Pixie pontificates..."Miracles can be found in unexpected places, like in the eyes of a Frenchie puppy..."

If you want a whimsical, charming, stubborn little clown, then a Frenchie may be for you. If you want a little friend that will amuse you for hours on end, then a Frenchie may be for you. If you are ready to have your heart stolen by a bat-eared little gremlin, then a Frenchie is for you! Frenchies are seen in movies, on TV commercials, in magazines - they are becoming ubiquitous!
 

French Bulldogs were bred to be a woman's companion and they live up to that heritage. In the late 1800s, English Bulldogs were often bred in a Toy variety, many were not much over ten pounds! They had a variety of earsets - rose, bat and prick. With the Industrial Revolution, many lace workers immigrated to France, taking the little bulldogs with them. There they crossed the dogs with Pugs, terriers and other small breeds, creating the early French Bulldog. Frenchies became the darling of society and were often seen on the arms of prostitutes as they walked the boulevards of France. As is often the case, fashion traveled upwards and the wealthy soon clamoured to have this charming little dog. Many were exported to the United States, where the bat ear was "set" by American enthusiasts. In 1897, the first French Bulldog Club of America specialty show was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Frenchies were all the rage! As many know, a French Bulldog was lost on the Titanic and a Frenchie, Ortino, was the beloved pet of one of the daughters of the Russian Royal family. His remains were found where the entire family was executed.
 

HOUSEBREAKING HINTS & REASSURANCE!

You have been warned, Frenchies can be a bit "stubborn" when it comes to housebreaking. Be patient! They will "get it!". It will take patience, perseverance, attention and lots of paper towels, but they will get it. Some dogs take longer than others, just have faith.
 

Start house breaking IMMEDIATELY! Get him on a regular feeding schedule and makes plenty of trips outside. When the puppy runs around like he is looking for something - he is! Take him immediately outside (or to the paper). Upon waking from sleeping, right after eating and anytime you just get home take him out or to his paper. Also, right before you go to bed.
 

Accidents WILL happen. If you catch him right in the MIDDLE of the act rush him outside (or to his paper). It does NO good to rub his nose in it (old mean wives tale). Do not yell at him when you discover a mess, they will not understand why you are angry. Trust me, their memory is not that long. Every Frenchie has it's own rate of learning, but even the most stubborn Frenchie should be pretty reliable by four to five months of age. I have had the best success when I installed a doggy door and they were able to come and go at will. If this is an option, it may be your best bet! Did I say, be patient?
 

Odds n' Ends of Info

Puppy proof your home before your new Frenchie gets there! Make sure harmful substances are kept well away from inquisitive little noses. All cleaning products, paint thinners, household chemicals, antifreeze etc. Secure electrical cords so they cannot be chewed.
 

Puppies should only be given puppy toys to play with or chew. Never real bones, never shoes (they don't know the difference between new & old shoes), never cow or pig ears (can choke on them) and hooves only when supervised.
 

Whenever your puppy starts to chew an inappropriate object, take it away and give him an "approved toy". This way he will learn what is his and what isn't.
 

Bathe your Frenchie only when he needs it. Too many baths can rob their coat of essential oils. Also, only use dog shampoos. Human shampoos have a different ph balance. Once a month is a good rule.
 

Try to use tone of voice for corrections. If you ever (heaven forbid!) strike or swat your Frenchie it can make them "hand shy". They are sensitive dogs that respond very well to verbal corrections. Trust me, they will "bull up" when they are put out with you and let you know it!
 

Never, ever, ever leave your Frenchie in the car on any day over 50-60 degrees. With even cracked windows a Frenchie can overheat very quickly. Please, do not take the chance!

 

I Want A Frenchie Now & I Am A REALLY Good Home!
 

Nothing is cuter than a Frenchie puppy, those ears, those shiny brown eyes and that gremlin-like personality. All it takes is one meeting and most of us are smitten. Well, you are thinking about adding a totally dependent, living breathing creature to your life. This is a big decision and not one to be taken lightly! You might first want to ask yourself a few questions and ponder a few realities...

 

• Why a Frenchie? They are great companions, cuddlers and entertainers. They are NOT good barn dogs, exercise/running partners, and sometimes do NOT do well with other dogs or cats.

 

• I want one NOW! Frenchies are a slightly more unusual breed and you may wait, a long time if you have your heart set on a certain age/color/sex. Be prepared to be patient. Personally, I would be suspicious if a breeder had puppies available all the time and in any color. I BEG of you, be patient and buy from a good breeder, someone who cares about the BREED.

 

• I want to pick mine! With a breed like Frenchies, litter sizes are small and the breeder you are working with will probably call/email and tell you a puppy is available. With Frenchies the personality should always be loving, warm and fun. The differences between the puppies personalities, in my experience, is relatively little. Now within that, there are bolder puppies or ones that need to be with other dogs or even some that are a bit shy. As a breeder, I spend a lot of time determining the personality of each puppy and the person she should live with.

 

• I saw a Frenchie from Russia/the Ukraine/Poland in the paper, what about them? Of course, we cannot lump all dogs from one country together under one umbrella of shame, but the USA has been flooded with poor quality puppies from other countries and it is a very disturbing situation. As a rule, these puppies are shipped over here at a VERY young age, sorted out to the various "brokers" throughout the country and sold. They are marketed as "more healthy, natural, free breeders, papers available," all kinds of sales oriented phrases. These poor little dogs are NOT the same Frenchies that we have here in the USA. Our American Frenchies are usually MUCH softer and sweeter in temperament, smaller in size and as a rule easier to live with. Rescue has been flooded with Russian Frenchies - almost always due to aggression and temperament issues. These unfortunate dogs are also often sold through pet stores (another deplorable situation) by commission greedy sales people. This situation is very, very upsetting to most of us breeders that have the best interest of the French Bulldog at heart. I do not wish to disparage reputable breeders in Russia, this is about the brokers importing and selling these puppies. This information is MY opinion from personal experience WITH these dogs and from what I have learned as one of the founders of FBRN - French Bulldog Rescue Network. Click here for more info on the FACTS about buying an import.

 

The ONLY way to stop puppy brokers and importers, puppy mills and pet stores from selling dogs is to NOT BUY FROM THEM - it seems so simple and it is!

 

• What can I expect to pay? Pet Frenchie puppies will probably range in price from $2000 or so on up and that can be WAY UP - depending on sex, color, availability, part of the country, etc. If you find a puppy markedly less expensive than this, I would wonder why! Yes, you get what you pay for and this is a ten year plus commitment, don't take chances over "saving" a couple of hundred dollars! I cannot tell you how many times I have had people tell me they have a "million dollar" Frenchie due to a bargain they found in the paper.

 

• What about newspaper and Internet classifieds ads? I would advise you look for a few "red flags." Does the breeder have several breeds of dogs available? Does the breeder have all colors/ages/sexes available? Does the breeder just flat seem too commercial? Does the breeder belong to any French Bulldog organizations (not belonging is not always bad - some people are just not club types)? Does the breeder seem interested in the BREED as a whole? Do they show or are dogs shown at AKC shows? If for any reason the situation seems funny RUN AWAY!!!! You will not be helping the puppy by buying it to "get it out of there" you will just be perpetuating the problem.

 

These are just a few tips, but in today's information saturated world, there is no excuse for saying, "I didn't know!" Take the time to find out and most importantly, BE PATIENT!!!

 

• I want a Frenchie from a GOOD breeder, tell me what to do! Call/email/contact breeders that have either been referred to you or that you like the looks of their dogs and/or their philosophy. Please, do NOT send a one line email. "How much are your puppies?" is NOT going to get a positive response from most breeders! Tell the breeder about yourself, your home, your situation (kids, other pets, etc.) and ask a few well thought out questions. If you do not hear from them within a coupe of days, please try again. Most people in today's world are BUSY and the person that follows up just might get the perfect puppy! Personally, I just get behind and do not always get back to people as quickly as I plan to. Establish a rapport with that breeder and then ask to be put on their waiting list. I also try to refer potential puppy buyers to other breeders if I do not have any puppies. Keep in touch with the breeder and if you are working with more than one breeder, give them all the courtesy of an e-mail if and when you DO find a puppy. This is a very simplistic nutshell bit of advice on how to find a breeder, but I will stress that YOU should take the initiative on keeping in touch with the breeder.

 

Click here for a copy of our pet contract so you can see what is involved in an average contract. Once again, we live in a free country and each breeder has the right to sell THEIR puppies with whatever strings or guarantees they feel appropriate. YOU need to take responsibility for the puppy YOU buy. Make yourself aware of the contract and what it involves! I am just sharing this as an example of MY contract. I am not saying anyone else's contract is better or worse. Blah, blah, blah... Now, if you want to start the process for a Jackpot! French Bulldog I will let you know a few things. I prefer not to ship my puppies, so if you are not within driving distance, you will probably have to fly to Minneapolis/St. Paul or Bemidji and stay with us a day or so...hey, there are worse places to go than Pinewood, MN...unless it is February! Teehee! I do not have that many litters a year, but I just MAY know someone near you that I could at least introduce you to. These puppies are very precious to us and we take the placement of each one VERY seriously, so please take the time to inquire in the same manner. I rarely sell show Frenchies, it is not my intention to get everyone "started" in French Bulldogs. The number of champions bred is not what excites me anymore, the right puppy in the right home does.

 

My #1 concern is the happiness of the Frenchies that I raise.

 

So, with all of that said...If you feel you can provide a stellar, fabulous home for a French Bulldog, contact me.

 

IF a Frenchie is right for you, you deserve a healthy, balanced French Bulldog that will enrich your life.