The Ultimate Guide to Prepare for Getting Your New Frenchie

It is exciting to look forward to the arrival of your furry family member. At the same time, it’s also a busy time preparing for your puppy, and making sure they can easily settle in. In the past 17 years, we have prepared hundreds of owners for the arrival of their Frenchies, and we’re happy to share this ultimate guide for new Frenchie parents (even if you don’t buy the dog from us).

When a puppy parent buys a French Bulldog from us, we always help them prepare for the puppy to arrive. We share checklists, guides, answer questions, and keep them updated with photos and videos about their baby. We’re in touch with the parents until the moment they are united with their furry friend, and even beyond.

It’s crucial for the puppy to have an as seamless transition as possible from the farm to their new home. This guide is designed to answer your questions and help you prepare for your puppy.

What to buy before your puppy arrives – a complete checklist

Sleeping place for your Frenchie

If you don’t want your Frenchie to  sleep in your bed (which we don’t recommend for safety and health reasons), prepare a comfy sleeping place for your little one from day one. First, choose a spot in your home. It should be peaceful and quiet enough, but not too far from where the family is to avoid separation anxiety.

It’s not only a place to spend the night but also to find some peace if your baby is overwhelmed, or to take a nap during the day.

You have the option to buy a dog bed, cushion, or crate (or a combination of these).

Dog beds 

Dog beds are made of a soft, comfy, warm material, and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. For a French Bulldog, choose a bed for small-sized dog breeds. Here are some tips to consider:

• Nest-shaped beds give your baby a cuddle-like feeling, while square-shaped beds have a bit more room for the puppy. There are also cushions which are the simpler versions of beds.

• As for the materials, there are hypoallergenic dog beds and pillows. Fabrics made of 100% cotton, hemp, or microfiber fabric are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. 

• Choose a bed filled with orthopedic memory foam for maximum comfort for your baby. 

• Make sure the bed is washable or has a removable cover so that you can keep it clean.

Crates

It might sound harsh to keep your baby in a crate but there are very comfy, spacious crates, which look like a dog house. It can keep them safe when you need to leave them alone and it’s also helpful when you do potty training. You can remove the front to make it feel more open.

• Crates are made of various materials, like metal, plastic, and wood and there are foldable versions that are handy for trips.

• Consider a resizable crate that can be adjusted as your beauty grows.

• Put a pillow or mattress in the crate to make it soft and inviting for the puppy to stay.

Tip: 

You can have more nap ‘stations’ in your home, and combine the above solutions, but the good news is that French Bulldogs love to sleep regardless of where they are.

For more tips read our step-by-step guide to crate train your Frenchie.

Toys

French Bulldogs are extremely playful and your puppy will find several objects in your home to play with regardless of the original purpose of that object. Puppy toys make it easier for them to settle and help with training and rewarding.

Comfort toys

You don’t need to buy a lot of toys before your Frenchie arrives, but a nice welcome toy will help them settle. It can be a soft toy (without any metal parts, ribbon or buttons to avoid suffocating), or a blanket. Make sure the stuffing is safe for dogs. 

Warning! Children’s soft toys are NOT suitable for dogs, as they are not as durable.

Activity toys

These toys help the little rascal let some steam off and come in handy at training too. It can be a ball expander or a rope you can play tug-of-war with (let them chew and then shake it).

Mental health (or distraction) toys

Your little furbaby doesn’t only need physical but also mental activities to keep them from boredom, and activate their brain. These are so-called ‘busy boxes’ filled with treats, and your pup has to move a cube around to get to the treat.

Teething toys

French Bulldogs start teething around the age of 3 months. Toys like rubber bones (or any other shape) can prevent them from chewing on everything.

Tip:

Don’t give your pup a lot of toys at once, even if you buy them more. Give them toys gradually, as a reward.

French Bulldog clothes

Normally there’s no need to dress your Frenchie as their coat protects them. However, in extreme cold or when it’s heavily raining/snowing, you might want to add an extra layer of insulation, such as a quilted jacket.

When it’s icy or snowy outside, and road salt is used, make sure you wash your puppy’s paws in lukewarm water to avoid irritation. There’s no need for your Frenchie to wear boots when walking in winter to keep their paws warm and healthy.

In the summer heat, dress your pup in a cooling vest to prevent overheating which French Bulldogs are prone to. Avoid walking them on hot pavement.

Always buy clothes made of breathable and washable material.

Available puppies

Available Puppies

Bonnie, the luxurious

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Cashmere, the soft

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Luca, the lucky

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Daniel, the dancer

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Samuel, the superpup

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Rambo, the brave

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Rambo, the brave

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Sandy, the sweet

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Linda, the lovely

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Grant, the gallant

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All the available pups

Tip

There is a range of cute and stylish outfits and accessories for Frenchies, it’s hard to resist the temptation to buy them all! You don’t need a lot of these pieces though before your Frenchie arrives. Remember that your baby will grow, so until their first birthday you might need to buy new clothes as they grow.

Leash and collar

When you take your baby for a walk to the park, you’ll need to leash train them to stay safe.

As for the length of the leash, as Frenchies are small and are close to the ground, a shorter leash tends to be better.

This might come as a surprise but we actually recommend using a collar rather than a harness. Dog trainers will usually agree that a harness gives too much confidence to a dog and they may become difficult to handle.

Grooming tools

French Bulldogs don’t need daily grooming. Bathe them monthly (but not less than every 6 weeks) depending on the weather and the daily activities of the pup.

Make sure you have the basic tools by the time your puppy arrives and read our Ultimate French Bulldog Care Guide.

High-velocity dryer

Before bathing, use a high-velocity dryer to loosen the dirt and remove excess coat.

Furminator

Furminators are specifically designed for short-haired dogs, like Frenchies, to reduce shedding and take care of their coats. It removes the undercoat that has fallen out but is still in the hair. Use it once a week to protect your baby’s skin.

Shampoo

Buy hypoallergenic dog shampoo as a start. As you see your baby’s needs, you can add conditioners later. There are several alternatives and even prescription shampoos for skin problems. 

Facial cleanser

The lovely wrinkles of your Frenchie require special care, as these might hold bacteria. Wipe their tears daily and use natural moisture to remove tear stains.

Hydrating spray

After you let your Frenchie dry, you might want to massage hydrating spray into their skin to keep their smooth coat in prime condition.

Rubber mat

Add a rubber mat in your bathtub when you bathe your baby to avoid accidents caused by the slippery surface. You can remove it once done with the grooming.

Brusher

Even if their coat is short, French Bulldogs shed the whole year. Brush your pup every week to remove excess hair and reduce the amount of shedding.

Car equipment

Chances are that you will take home your new Frenchie by car, and hopefully go on several awesome journeys with them. Make sure your baby has a safe and enjoyable ride, and train them to only get out of the car on your command.

Even if your Frenchie will be happy to curl up in your lap when traveling, we highly suggest buying a suitable dog car restraint to keep your baby safe. Choose from the below options (also check the legal requirements of the country or state you live in.)

Dog crate

Carrying your Frenchie in a crate – and securing the crate by a seatbelt – is very safe, but your pup might need training to get used to it. There are also soft dog crates and dog carrier bags that are more practical.

Dog car harness

It’s a dog harness and car seat belt in one, specially designed to secure your puppy in the car. The harness is adjustable and integrates with any car belt system. Your baby needs no training to use it, so you might want to use it when taking him or her home from the airport.

Car seat

Check the below things when choosing a car seat:

• The material of the seat is soft and doesn’t irritate the skin.
• It’s waterproof and washable.
• Easily connects to the seatbelt.
• It supports Frenchies up to 25 lbs
• Even better if the seat has storage pockets.

Car seat cover protection

It’s a good idea to buy a car seat cover to protect your car against dirty paws.

Other car accessories

Make sure you always have the following items in the car when traveling with your Frenchie:

• paper towels, wet towels
• treats
• waste bags
• medications if necessary
• toys.

Pet insurance

We don’t represent any insurance companies, but we know how much vets cost, so we strongly recommend you buy pet insurance for your Frenchie.

We offer a health guarantee for our TomKings puppies against genetic illnesses, but unfortunately, injuries and illnesses can happen. Vet treatments can cost hundreds of dollars, or even more. 

Policies might cover:

• vet fees in case of illnesses, and injuries
• dental treatment, routine check-ups, dental accidents, and emergencies
• advertising cost if your Frenchie is lost, and the reward for the safe return of your pup
• the price of the puppy if the worst happens
• emergency treatments abroad
• the cost of the damages your little rascal causes to others

Check the comparison sites: there are various types of covers and the fees depend on what you’d like to include. You can also read our TomKings Frenchie Family members’ experiences about different insurance companies in our Facebook group.

Dog food and feeding tools

As you prepare for your puppy’s arrival, buying dog food should be at the top of the shopping list.

To find the best food for your French Bulldog, the best is to ask the breeder what they feed your pup with and what their recommendation is. Young puppies might struggle with switching their food, so we always tell new parents which brand they should buy.

Later you can change their diet gradually and see how your pup reacts. Always make sure you buy premium food, and pay close attention to the list of ingredients on the packaging. 

The first item on the list should be fresh or raw meat/fish. This could be beef, lamb, salmon, or any other meat (but not ‘animal protein’). French Bulldog is a sensitive dog breed, so avoid chicken and grain as these might cause allergic reactions.

How much and how often do they eat?

As a rule of thumb, Frenchies should be fed about 25-30 calories worth of food per each pound of body weight. This means that an adult French Bulldog should normally eat 550-600 calories, highly active rascals might even need 750-820 calories per day spread out across the whole day, including snacks. Read our blog about dog nutrition.

A three-month-old baby eats three times a day, which changes to twice a day (morning and evening) when they are about five months old.

Bowls

Frenchies are big eaters, they love eating and they will eat whatever you put in front of them. Eating too fast without chewing the food properly might cause bloating and even choking, so choose an anti-choking feeding bowl, which stops your Frenchie from eating their food too fast. 

Due to the lovely flat face and the short neck (as it’s a brachycephalic breed), French Bulldogs can’t manage very deep bowls, so choose a more shallow one. As for the material, scratch-resistant stainless steel is a sensible choice. Buy one for water and another one for food. 

Tip:

add a little cold water to the food to prevent choking.

Farting

We won’t hide it, French Bulldogs fart, and it smells bad (and your baby won’t be an exception). It’s again the cute face: they swallow air when they eat, and that air will have to leave the body somehow.

You can improve the situation by avoiding processed and highly-fermentable food like beans, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Frenchie-proof your home

Frenchie-proofing your home means that you remove anything that could cause harm to your puppy or that your puppy could cause any harm to.

TomKings puppies are used to moving around in the house and the garden as family members. But it doesn’t mean they can have access to anything. 

As you take your baby home, the little rascal will want to explore everything, and even a plain object you wouldn’t notice might seem like huge excitement for them. 

Puppy-proof your kitchen:

• Kitchen detergents and washing machine tablets should be locked away or stored out of the puppy’s reach. 

• The trash can attracts puppies with all the intriguing smell, so make sure it has secure, tightly fitted lids. Even better if you store it in a closet or underneath the sink, closed with a child-proof lock. If it’s not in a closed area, place a weight at the bottom of the can, so that it’s not easy for your pup to knock it over.

• As mentioned above, Frenchies will eat anything and everything they can have access to. Don’t leave any food unattended in the kitchen, when storing, cooking, or when the meal is ready.

• Keep vegetables and fruits in a closed pantry as some of these are toxic for your puppy.

Some of the toxic vegetables:

• potatoes, 
• garlic, 
• mushroom,
• onions,
• tomato.

Some of the toxic fruits:

• avocado, 
• grapes, 
• raisins, 
• passion fruit.

Puppy-proof your bathroom

• Keep detergents and all cleaning and chemical products locked away.
• If you have a trash can in the bathroom follow the same tips as for the one in the kitchen.
• Wherever you store medicines, remember to keep them safe from your baby.

Puppy-proof your living room

• Secure electric cords and wires, preferably by hiding them so that your puppy won’t be able to chew them or get caught up in them. Use plug socket covers (like the ones parents buy for babies), and keep them on sockets at your puppy’s level.

• You probably wouldn’t think that some of your beautiful plants and flowers (or parts of them) could be toxic for your furbaby. So remember to move them to a place where your Frenchie won’t have access. (These plants include azalea, daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and evergreens like pine, but the list is long.)

• Remove small decorative objects as the little explorer will try to eat these and it might cause them to choke.

You might feel it’s easier to use a puppy gate to keep your Frenchie away from some areas of your home, especially in the first period after they arrive.

Click on the link below if you want to dive deeper into ensuring the safety and well-being of your fur babies, especially when you’re not home. Discover expert tips on the importance of pet-friendly home security and how technologies like cameras and GPS trackers can help monitor and safeguard your pets. Whether you have a pet with special medical needs or a playful new kitten or puppy, this article has got you covered.

Read the full article here

Puppy-proof your garden

If you have a garden, remember to puppy-proof it too. 

• Lock away soil fertilizers, sharp tools, and cleaning products.
• French Bulldogs can’t swim, so if you have a swimming pool, make sure you fence it so that your Frenchie can’t fall into it.
• Just like in the house, small objects should be removed, or locked away.

Expert tips from TomKings Sandra, Dog Training Specialist:

You might think you have removed everything dangerous, and your clever little baby will still find something. A young puppy always wants to do what’s not allowed. Apart from puppy-proofing your home, teach your puppy the most important command, ‘NO!’.

TomKings Sandra, Dog Training Specialist of TomKings Puppies 

What to do in an emergency

Expert tips from Tom Kiss BSc (Hons) Animal Breeding, Co-Founder of Tomkings Puppies:

If you follow the above precautions, your puppy will be safe. But the little rascals might find their own way of doing something naughty. 

Tom Kiss BSc (Hons) Animal Breeding, Co-Founder of Tomkings Puppies

If you follow the above precautions, your puppy will be safe. But the little rascals might find their own way of doing something naughty. 

• Professional help: if your puppy eats anything toxic, take them to the vet immediately.

• Frenchie first aid: learn Frenchie first aid so that you can act fast if your baby is choking, as it could be too late to wait for the vet. Pick up your puppy, reach down his or her throat, and remove any food or object you find. 

How to mentally prepare for your new puppy

It’s one thing to buy all the necessary equipment, food and arrange the practical things. As important as these preparations are, dedicate time to mentally prepare for your puppy, involving all the family members.

The adjustment period

After the long wait, and the joy of finally being united with your baby, the first few weeks can be overwhelming for both the puppy and you. The pup has to leave their litter, sisters, brothers, and the breeders who have been with them from their birth. You will also need to dedicate a lot of time and effort to helping your new family member settle in. Being mentally prepared for this period will make it easier to adjust.

When you bring your new Frenchie home, it usually doesn’t take long until they adapt to your family’s life. But there’s a catch! You’ll need to continue the family rhythm the way it was and not change it in a way that suits your pup.

For example, if you normally wake up at 8 am, you shouldn’t get out of bed earlier to play with your puppy just because they woke up at 6. One of the many things we love about Frenchies is that they are extremely adaptable, so you can be sure that your pup will quickly adjust to your sleeping schedule and all the other routines you follow throughout the day.

First night with the new puppy

It’s normal for your puppy to cry, or whine during the first night due to the transition in his or her life. It doesn’t mean that they don’t like you though. 

• Before your puppy arrives, decide where they will sleep. Choose a quiet place that is not too isolated from the family.
• Prepare a very comfy, soft bed (see our tips above in this guide), which is very attractive for your puppy to retreat to.
• You can put a piece of your clothes there so that the puppy can smell your scent and feel you close.
• Place a soft dog toy there that they can sleep with.
• If your puppy doesn’t want to stay in their bed, use simple instructions “Go to bed”, and be consistent with it.
• Don’t let your puppy sleep in your bed (unless you want to make it a general practice).

How much time should you spend with your puppy in the first few weeks? 

Before you welcome a furry family member into your home, one of the first things you need to consider is whether you’ll be able to spend enough time with them, especially in the initial period. Frenchies are a very social breed, and your pup will need you to be there for them most of the time.

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Of course there will be cases when you need to leave them alone for more than a couple of hours, for which you should always be prepared and ask one of your friends or hire a dog sitter to watch your Frenchie.

Raising a puppy is not only about playing with them, but it’s also about responsibility and consistency. Share the puppy chores among the family members, agree on who is doing what, and involve the kids too. Keep in mind that puppy training lasts for 6-8 months altogether.

Spending quality time together is certainly one of the best ways to build a strong bond with your pup, but going overboard is not healthy either. Sometimes you’ll just need to give your Frenchie some space, a couple of hours during the day when they can retreat to their safe place and take a relaxing nap away from everyone.

Expert tips from TomKings Sandra, Dog Training Specialist:

• In the first 1-2 weeks, spend as much time with your baby as you can. 
• It doesn’t mean 24 hours a day, as your Frenchie has to get used to being alone to reduce the chance of developing separation anxiety.
• You can share time spent with your furbaby with the family members so that the puppy can get used to the whole family. 
• Agree on the rules with the family, and make sure everyone follows these.
• It’s crucial to spend quality time with the puppy, not only when training them.

TomKings Sandra, Dog Training Specialist of TomKings Puppies 

How to introduce your Frenchie to your other pets

French Bulldogs are perfect family dogs as they get on extremely well not only with the two-legged but also with four-legged family members. They make friends with other pets quickly and easily, but it matters a lot how you introduce them to each other. 

Introducing your new puppy to another dog – 7 things to know

1. Hold the introduction in a neutral place (the garden or your family room).
2. Keep both of them on a leash, or if both of them are used to being in a crate, they can meet through the crate. It doesn’t have to last more than a few minutes, just let them see and smell each other.
3. Repeat it a couple of times, and you’ll see when they are ready to play together. Always supervise them when they are together.
4. If you have an older dog, make sure that their routine is not disrupted, and that you respect the previous hierarchy that existed before your new puppy arrived.
5. Give the same attention to the older puppy as before, but don’t show favoritism.
6. Train the younger puppy to respect the territory, food, and possessions of the older one.
7. As a rule of thumb, puppies of the opposite sex get on well better (or quicker). Same-gender puppies have to decide who is dominant and who the leader of the pack is. Give them more time, be firm and consequent, and show them that you are the leader of the pack.

Introducing your puppy to your cat

Contrary to popular belief, French Bulldogs and cats get on well. But, again, make an effort to make it a smooth introduction.

1. First, let them get familiar with each other’s smell. You can have them smell a piece of toy or object from the other pet. Or take them to each other’s place when the other pet is not there.
2. Next, you can let them meet while you supervise them, and after a few minutes, you can separate them again.
3. Repeat this until they get on well with each other.

Introducing your puppy to a bunny or smaller animal

Even if the French Bulldog is not a hunter breed, they can get excited when they see a smaller animal running. 

1. Tire the puppy before you let them meet the bunny.
2. Keep the bunny in a cage (they also feel safer like that)
3. Let the puppy lie next to the cage and show him or her that you are the pack leader and that they are not above the bunny in the hierarchy.

Introducing your puppy to a baby

French Bulldogs are great with kids and they become best friends forever. But if you have a young baby, be careful with the introduction for the safety of the baby.

1. First let the puppy smell a piece of clothes or a toy of the baby.
2. Then, let the puppy in the baby’s room.
3. Always supervise your puppy in the baby’s room.

What are some common puppy illnesses?

Puppies should get vaccinated in their first weeks to protect them from diseases. Always check with the breeder which vaccinations your puppy has received.

At TomKings Puppies, our pups are vaccinated against the following illnesses:

1. shot *Nobivac Parvo C against Parvo at 5 weeks old
2. shot *Nobivac DHP/L: combined vaccinations against canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis at 7 weeks old
3. shot *Nobivac DHP/L: combined vaccinations against canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis at 9 weeks old
4. shot *Nobivac Rabies against rabies at 3 months + 1 day old.

A booster against rabies is needed in 6 months, and then every year, the combined vaccinations are recommended every year (can be together with the shot against rabies).

Diarrhea

Due to the stress caused by the travel and the change of the environment, puppies can develop diarrhea or loose stool. It’s not uncommon and there’s no need to worry, when they settle in it usually stops. 

Diarrhea can also occur later when you change the diet of your puppy, due to infections, or eating something dangerous. 

What to do:

Give water to your pup and if it doesn’t stop, call your vet to find out what to do.

Eye problems

That adorable, cute flat face again! This shape causes the eyes to protrude, making Frenchies more prone to infections and injuries. The most common French Bulldogs eye problems might include:

• Dry eye (when insufficient tears are produced)
• Cherry eye (a large, red, almost cherry-like lump)
• Conjunctivitis (pink or red eyes, blinking more than usual)

What to do: it’s essential to clean your Frenchie’s eyes once a week with gauze pads and water to remove dirt. If you spot cherry eye or anything unusual in the eyes, contact your vet.

Teeth problems 

Because of their small mouth, and shorter-than-normal skulls, French Bulldogs can have overcrowding teeth. This might lead to dental issues like tooth decay. 

What to do: if you notice your Frenchie is drooling more than normal or has a hard time chewing, get them checked by a vet. 

Prevention is crucial: regularly feed your baby with food that makes them chew (like raw carrots) or use a dental dog chew toy. These help avoid tartar buildup and maintain healthy teeth and gum.

Allergies

Frenchies coming from a premium bloodline are less prone to allergies. But even in this case, they might develop food, detergent, or environmental allergies.

The symptoms include lack of appetite, diarrhea, and scratching.

What to do: start by changing your baby’s diet, or detergent.

WARNING! 

If you see anything unusual, always contact your vet to get advice. If you try to cure your baby yourself (based on Google or advice coming from friends), it can do more harm than good.

Puppy training

Puppies need love, care, and consistency, and this is what they are used to on the farm where they have been raised from their birth. When you’re finally united with your furbaby after weeks of waiting, you can be tempted to pamper them. Do this, and you’ll have a very hard time introducing rules later.

In the first weeks everything will be new and foreign to them. They won’t know what is good or bad behavior, how they should react in certain situations, which of course becomes completely natural as they grow. Just like with kids, showing and teaching these things will be your task as their parent. 

There’s a saying that what happens to a dog three times they will always expect that to happen, meaning the first few days and weeks are absolutely crucial in shaping your little Frenchie pup’s behavior.

Follow our tips below to train a happy, well-behaved puppy!

9 things to pay attention to as a new Frenchie parent

1. Sorting out the family hierarchy

One of the first and most important things that you’ll need to teach your new puppy is their place in the family hierarchy: they have to understand that you and your family members are the bosses at home starting from day one. Without this nothing will work properly. 

Let us explain why. When your Frenchie joins your family they become part of a “pack” where they need a leader to look up to, someone who tells them what to do. Having clear expectations towards your Frenchie is absolutely essential to raise a happy and balanced dog, and your family members should all follow the rules you set up as well.

Dogs have excellent adapting skills and they learn incredibly fast, but for that you all need to be very consistent in raising your furry family member. Read this article to learn how you can become your Frenchie’s pack leader.

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2. Learning how to communicate and using the right voice

It’s important to make a difference between rules and training. Rules have to be obeyed under any circumstances, and there’s no reward for it (like walking on a leash, not jumping at the puppy parent, not jumping on the bed etc). When training, you reward when your puppy delivers.

Your puppy doesn’t understand WHAT you say but HOW you say it, so it’s essential to use the right voice when you talk to them.

• When you say a command, use a firm, confident neutral voice, normal volume.
• When you praise him or her, use a friendly, sweet voice, normal or high volume.
• When you want to punish your baby, use a forceful, strict, deep tone of voice, high volume.

3. Teaching the command word NO

In the first few days your new Frenchie pup will have no idea what they can and can’t do, so it’s just natural that they’ll be testing the limits. So, when they do something that’s not acceptable for you, your task is to tell them off with a loud and clear NO.

At the beginning that probably won’t be enough, so if they don’t listen to you, say the command word again while raising your voice and showing that you’re angry with your face and body as well. 

This way you can quicky and efficiently teach your puppy that when you say NO they need to stop what they’re doing right away. Even the most mischievous pup can learn that, so if it doesn’t work you’re most likely not confident enough. Check out this article for more basic command words that a puppy should learn.

4. Teaching your puppy other basic commands

• Come! – Call your puppy’s name, and give them a treat if they come.
• Stop! – As you walk your puppy and they want to pull on the leash, say “Stop!’ to show them who is dominant.
• Sit! Lie! Down! – Again, give them a treat if they follow the command.
• Quiet! – French Bulldogs don’t bark a lot, but if your baby is annoying you, tell them to be quiet.

5. Feeding times

First-time Frenchie parents tend to worry too much about their puppy’s eating habits, but it shouldn’t be that way. Your only task really is to choose the right dog food and figure out the right amount for your puppy, read this article about the topic.

This will of course take some experimenting, but once you manage to find that works best, your Frenchie should start eating the food as soon as you put it in front of them. If they don’t do so within five minutes, never leave the food in front of them! You should take it away and give it to them at the next feeding time.

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6. Potty training

As a new Frenchie parent, you should be aware that a 12-15-week-old pup cannot hold their bladder for a long time: when they need to go they’ll go. The truth is that potty training is a long and gradual process, and it requires lots of patience and consistence from your side. We recommend reading this and this article for some essential tips. 

Here are the 3 basic steps of potty training:

1. Remove all the carpets as accidents will most likely happen.
2. Take your Frenchie out as often as you can (ideally every 3-4 hours), but especially after feeding, before going to bed, and after waking up.
3. Every time they pee or poo in the right place, you need to praise them and show how happy you are. When see them pee inside, you need to tell them off immediately!

7. Leash training 

As difficult as it may seem in the beginning, puppies get the hang of the leash very fast. They’ll learn that it is an amazing thing because it only means one thing: walking time! Read this detailed guide to learn everything about leash training.

Here are the 3 basic steps of leash training:

1. First, make your Frenchie get used to the collar. While wearing it, try to distract them with a fun game.
2. Once your puppy is familiar with the collar, attach the leash to it. Simply let it lay on the floor while you distract their attention. Once they pay attention to you, give your furbaby recognition.
3. Start walking: first lead your puppy on the leash in the living room, then go outside.

8. Socializing

It’s very important that your puppy is exposed to new things as early as possible. The list is very long but here’s just a few: kids and older people, cats and other dogs, traveling by car, getting used to noisy roads, walking by bikers, skaters and so on.

The more your young Frenchie sees of this world the more balanced and calmer they will be later on, so we highly recommend that you start taking out your pup as early as possible. An adult dog who’s not socialized properly may cause lots of headache for their parents. 

9. Building habits

Dogs are creatures of habit, which means they only feel safe and comfortable if they are in an environment that is predictable and consistent. They need a system in their life in which they know exactly what they can expect and what is expected from them.

That means that you cannot allow something and forbid it next time, otherwise you’ll end up confusing your Frenchie. This is a common mistake first-time puppy parents tend to make, so just remember that consistency is key and you’ll raise a balanced and happy dog.  

Geri Kiss, Co-founder of TomKings Puppies 

“We had quite a few clients who already had a bad experience with another breeder or a scammer. This is when we started to publish articles and two books, to help future puppy parents choose the right French Bulldog breeder. Our underlying mission is to promote ethical breeding and reputable breeders and to fight scammers and puppy mills. If you have any questions we didn’t answer in this guide, we are happy to help, even if you don’t buy the puppy from us.”

Geri Kiss, Co-founder of TomKings Puppies

FAQ

The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for more than 10 years on their farms. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.