Preparing For Your Pup

Our pups will go home trained to potty on potty pad trays. A disposable potty pad is placed under the grate to keep pups from tearing them up and ingesting the disposable pads which can lead to dangerous intestinal blockages.  We don't use disposable puppy pads alone because many pups confuse bedding or carpet for the cloth pads. You should see far less accidents with your potty pad tray trained pup vs one trained to use just disposable potty pads!

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Once home, keep your potty pad tray near your Frenchie's play area so that he can access it easily and quickly. As your little one grows, he'll be able to wait longer periods of time without going potty and you will no longer need it. We typically see pups getting a solid grasp on house breaking between 4-5 months.

• Firstco Mesh Training Potty Tray, Small Size (20" x 16" x 1")

Click the link below for important tips about potty training from The Humane Society.

All our Frenchie pups go home crate trained. The crate will be an invaluable tool in providing structure, a safe place, and in aiding potty training. Keep it positive with plenty of treats and never use the crate as punishment. Your pup may need frequent potty breaks - about every 2 hours - even at night. A playpen around the crate may also be a good idea if you have to leave your puppy for a while - no more than 3 hours. You can start with tiring your pup with play, move to the crate for rest, then CARRY out to potty area after. If you let the pup out on their own they may relieve themselves immediately outside the crate.

We recommend a 30" crate which has all the room and then some for your Frenchie to grow into. 

• Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Wire Crate, 30 Inches

Click the link below to learn valuable information about crate training from the Humane Society.

Look for a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo, preferably with natural ingredients and no phthalates or parabens. Since Frenchies are a sensitive breed prone to hot spots and allergies, there may be times when an anti-bacterial/anti-fungal/anti-yeast shampoo will be called for.  

Gentle Puppy Shampoos:

• Isle of Dogs - Tearless Puppy Gentle Shampoo For Dogs (also at Petco & Chewy.com)
• Earthbath - Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo (also at Walmart, Petco, PetSmart & Chewy.com)

Medicated Shampoos:

• Dechra Miconahex + Triz Shampoo (also at Walmart.com & Chew.com)
• Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Shampoo (also at Walmart & Chewy.com)

Dogs typically don’t need baths more than once a month. More frequent baths can be detrimental as shampoo strips the natural oils they need to keep their skin and coats healthy. Consider using a waterless shampoo or a nice smelling dog spray if needed in between baths.

Always consult with your veterinarian if you have concerns about your Frenchie's skin and/or coat.

Your Frenchie's ears will need cleaning to avoid wax and dirt build up. Cleaning once a month after their bath should be sufficient but have a look regularly to be sure. A wipe-down with a wipey or ear wipe in between baths is fine if needed.

Below are some brands we've used and liked/come highly recommend, but for regular maintenance most any cleaner labeled for dogs available at your local big box store will work fine.

Liquid Cleaners:

• Pet MD Tris Ear Flush
• Zymox Otic Enzymatic Solution

Wipes:

• Pet MD Ear Wipes (Aloe Vera and Eucalyptus)
• TropiClean Mild Coconut Ear Cleaning Pet Wipes

Frequent ear infections can lead to constant pain, balance problems, and deafness. Signs of ear infections include odor, head shaking, ear scratching, infected ear being carried lower than normal, redness, and a build up of brown discharge. 

If you think your dog is suffering from an ear infection or some other type of ear condition, have it diagnosed properly by a veterinarian. 

Wrinkley faced breeds like French Bulldogs need those folds of skin kept clean and dry. You may need to clean your Frenchie's wrinkles every other day if not daily. Allowing moisture to remain trapped in the winkles will lead to skin irritation (redness & itchiness) and eventually infection so cleaning is very important. Regular cleaning will also cut down on tear stains. We like to use wipes for preventative care and keep a cream handy if we do ever see irritation. 

Wipes:

• KetoWELL Wipes (antifungal & antimicrobial)
• Squishface Wrinkle Wipes
• Natural Dog Company Wrinkle Wipes (Calendula, Shea Butter, Vitamen E)

Creams/Ointments:

• Squishface Wrinkle Paste 
• Natural Dog Company Wrinkle Balm

You can always resort to using traditional nail clippers, but we strongly recommend electric nail files. With a nail grinder you won't have to worry about cutting the quick and causing bleeding. Even when one is not cutting the quick (the vein in the nail), we've noticed dogs still pull back and feel a painful pinch with the nail cutters. This makes every cut uncomfortable and stressful on dogs. 

Don't make cutting nails a struggle. Use a nail grinder that you slowly introduce with positive reinforcements - LOTS of treats! You can start by just turning it on around your pup to get them used to the sound. Once they're comfortable move to maybe just one nail on one paw for that session. Next time do two, and so on - shaving off only small amounts at a time.

Grinders:

• Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder
• Dremel 7350-PET 4V Pet & Dog Nail Grinder

Clippers:

• Dog Nail Grinder + Nail Clipper Combo
• Candure Dog Nail Clipper (Medium to Small)
• H&H Pets Cat Nail Clipper (preferred size for pups up to 5 months old)

It’s also a good idea to always have styptic powder within reach to stop any bleeding. Cornstarch will also work.

Frenchie's don't have particularly high maintenance coats. However, they can be moderate shedders. A de-shedding brush like the type Furminator can come in handy for dealing with the loose hair. They also offer a rinse-free deshedding spray if you really want to cut down on shedding. 

If you find that your pup is getting more than the recommended 1 bath per month, you might also want to pick up something to keep your Frenchie's skin hydrated. We recommend Warren London's Hydrating Butter Leave-In Conditioner. These products are available on Amazon or in your local big-box stores.