How to Choose the Right French Bulldog for You
How to choose a French bulldog puppy: important tips for future owners
When you decide to buy a French bulldog, it is important to remember that this is not just buying an animal, but the beginning of a long and responsible cooperation. Puppies aged 2-3 months can be incredibly cute, but before deciding to buy, you need to assess the situation soberly and critically. Your new friend will be with you for 15 years, so you should approach the choice of a puppy very seriously.
Kennel or breeding farm?
Unfortunately, in the world of dog breeding, there are both conscientious kennels and fraudulent “breeding farms”. To distinguish one from the other, pay attention to the presence of documents on the puppies – they must have proof of origin. This indicates from which parents a particular baby was born. Each puppy must have a chip or a brand!
If you choose a high-quality kennel of French bulldogs that observes all the rules of breeding and caring for dogs, you will get exactly the puppy of the breed you want. Also, be sure to check the baby’s veterinary passport; it should contain information about vaccinations with stamps from the state veterinary station.
Living conditions
In good kennels, dogs live in comfortable conditions: they are fed a balanced diet and their health is taken care of. On the contrary, in fakes, adult dogs are often kept in terrible conditions – locked in cages without light and proper care. Remember: the first months of life are of great importance for the health and psyche of your future friend! By rescuing such a puppy from poor living conditions, you are only supporting an unscrupulous breeder.
Meeting with the parents
When choosing your new friend, ask to see its parents. The mother must be with the breeder (the father can live in another kennel). Pay attention to the living conditions of the dogs; this will help you understand the level of responsibility of the owners to their animals.
Do not agree to meetings on neutral territory – such places can hide many nuances regarding the condition of the animals! It is best to trust your eyes when assessing the living conditions.
Expectations from appearance
Many potential owners say that they need a dog only for themselves and are not interested in the dog’s show achievements. However, remember: this is the puppy that will become your lifelong companion! Advertising brochures usually show show dogs with certain exterior characteristics; it is more likely to get a similar dog from breeding lines with show potential.
Also, pay attention to the genetic diseases of the breed:
- – Hereditary cataracts
- – Congenital hypothyroidism
- – Multifocal retinopathy
- – Bulldog cystinuria
These diseases are inherited from parents; proper health check of adult dogs will help to avoid problems in offspring.
Healthy appearance
A healthy puppy should look strong: have thick paws and an expressive head of the appropriate age and body size without signs of thinness or exhaustion. The coat should be shiny without dandruff or crusts; the eyes are clear – the ears are clean and pink without an unpleasant odor.
Also pay attention to the baby’s behavior: if he is too active or, on the contrary, too sleepy – this may signal health problems.
A healthy French Bulldog is cheerful, even if sometimes he is more modest than his brothers and sisters; cowardly behavior should alert you!
To summarize the choice of your four-legged friend:
- 1) Study the documents;
- 2) Check the living conditions;
- 3) Look at the health of the parents;
- 4) Pay attention to the condition of the puppy itself;
If all these points raise doubts, it is better to continue searching! Choosing the right French Bulldog puppy will provide you with the joy of communication for many years to come!
