French Bulldogs are an amazing breed of dog and often have really fun and sweet personalities that make them such great additions to many families. Their cute little faces sure help too! If you are looking at welcoming a Frenchie puppy into your home in the upcoming weeks, or you just want to know what it takes, there are a few things that you should know.
Here at Arlington Frenchies, we love our little puppies and we want to make sure that you have everything you need to welcome them into your family safely and smoothly! For that to happen there are a few things that we recommend you purchase and do!
At the bottom of this post, you will also be able to see a puppy preparation checklist as well as a comprehensive list of products that we recommend along with the links to where you can purchase them.
Supplies
Before you bring your new little Frenchie puppy home there are a few things you’ll need to buy to ensure their safety and happiness.
First, you’ll need a dog crate and maybe a gate as well. The majority of the time, when getting a French bulldog puppy, they will be between 8 –10 weeks old. At this age, they are still very little, so letting them roam the house unsupervised can pose some pretty serious safety concerns. This can include getting stuck in small places, lost, stepped on, etc. This can also help crate train them from a young age in case it is needed in the future. A gate might be necessary as well if you opt to keep them in or out of a specific part of the home as they get older.
Next, you will also need some puppy pads. Although they are old enough to begin potty training, it takes a while to learn, and they might have a few accidents. Puppy pads will also be more sanitary for the puppy, especially if they are in a crate, and will make for a much easier clean-up for you! This is why we recommend making sure to buy high-quality pads so they don’t leak.
You also want to make sure to have puppy food on hand when you finally get to bring them home. Between the age of 8 -10 weeks, they should not consume hard kibble yet as they need something soft and easier to chew and digest. Hard kibble also has a risk of bacteria that can be bad for your puppy, so we don’t recommend introducing kibble until 10 – 12 weeks.
Lastly, we highly recommend getting a leash and harness, especially if you plan on taking them places or leash training them. It is also very important to get a harness for their leash and NOT a collar. Frenchies tend to have much more sensitive necks due to their unusual build, and it can be harmful and painful for them to be leashed by a collar. You should also avoid games like Tug-of-War for this same reason.
Safety Precautions
One of the first precautions that you need to take in the weeks and days leading up to getting your puppy is proofing your home. This includes putting away electrical cords like chargers, headphones, etc. You also want to make sure that all chemical products and medicines are out of reach so they cannot ingest them. This also goes for human foods, many of which can be toxic and poisonous for your puppy.
Next, you need to make sure to puppy-proof your yard if you have one. While they are still small we recommend having a designated puppy area that way it is easier to keep an eye on them, as well as reduce potential safety risks. One potential risk for your new puppy is poisonous and/or toxic plants. It is important to inspect your yard to make sure they can’t eat anything that could make them sick and make sure to kill it or block access to it. It is also important to fence and block access to pools to avoid drowning.
Lastly, if you have other pets at home it is vital that you create a plan to introduce them. Each person’s plan can look very different and depends on the temperament of the pets you already have at home. If your pet is territorial or has a hard time accepting new animals in their space, it might be smart to keep them separated and take small and gradual steps to let them get to know each other. Just make sure you are vigilant and observant, and most importantly take it slow no matter your pet’s temperament. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Puppy Preparation Checklist
Buy a dog crate (and gate, if needed)
Buy puppy pads
Buy soft puppy food (and tiny kibble if needed)
Buy a leash and harness
Puppy-proof your home
Puppy-proof your yard
Create a plan to introduce to other pets
Product Recommendations
Product: Glad Activated Carbon Training Pads
We hope that you love your newest addition to the family as much as we do, and now you can help welcome them into your home safely. If you have not yet found your perfect puppy, feel free to look at our website home page where we post when we have puppies on the way and when we have some available for purchase so you too can grow your family.
Alex Holman-Franco
Arlington Frenchies
Comments