Tag: bulldog care

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.

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.

Essential Oils for our Dogs

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!

La Jolie Frenchie macrame leash

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:

  • 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

How to Care for our Squishy-Faced Friends

Sabrina A.W.
a fist full of squish

Oh those cute bulldog faces! So wrinkly, squishy, cute and stinky. Ya, unfortunately those wrinkles that we love so much can become pretty funky pretty quick if not taken care of. Part of a bulldog owners daily routine should consist of cleaning and caring for their bully’s wrinkles. I wanted to share my wrinkle care routine and a couple products that help me tackle the funk and stink.

Those wrinkles can be real moisture and bacteria traps therefore keeping them clean will help prevent the development of infections. Our girl Daisy was born with the largest nose rope that I have ever seen! She has grown into it but it is still quite large. She also has very active tear ducts that keeps her face very wet. Any time that Daisy eats, drinks or chews on her toys, her face gets even more wet. Every day (sometimes a few times a day) I will clean her face with a baby wipe. I make sure that the wipes I am using are gentle and fragrance-free. I clean under her nose rope and in-between her folds. Once I have cleaned them up I will use a soft cloth and I pat them dry. I try not to rub them too much. I don’t want to cause her any irritation. If her folds smell stinky (they tend to smell like a dirty, wet dish rag) I will use a chlorhexidine solution to clean away the bacteria. We have used these wipes in the past that have worked really well https://www.amazon.ca/DOUXO-Chlorhexidine-3-Pads-Ct/dp/B01MDRJZGZ These wipes are really thick so we would sometimes cut them in half to make them last longer.

You can also purchase the Chlorhexidine solution and use a quilted cotton pad (you don’t really want to use the regular cotton balls as will leave cotton behind on their faces) to clean them up. The solution will last forever! https://www.amazon.ca/Durvet-Chlorhexidine-Solution-fl-oz/dp/B000HHSD8M/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2af-BRDzARIsAIVQUOf3d-r4YqUc0gLR6EaBEg6j2g7yeAI-7gcVEs9kiNoqP1g2D7aOH7oaArY3EALw_wcB&hvadid=208447550566&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001003&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12801653351656807521&hvtargid=kwd-296696470771&hydadcr=27202_9609738&keywords=chlorhexidine+solution&qid=1607099238&sr=8-2&tag=googcana-20

Once we have used the solution and patted the folds dry again I will keep them dry with a wrinkle paste. We like Squishface Wrinkle Paste and not because it has a cute bulldog on the tube and I am a sucker for everything bulldog but because it is really thick and works like a charm. https://www.amazon.ca/Squishface-Wrinkle-Paste-Wrinkles-Frenchies/dp/B01JH2DG8O

This routine has helped us care for our girls and we haven’t faced any infections yet. Bulldogs are a special breed that require special care. I would love to hear about some of your tips and products that have worked for you and your bullies!

Winter Care for Furry Family Members

Sabrina A.W.
Mom…might be time to turn up the heat..it’s freakin’ snowing in here!

We are in full winter mode in our home and that means extra socks and mitts packed in the kid’s backpacks, along with chapsticks, moisturizers, tissues….you get the idea. We know that we need special care to protect ourselves and our children from our cold, harsh, Canadian winters but we also cannot forget our pets. They get cold too!

The follow are the top three things that we rely on in the winter to keep our furry ones comfortable so that they can enjoy the snow too.

Walk?! Crazy lady won’t find me here!
  1. Coats and sweaters – they aren’t just for cute insta pics…they are a necessity. French bulldogs are especially sensitive to cold and need our help to keep warm. Sweaters, coats and even hats and boots can help prevent hypothermia in our little buddies. Even English bulldogs with their thicker coats, can use an extra layer on those cold days. It can be a little challenging finding one that fits their unique (ya unique..that’s a good way to put it..ha!) bods. Their short, wide trunks and thick necks make it challenging to say the least. There are a few companies that cater to bulldogs but be prepared to pay dearly. If you purchase one of these or have one custom made, I would suggest waiting until they are full grown to make that investment. We have bought some that fit our girls around their bodies and tailored the bottom to shorten it up so it fits a little better. Honestly, Im working on my sewing skills so I can make them their own custom coats. There are a few great free patterns online that look totally do-able.
  2. Boots, paw balms and towels – help to protect our pets from all the chemicals and salt found on the ground in the winter. These chemicals can cause our pets to develop sore, cracked paws. Further, if left on their paws, most dogs will lick at them to try and clean them and in turn will ingest these harmful chemicals and salts that can in turn make them very sick. That is why it is very important to wipe their feet clean with a towel when returning in from a walk. We also like to use a paw balm that works as a barrier between their paws and the ground. There are many great brands out there to try. You can also use coconut oil in a pinch. More about coconut oil coming up! Lastly, some dog owners swear by rubber boots for their pooches. Our dogs won’t have anything to do with them. They drew the line there. But it was totally worth the purchase just to see them trying to walk in their booties. Too funny!
  3. Coconut oil – man, we love coconut oil around our house! It really is a great item to use on yourself and your dogs, especially in the winter. As mentioned above, it is great to use as a barrier balm on their paws but it is also great to use on their nose when it becomes dry. We use it to moisturize their paws, their nose and if there’s any left on my hands I will just rub it over their coat. The great thing is that you know it won’t harm them if they lick it. Another great use for the oil is during nail trimmings. If you dab a little of the coconut oil on their nose right before you trim their nails, it will help keep them distracted during the process. Isn’t that a great one!?

Just remember, when it gets too cold, just like when it’s too hot in the summer, keep those little guys inside. There will be many days to enjoy the snow together when you are properly prepared.

If it was only boogers!

Sabrina A.W.

I loved this meme the moment I saw it. It’s funny because it’s true! Eye boogers, dirty wrinkles, crusty butt nuggets… is this what I signed up for? Yup. I sure did and I will do it again and again!

Bulldogs tend to need a little extra care when it comes to keeping themselves clean. The way that they are built doesn’t really allow them access to all their bits and pieces, if you know what I mean. That is where us pet owners come in. We stockpile baby wipes in our house! We wipe our girls after they come in from their business. We wipe their feet when they are muddy. We wipe their eye boogers, wrinkles and tail pockets too. They really do come in very handy. Just make sure that they are hypoallergenic and scent free.

To some, this may sound like a lot of work and sometimes it does feel like a lot (especially when our girls are in heat and now there are diapers to deal with too!). If that is the case, then maybe a Frenchie is not for you, or maybe any dog for that matter.

Bulldogs do need extra care but when you are in love with your pet, those things aren’t a bother. It’s one of the ways that we show our furry buddies how much we care for them.

There is a plus side to having a dog that can’t reach it’s own butt! You will never have that awkward moment on the couch with your father-in-law when your dog decides to come on over and start licking himself. Ya, I don’t know about you, but that there is enough for me! “You need a bum wipe Luna? No problem!”