Archive for May 19th, 2008

Ask the Frenchie Geek - Is there EVER a ‘good’ pet store?

bullmarketfrogs May 19th, 2008

Hi, I am in the process of buying a frenchie puppy, and I have read that it is an absolutely no no to buy from a pet store, but I have heard great review on this one.

http://www.linkremoved.com/ (edited to avoid giving publicity to this pet store)

Just wondering if you know anything about this pet store in long island, NY.

Thanks.

Carol writes -

I’m going to do my ‘calm deep breaths’ exercises while I answer this question, as it’s the only way for me to be sure I won’t end up smacking my head against the monitor repeatedly.

That said, let me put this as plainly as possible.

There are NO GOOD PET STORES.

None. Never. Not ever.

There is NO SUCH THING as a ‘good breeder’ who would sell to a pet store. Let me repeat that - NO good breeder, ever, would sell a puppy to a pet store, for the simple reasons that -

  • They don’t have to. Good breeders have long lists of people waiting for their puppies
  • Good, caring breeders are paranoid nutjobs, which is a good thing. They have applications, questionnaires and sometimes even home visits. Getting a puppy from a good breeder is like buying a house, only slightly more invasive - because good breeders care, deeply, about where their puppies go, and to who. No caring breeder would EVER hand one of their babies over to a pet store to be re sold to a stranger
  • Pet stores count on ‘cute’ to sell puppies, and cute equals ‘young’. Most pet store puppies are 8 weeks old (and oftentimes younger). Good breeders of French Bulldogs rarely let their puppies go before 10 weeks, let alone before 8 weeks of age.

So, if we can accept that good breeders don’t sell to pet stores, where do the pet stores get their puppies from? The answers are simple -

  • Backyard breeders. These are novice, inexperienced breeders who toss two pets together to make more pets. When they can’t sell them, they sometimes hand them over to pet stores for re sale, and the pet store makes a hefty profit on someone else’s ignorance.
  • Commercial breeders - this is a fancy term for ‘puppy mill’. Yes, those horrid photos of filth, misery, neglect and despair are supported and funded by pet store sales - and by you, if you patronize stores that sell live puppies.
  • Commercial brokers and dealers - the first chain in the price mark ups of puppy mill puppies. A broker is the “middle man” for puppy mills and pet stores. They are the ones who buy a puppies, often in bulk lots, from puppy mills, and then sell the pups to the pet store, another broker, or (less frequently) directly to the public. Brokers may also frequent puppy auctions to find, and may sell puppies on to other brokers.
  • Cheap European imports - more and more frequently, pet stores buy bulk lots of cheap import puppies, toss them in crates at as young as five weeks, and send them on 24 hour plus transatlantic flights. The 50% death rate of these imported puppies is a small price to pay for the mark up pet stores can get for these tiny victims, as pups bought for$500 can be re sold for $2500 or more.

Let’s be clear about something else - pet stores LIE. They will do everything in their power to convince you that their pups come from ‘caring breeders’. Ask them to put their money where their mouths are, and to show you the paperwork on the pups and to supply the names and contact information on those ‘caring breeders’, and you’ll get shown the door. Pet stores count on the naive, the impatient, and the gullible.

Don’t be one of them.

Learn more here:

- Where do pet store French Bulldogs come from?

- The Wrong Puppy wants you to avoid the nightmare of imported broker puppy sales

- Upscale Pet Stores Sell Puppy Mill Victims

- Prisoners of Greed - pet store puppies are victims

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Ask the Trainer - Dealing With Dog Agression in the French Bulldog

gollygear May 19th, 2008

Hello –

 

My Frenchie, Simon, is 3 years old and he is a loving and sweet boy. He was neutered at 6 months and showed signs of aggression towards his older brother, Tank (Boston Terrier – dominant dog of our family) when he first arrived, but we thought it was puppy play. This stopped within a month. We have one other pup, Monty. He’s a 1 ½ year old bulldog. They have all tousled from time to time, but nothing serious until Simon bit Monty’s ear, causing it to bleed.

 

Here’s my issue: Simon has always been aggressive towards dogs he doesn’t know (ie. Dogs he didn’t know as a puppy or has grown up with). Both Tank and Monty are males and more dominant than Simon. He and Monty tend to “play fight” but they have had a few “fights” that were serious.

 

All instigated by Simon – Monty growled once.

 

Simon has “attacked” our neighbor’s puppy twice by getting away. He is usually on leash. But when on leash (as he has been since he was a puppy) he pulls and whines, growls and strains when he sees other dogs or strange people. He wouldn’t attack a person, but he goes for the dogs.

 

To those he knows, he is the sweetest and most loving creature – towards strange dogs- he is aggressive and would most certainly attack – without provocation.

 

My brother owns a female boxer, very meek dog. Apparently while my husband and I were away and my brother was caring for them, he went after her legs and this resulted in a visit to the vet for antibiotics. I have taken Simon to obedience class (he barked the whole time) and he couldn’t be let off leash. While he learned plenty of tricks and signals, he forgets it all when he sees a strange dog. No amount of sit, stays will work. I am so upset about this because I have been thinking it was in the way I trained him, but Monty is a sweet and laidback bulldog – no aggression issues. He met my brother’s dog and fell in love with her. Simon would rather attack her (he actually launches at her).

 

I’d rather not “get rid” of him or have to put him down because he attacks someone else’s dog.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Hope writes -

As you have discovered, different dogs require different methods of training. You can never have too many tools in your toolbox.

It sounds like you’re a bit too worried about who’s “dominant.” The head of the household is you. And any other human being who’s there. That’s it. You set the rules in your house and everybody has to obey them.

Some dogs require that you reinforce the rules on a constant basis. They require stricter schedules and firm consistency. I consider them to be like human toddlers - always asking “why?” as soon as they learn to speak. Some dogs are more easy-going and adaptable. They’ll “go with the flow” and not be upset.

Simon isn’t necessarily an easy dog. His willingness to learn new behaviors in class makes me think that he is trainable, with firmness, patience, and consistency.

Be prepared when you take him out. Fill a pocket with treats and his favorite tug toy. When one of his “trigger” situations occurs, give him something to do, other than just sit or down. Keep his attention on you. Tell him to spin, or dance, or tug on a toy. Distract him from the perceived “threat” and get his attention on you. Tugging is a great reliever of tension for dogs. If you’re tensing up when you see another dog, your nerves are transmitted down that leash and Simon may think that if you’re nervous, it’s his job to protect you.

If he’s acting up at home with the other dogs, put him in his crate for a “time out.” Some dogs just need an occasional break.

Simon will take his cues from you. Pay close attention to his surroundings and act to distract him and have him occupied before a “situation” arises. Work on attention exercises with him. My first training instructor, many years ago, had a great line that I still take to heart - “Never let a dog make a decision. He’ll always make the wrong one.”

That may not always be true, but it does apply with Simon. Make his decisions for him and you’ll both be happier. If seeing the other dogs wrestling is a trigger for Simon - take him into another room and play tug with him. Or hold him in a sit at your side and reward him for being still and quiet. Reward him when he’s being good to teach him the behavior you want.

Too many times dog owners are quick to say “no” and “correct” bad behavior without teaching the dog the proper way to act. Reward him when he’s good, even if it’s just sitting calmly when other dogs are around. For Simon, that’s a big accomplishment and deserves praise.

Simon is Simon. He’s not Tank and he’s not Monty. What works for your other boys may not for him. He can be the best possible Simon, with your help.

-Hope

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Ask the Veterinarian - Concerned About Spay/Neutering & Anesthesia

lorihuntdvm May 19th, 2008

my frenchie is 4 months, the vet wants to neuter him but im very scared about the anesthesia, i saw your protocol but is there any thing else i should ask the vet before i even consider this.

One more thing ,will neutering him really protect him against cancer or not. I dont want to put him at risk.

please tell me what to do.?

Dr. Lori writes -
The protocol is a good guideline for frenchie anesthesia.  I think you should discuss it with your vet before surgery and decide on an option with which you are both comfortable. I would also recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork and a clotting time.

As for neutering, I believe I would wait until he was 6-8 months to allow him some more growth… Neutering him will prevent unwanted pregnancies, prostate issues, testicular cancer and behavioral problems associated with testosterone.

Good Luck to you and your boy!

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