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Original poster

French bulldog coming very soon - please help

36 replies

VerrucaUpdate · 28/01/2018 22:03

It’s a mercy mission tbh. I wasn’t looking for a dog just yet (was going to leave it a few more years) but I can’t leave this one. I’ve had dogs before but always labs so no experience of frenchies.

Past history: she’s 2.5, has had 3 litters Angry, c-section each time. She was then given to her next owners as breeders didn’t want her anymore. New owners have had her for 6 months but now can’t keep her either. They have a baby on the way and she has huge toileting/chewing issues.

I’ve said I will take her for a trial for 6mths or so with a view to keeping her long term but I can’t see her going back to be honest.

So here’s the problems as they stand. She hasn’t been spayed yet, so that’s number 1 on the list. I’m hoping that might help with issue 2 the toilet issue. She doesn’t mess in her crate at all but as soon as she’s out she will. She does go for a wee outside but doesn’t seem bothered if it’s in or out of the house. Will urintate on sofas/beds etc. 3, she chews furniture etc. Tbh I think that’s more boredom as she’s alone for most of the day.

I work out of the house x 2 days for 6 hrs both days. Other than that I’m home.

I’m planning on keeping her in the laminated kitchen short term with a gate to prevent her going in the rest of the house.

Any advice re the toileting? Crates? (I’ve not used them before but she’s happy to use one apparently). Introducing her to our cat?! I’m quite worried about that as the cat hasn’t been around dogs before. Although she will be able to come and go without going in the kitchen.

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Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 28/01/2018 22:03

Sorry for name! It was from a previous thread Grin

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Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 28/01/2018 22:05

Also re the spay, would you do it ASAP (which is what I’m leaning towards) or give her a few weeks to settle in?

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Wolfiefan · 28/01/2018 22:07

Poor baby!
It could be that she hasn't learnt toilet training. In that case you can't leave her at all until you've cracked that. Could all the litters have resulted in damage? (I know nothing about breeding.)
You can't leave her for 6 hours. What will you do on those days?
There's a group dog training advice and support on FB who have great advice on toilet training. Blue cross have good advice on introducing dog to cat. Long line could be useful.
And with that breed? Get good insurance!!

Wolfiefan · 28/01/2018 22:08

I wouldn't rush the spay. When was her last season? Why do you think it would help the toilet issue?

Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 28/01/2018 22:15

Owners say she hasn’t been in season since they’ve had her

Tbh not sure it will help with the toilet issues, I just get very nervous about un spayed animals!

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Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 28/01/2018 22:16

Looking at insurance now

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Wolfiefan · 28/01/2018 22:21

I have a giant breed so I'm not sure how often they have seasons. My girl has them 6 monthly.
If she's due a season it may not be the best time to spay.
I would expect the toilet issues and the chewing issues to be her not knowing better. She's never been taught to only chew the right things and only to toilet outside.

blueskypink · 28/01/2018 23:23

Well done you. Sounds like she's finally landed on her paws Thanks

Lonecatwithkitten · 29/01/2018 07:13

Get her insured before you get her I have helped clients with a Frenchie in a similar situation who have paid out £2400 in On BOAS surgery with in two months of owning her as this turned out to be the reason she was disguarded as a baby making machine.

Veterinari · 29/01/2018 07:23

As lonecat says get insurance ASAP.

Re: toileting - if she’s Been crated for most of her life she may see outside the crate as ‘outside’ And therefore fair game for toileting, so i’d Be tempted to not crate her but to confine her to a smallish room and take her out regularly just as you would with a puppy. She can clearly ‘hold on’ but perhaps doesn’t realise that outside her crate is not simply outside. Toy breeds can be difficult to toilet train so focus on spending lots of time on this.

Re: spay, i’d Let her settle first. Establish a rapport and do some training (including separation training) As tempting as it might be, be aware of over-bonding as this is likely to reinforce the separation anxiety. Make your comings and goings as neutral as possible and build up gradually so she learns that you’ll return

Veterinari · 29/01/2018 07:23

Dogs trust and apbc have some useful training for factsheets

CapnHaddock · 29/01/2018 07:43

Contact French Bulldog Saviours. They’re the UK breed rescue and have adopted a fair few dumped breeding bitches (as you won’t be surprised to hear) :(

They’ll be able to advise on spaying and the housetraining as it’s pretty common with ex puppy farm dogs sadly

rightsaidfrederickII · 29/01/2018 07:57

Well done - sounds like you'll offer a great home

Many Tears Animal Rescue do a lot of puppy farm rescues of ex breeding bitches, so may be able to advise if you need additional help

Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 29/01/2018 09:08

She isn’t coming for a week so I’ve got some time to get things ready. Her papers are coming over today so I’ll change her chip and insurance ASAP. Ha a look last night and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. Although a lot of the quotes were limited to £1000 a year per condition, I’m not sure if that’s realistic with a Frenchie?!

Don’t know if I should keep her crate or get a new one as a “fresh start”. She will be in the kitchen/dining room/access to garden initially and possibly long term depending on how the cat is.

Reading suggests that frenchies can have “silent” seasons so I’m concerned about that but she won’t be off lead and we’re rural with no other dog so there’s a very small risk of pregnancy initially but I will be getting her done ASAP once she’s settled.

She’s currently on pedigree chum....have been reading up on allaboutdogfood for a good food for her. No idea on that as I’ve always had working labs and fed them skinners. Any recommendations would be appreciated

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Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 29/01/2018 09:10

Also I vaguely remember some new law about tags and collars?! Will have a look at that as I kind of ignored it as I didn’t have a dog at the time. My labs have always been on slip leads and haven’t had collars so will need to sort that too.

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CapnHaddock · 29/01/2018 09:13

She has to wear a collar with a tag with contact details on it whenever she's out of the house (mine just have postcode and phone number on them). Mine don't wear collars in the house in case they get caught on something.

I'd get the most expensive insurance you can for the first year at least - until you know what you're dealing with. BOAS surgery is expensive

Badhairday1001 · 29/01/2018 09:18

I've had Frenchies in the past (before they were so popular and ridiculously priced). They are notoriously hard to toilet train and accidents are common. They are a bull breed so stubborn is in their nature. It takes a lot of consistency and training to get them going outside reliably. They truly are adorable dogs with the biggest personality, mine were the funniest dogs I have ever owned. All of mine were also very good orientated which helped with training. They need a lot of time and attention and like their comforts. You sound like you can give her a lovely home.

SurfnTerfFantasticmissfoxy · 29/01/2018 10:25

Firstly, well done for taking the poor wee soul on - so many of these dogs being used as puppy machines and then chucked aside 😔
Frenchies in general are hard to house train, never mind ones that have been brought up in a puppy farm. Your plan to keep her in the kitchen / dining room is a good one - it will also help her settle to have boundaries. A baby gate on the kitchen means she can see / hear what's going on in the rest of the house. To start with she will need to go outside every hour or so. When you are out for the 6 hours, especially initially it would be good to get someone to come in and let her out for a pee and spend some time with her. Leave a radio on in the kitchen.

Every frenchie I've ever come across loves a teddy - get her one of her own.

In the evening, get a throw for the sofa that she always sits on beside you - ours is so used to this that he'll sit and wait until you spread his blanket out before jumping up. That means if she does toilet on the sofa it's easily washed. Keep and eye on her and if she stands up on the sofa whip her outside.

Food wise - we feed complete prepared raw food (Nutriment) and most frenchies do really well on a raw diet. Our boy struggles to absorb nutrients and has a small appetite so he can get high quality nutrition from a small serving with no 'fillers'

Collar / tag - it's not ideal to put a collar on 'flat faced' breeds, a good harness like Julius K9 is best, and we have a tag on that for when he's out for walks.

I hope your wee one settles in.

Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 29/01/2018 18:25

Owners now saying she could be spayed, they aren’t sure Hmm. Possibly had it done when she had her c-section. She isn’t registered with a vet either so how do I find out?!

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Wolfiefan · 29/01/2018 18:27

So she's not vaccinated, flea treated or wormed. Eek!
Do they know where the c section was done? Could the vet be contacted?

rightsaidfrederickII · 29/01/2018 19:25

There will normally be some scarring left from a spay op (unless things have gone keyhole in the last 20 years since we had to have a bitch spayed). And it might be indistinguishable from a c-section scar 🤔 If you can get details of her vet you'd be better placed.

As Wolfie alludes, you'd be wise to vaccinate worm and flea from scratch as the info is so shaky. Nothing a relatively small sum of money can't sort out there.

Out of interest where did you find out about her?

NewBrian · 29/01/2018 19:39

I’ve a frenchie x Boston for pretty much the same reasons (finished breeding). My advice is get insurance ASAP, mine needed to go to the vets 3 times within the first month! They are notoriously hard to toilet train but it can be done. Mine also chewed, very rarely does now as it was due to boredom. I doubt she’s been spayed if vets didn’t inform owner but you’ll need to wait for her to have a season anyway. They can be very needy and anxious after being in a crate churning out litter after litter so will need lots of love.x

Lucymek · 29/01/2018 19:41

My dogs go on puppy pads during the day whilst I'm at work.

You could try this instead of the floor and sofa

2pups · 29/01/2018 19:47

Our Frenchie Cross loves chewing but nylabones, filled kongs, pigs ears and bones all distract her from furniture. The nylabones especially are a favourite toy.

Will still treat ours for going outside because every now and then she'll still wee inside (particularly if it's cold and wet).

I think I would get her checked out by the vet and see if she's been spayed - but not rush it if not as she has been through a lot!

Enjoy - they are a very loving breed - our little girl is my shadow.

Original poster
VerrucaUpdate · 29/01/2018 19:55

Ill be interested to see paperwork tomorrow. Apparently they have “everything” so presuming vaccination records etc etc

They haven’t registered her with a vet as she hasn’t needed to go apparently

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