Owning dogs, especially taking care of the griffon bleu de gascogne, is a specialty of humans. Experts say dogs were domesticated sometime between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that all canines evolved from wolves. Since those days, people have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which vary in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-foot stature earns them the title of the tallest canine. But the most preferred canines are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The griffon bleu de gascogne is another popular choice with dog owners. Some owners are misinformed, however, of many crucial griffon bleu de gascogne care tips.
Health care cost for the griffon bleu de gascogne
The yearly budget for caring for your griffon bleu de gascogne—which includes meals and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—could vary between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This figure doesn’t include capital costs for sterilization procedures, collar and leash, a dog carrier and a crate. Note: Be positive you have obtained all of the required items before getting your griffon bleu de gascogne home for the 1st time.
Basic griffon bleu de gascogne Care
griffon bleu de gascogne Feeding Routine
- griffon bleu de gascogne pups between eight and twelve weeks need four bowls of food every 24 hours.
- griffon bleu de gascogne puppies 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals in a day.
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year old 2 meals a day.
- By the time your griffon bleu de gascogne reaches his first birthday, 1 bowl daily is all that’s required.
- Some adult griffon bleu de gascognes might prefer two smaller helpings. It’s your responsibility to adapt to your griffon bleu de gascogne’s eating habits.
High-quality dry dog food ensures a well-balanced diet for grown griffon bleu de gascognes and can mix with water, broth, or canned food. Your griffon bleu de gascogne may also be fond of cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, and cooked eggs, but these additions should be less than 10 pct of her daily food. griffon bleu de gascogne pups should be given excellent-quality, name brand puppy food. Please cut down on “table food”, however, because it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone issues, and may create very picky eating habits and obesity. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times, and be certain to clean water and food dishes regularly.
griffon bleu de gascogne Care Tips: Make sure to give your griffon bleu de gascogne plenty of daily physical activity
griffon bleu de gascognes need daily exercise to stay fit, stimulate their brains, and maintain their health. Exercise also really helps griffon bleu de gascognes fight boredom, which can lead to destructive behavior. A little fun and games can satisfy many of your griffon bleu de gascogne’s instinctual urges to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Exercise needs will depend on your griffon bleu de gascogne’s level of health and his age—but 10 minutes in the backyard and merely a walk around the block every day probably won’t be sufficient. If your griffon bleu de gascogne is a six to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will be a little more.
griffon bleu de gascogne Grooming Tips
You can help keep your griffon bleu de gascogne clean and reduce shedding with brushing. Check for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Many griffon bleu de gascognes don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Prior to the bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the griffon bleu de gascogne’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
How to Handle Your griffon bleu de gascogne
Pups are obviously the easiest to handle. To carry the griffon bleu de gascogne puppy, take 1 hand and place it under your dog’s chest, either with the forearm or your other hand supporting the back legs and rump. Don’t attempt to lift or grab your puppy by her front legs, tail or back of the neck. If you have to lift a larger, adult griffon bleu de gascogne, pick it up from underneath, holding his or her chest with 1 of your arms and rear end with the other.
Housing the griffon bleu de gascogne
griffon bleu de gascognes need a warm peaceful location in order to sleep away from all the drafts and off the ground or floor. You might wish to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one out of a wood box. Place a clean blanket or pillow inside the bed for cushion. Wash the griffon bleu de gascogne’s bedding often. If the griffon bleu de gascogne will be outdoors often, make certain she has access to covering and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a dry, covered, warm shelter when it’s cold.
Licensing and Identification for griffon bleu de gascognes
There are licensing regulations to heed in your area. You should affix the license to the griffon bleu de gascogne’s collar. The license, along with an identification tag, can possibly help secure your griffon bleu de gascogne’s return if he happens to go missing.
Facts on griffon bleu de gascogne Behavior
Thoughts on griffon bleu de gascogne Training
A well-mannered, companion griffon bleu de gascogne is a blessing to raise. However, left untrained, your dog will most likely be a lot of trouble. Teaching your griffon bleu de gascogne the standards—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—improves the relationship both with the griffon bleu de gascogne as well as the visitors. If you’re the owner of a pup, start teaching her the appropriate responses quickly! Use doggie treats as recognition and incentive. Puppies can enroll in obedience class when they are sufficiently immunized. Call the community humane society or SPCA for training schools. Always keep your griffon bleu de gascogne leashed in public, even as a pup. Just be sure your griffon bleu de gascogne will come to you every time you say. An aggressive or disobedient griffon bleu de gascogne shouldn’t play with others.
griffon bleu de gascogne Health
Your griffon bleu de gascogne should see the veterinarian for a complete check-up, vaccinations and heartworm screening annualy, and as soon as possible if she is ill or injured.
About your griffon bleu de gascogne’s Oral Health
Although we may simply dislike our griffon bleu de gascogne’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might indicate. Foul-smelling breath usually signifies that your griffon bleu de gascogne is in need of an oral check up. Plaque due to bacteria brings a bad smell that can only be cured with the help of a professional. After you give your griffon bleu de gascogne a professional oral cleaning, his teeth and gums may be maintained by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The veterinarian can provide you with more information for reducing dental problems as well as halitosis. You can easily clean your griffon bleu de gascogne’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gums and teeth, sometimes affects griffon bleu de gascognes. This troublesome condition can sometimes initiate loss of teeth as well as cause infections throughout the body. The doctor usually will brush the griffon bleu de gascogne’s teeth while performing his typical health exam.
Bad Breath in griffon bleu de gascognes
Even though halitosis caused by dental disease might not be serious if found early, some bad breath may be indicative of fairly serious, long-term causes for concern. A sweet, fruity smell can usually be indicative of diabetes, while intestinal or liver diseases may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possibility if your griffon bleu de gascogne’s breath smells like urine or ammonia. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your griffon bleu de gascogne has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Fleas and Ticks in griffon bleu de gascognes
Daily checks of your griffon bleu de gascogne for fleas and ticks in the warm seasons are critical. Find fleas using a flea comb. There are several new techniques of tick mitigation. Consult your griffon bleu de gascogne’s doctor about his recommendations.
Heartworm problems in griffon bleu de gascognes
Your griffon bleu de gascogne is at risk of contracting heartworms if she is exposed to mosquitoes often. Mosquitoes carry this parasite from dog to dog. Heartworm infections can be potentially fatal. Your griffon bleu de gascogne should have a blood test for heartworms every spring—this is critical for stopping infections from the prior year. A once-a-month pill given in the warm, wet time of the year will help to protect your griffon bleu de gascogne. Your griffon bleu de gascogne should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some more moderate regions, veterinarians recommend preemptive heartworm medication be taken all year.
Poisions and Medicines
Do not ever give your griffon bleu de gascogne medicine that has not been prescribed by his veterinarian. Are you aware that 1 regular-strength ibuprofen tablet will sometimes cause stomach ulcers in griffon bleu de gascognes? Make sure your griffon bleu de gascogne is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. If you have reason to suspect your doggie has ingested a poison, call the vet or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 twenty-four hrs. a day for help.
griffon bleu de gascogne Sterilization Procedures
Female griffon bleu de gascognes should be spayed—which is the extraction of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—removal of the testes—by 6 months old. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the risk of breast cancer, a usually deadly and common illness of older female griffon bleu de gascognes. Spaying also eradicates the risk of a sick uterus, a very serious condition in more mature females that necessitates intensive medical care. Neutering male griffon bleu de gascognes helps prevent prostate and testicular diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias.
griffon bleu de gascogne Innoculating
- griffon bleu de gascogne puppies should be innoculated with a combo vaccine (called the “5-in-1”) at two, three and four months of age, and again once every year. This immunization protects your puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. Your griffon bleu de gascogne must be innoculated for at least the first four months of his life.
- If your griffon bleu de gascogne has not been innoculated and is older than four months, he will need to be given 2 vaccinations promptly, two to three weeks apart. Then you must innoculate annualy.
- Your griffon bleu de gascogne pup’s socialization should coincide with his vaccination program. You may take your griffon bleu de gascogne pup to socialization classes by 8 to 9 weeks of age, according to many veterinarians. At this age, they should have already received their first immunizations.
Because rules are so different between different areas, call a neighborhood doctor to get instructions on rabies innoculation. For example, NYC statutes state that pets older than three months must be innoculated for rabies. After the first shot, you must have a second innoculation the next year, and then every three years after that. There are many immunizations that may or may not be effective for your griffon bleu de gascogne. Your veterinarian can give you her advice. By the way, if your griffon bleu de gascogne gets ill because he is not vaccinated, do not give the shot until the dog has made a full recovery.
Hookworms in griffon bleu de gascognes
griffon bleu de gascognes are often exposed to worms—even in urban areas. Tiny eggs made by intestinal worms are transmitted through an infected griffon bleu de gascogne’s stool. Even the healthiest of griffon bleu de gascogne puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. An accurate, early detection is the secret to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be highly effective against your griffon bleu de gascogne’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best identify the culprit—and prescribe the right treatment.
griffon bleu de gascogne: Miscellaneous Care Tips
griffon bleu de gascogne Supply Checklist
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks designed for griffon bleu de gascognes and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with warm sheet or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to griffon bleu de gascognes:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Raisins and grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, chives and garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems or unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in spot, always keep your griffon bleu de gascogne on a leash. And please, when your griffon bleu de gascogne defecates on your neighbor’s grass, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about griffon bleu de gascognes
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