not currently have a veterinarian that has experience and success with French Bulldogs, start your selection process and have your choice made BEFORE the pup comes home with you!
Check with the veterinarian's office to make sure you can get your puppy in for the next scheduled Vaccination that will be needed. (we are happy to provide you with that date in advance).
4. If it applies to your living situation, get your fence built, repaired, or redesigned.
5. Ask your friends, local doggy daycare centers, veterinarian, and google to recommend local puppy training classes, attend some as an observer to make sure they are acceptable, and get the information you need to be ready to enroll your pup at the right time.
Hook up with other dog owners who can help you find the dog services and resources you will need in your community. These folks can also help in various other ways such as practicing your class homework together.
When you see someone out with a well-behaved dog and they don't appear to be in a hurry, a good way to strike up a conversation is to compliment the dog and the owner's handling.
6. Decide where your puppy needs to eliminate, and what your potty training strategy will be. Depending on the time of year, this may also mean utilizing a litterbox indoors as well as trips outside to potty when the weather is acceptable.
For those of you that live in homes without yards, and you will be using common areas to potty your dog in outdoors, you must keep puppy safe from disease the first 7-8 weeks until they have completed thier vaccinations .
7. Prepare your other dogs to be safe companions for the puppy: spay/neuter any who need it,
get pain from any medical condition under control so the dog won't be cranky with a puppy,
eliminate infection or parasite issues in your dogs and property, and get all training in order.
8. Evaluate and fix risks from neighbor dogs to make sure your puppy will be safe from attacks.
9. Get everyone in the house together on what the house rules will be with the new puppy.
~ Work out a schedule for your puppy. Decide which household members will do which care tasks.
~ Consider safety of locations, times, ability and vulnerability of who is to walk the dog.
~ Review or learn about house training, crate training, collar and leash training, eye contact/attention training, jumping-up training and training puppies not to put teeth on people.
~ Teach the kids what they need to know to start off safely with the puppy. A rescue group might be willing to help with this in exchange for their dogs getting some controlled experience with children.
~ Teach adults and older children how to pick up the puppy safely (ask us to show you how), and make sure young children know NOT to pick up the puppy. Dropped puppies often get horribly injured.
We have collected a great library of Training ebooks/courses that will instruct all members of the family to safely and consistently train your new puppy. This training information addresses everything you will need to potty train, off leash train, etc... There is also a great section addressing kid safety with dogs in the form of videos for the kids (and you) to watch.
10. Purchase a crate, a portable exercise pen, baby gates and any other equipment you need to make sure your puppy will be in a safe place for forming good habits at all times.
11. Purchase about three quality chew items suited for the size and age of your puppy, along with a safe bittering agent such as Bitter Apple that you can use as a training aid.
12. Get a couple of weeks or more supply of the food the dog has been eating, as well as the new food if you will be changing. Food changes always need to be gradual with dogs, and this is especially true for puppies and for any dog who is going through the stress of adapting to a new home.
13. Purchase a stretchy kitty collar or one that has a "quick release" for puppy's ID tag and a small jingle bell and a clip to attach the tag and bell to the pup's collar.
The jingle bell will help you keep up with the puppy in the house, and aid greatly in house training and safety.
14. Get an identification tag made in advance for your puppy with your name, phone number, address, and possibly email address. It need not have the puppy's name on it.
Consider Microchiping your puppy (we can do it here for you before the pup goes home with you):
15. Get a medical notebook for the puppy, something sturdy and portable you can take to the veterinarian and use to note medications, symptoms, test results and your veterinarian's instructions. This book can follow your dog through life, and you'll be glad to have the notes for reference.
16. Buy the needed grooming tools, learn to use them, and include daily grooming in your puppy's schedule from the first day. Trim toenails weekly for the same reason.
~ Supplies for your puppy you can purchase here !
When it is time for the New Puppy to Go Home with You:
17. Arrange to bring your puppy home at the beginning of some time off for you, such as a vacation or holiday weekend, to help get the puppy better settled.
18. Plan for lost sleep and noise. Puppies tend to cry at first when left alone, when crated, and when you're trying to sleep. If you give up and put the puppy in your bed (not recommended for the great majority of people), you have a playful, chewing puppy who may eliminate on your bed or get hurt jumping off the bed.
