bulldog blog – La Jolie Frenchie

Essential Oils for our Dogs

May 19, 2021May 20, 2021 Sabrina A.W.

Ok..not a summer pic but you get the idea 🙂

I live for summertime! However, I do not enjoy the bugs and neither do my furry girls. We love going for hikes but I get so paranoid that we are going to bring some critters back with us but I know that human bug spray is a big no-no for dogs. What is a dog mom to do!? Well after some research and testing, I found a natural solution that works for us.

I do not like using a lot of chemicals in my home, on my children or on myself and I feel the same about my dogs. After a little research, I found that essential oils such as lemon eucalyptus, citronella and rosemary have been proven effective bug repellents. I know that this isn’t breaking news (I’m a little slow to the essential oils game) but for me a lightbulb came on.

I don’t know about you but I am sensitive to scents. Too much of anything will eventually give me a headache. So the idea of spraying my dog with lemongrass or lavender sounds great at first but would drive me crazy after awhile. If it is strong for me, can you imagine how strong it would be for a dog whose sense of smell it so much stronger than ours!

That is where the La Jolie Frenchie cotton macramé leash comes in handy. Being made from 100% cotton, it is the perfect “diffuser” for your pooch. It allows you to spray the leash or the tassel with the essential oil of your choice before going on your walk. For example, sweet orange is great at repelling fleas and ticks. You can spray your tassel (which can be clipped to the carabiner by the way, if you want more exposure) or the leash directly and feel protected in a cloud of lovely essential oils but you can rest assured knowing that you can take it off after your walk so you and your dog don’t have to smell it all night. Essential oils are great but not all dogs tolerate the oils directly on their skin. This is a way to include essential oils without drowning your pet in the scents.

Some great oils to try are:

lemongrass, rosemary, peppermint, citronella, lemon eucalyptus — repel fleas, ticks and mosquitos
lavender–calm and sooth. Might help your nervous pet when going to the vet
bergamot–ease anxiety and stress

If you are trying these scents for the first time on your pup, take it slow and only use a little bit. If you see any signs of abnormal behavior, take your dog away from the smell immediately and into some fresh air. If that doesn’t help, see a vet. Also, essential oils are not to be used on puppies, pregnant dogs, senior dogs or toy dogs. Further, please do not use oils that were created only to infuse scents in your home. They will be ineffective and could cause harm. And keep in mind, the smaller the dog, the less you should use. If you have any concerns, please see a vet. I am not a vet. I am only a lover of dogs who loves to share my experience with you.

For your very own La Jolie Frenchie leash visit

Www.lajoliefrenchie.etsy.com

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!