
TomKings Puppies FAQ 3
Questions and answers after arrival
TRAIN YOUR PUPPY
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
Read our blogposts about leash training and teaching basic commands to your Frenchie.
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
Please check out this video too.
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
There’s no exact number for how long a dog can hold their pee—it mainly depends on their age, but other individual factors can also play a role. Some nine-month-old pups may only manage six hours, while others can go for eight.
Based on our experience, young puppies around five months old typically need to go every 5–6 hours, while adult dogs can comfortably wait up to ten hours.
So how can you train your pup to hold it a bit longer?
Start by taking your puppy outside to pee and make a note of the time. Then bring them back inside and wait until they need to go again. Measure the time between the two pees, and subtract one hour—that’ll give you a good idea of their current limit. From then on, try to take them for a walk before reaching that interval. Here’s a quick example!
Let’s say Horatio, our imaginary five-month-old Frenchie, pees at 2 PM, and then again at 8 PM—but this time, on the kitchen floor. That’s a six-hour gap. If we subtract one hour, we know Horatio should go outside every five hours for now.
Now that you know your pup’s routine, you can start building it up. For two weeks, take them out every five hours. After that, extend the interval by 30 minutes—so now you take them out every 5.5 hours. Keep progressing gradually like this until they reach their max capacity (which will still depend on their age, so don’t expect a five-month-old to hold it like an adult!).
During training, make sure to praise your pup every time they pee outside. Celebrate it! Give them a treat or some playtime. Once they’re fully potty trained, you don’t have to throw a party every time—but those early rewards make a big difference.
And don’t forget: no matter how well they’re trained, your dog should still go for at least one longer walk each day!
Do you have a pet door?
A pet door can be super helpful, but teaching your pup to use it takes a little time and patience. The first step is simply helping them get comfortable walking through that small doorway. At the beginning, leave the flap open so they only need to walk through the open frame.
Some dogs will need encouragement and lots of positive reinforcement, while others get the hang of it quickly. Either way, never force your pup through the door or rush the process. If they seem unsure, just be patient. When they do walk through on their own, celebrate it! Show them how proud you are—treats, praise, whatever makes them happy!
We hope these tips help! For more advice, check out our closed Facebook group:
TomKings Frenchie Family, where we share lots of real experiences and helpful potty training discussions.
You might also enjoy these two blog posts:
Potty training
Five tips for effective potty training
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
One of the reasons why French Bulldogs are so popular is their flexibility—they really do adapt to your lifestyle.
If you’re working outside the home during the day, your Frenchie will likely spend most of the time snoozing, and be over-the-moon excited to greet you when you come back. On the flip side, if you love going for walks or spending your days outdoors, they’ll happily join you and keep up with your plans.
Some of our TomKings puppy parents even take their pups with them to work! Others crate train their Frenchie to keep them safe while they’re out. On busy days, hiring a dog walker can also be a great solution.
When going on holiday, many families choose a trusted pet hotel for their Frenchie.
At the end of the day, the most important thing to know is this: Frenchies are incredibly adaptable and can be happy in many different routines—as long as they’re loved and feel safe.
It’s completely natural for two male dogs to establish a pecking order—just like in any pack, there’s always one who tries to take the lead. This kind of dominance behavior is common and not necessarily a problem, as long as it doesn’t escalate.
If one of your boys starts to cross a line, it’s important that you step in right away. As their human parent, you’re the ultimate leader in the pack, and your dogs need to see and feel that. Interrupt the behavior firmly: use a calm but confident voice to tell him off, and if needed, gently remove him from the situation to reinforce your position.
We know it’s not easy emotionally, but this is how you help set boundaries and teach your pups that aggression isn’t acceptable, especially when you’re around.
Let us give you an example: Tom’s Frenchie doesn’t usually let Sandra’s (Tom’s partner) English Bulldog into the doghouse. But as soon as Tom or Sandra shows up, the Frenchie immediately backs down and lets him in. Why? Because he knows the humans are in charge, and when the pack leader is present, there’s no room for fighting or misbehavior.
If you’re dealing with something similar, we highly recommend reading our blog post on how to become your Frenchie’s pack leader, as it’s full of practical tips and real-life examples that can really help in situations like this:
How can you become your Frenchie’s pack leader?
If you ever have a question about training your TomKings Frenchie, feel free to email us at training@tomkingskennel.com—we’ll be happy to forward it to our expert!
Please check out this video.
SECOND PUPPY
Please check out this video.
FOOD
We’ve written detailed blog posts covering everything from portion sizes to food types—check them out here.
Every puppy grows at their own pace, but in general, we recommend moving from three to two meals a day around the 5-month mark.
If your pup starts to put on extra weight earlier, it’s perfectly fine to make the switch sooner.
On the flip side, if your little one is still on the leaner side by five months, you can safely stick to three meals a day until around 8 months.
If your Frenchie finishes their meal before you’ve even had time to put the food bag away, you’re not alone! Eating too quickly is common in dogs—and especially in Frenchies—but luckily, there are easy ways to help slow them down:
Choose large-grain dog food whenever possible. Smaller kibble is too easy to swallow without chewing, and it can even pose a choking hazard. Bigger pieces encourage chewing, which naturally slows your pup down.
Try feeding smaller portions more often throughout the day, and add a bit of water to the food to help with digestion (just enough to moisten it).
Since Frenchies often act like they’re always hungry, offering a few healthy snacks during the day—like carrots, millet balls, or a large chew bone—can keep them satisfied without overfeeding.
And one more important tip: no playtime or walks right after eating. Let your pup rest for a while before any activity to help prevent vomiting or tummy issues.
When it comes to treats, it’s best to start with something healthy, low in calories, and—most importantly—irresistible to your Frenchie.
Every pup has their own preferences, so don’t worry if it takes a bit of trial and error to find the one they love most. If you're not sure what flavor your Frenchie prefers yet, try a few different options first. Once you discover their favorite, buying in bulk can help save money over time.
Just like we’re careful about what we eat, we want the same for our fur babies! We recommend sticking to natural treats with clean ingredients—no artificial preservatives, coloring, or chemical additives.
Here are a few great options our Frenchies love:
Baby carrots
Celery
Apple slices (no seeds!)
Lamb lungs
Antlers (for supervised chewing)
Charlee Bears
Rawboost Mixers
Greenies
Zuke’s training treats
Please check out this video.
HEALTH
Las Vegas:
https://vcahospitals.com/decatur/team/michelle-hoyt
New Jersey:
https://vcahospitals.com/garden-state/team/jacob-d-leff
Toronto:
Vermont:
https://reviews.birdeye.com/tamarack-veterinary-hospital-155741283289460
Richmond:
http://therichmondhousecallvet.com
Texas:
Konner Kirkpatrick | VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital
Colorado:
https://vcahospitals.com/deer-creek-littleton/primary/team
Chicago:
https://wrigleyvillevet.com/our-veterinarians/
Los Angeles:
https://www.pacificanimalclinic.com
California, between Los Angeles and San Diego
New York (Brooklyn)
https://www.northsideveterinaryclinic.com
New York
Atlanta (Kennesaw):
Boston:
https://backbayvet.com , Dr. King
Memphis (Tennessee)
https://www.facebook.com/petvax/
Trussville, Alabama
http://www.littlecahabavet.com
Florida, Miami
https://www.facebook.com/seileranimalhospital/
Minnesota
https://animalcarecenterbaxter.com
North Carolina, Durham
https://www.carverstreetanimalhospital.com
Wilmington
Here you can find a list of shots and pills we give to our puppies during the first 3 months:
1. shot Nobivac Parvo C (Vanguard, Versican*) against Parvo at 5 weeks old (passport IX. page)
2. shot Nobivac DHPPi/L (Vanguard, Versican): combined vaccinations against canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis at 7 weeks old (passport IX. page)
3. shot Nobivac DHPPi/L (Vanguard, Versican): combined vaccinations against canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis at 9 weeks old (passport IX. page)
4. shot Nobivac Rabies (Vanguard, Versican) against rabies at 3 months + 1 day old (passport V. page).
*The manufacturer may vary but the active ingredients are always the same.
The list of the given vaccination dates are in the passport of the puppy (first date: vaccination date, second date: valid from, third date: valid until).
Our puppies are dewormed every two weeks from the age of 4 weeks old (passport VII. page) and they also get Simparica Trio against ticks, fleas and heartworms right before they leave (passport VIII. page). Please deworm your puppy every 6 months, if there is a warning sign, you should do it more often. If you notice worms in your puppy's stool, repeat the treatment in two weeks.
The chip is in the left shoulder of your angel. The chip number is on page III. of the passport.
We recommend a Bordetella vaccine (Nobivac KC) to be administered against kennel cough after the age of 15 weeks old, when the puppy's immune system is more developed and enough time has passed since their rabies shot.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
All of the Frenchies’ ears are flopping when they are babies and they stand up gradually as they get stronger! There are puppies whose ears are weaker, their ears straighten a little later. By the age of 4-6 months old, all of the puppies ears are standing!
You can also help them stand up by taping:
You should tape it for three days and then let it rest for one day. It will take a couple of weeks until the ear stands up without tape, but you need to be very consistent in order to see the results! 🙂
Here's a video of how you should do it:
https://youtu.be/i49N58L0A5I
The tape we recommend is called Rolltex. If you can't find it, look for a woven medical tape that is about 1 inch wide.
Please, give your Frenchie some calcium too, you can find that in any pet store!
Plus this is funny but this helps too:
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Single-Grain-Rice-Baby-Cereal/dp/B00BPESI9A
If you feed them a little bit of Gerber baby cereal with condensed milk with a morning meal and a night meal. Just a little bit, maybe the size of a shot glass. It’s like magic!
During teething the puppies consume most of their calcium, so sometimes their ears lose a little perkiness, but replenishing calcium would make wonders to pop them up again!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you are unsure of whether your dog is having otitis or is it just earwax, please continue reading.
Dog ears can become greasy, too, just like any human ear. Therefore, you need to clean them the same way: with ear swabs or with wet wipes. But they need to be cleaned often, as they can quickly become greasy again. Dog earwax has a dark brown color, and this is normal.
Watch our video in which we show how you should clean your Frenchie's ears: https://youtu.be/fe6pMPInyg8
If your dog starts to shake his head and scratch the ears with his legs, go and check his ears. If you see a light yellow colored, purulent fluid instead of the usual dark brown, thick wax, your dog needs antibiotic ear drops.
Join our closed Facebook group (TomKings Frenchie Family), where other Frenchie owners share their experiences similar to yours. Please check the popular topics: health.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
We usually use these products, which you can read in the Facebook Frenchie Family Group too:
Read it HERE
Please join if you are not a member yet!
Watch our video to see how you should clean your Frenchie's nose: https://youtu.be/2rM37PGO3WI
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
Nostril and soft palate surgery is quite a controversial topic as it is difficult to determine when a Frenchie is struggling and when their breathing is considered normal. It mostly depends on your experiences as you’re the one who sees how your puppy is doing day by day.
You should always pay attention to him/her when s/he’s doing some sort of physical exercise like playing, running or hiking. If you see that s/he is soon short of breath, starts panting really quickly, maybe even needs to lie down, then a surgery can be justified. But if s/he is just snoring and breathing a bit louder, that is completely normal.
You should also take into account that Frenchies are a small-sized breed with shorter snout and legs, and they will never be as athletic as bigger-sized dogs. That’s why you should never let him/her do too much exercise at once.
So if your instincts tell you that your Frenchie is having difficulties and needs a surgery, you can go ahead and do it. However, never do it only because your vet says so! Most of the time they are doing it totally in vain because Frenchies' breathing is simply different than other breeds’, but that doesn’t mean that a surgery is essential.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If a puppy has symptoms of a cold (runny nose, coughing, sneezing), you need to get them antibiotics. Unfortunately dogs won't get better without treatment in a couple of days like humans do, as a simple cold can even turn into a pneumonia. We recommend Synulox tablets which you should be able to purchase at the vet pharmacy, it contains amoxycillin to which our puppies usually react very well. If you can't get it, please visit your vet to prescribe it as soon as possible, there's no point in waiting.
Unfortunately dogs can catch a cold at any time of the year, in the winter because of the cold, in the summer because of the air conditioner. We don't let our puppies travel even if they have mild symptoms, we rather postpone the flight and cure them first. If you receive your puppy with a runny nose, that means they caught it on the flight. Please give your puppy the antibiotics right away so that they can get better soon.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
It can definitely be scary when you see that your little Frenchie is unwell and you’re not sure why it’s happened or what to do. As young puppies lick everything, they can easily get an infection causing diarrhea.
Please reduce the amount of his/her portion for 2 days. Or you can give her/him boiled rice and carrot. Similar to humans, the puppies' tummy needs a little remedy with a reduced amount of food. If the diarrhea continues after 2 days with the reduced amount of food then your puppy needs antibiotics and probiotics, so please visit your vet. At a young age the puppies' digestion is very sensitive, similar to human babies.
Please, read our blog post to learn what you need to do to help your poor pup with diarrhea.
Normally, diarrhea is not a serious issue and often gets better over a 48-hour period. However, please watch out for more serious signs such as:
- a lack of appetite
- vomiting continually
- blood in stools
- if their diarrhea is persistent (lasting for over 3 days)
- continuous lethargy over a few days
If you do notice some of these signs, please do call your vet immediately.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
In your puppy’s passport, you can find a list with the date of vaccination and the name of the drug. Find Bravecto, and add 1 month to calculate its expiration.
If you live in an area with many ticks and insects, continue the treatment with Bravecto (exposure time: 3 months, requires additional anthelmintics, too) once the previous Bravecto has expired.
If ticks and insects are not common in your area, there is no need to continue the treatment. In case you notice any sign of worms or insects along the way, we recommend a Bravecto treatment. If no sign of worms or insects, deworming your puppy every 6 months should be enough.
Please consult with your local vet whether heartworm is common in your area or not. If yes, take a heartworm test and if the result is negative, start giving your puppy Nexgard Spectra every 4 weeks during the mosquito season. If you skip more than 4 weeks between 2 Nexgard Spectra pills, please always take a heartworm test before restarting the treatment.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
Here you can find the answers in the TomKings Frenchie Family Facebook Group
You can also watch our video in which we show how to clean your puppy's wrinkles: https://youtu.be/M-DXrNjezeY
Click here to find some great tear stain wipes that we recommend for your Frenchie!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
Some puppies develop separation anxiety and some don’t, it is not fully understood. Whatever the cause, it’s important to realize these behaviors are not malicious and that they are likely to panic or other coping behaviors. Adjusting your puppy to being alone is the best approach.
It’s good for your angel to be comfortable when home alone. You can help your puppy learn this by taking a little time and following these simple steps.
Please start as soon as possible:
-Develop a schedule for your puppy and make sure your family stick to it.
-Always give your puppy an opportunity to go potty prior to crating her/him
-You need to crate train your furry baby and she/he needs to feel confident and calm in the crate.
-Crate your angel for short periods while you are present. For example, when you are watching television, put your puppy in her/his crate and put the crate next to the sofa. Gradually increase the time your angel is crated. Reward quiet behavior with calm praise. Start leaving alone in the crate. Start with just a few minutes at a time. Gradually increase the time spent alone
-Limit the attention she/he gets shortly before leaving or when arriving home.
-When you let your dog out of the crate, remain calm and keep the greetings to a minimum. You don’t want to make your puppy excited.Typically, puppies aren’t ready to be given unsupervised freedom in your home until they are approximately a year-and-a-half or older.
-Try to make sure someone in your family is home as much as possible. Consider hiring a puppy-walker or neighbor to give your puppy a midday break while everyone is in work or school.
Please do not give up on your puppy and please read all the comments and posts related to separation anxiety in our Facebook group. They will be super helpful and you will realize it will get better very very soon
And here you can see Q and A-s about the topic in the Tomkings Frenchie Family Facebook group
(if you are not member yet then you need to join first to see them)
Owning a smaller sized dog requires increased attention from you. With shorter legs, Frenchies are sensitive to height. To prevent any joint injury, like bone fracture, sprain, or wrick, we recommend you not to let your dog jump on and off a higher place.
If you sleep with your Frenchie, and you have a bed with a high box spring, build a ramp so your baby can freely walk up and down. Jumping on and off a regular couch will not cause any harm.
The adult Frenchies' body structure is a lot more massive. But still, you should be careful with letting your puppy jump off high places.
If you need more information on this topic, join our closed Facebook Frenchie Family group, where you can read a lot of tips and experiences of other owners. If you are already a member, click HERE to jump to health-related posts.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
Dog scooting might look funny at first, but it's a sign that something is wrong "back there".
If you notice your Frenchie scooting just once or just here and there, you might not need to rush off to the vet. It depends on how much it’s happening. Sometimes, they might just have an itch. You could try cleaning the area with a gentle shampoo and soft washcloth, making sure to rinse away all the soap completely and dry the area well with a clean paper towel.
If the dog scooting happens more than once a day, or if the behavior goes on for more than a day or two, it’s time for a visit to the vet.
Here's a list of possible scooting causes:
1. It might be caused by worms. If you notice any sign of worms in the dog feces, give the dog anthelmintics. Always follow the description on the box regarding the required amount!
2. The stench gland is full. The vet or the dog groomer will express the anal glands.
3. It also might be caused by fungus. Only vets can diagnose this, and they will prescribe a fungicide cream and some pills.
If you need more information on this topic, join our closed Facebook Frenchie Family group, where you can read a lot of tips and experiences of other owners. If you are already a member, click HERE to jump to health-related posts.
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
There is absolutely no need to worry! Heart murmurs are normal for young dogs and will pass by.
Let me quote you VCA's article on Heart Murmurs in Dogs:
In the case of a grown-up Frenchie, if s/he is often exhausted and has heavy breathing, you better take him/her to the vet. If s/he has a heart problem, the vet will prescribe some heart medicine. But this case is really rare! NONE of our dogs have ever had any heart issues!
If you have any question regarding the health of your TomKings Frenchie, please send it to health@tomkingskennel.com and we’ll forward it to our vet!
OTHER
The chip can be found in the left shoulder of your puppy. Your puppy's microchip number is written in the passport on the 3rd page.
You can register your puppy’s microchip in the US on this link:
https://www.petlink.net/us/welcome
You can register your puppy’s microchip in the US on this link:
https://www.petlink.net/us/welcome
Your puppy's microchip number is written in the passport on the 3rd page.
(Important for breeders only – you’ll only need this if you purchased registration for your puppy.)
If you’d like to register your FCI-registered French Bulldog with the AKC (American Kennel Club), the process is actually quite simple. You’ll need to send the items listed below to the AKC, and once submitted, the registration typically takes a few weeks to process.
What you’ll need:
A completed Foreign Dog Registration form
A copy of your Frenchie’s 3-generation FCI pedigree
Two photos of your dog (standing side and front view)
A $100 fee (payable to the AKC)
Important note for exotic-colored Frenchies:
AKC does not recognize non-standard colors like blue, lilac, or merle. On your form, make sure to write “fawn” or “brindle” as the color so your application is accepted.
Download and print the registration form here:
http://images.akc.org/pdf/ADIMPT.pdf
Need help filling it out? This guide can walk you through it:
https://bit.ly/3osQE0f
Additional information for the form:
Microchip type:
ISO transponder: 2.12 × 12 mm
Breeder details:
Name: Tamas Kiss
City: Csantavér
Address: Gruács Gyula utca 15.
ZIP code: 24220
Country: Serbia
If you need help with any step, feel free to write us, we’re happy to assist!
Not at all—especially when it comes to Frenchies! Many of them actually need a little extra help staying warm due to their short fur and sensitive bodies. If you like to go on walks even in cold, rainy, or snowy weather, a cozy sweater or raincoat can make your pup much more comfortable.
That said, it’s important that any clothing fits well and doesn’t get in the way of their movement, vision, hearing, or potty time. Some Frenchies genuinely enjoy being dressed up, while others might not be so thrilled—and that’s okay too. The key is to always be respectful of your pup’s comfort and preferences.
Thanks to their short hair and little tails, Frenchies are generally pretty low-maintenance when it comes to hygiene. Still, we do recommend giving them a gentle wipe after potty time, just to make sure they’re nice and clean.
There was a conversation about this topic in the TomKings Frenchie Family Facebook group (lease join the group if you haven’t yet). You can read the discussion here.