The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) modified the requirements for importing dogs to the US and waived the 30-day waiting period after the puppies are vaccinated against rabies at their age of 3 months. This means that if you adopt a puppy from outside the US, you can be united with your beauty right when they are 3 months old – instead of the 4 months previously required. The question is which age is the best if we take into account all the circumstances. The experts of TomKings Puppies answer.
What is the best age to adopt a French Bulldog puppy?
Our farm is located in Europe and hundreds of our puppies have been adopted by parents living overseas with the US being a major destination. Following the CDC requirements being in effect until recently the youngest age our pups could travel was 4 months. This has recently changed to 3 months as we don’t have to wait for another 30 days after their 3-month rabies vaccination.
However, it still has several advantages to wait until they are 4 months old as confirmed by happy Frenchie parents in the Tomkings Frenchie Family Facebook Group. We list here the most common reasons.
Frenchie puppies are better socialized
If you have picked a good breeder (see here how to do it), they are able to do do a very good job to help the pups socialize and get on well with other pets, kids, and the whole family. They benefit from being surrounded by their sisters and brothers as they get used to having to respect rules and adapt to others. As many of our clients say it even helps with their personalities and they become friendlier.
“I feel that with the puppies staying with Geri a bit longer, it actually serves their personality, training and socialization skills a good deal. I cannot recommend TomKing’s enough. The investment is well worth knowing you are getting a healthy, very-well-loved pup from day one!!” – Liz Lockwood
Frenchie puppies get more training
A good breeder has a lot of experience and knows the techniques to effectively train baby pups. Peer pressure works, the pups’ behavior is influenced by how their buddies behave. They also pick up new tricks easier as they can see how the others are doing it. Our clients appreciate our potty training the most; they often have to spend much less time with it and it goes easier thanks to the fact that we start it on the farm.
“We got our boy at 7 months! He was absolutely perfect in EVERY WAY! So glad he was a little older and we didn’t have to deal with some of the little puppy behaviors. He was meant to be ours!” – Leslee Pugh
“I think the age is perfect and makes things a heck of a lot easier for things such as continued potty training and of course the socializing the pups receive at TKK is amazing in helping create fantastic well-socialized pets.” – Angela Dundas
Frenchie puppies are more resistant to illnesses
First of all, they get guaranteed and regular attention from a proven vet if they stay longer with the breeder (we schedule at least 3 visits from the vet). As they stay together with the litter, the will have a stronger immune system. The pups play with each other and motivate each other to do a lot of physical activities so their body and muscles can grow properly.
After adoption, you don’t necessarily have to take your Frenchie boy or girl to the vet (the next vaccination will be due when they are 6 months old.) Read here what happens with the pups in the first few weeks.
“They hold their bladder more and up to date on shots, etc. And even if they are older, you know they have been well cared for by TKK. They will be good with other dogs and potty trained!” – Miya Poole
So what is the best age to adopt a Frenchie puppy?
It’s fair to say that any parent would like to be united with their pup as soon as possible. Some of them fear that they will miss the baby age. Following the ease of the CDC regulations, it becomes your decision, and you can adopt a pup from the age of 3 months even from outside the US. Still, our expert opinion and our clients’ feedback confirm that the puppies benefit from a bit more time spent with the (good) breeder.
“TomKings has been the most amazing experience. We received our bundle almost a month ago and he has truly been a blessing to our family. I recommend getting them older they are more adjusted, ours came sleeping through the night.” – Stephanie Melton Carrillo
If you want to ask puppy parents, feel free to join the Tomkings Frenchie Family Facebook Group.
The article was written based on the experience of the TomKings Puppies Team and their clients, the above procedure describes how they treat Frenchies on their farm, TomKings Puppies have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and show a puppy from their breed. Check their available puppies here, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.
