french bulldogs – La Jolie Frenchie

Puppies are Jerks!

June 2, 2022 Sabrina A.W.

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! Accepting Applications!

March 21, 2022 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.

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!

January 17, 2022January 17, 2022 Sabrina A.W.

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:

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

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

Coop and his flow working in our new Yukon 2.0 solo fire pit. Oh summer…how I’ve missed you so!

Coop and his flow working the new solo fire pit 🔥

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs4OSu9PT__/

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😊

Tub Time Tips

November 18, 2021 Sabrina A.W.

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!

November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 Sabrina A.W.

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.

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.

We’re Expecting!

September 29, 2021 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.

Why I do What I do

September 18, 2021 Sabrina A.W.

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.

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.

Christmas Gift Giving Guide for Pet Lovers

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Sabrina A.W.

Christmas is just around the corner and if you are like me, you are starting to scramble (I’m terrible! Every year I swear I will get everything done earlier and…nope). I have put together some of my top 3 gifts for the pet lovers in our lives.

Top 3 Christmas gifts for pet lovers:

Custom socks – so you will have to plan this one a little earlier because they can take a little time to make and ship out but they are totally worth it! There are a few companies out there that are creating custom made socks with images of your dogs on them. You can even add more that one dog if you like. Sock Bar is a Canadian company that makes socks and even pillows and offers free shipping on all Canadian orders! https://www.sockbar.ca/collections/custom-pet-socks

Fanny pack – yes, fanny packs, say what you will, I think it would be super handy for a dog person. I have one on my Christmas list. Walking dogs requires you to hold things, and bringing a purse seems ridiculous, right?! Try walking three dogs at once…that’s a challenge in itself! Now, try walking them while carrying your keys, your phone, dog training treats…you get the picture. Fanny packs have made a comeback. I like this cute Herschel bag from Illbury and Goose https://www.illburyandgoose.com/products/fifteen-hip-pack-x-black-crosshatch

Matching Sweaters – I can’t make my boys wear anything that matches with me but I can sure make my dogs! LOL! There are some really cute matching outfits on Amazon that are festive and won’t break the bank. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H1J76KZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07H1J76KZ&linkCode=as2&tag=joliefrenchie-20&linkId=3697c55b355fc938fb2d7ac50e82ae0d

Hope these ideas help kick off your Christmas shopping! My next post I’ll post my favorite Christmas stocking stuffers for the doggies in our lives. Happy shopping!

Dogs in the Bed or in their own Beds? That is the question…

December 7, 2020December 8, 2020 Sabrina A.W.

When we brought our first puppy home we had intentions of having Dallas sleep on the floor in our bedroom. We started off great! We bought a puppy play pen just like this one.

We would allow Dallas in our bed for a snuggle while we watched some tv and when it was time for sleep, we would put her in her bed that was inside the playpen. It worked great…until she figured out that she is a little bulldozer not a bulldog and would stand up against the wall and knock it over. Plan B, we added a homemade gate that blocked off her bed in the corner of the room. This worked until we got our second puppy and she figured out that if you whine at mom at 3 am she will let you in bed for a snuggle. I’m a sucker and I love sleep…what are you gonna do?! Long story short and another puppy thrown in the mix and it’s fair to say it’s the dogs bed and they just allow us to sleep in it.

*My morning view…yikes Dallas, that’s a little much first thing in the morning!*

We completely take full ownership of this. We completely let this happen. As cuddly as they are in bed and how toasty they keep us in the winter, having dogs sleep with you in your bed does come with its drawbacks. The following are some of the reasons why you might want to rethink having your bully in bed with you.

they do not respect personal space – we recently purchased a king size bed and I still sleep on the very edge of the bed with zero blanket most nights
dogs can be gross – ok…maybe I shouldn’t admit this but yes…I have found a crusty butt nugget or two in our sheets
damper on sexy time – I think the pups get more smooches than my husband I give each other. We have to make a point of kicking them out of the room if we feel romantic. It is funny…first we had a hard time kicking the kids out of our bed; now the dogs!
the snoring…oh the snoring – need I say more. We have had to bust out the ear plugs some nights
once you’ve let them in, it’s impossible to get rid of them – you really need to stick to your guns!

I honestly don’t have the answer. As you can see, my husband and I are suckers for our doggy snuggles. I might have listed a lot of cons to having them sleep with us but I have to admit that I wouldn’t have it any other way. I live for Daisy’s morning hugs and face washes or how Luna forces herself under the blankets to be my little spoon.

Whatever you decide, make the decision early and stick to it. Dogs are creatures of habit and once that habit is established you are going to have a heck of a time breaking that habit.

I would love to hear your opinions. What do you do in your home?