Puppies are Jerks!

Sabrina A.W.

Daisy’s past litter of snuggle bums

This is a post that I have been meaning to write for sometime now. Don’t get me wrong, obviously I love puppies. Who doesn’t love puppies?! They are funny and cute and don’t get me started on their skunky little kisses. But they are work. Lots and lots of work. I think it is something that a lot of people don’t realize or they forget. The first few months are busy, busy. You need to have a lot of patience. Here are a few things that will make this time a little easier.

  • Get a crate. I know a lot of people don’t like the idea of a crate and think that it’s cruel. If you love your puppy, you will provide him with a safe space. And that is what it is. It isn’t a puppy jail (well…sometimes it is! Lol!) it is a space that is all their own. Puppies need to be watched constantly and if you can’t keep an eye on them, then the crate is a place that they can hang out safely in. There will also be times that they get too squirrely and need a little time out. This is perfect for a safe time-out space. Now, I don’t believe in crating your puppy for long periods of time. But with training, they can really come to love their little dens.
  • Be prepared with age appropriate toys for play and stimulation. Puppies are busy and curious so make sure that you have things to keep them busy. They are also teething and will turn into baby sharks chewing your hands and little beavers chewing your furniture. Be ready to stop the behavior with a strong “no” and redirect their attention to a toy that they are allowed to chew. And remember to always praise good behavior. It is also important to have the whole family on board with this and that includes the kids.
  • Get rid of the rugs. I always recommend to families that, if possible, to roll up their rugs and tuck them away until they are confident that their puppy is potty-trained. It will save you a lot of grief.
Baby Rocky and Biggie snuggled in their safe space

  • If possible, don’t rely on pee pads. The more effort you put in with your puppy, the faster they will pick it up. I recommend taking your puppy out every half hour for the first little bit. I know this sounds daunting but it will pay off in the long run. Covering your floors with pee pads can be confusing to puppies.

Most importantly, remember to have patience. This blog was not written to put anyone off getting a puppy. I think being prepared is key. Remember, this stage is so short. Before you know it, they are fully grown and you’ll find yourself missing their skunky breath and puppy kisses. Trust me!

Litter Announcement!

Sabrina A.W.

We are very excited to share this news! Daisy has come into season and we are grateful to Tammy and Amanda McAllister of Bulldacious Bulldogs in Dorchester, Ontario. One of the main reasons we chose Hobbes as our stud was because of his extensive health testing! The following is a list of Hobbes impressive health testing:

  • Diamond Health Ambassador Eligible
  • CHIC
  • OFA Cardiac
  • OFA Patella
  • OFA Trachea
  • OFA Thyroid
  • OFA Elbows
  • OFA Hips
  • OFA Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
  • OFA Cystinuria

Not only is Hobbes healthy and handsome but he’s also very talented! He is a talented trick dog and has earned his Novice Trick Dog Title in 2020. As well as that title, he also finished his Canadian Championship going Best of Breed over specials.

This is Daisy’s second litter. Here are a few pics of some of the puppies from her last litter.

We are also accepting a couple more applications for this upcoming litter. If interested, you can find my application on this site. If you ever have any other questions…give me a shout!

Praying for many healthy, happy, chunky puppies!

Litter Announcement! Accepting Applications!

Sabrina A.W.

Our little Miss. Rocky (Luna and Will’s daughter) came into season last month and although it is a little early to detect and confirm her pregnancy, she is showing a lot of signs. We are very excited around here to say the least! Rocky was bred with Lemon Golden Victory “Tag” of Bredan’s Bullies. Tag has been tested for CMR1, HUU, JHC, and DM. He also had his patella, heart and eyes examined by the OFA.

Both of these two have amazing dispositions and we cannot wait to see the beautiful offspring they produce.

Rocky being her frisky self
This handsome fella is Tag

That being said, we are opening up our waitlist for this litter. If interested, please fill out our application that you can find under the “puppy application and contract” page of this site.

Move Over Bones–We Got Balls!

Sabrina A.W.
one ball is for amateur

Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie

I love felting wool! I have a lovely alpaca farm, not too far from home, that sells some really beautiful, natural wool that I love to work with. I really enjoy making felt dryer balls with cute designs on them. Know who else really digs them? Daisy! She snags them and takes off with them all the time! That’s when I thought…well why not? I decided to do a little research and found that wool toys are a great option for pets. I now make and sell hand-felted wool balls for pets and wanted to share with you some of the benefits of these toys.

Benefits of felted wool toys:

Valentine Balls
  • dogs love natural smells and textures
  • they are free of chemicals and unnatural dyes–our dogs love tennis balls but they are made with treated plastic…ewww!
  • wool is digestible–a little wont hurt them but of course a whole toy will so always supervise when your dog is chewing any toy and remove if needed
  • natural wool is antimicrobial and antibacterial–and when they get funky and gross, just pop them into the wash to freshen them up
  • they feel good in their mouths and are gentle on their teeth and gums–Daisy LOVES to suck on them. It is like she is soothing herself with it.
  • easy on your house–they are soft so they don’t make noise and are less likely to break things or bang up your walls
  • great for puppies–my puppies love them when they are teething and they love that they are light and they can carry them around in their teeth
That is one funky ball Daisy!

So many great reasons to add wool felted balls to your pups toy box! Remember, to supervise and buy the appropriate size for your dog. They are very durable, but if you have an aggressive chewer, pay close attention. Like I mentioned, if they ingest a little wool, they will be fine but you don’t want them eating too much! And finally, refresh the ball in the wash whenever needed. Just throw it in with your clothes. If it looks a little fuzzy after, you can always trim them. Keep an eye out for my La Jolie Frenchie Store coming soon here on my website 🙂 If you are interested in purchasing one before I have them available on my store, email me and I will send one out to you.

Two of my favorite things: Cooper and ball
We’re having a fundraiser to help with Davin’s grade 8 graduation trip. If you are interested in any Easter treats from Rheo Thompson, let me know! 😊❤️🐣 We’re collecting empties for Davin’s grade 8 grade trip. Give me a shout if you have any (oh you know you do!) and we can come grab them😊 Boxing Day tubing extravaganza!! Merry Christmas! Nothing better than a Daisy bear hug❤️ 2 of my favorite bums My boys❤️ Happiest of birthdays to the hardest-working and most devoted husband and father. We love you and are so proud of all you have accomplished.❤️😘 It’s a tough life🌴☀️

Tub Time Tips

Sabrina A.W.
Luna Lou when she was itty bitty

Bath time can be a stressful time for our pets but also for us! Here are a few tips that have helped us make bath time a little more enjoyable for everyone.

Sweet Talkin’

Our girls are not fans of water at all. Dallas will tiptoe around a puddle if she can. Therefore, I do what I can to make it as pleasant as possible. Lucky for them, I used to be a hairstylist and give a mean scrub and massage. But before we get to the rubby-dubby stuff I start with a warm bath and some sweet talking. I run the tub with warm water and double check the temp before letting them in. I call them over with positive energy and promises of treats. One really important thing to have is an anti-slip mat for your tub. It really helps them stand and feel more confident in the bath. Also, don’t forget to get your supplies ready beforehand. You don’t want to leave your dog unsupervised in the bath while you are running around getting stuff. Make sure you have your shampoo, towels, cup, and something to put under your knees.

Let’s Talk ‘Poo

I like to keep it simple. Our dogs, being bulldogs, can have skin irritations so I use a shampoo that is formulated for sensitive skin and has little to no scent. Just like humans, dogs all have different needs and that should be taken into consideration when choosing their shampoo. As I mentioned, I stay away from strong smelling shampoos. As tempting as it is to buy the luxurious smelling dog shampoo and how nice it would be for us to snuggle our noses into their perfumed fur, you have to remember how sensitive dogs noses are and also those strong perfumes can be drying on their skin.

Washing Off the Stink

Once they are in the tub, I take a cup and scoop the warm water and get them all wet. I am very careful not to get water in their face and ears. Using cotton balls in their ears can help, just don’t push them too far in. I just use my one hand to hold her ears out of the way while I carefully pour water behind her ears. I avoid washing their face and just use a wash cloth. Next, I add soap to my hands and start scrubbing. Don’t forget to get into all those nooks and crannies…that includes the stinky tail pocket if she has one. I rinse her all off and then do a second shampoo. This time I let it sit on while I give her one of my super massages and good butt scratches. I now do a final rinse and continue until all soap is gone. You really want to make sure you get it all off or it can cause irritation. I follow that with a rub with my hands to try and get some water off before taking them out of the tub. I like to have a couple towels on the floor layered open on top of each other. It doesn’t matter how many towels I have though, I still end up getting a shower too. It is what it is! Good thing they are cute, right?! After they have shaken all the water off themselves and all over your bathroom (sorry, no tip for that one…if you have one, please share!) give them a good towel dry. If you have a bulldog or any other wrinkly faced pooch, make sure to dry their wrinkles well. Same goes for that tail pocket. I like to use my blow dryer on low with a few shots of cool to dry the tail pocket.

Remember, you don’t have to bathe your dog too often. Just like people, washing too often will strip them of their natural oils. Usually the nose knows. If they are smelling a little wild, we bathe. That is usually every couple months. During allergy season we bathe more often. But just like anything, if you aren’t sure…ask your vet.

Rocky Update!

Sabrina A.W.
Rocky feeling frisky after her bath

I thought this would be a great time to show off how our little Rocky is doing. Rocky is Luna and Will’s offspring and is over a year old now. She is loved and cared for exceptionally well at our good friend and neighbors (love you guys!).

They named her Rocky because she was the scrappiest out of the litter and the only female (she had to keep those boys in line!). She has grown into the sweetest girl with the most beautiful fawn red coat.

Jayron’s Up In Smoke–aka “Magic”

Her health testing has come back clear and we’re looking forward to her first litter in the spring with Jayron’s Up in Smoke a.k.a. Magic owned by Yvonne Poire of Full of Bull Bulldogs and Brenda Jackson of Bredan Bullies.

Here are a few pictures of Rocky as a pup and now.

That Was a Sneeze?

Sabrina A.W.
Daisy face post-sneeze

The first time I heard Dallas reverse sneeze I went into complete emergency mom mode (a.k.a. fully freak out and panic). It sounded horrible and nothing, nothing like a sneeze! It sounded more like a honking angry goose but way louder. If you have never seen a dog reverse sneezing, I suggest you google it. It’s pretty crazy.

Reverse sneezing is pretty common in our home and as I said, it is alarming to hear, but it is normal and nothing to be concerned about. It occurs when the dog’s soft palate is irritated. The soft palate can become irritated by many things such as:

  • allergies
  • household products
  • scents
  • having their collar pulled
  • excessive exercise
  • nasal mites
  • viral infections

These irritants can cause a spasm that triggers the trachea to narrow and in turn , the dog will try to get extra air into its lungs by stretching his neck and opening his chest. When he fails to get the air through his trachea, he will then forcefully pull air through his nose which causes the backwards sneeze.

Now I know I said that it is nothing to be concerned about but it may be a good idea to take a video of your pet in action and have your vet take a look at it to make sure that it is in fact just a reverse sneeze and not some other condition. Also, if it is something that is happening chronically then you may want to bring that up to your vet as well.

Reverse sneezing, also known as Paroxysmal Respiration, doesn’t require any medical attention. I’ve read that you can cover their nostrils which forces them to swallow which could help eliminate whatever is irritating their throat but I like to give “mom attention” instead. I try and soothe her by speaking softly and trying to calm her while gently rubbing her throat. It usually passes within 30 seconds although it does feel much longer.

We’re Expecting!

Sabrina A.W.

We are very excited to say that Luna is pregnant and is due mid November! Congrats to all on our puppy list. These two are going to produce some lovely babies! Luna’s puppies are spoken for but we are still accepting applications for Rocky’s (French bulldog) spring 2022 litter and also Daisy’s (English bulldog) summer 2022 litter. Email lajoliefrenchiebulldogs@gmail.com for more information.

Jayron’s Up in Smoke A.K.A MAGIC
Bredan’s Over the Moon Luna A.K.A LUNA

Why I do What I do

Sabrina A.W.
Biggie with his fam!

People ask me all the time “how do you do it? How do you raise these puppies and then send them off to other families?!” To be honest, I used to wonder myself how other breeders did it. How could they say good bye to these little nuggets that they have been raising for the last couple months or more? Not until I started breeding dogs myself did I truly understand.

I am completely invested in my dogs. I am home with them 24 hours a day. They are my pets and my babies. I spend hours reading, learning, training, testing…doing whatever I can to make sure they are healthy and happy and living their best lives. When the puppies are born, I sleep in the puppy room with them and the mom for at least 4-6 weeks (although the last litter I was with them for 8 weeks). It is just like raising my boys when they were babies. You sleep with one ear and eye on those babies. It is the hardest job I have ever had next to raising my kids (although my husband and I think that raising puppies seems harder at times). And to be truthful, I am so tired by the end (waking up every 2 hours, cleaning up constant poop storms…it can take its toll on anyone after awhile!), that I am looking forward to a little break!

Tanti and Santi with their awesome new family!

I am so grateful for social media. It allows me to see my beautiful puppies grow with their new families. There is nothing better than to see a child snuggling with their new best buddy, knowing that they are going to grow up together and that I had something to do with that. Don’t get me wrong, there are tears every time I see them leave. It doesn’t get much easier. But seeing how happy the families are. To get feedback that they are loving their new family member and that their family is now more complete because of my hard work, fills my heart with love and complete satisfaction.

Dogs and Environmental and Seasonal Allergies

Sabrina A.W.

Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from allergies as well. We found that once we moved to our small town, which is surrounded by farmland, our one bulldog Dallas started showing signs of allergies. At first we thought it was her diet so we began an elimination diet to try and pinpoint the culprit of her itchiness. We went down the list of proteins, cutting out chicken, beef, etc., but we were not seeing the results we wanted to. The nice thing with feeding a raw diet is that you have full control of the ingredients they are ingesting which allows you to see how they react to each protein individually. Finally, we took Dallas to the vet, where he suggested it was environmental. We were given a special shampoo and also added a fatty acid supplement to her diet and we saw a dramatic change. It was also the fall season, and as we moved into winter, her symptoms calmed down. As we enter into fall again, I now know to see the signs and how to help her get through this allergy season and thought I would share them with you.

Environmental allergies can be triggered by many things such as:

September is known for intense allergens
  • weeds
  • pollen
  • grass
  • mold and fungus
  • flea saliva

It is very common for dogs to suffer from allergies but it tends to show itself in certain breeds such as Bulldogs. And just like in humans, it tends to flare up during certain times of the year.

Some signs that your dog has allergies are:

  • itchy, patchy, red skin–dogs tend to rub themselves on the carpet, the furniture, and your legs. Itchy areas can easily turn into hot spots which can get crusty and also infected. The crustiness can turn to bald spots as well
  • chewing paws–their paws can look swollen and inflamed
  • watery eyes and runny nose
  • red, smelly, itchy ears–usually accompanied with head shaking and ear scratching
  • sneezing or reverse sneezing–reverse sneezing is a whole other blog!
  • congestion
This is the shampoo our vet prescribed

There are a few things that we can do to help our pooches through allergy season. As I mentioned above, bathing our dogs can help. Bathing will wash off any allergens that are stuck to our dogs fur and if using a special medicated shampoo, can really help skin issues. I am not a fan of bathing dogs often, but when my girl has a flare up, we bath her every other day when it’s bad!
Antihistamines can also offer relief. We keep Benadryl on hand during allergy season and for any allergy flare-ups that may occur, usually from bug bites in the summer. We also like to add a fatty acid supplement to their diet such as omega 3 fatty acid. This has been proven to help with the itchiness of allergies. Also, don’t forget to wipe off your pet’s feet with a wet cloth or wet wipe after walks. Allergens love to stick to our dogs, so wiping them off after walks can help. And finally, we have added an air purifier to our home to help cut back on some allergens in the air.

Of course, if severe, you can request an intradermal skin allergy test from your vet. It may be necessary if your dog needs medication such as Prednisone or Apoquel. I have heard mixed things about allergy tests. I have heard that they are not very accurate and can be very expensive but when your pet is suffering, I can understand wanting to find answers!

Knowing the signs of environmental allergies is helping us help Dallas this allergy season. As much as we love that fresh country air, we are definelty aware of when the farmer has his combine out but at least we can help keep symptoms under control.