Monday, October 31, 2011

French Bulldog Information And History


French Bulldog breeders surprised the English when they renamed a toy version of the English Bulldog after their own country. The Bulldog had long been a representative of English culture. However, the English had not accepted the smaller version of the Bulldog that the French people came to love. In the 1800's, toy Bulldogs were exported from England to France. French Bulldog Breeders began to breed specific traits in this smaller Bulldog to distinguish it from the English version. Today there are bullies and frenchies as well as American Bulldogs. All three are distinctive breeds though they share common ancestors.

Bulldog breeders, like most purebred breeders, love the breed be it American, English or French. Bulldogs are not low maintenance dogs, so it takes true love for breeders to dedicate their lives and homes to a specific breed. Each of the three versions has specific health, behavioral and social needs and good Bulldog breeders meet these needs and help potential buyers meet the needs of Bulldog puppies.

Bulldog buyers should educate themselves on general information about Bulldogs prior to purchase. All three varieties, American, English and French, have similar health, grooming, disciplinary and social requirements. English and French Bulldogs have Pug noses and wrinkles. The short muzzle can make breathing difficult and these dogs may develop respiratory problems. They also respond poorly to extreme temperatures and are meant to be indoor dogs. Bulldogs can suffer heatstroke if left in a hot room or car.

Wrinkles and ears should be wiped clean daily to keep moisture and bacteria away. Bulldogs are prone to obesity and should be kept active and taken on at least a daily walk. Larger, American Bulldogs require much more activity to remain healthy and happy.

Bulldogs are social creatures and will follow owners everywhere. It is important for owners to interact with them and show affection. Because of the Bulldog's history of aggression, any behavioral issues should be dealt with consistently from the time dogs are puppies. Bulldogs respond well to positive reinforcement and tone of voice. Hitting or otherwise negatively reinforcing behavior can be detrimental to this breed. Buyers can ask American, English and French Bulldog breeders for additional specifics on breed care and treatment.

In the world of dog breeding, there are good and bad breeders. It is important for buyers of any dog breed to learn to recognize traits of a bad versus good breeder. The following will focus on French Bulldog breeders but holds true for all types of dog breeder. The following are signs of a bad dog breeder:

-Breeders offer "next day pets".

-Breeders do not have their own kennels.

-Puppies and parents have not received screening for medical conditions.

-Breeders sell or broker puppies to pet stores.

-Breeders seem to have too many puppies available at one time.

-Puppies are flighty, nervous, and lack confidence.

-Breeders will not allow buyers to visit puppies prior to purchase.

-Breeders lack references and are not certified by any national association.

-Breeders do not ask buyers' questions.

-Breeders cannot answer buyers' basic questions about French Bulldogs.

-Breeders offer no guarantee or health warranty.

-Breeders do not know how to discipline, train, or care for French Bulldogs.

You will be sure to get a healthy, happy puppy simply by avoiding breeders with these traits.




French Bulldog breeders are just one of the many types of breeders Bobby Callahan has researched. Buyers should know how to avoid illicit French Bulldog breeders and brokers. Finding quality French Bulldog information and avoiding illegal breeders is the subject of this article.




Sunday, October 30, 2011

French Bulldogs in Warm Climates


The French Bulldog has become a favorite breed among dog lovers everywhere, because of the dogs positive characteristics. Unfortunately, the dog is not well adapted to the outdoors. The breed has physical characteristics and genetic traits that require special care in certain types of climates.

Physical Characteristics That Affect Heat Tolerance

French Bulldogs are popular because of their appearance, but this look comes with some warnings. The French Bulldog has a shortened nose and uniquely shaped head. Dogs with this type of head structure can experience breathing difficulties. This is also called Brachycephalic Syndrome.

Dogs have very few sweat gland with most being located on the pads of the feet, and pant to expel heat from their bodies. French Bulldogs have a hard time regulating their body temperature because of having a shorter nose. The shortened nose of a French Bulldog prevents the breed from having an increased air intake ability. Warm climates can be quite difficult on the breed, and if proper care is not exercised, can result in death of the dog. It is very important for owners to be aware of the breeds climatic needs.

French Bulldogs should never be left outside for long periods of time. The breed does not do well as an "outside" dog. The French Bulldog was bred to live indoors and the dog makes for an ideal live-in companion. The characteristics that have been bred into the dog, do come at a cost. This had made them poorly adapted to life outside the home. Keeping this in mind, French Bulldogs should be monitored when exercising outdoors in warm temperatures.

How To Prevent Heat-Related Stress

These guidelines should be followed to keep your French Bulldog from becoming a victim of overheating. Overheating can result in death of some dogs.

The dog should have adequate shade and fresh water when outdoors.

A French Bulldog should be kept indoors when the temperature and humidity are high.

Lessen the outside activity of the dog during high temperatures and humidity.

During the summer months, only allow the dog outside for short periods of time.

When the dog is let outside to play, it is important to monitor them.

A French Bulldog that is having labored breathing should be brought back indoors to rest.

A dog should never be left in a car unattended with the windows rolled up.

Walks should be kept short.

The French Bulldog should be allowed breaks when walking long distances.

French Bulldogs should have an air conditioned space where they can cool off during the summer months.

When the dog shows signs of being overheated, it is best to rinse them in cool water and to lay cool wet towels on them. Very cold water should never be used, this can result in the dog going into shock and result in death. Your veterinarian should be contacted immediately if your dog shows any signs of heat exhaustion. The main thing to remember is to just be observant and use common sense and your hot pup will do just fine.




This article was written by John Jackson and has been contributed by http://www.greatdogsite.com For more information on the French Bulldog, please visit our page http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/French_Bulldog/




Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Understanding the Responsibilities of Breeding French Bulldogs




There are numerous people who have seen the great potential involving French bulldogs. Their rise in popularity has shown many enterprising dog lovers that this could be an opportunity to make extra cash off their beloved French bulldog pets. But, there are so many aspects in French bulldog breeding that one should consider first. In fact, if you don’t have the proper knowledge and resources, you may end up spending more than what you may earn. Or maybe you won’t even earn anything at all.





Breeding French bulldogs is not just about getting them to procreate, that’s the easy part. You have to factor in the many responsibilities of ensuring the health of your bitch while she is pregnant, also, French bulldogs usually needs caesarian surgery when giving birth. Then there is the care after birth, both for the mother and the litter. And it’s not just the cost; you also would need to invest much of your time. You have to be around most of the time to be certain that you will be able to heed any emergencies. So with that said, you now know that you have to be prepared mentally, physically and financially to become a French bulldog breeder.





To be a responsible breeder, you have to consider the different factors to ensure that the litter would be in good health and the mom as well. For instance, the recommended age for French bulldogs to get pregnant is over eighteen months and no more than five years. Plus, if your dog has any health concerns prone to French bulldogs, then you shouldn’t breed them at all. This health conditions could be passed down to their offspring. Some of these health conditions include cataracts, cherry eye, hip dysplasia and several cardiac diseases.





Now, what if you only have a female Fren



ch bulldog? Then that would mean that you would be needing the services of a French Bulldog stud. There are also many risks involved here, plus, not to mention the costs needed for the stud service. The sad thing is that it could be a hit and miss. There is no guarantee that your bitch will get pregnant. So it means that you may have to pay for the services more than once. Plus, you’d be wasting precious time to confirm if your dog is indeed pregnant.





You also need to make sure that the stud you will get is from a good lineage, and that it is healthy and should provide proof that the stud doesn’t have any health issues, which it can pass on to its future litter. And if your dog gets pregnant, there’s also the risk that it may lose its litter.





If you get lucky and your dog produces a litter, then there will still be numerous concerns for you to ensure that they will be in the pink of health. This will entail additional costs as well. So if you’re not prepared, then it would be better if you just leve breeding French bulldogs to the experts.


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Understanding the Characteristics of French Bulldog Pups




To some, it would be very understandable, that they would see bulldogs in the same light. But many dog aficionados today know that there are a variety of bulldog breeds, there’s the English bulldog, the American bulldog, and of course, the French bulldog just to name a few. Although they come from the same higher breed, there are many distinct characteristics that can be found from one sub breed that is not present from another. This is because of the different combinations of breeds that they have prior to the establishment of their own line.





SO, if you are going to purchase a French bulldog, it’s not only by the way the dog looks that you can determine whether the creature is a purebred, you can also now this by their characteristics, like in the manner they keep themselves as a puppy. Although it is not inherent in all French bulldog puppies, these are the characteristics that are very notable with this particular bulldog breed.





Most first time French bulldog owners have the dog as puppies. It is rare that one would be in possession of an adult French bulldog at the start, but it does happen, especially those who have rescued them. So when you finally own a French bulldog puppy, you most probably would like to train them to make them easier to live with. Fo the first time French bulldog puppy owner, be warned, if you don’t have a lot of patience, this is not the dog for you. They are reluctant learners so you need to have huge patience and persistence with them. You have to develop effective and short signals to let them know what you want them to do, this should be repeatedly done every day.





French bulldog puppies also crave attention, and lots of it. More than other dogs, they require human interaction and are psychologically let down if they don’t get that much human interaction. French bulldogs also play well with other dogs, they are not usually aggressive, but, if you have a small child that would tend to hurt the dog, this would not sit well with them. But generally, they are great companions for families as they are very lovable, playful, very affectionate, and hs a pleasant behavior.





Also, French bulldog puppies tend to sleep a lot. They try to conserve their energy. With the distinct form of their face, they find it very hard to breathe so they tend to get tired easily. So don’t get frustrated if they tend to doze off after a while.





S one of the smallest in the bulldog breed, French bulldogs as puppies are generally very small, so they are very cute and cuddly, even s they go into adulthood, they don’t really grow into a huge frame, their small and stocky, unlike their American cousins. Their smooth coats also don’t shed a lot so there’s not much of a mess to clean up, provided you have trained them well to do their dirty deeds outside the house.