Puppy Supplies & helpful tips
All recommended puppy supplies are linked below for your convenience
FOOD
Puppy food will be provided for you. We will be introducing our puppies to Victor Ocean If you are planning on changing your puppy's food, it has to be done slowly. For the first two days feed 90% of their old food and 10% of the puppy foods that you have chosen. Then for the next two days increase the food that you have bought by 25% of the new food and 75% of the other food. By the end of the week, you should have 90% of your new food and 10% of the old food. They will need a dog bowl and a separate water bowl.
Crate Training Tips
You will need a Crate to put the puppy in when you're not at home. Puppies are like babies and will put things in their mouths and try to swallow them, so it's best to put the puppy in a safe place when you're not watching them. You want to start crate training during the daytime. Don’t wait to start training at night when you are most tired. First thing PLAY PLAY PLAY! Your new puppy needs to exercise before you start to crate train. Place your pup in the crate and offer a treat. The treats we use are Soft Puppy Bites. What’s good about those treats is, you can break the treats up into smaller pieces so the puppy feels like they are getting more treats than they are actually getting. Try to make it a fun experience. They will cry, and that’s okay. Don’t give in to the cries because they will learn that when they cry, they will get what they want. When you see the puppy has completely calmed down and has stopped crying, take them out to play again or offer more treats. We want to reward good behavior. The more you do this, the more your new puppy will realize if they stay calm they will be rewarded with attention. Stay consistent! You can also read this book from Zak George Dog Training Revolution Guide to raising the perfect pet with love. He also has Youtube videos you can watch to get ideas on how to crate train. If you like to know more about dog behavior, I highly recommend reading Cesar Milan How to raise a perfect dog.
Dog Beds
Let’s talk about dog beds. I can not tell you how many dog beds I’ve been through. With every stage in my dog’s life, came a different set of obstacles. Some puppies have a tendency to pee on their beds. This can be very frustrating. This also doesn’t happen just as puppies but, adult dogs who like to mark their territory also pee on their beds. I bought beds that claim to be water-resistant and the pee would go right through to the part of the bed that you can’t wash in the machine. Then my sweet babies would destroy their bed by ripping it to shreds. They would be so well behaved when I was home watching them, but as soon as I left them home alone, they would team up and break every single bed I purchased. Until one day I found K9 Ballistics. I was skeptical at first, but it was the best investment I’ve made. They tried their best to break their bed and were unsuccessful. Every time one pees or even vomits in bed, I’m able to wipe it clean. I have machine wash the bed so many times and they are still like new. What I also like about K9 Ballistcs is, you can purchase a new cover for your bed if it does get old or you just want a new look. You don’t have to buy a whole new bed. They have so many styles and sizes. If you want a bed that is going to stand the test of time, you have to try them out, you won’t regret it.
Wee Wee Pad Training tips
For the first few weeks that the puppy is at home, you will need wee wee pads. We get our Wee Wee Pads from Amazon. They are the best pads I’ve ever used, box comes with 150 extra-large pads. We do our best to start wee wee pad training from 3-4 weeks of age. By the time they go home, they have an idea of what the wee wee pad is for. They will have accidents because of the new environment but with guidance, they will use their pads in no time. Puppies tend to go to the potty in a favorite spot in the house. Once you see this happening, place the wee wee pad in that spot. When accidents happen made sure you clean it up and disinfect the area so that it no longer has the smell. I recently started using a product called Sprinkle & Sweep and I have to say that it has been making cleanup of accidents so much easier. Just sprinkle it over the wet spot, and sweep it up, that's easy! When your puppy does use the pads, use positive reinforcement by praising them, or using treats. This has to happen within 20 seconds of the act so that your puppy can associate good behavior with a positive experience. Before you know it, your puppy will always go to the pad. After wee wee pad training is done and your puppies have received all their shots, the next step is to train your puppy to walk outside, We use simple but sturdy collars and Leashes by Country Brook Petz. What I love most about their collars is its not plastic that breaks easily. it’s made of metal and will last a long time.
Bones & Toys
Your puppy will need to chew toys and bones but no raw High bones because they tend to get stuck in the throat. We recommend Deer Antlers and Elk Antlers. I also recommend Nylabone products. Their bones are very durable and will stand the test of time. With any toy or bone that is not edible, please use caution, if you do see your dog can easily break a toy or is breaking off pieces of a toy, discard the toy immediately. Puppies and grown dogs tend to swallow things they are not supposed to, always supervise your dog when chewing a toy that is not edible.
Grooming
NOSE BUTTER
Bull Dogs or flat face dogs’ nose needs to be conditioned. Their noses tend to get very dry and very cracked. People usually use coconut oil to bring in some natural moisture to their dog’s nose but it is something that has to be done daily multiple times a day in order to see results. Here at Xtra Sweet, have developed a Nose butter made for your pet’s nose that is 100% all-natural. We can not wait to share it with you all. You can find more information and how to purchase HERE.
Bathe your dog once a month or as needed but not more than that because it can dry up their skin. We use SlayPup Boutique Perfect Coat Shampoo. Every shampoo I used left my dog’s skin dry and flaky. Not only does the shampoo smell great but it does not dry out their skin. It Leaves my dog’s coat so soft and with no dandruff.
You need to also make sure the wrinkles around their eyes and nose stays clean and dry. I recommend using a product called Bully Paste. Burts Bees has a product that also works well for tear stains.
Check Ears! if you see wax, their ears must be clean. Dirty ears lead to ear infections so always check their ears. I recommend Zymox Ear Cleaner. French Bulldogs don’t shed much but they do shed when there is a change of season. We use the FURminator for short hair dogs and it works wonders.
Flea and Tick Control
You can purchase flea and tick treatments Click here.
Keep them cool
Since this gorgeous breed has shortened nostrils, they can’t inhale enough air to cool off. Therefore, you need to keep your French Bulldog in an air-conditioned room. Hydration also plays an important role, so I recommend you regularly check on your dog’s bowl if he has clean and fresh water during the day. Note that heatstroke can turn out to be fatal, please use precautions in the summer months. Your french bulldog should never be left alone outside. If you have your own backyard, we suggest getting a kiddie pool to make sure your baby stays cool during those hot summer months. While taking walks during the hot summer months we also recommend you try the Chill Out Ice Bandana. You can soak it in water, wring it out and then place it in the freezer until ready for use. This will help keeps your Furbaby cooler. If you believe your dog is overheating, you can also swab rubbing alcohol to paw pads and belly. 101.3 is the normal temperature for your dog, anything over 103 is in danger of a heat stroke seek medical help immediately.
Nail Trimming
Nail trimming is important. Don’t let your dog’s nails get too long. Long nails can start to deform your dog’s paws permanently. We suggest having your dog’s nails cut once a month. You can cut at a professional groomer or use Dremel Nail Grinder.
What is in my First Aid Kit
(always consult your Veterinarian first)
Skin Conditions
Examples: hot spots, ringworm, staph infections, yeast infections, acne, etc. These products are anti-fungal and antibacterial
Skin conditions like Demodectic Mange
Vet Basics Lime Sulfur Dip Antimicrobial
and Heartgard plus (prescription needed)
Ears
Some ears are more prone to infections than others, for those that need a stronger ear wash we use
Zymox Plus Advanced Formula 1% Hydrocortisone Otic
Constipation
100% pumpkin (no sugar added)
Diarrhea
Wounds small cuts
Eyes infections
Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment
NuVet Supplements
Keeping your pet’s immune system strong is crucial in today’s environment. Household toxins, fertilizers, pesticides, and even many of today’s pet foods leave your pet’s immune system susceptible. Regular and even premium brand pet foods can contain toxins, bad bacteria, and “meat by-products” (an industry term for anything other than meat). Other common ingredients are fillers like corn, wheat, and barley. These food ingredients and other environmental factors are prime sources of poor health in your pet. NuVet’s team of pet industry scientists, veterinarians, and medical specialists created NuVet Plus® to be a high-quality supplement that incorporates a precise formula of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs, and more. NuVet Plus® brings together vital ingredients that perform synergistically to help improve your pet’s health and keep them healthy. Their supplement is made using Natural ingredients that are formulated in an FDA Registered Facility using CGMP standards. We currently have all our French Bulldogs on NuVet Plus and we also have our senior Chihuahua who is 13 years old on NuJoint DS for her joints. All of our pregnant females are on NuVet Plus, which means our puppies are receiving all those supplements from the very beginning of their lives. All of our puppies come with a 1 year health guarantee. We are offering our puppy buyers a 2 year health guarantee if they commit to giving their new puppy NuVet Plus, that’s how much we believe in this product.
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