Getting Your Home Ready For Your French Bulldog
Congratulations! You’ve just adopted a beautiful French Bulldog. Of course, you’re so excited to bring your new puppy home that you’ve already picked out a name and purchased some toys and beautiful collars from your local French Bulldog boutique. Now you’re ready to just sit back and impatiently wait for the day that you can bring your new pup home, right?
Wrong!
In order to make sure that both you and your home are ready for your new four-legged friend, there are some steps you’ll want to make sure you complete first.
Step One: Purchase Supplies
Before you bring your new Frenchie home, you’ll want to make sure that you have everything you need to keep them happy, safe, and healthy. This requires have appropriately sized collars and leashes on hand. You may also want to purchase a harness for your French Bulldog.
If you have never owned a French Bulldog before, you’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of bowls for food and water. You’ll also want to make sure you have food that is nutritious for your French Bulldog. If your new Frenchie is just a puppy, you’ll want to purchase a bag of puppy food. If they are an older Frenchie from a rescue, you’ll need to purchase an adult or senior formula.
Another important item to have on hand is a crate, especially if you plan to crate train your French Bulldog. You’ll also want to purchase a bed, a blanket, and French Bulldog toys that are the right size for your small French Bulldog. You want to make sure that none of the toys are small enough that your new Frenchie could accidently swallow them, but you also want to make sure that they aren’t so big that your French Bulldog can’t really play with them at all.
If you have purchased a crate or French Bulldog bed, make sure to set up a space that will be your Frenchie’s own so that he can have a comfortable place to get away and escape the hustle and bustle of your home.
Step Two: Puppy Proof Your Home
In addition to having the necessary supplies to care for your new French bulldog pup, you will want to make sure that you have puppy proofed your home prior to their arrival. Puppy proofing your home may be as simple as having plenty of puppy pads on hand for accidents, but usually entails a more throughout comb through of your house.
You’ll want to make sure that you remove any toxic plants or keep them well out of reach of your new French Bulldog. In addition, make sure any human medications are stored in a safe, puppy proof location. Puppy proofing also means that you make sure that your French Bulldog cannot burn or shock himself by chewing on cords or outlets for electrical appliances. Keep the cords well out of reach if you can. If not, be sure to cover the outlets and spray French Bulldog deterrent on any exposed cords.
Keep your trash secured and well out of reach for your new pup so that they don’t get into any garbage they shouldn’t have. Remember that anything you throw away including chemicals, chicken bones, fresh fruit or vegetables, and more can be harmful to your French Bulldog.
If this is your first French Bulldog, do some research and keep a list of harmful common household goods and foods on hand so that you can refer to it any time and avoid bringing these products in your home.
Lastly, puppies tend to be clumsy and get themselves into situations they have no business being in. Be sure to block off any staircases with a gate so that they don’t take a dangerous tumble.
Step Three: Plan to take time off work
If you’re bringing home a new French bulldog puppy, you may want to see if you are able to take the first few days off from work to help your French Bulldog become acclimated to his new home. Taking time off work will ensure that you have all the time you need to dedicate to your new French Bulldog’s needs. It will make house training and crate training easier and will also reduce or eliminate the number of accidents in your home.
If you can’t take a few days off work or work from home, you may want to hire a pet sitter or enlist the help of a family member or friend.
Step Four: Find a Veterinarian and/or an Obedience Trainer
Before you bring your new Frenchie home, do your research on local vet offices and chose the one that you believe will best fit you and your new French Bulldog’s needs. Schedule an initial checkup or an appointment for any shots your French Bulldog still needs and forward over any records, if your breeder or shelter gave you any.
It may also be a good idea to do your research early and find a local trainer who can help you should any obedience issues arise. French bulldogs tend to be agreeable, well behaved, and easy to train French Bulldogs, but it never hurts to put your French Bulldog through some classes or have a trainer you know you can call on hand.
Adopting a new French Bulldog can be amazing and stressful all at the same time. By following these steps, you’ll be sure to create an environment that is safe and nurturing for your new French Bulldog and ensure that they enjoy their new, loving home for years to come.
