Warm Climates and French Bulldogs

French bulldogs are very intolerant to heat and will easily succumb in hot weather. This is because of the structure of their air passages. Dogs will usually pant to lose heat when it is hot. This panting is necessary to enable heat loss and at the same time to cool air as it passes through the air passages. In Frenchies however the short structure of these passages makes it difficult to exchange heat well as it passes thus making this cooling ineffective. Frenchies may also suffer from a condition that causes obstruction of the larynx during inspiration.

Frenchies are therefore very prone to overheating especially in warm climates. By taking the appropriate steps Frenchies can survive without any trouble in warm climates

Useful Tips

- French bulldogs will normally shed hair in warm climates as a coping mechanism. You can promote this process by brushing the dog to remove any loose hair as well as by trimming the hair.

- Do not subject your dog to extreme exercises especially not in the heat. Frenchies only need mild exercise to keep them fit and healthy. Exercise should be done in the morning or in later the evening when its cooler

- Frenchies should never be left out in the heat. In summer if you are going outdoors, leave your Frenchie indoors. If you have to stay with him then ensure that it is in the shade and provide him with enough water.

- Frenchies should under no circumstance be left in a locked car out in the heat. Open the windows and if you have air conditioning leave it on.

- French bulldogs can't swim; they are too heavy and besides swimming is very exerting. Do not leave your dog in the sun near a pool of water. The dog will be tempted to jump in and cool off. If you are there to supervise you can attach floaters to the dog and let him enjoy the water. Get your dog out of water if he shows signs of exhaustion or is having hard time breathing.

- Know how to recognize if your dog is having a heat stroke, a rectal thermometer may come in handy If the temperature is way above normal and the Frenchie is panting heavily and has a fast heart beat then take action fast.

- In warm climates, dress up your Frenchie in loose-fitting clothes made of a light fabric.

In case of a heat stroke, do not panic.

- Get your Frenchie out of the heat to a cool place

- Get an ice pack and apply especially on the face and neck area. You can also use some cool water and sprinkle it on the dog.

- Do not splash cold water on the dog or put in a cold bath as the sudden cold may cause the dog to get shock.

- You can try to get the dog to drink some cool water

With some common sense, French bulldogs will do well in warm climates and enjoy themselves.

Dr Joe Njenga is a Practicing Veterinarian Who Currently works as an Online Veterinary Practitioner providing Websites with Professional Veterinary Live Support. You can Learn More about taking care of your Dog from Dog Care Tips Blog http://dogcaretip.wordpress.com/

French Bulldog

Experts have debated, and continue to debate, the origins of this breed. A small English Bulldog, perhaps one as small as a toy, may be one of the ancestors, but there were probably several different breeds in France that were crossed with the Bulldogs in the late 1800s.

One of the distinguishing features of the breed today is the upright bat ears; Early American breeders can be established with crediting this feature. European dogs of this time period had the rose ears of the English Bulldogs.

The French Bulldog stands 10 to 12 inches tall and generally weighs between 16 to 28 pounds. The head is large and square, with a domed forehead.

The muzzle is very short. The eyes are large and dark; the bat ears are large and upright. The body is muscular and heavy-boned. The tail is straight on screwed. The coat of the French Bulldog is short and smooth; many colors are acceptable, but brindle and white or brindle and fawn are the most common.

This breed's coat should be brushed twice weekly. The wrinkles on the face should be cleaned daily. Frenchies are relatively low-activity dogs, although they do like to play and enjoy long walks. Their short muzzles make them prone to breathing difficulties, though, so exercises should be avoided during hot, humid weather.

Training should begin early. Although Frenchies are companion dogs, they can also have a mind of their own. The French Bull Dog club of America says, "Although cute and cuddly-looking, a French Bulldog has a big personality and needs an adequate amount of training to make it a civilized companion." House training can sometimes be a challenge.

This breed makes an excellent companion for a sedentary person who is home quite a bit. Although this breed can be good with children, they prefer adults to active kids. Unfortunately, as a brachycephalic (short-muzzled) and dwarf breed, French Bulldogs do have some health concerns, including breathing problems, back disorders, and difficulties with anesthesia.

Registries: AKC, CKC,UKC

Occupation: Companion

Size: 10 to 12 inches tall; 16 to 28 pounds

Longevity: 12 to 14 years

Exercise: Low activity level

Training: Challenge to house train

Grooming: Easy

To learn more about French Bulldogs and other dog breeds you can visit the all breed website and forum at http://www.PetPedigreeDatabase.com/

Patryk Janiszewski

Is a French Bulldog The Perfect Dog For You?

Cousin to the Boston Terrier, as well as the American and English Bulldog, the intelligent, friendly, comical and quite affectionate French Bulldog has been a loving companion and fun family pet.

Lance makers in England, miniaturized their English Bulldogs to create a lap dog for companionship. During Europe's Industrial Revolution, many migrated to France taking their small dogs with them. Soon, they were a huge hit in France and were referred to as the French Bulldog.

As a testament to their docile temperament and light-hearted personalities, when the original Boston Terriers were modified from vicious fighting dogs to gentle companion pets, a pinch of French Bulldog was added to the mix. To this day the Boston Terrier carries the best of the Frenchies genial traits.

Affectionately called a Frenchie, frog dog and/or clown dog, this little rascal is a favorite family pet and wonderful companion for older owners. Their antics keep young and old amused for hours. They love attention and will do anything for it.

Frenchies love people! Ask their owners to describe them and you will hear: silly, comical, laid back, sweet, adorable, intelligent, loveable, active, fun, devoted, playful, nosy, loves everything, easy going, alert, happy and stubborn! Intact males can sometimes be overly aggressive, especially with other males. It is suggested not to have same-sex Frenchies under the same roof. They usually do better when paired off with the opposite sex.

As always, they should be supervised with younger children, who should not be encouraged to pick them up and carry them around. Normally, they do better with older children, as they can be rambunctious, get carried away and play rather rough at times. For the most part, they do get along well with other small animals, but they should be supervised, since they can be forceful.

Their exercise needs are quite minimal compared to other breeds. A couple of brisk walks, followed by some interactive playtime with their owner and they are usually ready to go inside and chill out. Some do quite well in rally, agility, flyball and obedience competitions.

They are intelligent and love to learn. It is suggested to get your little guy or gal into positive reinforcement, punishment-free Puppy Kindergarten, socialization and obedience classes. Besides helping your puppy or dog become a well-mannered, well-adjust dog, it will help you learn how to be a better leader. Like many small breeds, if a Frenchie senses a lack of leadership, the negative behavioral problems of Small Dog Syndrome could appear.

A terrific apartment and condo pet, this breed does not tend to be yappy, or obsessive about barking.

Their energy level ranges from a quiet laid back couch potato to an off-the-wall poochie with no OFF button. That being the case, make sure the one you choose fits your lifestyle.

Frenchies are a brachycephlic breed; meaning, "short head." This makes them not only sensitive to extremes in temperature, it makes them champs in the snoring, snorting and farting categories!

They are not an outdoor dog. This is a dog that is not happy when tossed out in the yard and forgotten. If that is they type of dog you are looking for, don't get a dog!

The majority of Frenchies are conceived by artificial insemination and are born by Caesarian section. They average in weight from 20-30 pounds, with a lifespan of 10-12 years. The French Bulldog is in the Mastiff family, Non-sport group.

Health issues include: heat stroke, obesity, Von Willebrands Disease, back and spine problems, skin allergies, thyroid problems, eye problems, joint disease and heart disease. They are prone to megaesophagus or regurgitation, which can cause aspiration pneumonia. They also have a problem with standard anesthesia. Talk to your veterinarian about other options should the need arises.

Don't overfeed them. They are endearing, manipulative charmers and will do anything to wheedle an extra treat or two. Obesity can lead to serious health issues.

Grooming is a cinch! Most of the time a rub down with a damp towel and a quick brushing does the trick. They are minimal shedders. Bathe them only when necessary. Check and clean those enormous bat ears regularly.

Bottom line: Do your homework. Research the breed. Talk to French Bulldog owners. This is a great pet for the right person or family. Run; do not walk away from puppies at pet stores, classified ads and flea markets. They only perpetuate horrifying puppy mills and sloppy, inexperienced backyard breeders. It may cost a bit more, but a reputable, responsible breeder is your best bet for a healthier, happier dog. If you cannot afford a good breeder, check with shelter and rescues. As Frenchies are so popular with older owners, many are surrendered because of nothing more than life circumstances. You just may find your new best friend there, patiently waiting for you and a forever home.

Karen A. Soukiasian, GOOD DOG! - DOG TRAINING and BED-n-BISCUITS dog boarding and training - Owner/Trainer, St. Augustine, Florida - AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN and S.T.A.R. PUPPY Evaluator http://www.freewebs.com/gooddogsite
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Saint-Augustine-FL/GOOD-DOG-DOG-TRAINING/95917282486?ref=sgm

Blue French Bulldog Puppies Are the Cutest Pups Ever

The Blue French Bulldog is one of the fastest growing dog breeds in America and abroad. The breed itself is the already popular and increasing in popularity, The French Bulldog. This breed actually originated from Englad as they were selectively bred from the English Bulldog to be a more compact and toy-like breed. They were selectively bred to be much smaller than their tank-like cousins, The English Bulldog. Later the breed was brought back to France and their new names stuck. These cute, cuddly, smashed face bullies are to die for. The provide the toughness of a mini bulldog and the personality of a clownish couch potato. Blue Frenchie Bulldogs are no different except for their obvious difference in color and markings. The "blue" coat color on these precious mini Bulldogs is a result of a 'd' diluted gene. The blue color in general for most or all other dog breeds is in direct relation to the diluting of the black base color in dogs. At some point the black color was diluted to create the blueish hue that the this Bulldog displays today. The Blue Frenchie is also called "mouse" in color or gray, which is in fact what you see and not blue in actuality.

Now there are several different types of Blue French Bulldogs also lovingly refereed to as Frenchies. These are the most common colors of the Blue French Bulldogs:

Solid Blue French Bulldogs
Blue Pied Blue Frenchies
Blue Brindle Frenchis
Blue Fawn Blue Frenchies
and the very rare Blue and Tan French Bulldogs

The Blue French Bulldog puppies can be a costly purchase as well as they are so rare and so desirable that most start at a respectable price of $2,500 and ranging upwards of $5,000 and even $10,000 for extremely rare specimens with special characteristics and markings. Not all Frenchie puppies in a particular litter turn out with these types of blueish coat colors. But all are considered to carry the "blue gene" therefore they are labeled "blue carriers". Blue carriers are also very valuable as they have the ability to produce the diluted blue coats in their puppies although they don't display the coloration themselves.

The great thing about these Blue Frenchies is that they are most always sold with no breeding rights or as pet quality companion pets only. This is a great thing ion that this allows the breed to remain exclusive and obviously allows the breed to stay from being over bred and over populated in the US and around the world.

This exotic and majestic Bulldog breed is sure to thrive and increase in popularity in the upcoming years.

For more info on this breed you can visit Blue French Bulldog.

For more information on the beautiful Bulldog breed visit Blue French Bulldogs

Lou Rivera

Making Food For Your French Bulldog the Hypoallergenic Way

Has the thought ever crossed your mind that you may be able to make food for your French Bulldog by yourself? Did you know that doing this could make your dog much healthier? Homemade food can be much better for Chico than the processed bags you get from your local pet store. If you make it hypoallergenic, then you are taking even more steps to ensure Chico's health. You could always buy the hypoallergenic food at the store, but it is often pretty expensive, given the care that goes into making it. By making it yourself, you are saving your money and making your dog's life better at the same time.

Benefits

There are a lot of reasons why it is a good idea to make hypoallergenic dog food for your beloved Chico. With all of the ingredients companies are putting in the food these days as fillers, you can never be really confident that your furry companion is getting the nutrition he needs. It is basically the equivalent of letting your children eat one bite of dinner and then fill up on popcorn and soda. For the most part, they are all empty calories that will not benefit them in any way, and over time, can actually do damage to their systems. None of us wants to do that to our children, and we should never do it to our dogs, either. Certainly, we are all better parents than that!

Making your own dog food also provides the benefit of knowing exactly what is in his food so that if any problems arise, you are more likely to know what caused them. It is fairly common for a dog to go along happily eating the same food every day for years, and then suddenly develop an allergy to beef or chicken or some other ingredient in his normal food. If this happens with your homemade dog food, you can simply change the ingredients around until your dog is healthy and happy again! If you were continuing to feed Chico dry or canned food, you would have to switch brands to eliminate the problem.

Recipe

The most logical step in the process of making your dog's food is to take into account any health issues he may already have. If your dog has heart issues, you'd want to avoid using fatty meats. If your dog is allergic to something, you will understandably leave that food out of his mixture. The only thing you should consider is that it is extremely easy for a dog to become allergic to chicken. If you choose to use chicken in your dog food, you should alternate it with another type of meat regularly.

The best plan when making any type of food for your dog at home is to make a large amount that you can freeze in portion sized containers and thaw as they're needed. For a medium sized dog, one boneless, skinless chicken breast will combine with the other ingredients to make two meals. How much you cook will logically coincide with how many meals you are making. These instructions are for just two meals. You can increase the ingredient measurements based on how many meals you are making at one time and if for example, you have multiple dogs. Chop the chicken into small pieces or even shred it like cheese once it has been cooked because it will be easier for Chico to digest. Once you have the chicken chopped and ready, just put it in a big bowl and add one cup each of cooked rice, carrots that have been shredded, and green beans. Brown rice is much easier for a dog's system to handle than is white rice, so that is always the better option. The green beans can be frozen or fresh. Canned vegetables don't generally have much nutritional value. You can also alternate the brown rice with potatoes, so that your dog has more variety in his meals.

While the initial cost may seem more expensive, given how cheap most commercial brands of dog are, over Chico's lifespan, you'll notice fewer Vet visits and when you do take him in, it's just for his annual check-up.

At Ivan's Bulldogs, we have been breeding and training puppies for over 30 years. We are proud to be breeding Bulldogs with excellent quality, with little to no health problems and good temperaments. All of our French Bulldog puppies come with papers, shots and health guarantees. For more information, visit our website at http://www.BulldogsNewYork.com. PD # 699.

French Bulldog Dog Breed - The Good, the Bad, the Snorty

Are you considering the French Bulldog dog breed to become your loyal canine companion? Then read the following information to make sure you make the right decision.

The muscular compact build of the "frenchie" is in stark contrast with the funny, bat-like ears. Their funny heads are a good indicator to their temperament. They truly are clowns among dogs. They are pretty easy-going, balanced dogs. But they haven't forgotten their bulldog genes, they make good guard dogs and will do their best to protect you and your family.

Not too energetic, these dogs do very well in the city. A daily walk and some play in the garden or living room is enough exercise to keep them happy and healthy. Do be careful when the temperatures outside are rising. If your house or apartment doesn't have an ac unit, provide your French Bulldog with extra water and a cooling pad. Because of their short muzzle they have trouble regulating their temperature, which can cause heatstroke in warm weather.

The short nose is also responsible for one of their specific traits; snoring. Keep this in mind if you're going to share your bedroom with your frenchie, he might keep you up at night.

They do well with other pets and children. But you should pay some extra attention to same sex socializing with the females. Even though they bond very closely with their owner, they're not wary of strangers.

Training can be a bit of a struggle as they tend to be a little stubborn. Being firm and consistent will help you a long way in establishing yourself as your frenchie's boss.

If you don't mind a little drooling, snorting, snoring, wheezing and yes, some flatulence problems, then the French Bulldog dog breed is definitely worth considering. Head on over to http://www.small-dogs-and-the-city.com/french-bulldog-dog-breed.html for more information about the temperament, background and health problems of this fantastic small dog breed.

We Found a Surprise Plant

We, Frenchies, were down by the greenhouse, watching the guys move all the tropical plants into the new heated hoop house for winter storage.  Most of the plants survived our freak snowstorm a couple of weeks ago, except for a few that will need some TLC.  One, of those, in particular, caught our attention.

1 Sharkey, I don't remember seeing this plant before. It doesn't look like it fared too well after that freak snow storm. What do you suppose it is?

2 Why Francesca, I'm surprised you don't remember this one! I'll give you a few hints. Unlike other tropical fruits, the entire fruit is edible, including the waxy skin. They turn from green to yellow when ripe.

3 That's not enough of a hint! Hmm, the label in the pot says 'Carambola.' That name doesn't sound familiar.

4 Oh come on, Franny! I know you'll get it! The fruit can have three to six ridges, but most commonly has five. It's known for its unique shape.

5 The shape is quite interesting. I know I have seen this before! A few have fallen off before ripening. I'm going to take one into the head house and have a closer look!

6 I recognize this now that I've cut it in half! This is also called the starfruit!

7 I've seen it on Martha's show and in her cookbooks. It's most commonly eaten on its own or with other fruit, but can also pureed for its juice and sliced thinly to be used as a garnish.

8 Like many fruits, starfruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C. The texture is akin to a grape—fleshy yet firm on the inside with a crisp skin.

9 When ripe, the flavor has tones of apple, pear, and citrus. Mmm, can you smell it? It's beautiful and delicious!

Posted by F&S on November 11th, 2011 in Favorite Things, Friends, Housemates, Martha, Out & About, Photo Galleries, Playing, Working

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