What You Need for Your Puppy

We believe a crate is essential for housebreaking a puppy. Please refer to our crate training section for tips on how to potty train and to find out what type of crate is better suited for your dog.

Aren’t “chew toys” and “toys” the same? Well, no. Toys provide mental and physical stimulation, but some do not provide the need to chew. Puppies chew to relieve teething pain as well as because they are bored, and not unlike human babies they put everything in their mouths in order to discover new textures, tastes and fun! Please review our safe toy section to find which toys would be most appropriate for your puppy.

As discussed above, we believe that your Frenchie should have a collar with an identification tag, but also a harness for walking.

Make sure you order a nametag with your dog’s name and your most accessible phone number. Puppies are rambunctious and can get away quickly. A nametag is the easiest and fastest way to get your dog back.

You might want to microchip your dog. We recommend that you do microchip your puppy. Microchips are very tiny computer chips the size of a grain or rice. A veterinarian uses a needle and implants the chip under your dog’s skin (usually between the shoulder blades) without the need of anesthesia. Each microchip has a registration number that will be registered to you and includes your contact information.

The microchip has several advantages: If your dog’s collar comes off, your contact can still be obtained since the chip lasts a lifetime. If your dog gets stolen, it might be the only way to recover him.

If possible, try to get a blanket from the breeder that has the mom’s and sibling scents to help your puppy transition to their new home a bit easier. If that is not possible, just buy small blankets that can be washed easily and do not have fringe or any other decorations the puppy can chew.

Most breeders will give you some of the food that your puppy has been eating. You can continue to feed what they recommend or shift to different food. If doing so, make sure you do the transition gradually in order to avoid causing diarrhea. Please look at our nutrition section for food and treat tips.

What bowls are best?  Plastic bowls can acquire small scratches through time, which will trap and hold bacteria regardless of cleaning. Also, some experts report that some plastics may leach BPA or other chemicals into the dog’s food. Ceramic bowls are very cute but can easily break, and you have to make sure they are dishwasher safe and are lead-free.

For French Bulldogs, we recommend slanted, elevated stainless steel bowls. Frenchies’ flat faces makes it difficult for them to eat out of regular bowls, resulting in a messy eater that gulps air while trying to eat. The swallowed air causes the dog discomfort as well as to become gassy. The slanted bowl lets the food slide easier and not accumulate on the sides. An elevated bowl allows the Frenchie to eat using a more natural body posture, thus making it easier to swallow. Stainless is easy to clean and very durable.

Regardless of how diligent you will be with potty training, there will be accidents. Make sure you clean mistake spots with a good  urine odor  remover. You might not be able to smell it, but the puppy will and might be inclined to go back to that spot.

Sometimes, no matter how much we supervise our puppies or how many toys we give them, they will chew on something that they are not supposed to. Commercial chew sprays are designed to taste bad, thus discouraging chewing.

Make sure you purchase shampoo made for dogs, and don’t use your shampoo. Shampoos made for humans have a higher acidity, and this can dry your dog’s skin, making it irritated and flaky. Purchase organic shampoos. Please read our grooming section for complete details. 

Since Frenchie pups don’t become huge dogs, I recommend you purchase a bed that will fit him as an adult. You can add blankets in the mean time so he feels cozy.

Welcome to potty training! Pee pads are a controversial issue. Some people love them, and some hate them. It is all a matter of personal preference. I personally like them but try not to rely on them too much. You want your dog to eventually learn to go outside!

PROS

• Convenient: you can place a pee pad anywhere. They’re easy to clean, absorb odors and wetness well, and are easy to dispose of. They’re also great if you live in an apartment and don’t want to constantly enter and exit a big building with a new puppy.

• Weather friendly: during inclement weather, pee pads give you the indoor option.

• Cost efficient: pee pads are not very expensive.

• Convenient if you are not home and the puppy needs to potty.

• You don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to go outside.

• If you plan to travel, then the puppy has an easily accessible and recognizable potty area to go.

CONS

• Anything can become a pee pad: Teaching a puppy to pee on a pad may also teach them to pee on similar items.

• You could be setting up your puppy for outdoor potty training failure. Some puppies might become confused because of being allowed to go potty indoors while trying to be trained to go outside. Plus your puppy can become dependent on their pee pads. 

• Chewing and shredding: Some of our puppies have loved shredding their pads — clean or dirty!

• Sustainability: lets face it, puppies go through a lot of pads creating a lot of waste. Try looking for ecofriendly pads that are either biodegradable or made from recyclable materials.

• It can make you a lazy owner. You could eventually rely too much on the pads and not bother to take the puppy outside at all.

• Whether you ultimately decide to use the pads (or not), GOOD LUCK with your potty training efforts.

Please be a conscientious owner, and pick up after your dog while on walks.

Take a moment to look around your home and decide if you have areas in your home that you do not want the puppy to enter and will require a gate. Playpens are really handy when the puppy is very small and you want to provide a small play area when you cannot fully supervise. We always have a foldable one that we can set out at anytime.

If you have never had puppy before, this is the time to start looking for a veterinarian, groomer, pet sitter, boarding place and even a trainer. Start by asking your friends. Most times veterinarians can refer you to other professionals.

These toys are some of our favorite things. This is a stuffed animal that has a real feel, pulsing heartbeat (some come with a heat source too) that helps calm a puppy when it is left alone. The toy can help reduce anxiety and the negative behaviors that come with it like chewing, barking, and whining.