We are opening up our waitlist and accepting applications for our spring 2022 French Bulldog litter and our summer 2022 English Bulldog litter. Please fill in the application and email it to me at lajoliefrenchiebulldogs@gmail.com so we can get to know each other a little bit better.
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 macramĂ© 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:
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
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.
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.
La Jolie Frenchie 