blog – La Jolie Frenchie

Experiencing Loss as a Breeder

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 Sabrina A.W.

I have hesitated to write this blog. It has been a very traumatic time in my home these last few weeks. Not many people are aware that we lost Luna and Will’s litter. All three. I am not going to get into why we lost them in this post. I will do that in the future when I am feeling stronger to talk about it. Today I want to talk about the emotional wave of grief that we experience as breeders.

People assume that my life is full of skunky puppy dog licks and snuggles. For the most part, they are right. I am very grateful that I have been given this opportunity to bring joy into my home and into the home of others. But there is another side (actually there are many sides that aren’t always discussed…but again…that’s another post). I have been lucky that we have had healthy litters and dogs and been without tragedy. I knew it was an inevitable part of a breeder’s life but knowing this was not enough to protect me from the pain.

I am a believer that Mother Nature knows what she is doing. When a puppy is born extremely weak or ill and can’t be revived, I believe that it is what was meant to be even though it is still hard to witness. But when a puppy seems to be thriving and you nurture, love and care for it just to watch it one day slip away, it is heart wrenching. Even as I write this, the words become blurry as I fight back tears. I love my puppies…every one of them. I will do everything possible to give them the best start in life. I will buy whatever machine and medicine it takes. I will call every vet and breeder I know for help and support. I will research every article, podcast and video available to me. I will not sleep for days as I listen to every little breath that comes out of those little bodies. Unfortunately, it sometimes isn’t enough.

They say with time, these experiences will become easier. I hope they are right, but I am not that confident. I do know one thing though. This will not stop me from my commitment to breeding the healthiest, most beautiful, sweetest bulldogs I can. I promise to use these times to learn more and add to my breeder’s “toolbox”. For example, we will be administering fresh plasma to each puppy during it’s first 24 hours of life (such a great start to a puppy’s life! I will do a post about that as well!) I’ve added a new oxygenator and have a plan for a progesterone testing machine. These are the tools that give me the confidence to give these puppies everything that they deserve.

Doggy Christmas Dangers

December 16, 2020December 16, 2020 Sabrina A.W.

Merry Christmas from the old Purser Street Posse!

Christmas is a fun time of year around our house and I am sure, yours. Let’s keep it that way by protecting our pets from some of the hazards that could potentially hurt them over the Christmas season. The following is a list of hazards that dog owners should be aware of to keep their pet safe this holiday.

Ornaments and hooks – I was out taking my girls for a walk when we ran into one of our neighbors who happens to own a bulldog puppy. He told us that their puppy just had surgery for ingesting a bunch of Christmas ornament hooks! Seriously…hooks. There is nothing that a bulldog puppy will not put into their mouths. We put up a gate to keep our girls out of the Christmas tree. We found that by the time they were two years old, they lost interest in the tree but that first year it was the biggest chew toy they have ever seen!

Christmas plants – Rumour has it that Poinsettias are poisonous to dogs but the truth is that they are not that bad. If ingested it will probably give them the poops so I probably would still keep them away. Mistletoe and Holly on the other hand, are much more toxic and really need to be avoided. The Christmas plant of all Christmas plants, the Christmas tree, can also cause harm to our pooches. The needles of a Fir tree, if eaten, can mess up their tummy and cause punctures and blockages. And keep those fluffy butts out of the Christmas tree water too! The water can contain bacteria, moulds and fertilizers and other chemicals that can make them sick really quickly.

Christmas lights – this is pretty obvious I am sure, but dogs can easily electrocute themselves if they chew the cords. Make sure that they are out of the way of chewy puppies.

Food – Oh the food! So much food, unfortunately not all of it is good for our pets. Remember to keep the chocolate out of their reach and also anything with artificial sweeteners as both are toxic to dogs. Also, try to keep an eye on turkey bones! My girls are freakin’ vultures waiting for anything to fall from a plate or counter. Keep those bones away, especially cooked bones that can be very dangerous as well.

Another couple things worth mentioning even though they are not exactly “Christmas hazards” but they are around a lot this time of year are silica packets and Chapstick. Silica packs are those little baggies you find in so many products, such as shoe boxes, purses etc. that are filled with silica gel and labelled “do not eat”. They aren’t toxic but they will make you feel crummy. Chapstick is another one of those things that isn’t toxic but you will regret afterwards I’m sure. I keep Chapstick everywhere in the house during the winter and have learned the hard way to keep it away from the dogs.

Thanks for reading and hope this list helps keep all your furry ones safe this holiday season!

What I Look for in a Puppy Applicant

December 12, 2020December 12, 2020 Sabrina A.W.

There is a lot of information out there regarding how to find a reputable breeder but I think it is just as important, if not more, for the breeder to select the right buyer. They have the responsibility to make sure that the puppy goes to the right home and that it is a good fit for both the puppy and the buyer. I wanted to share with you some of the questions I ask on my puppy application and what I am looking for in a prospective puppy home.

Biggie and Rocky right before going to their forever homes

I always say that it takes a special person to take care of a bulldog. They have special needs that have to be taken care of daily. Not everyone is up for that. It wouldn’t take much neglect to really see its effects on the dog. Therefore, I really want to know that a person knows what they are getting into. I know that bulldogs are cute, funny and super-trendy right now but is that the only reason you want one? I want to know the “why”. How long have you wanted a bulldog? How long have you thought of this and how much research have you really done? Are you wanting a puppy because of Covid-19 and you are currently working from home? What happens when you return to work? Will the dog suddenly be left on its own for lengthy stretches at a time? Through these questions and a little intuition, I try and decipher if the potential buyer will make a good bulldog owner.

As I already mentioned, grooming and daily care is a big responsibility for an English or French bulldog owner. Bulldogs require more care and are one of the more expensive breeds to own. They require high quality, grain-free diets. They need wrinkle creams, butt wipes, cooling matts, and coats just to name a few things. They also tend to suffer more from skin issues and allergies. People need to know what they are getting into beforehand. The last thing any breeder wants is to see the puppy being rehomed due to a bad pairing.

I was talking to my 9 year old son the other day about this very topic. He asked me why I had people fill out applications. I explained that the first reason is that it filters out people just by asking them to apply. People that are serious about adopting a puppy will not hesitate to fill one out. Secondly, we want to make sure that our puppies are going to good homes and are going to live their best lives possible. Asking the right questions helps us make a good match. There are people that are open to sharing their personal stories with me. I find these are the people that make the best homes for bulldogs.

These are just a few questions that I like to ask. I hope that by asking the right questions and trusting my intuition, that I make the right choices. These puppies are my babies and my responsibility. An active, loving family that truly appreciates the puppy is all I want for my babies. There is nothing better than receiving a picture of a past puppy with their forever family and knowing that I helped make that family complete.