Raising dogs, especially providing care for the french brittany, is a specialty of people. Some historians speculate that dogs were first domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from wolves. Since then, people have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest pooch. However, the most popular canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The french brittany is another favorite choice with canine owners. Some owners are uninformed, however, of many of the most common french brittany care tips.
General health care cost of your french brittany
The yearly cost of rearing your french brittany—including everything from nutrition, veterinary care, toys and license—can vary between $420 and $780. This is not even including capital costs for sterilization procedures, collar and leash, a dog carrier and a dog crate. Note: Be sure you have procured all your items before bringing your french brittany home.
Typical french brittany Care
Feeding the french brittany
- french brittany puppies between eight and twelve weeks need four bowls of food in a day.
- Feed french brittany pups three to 6 months old three meals a day.
- Feed pups 6 months to one year old two meals in a day.
- When your french brittany makes his first birthday, 1 bowl per day is adequate.
- Some french brittanys might prefer two lighter meals. It is your responsibility to learn your french brittany’s eating habits.
Excellent-quality dry dog food ensures a well-balanced diet to full-grown french brittanys and can mix with broth, water, or canned food. Your french brittany may dig cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these should be less than ten pct of his daily food allowance. french brittany puppies need to be fed premium-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please try to cut down on “people food”, though, because it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone problems, and may lead to very finicky eating habits as well as obesity. Clean, potable water should be made always, and be sure to wash food and water dishes regularly.
french brittany Care Tips: Your french brittany needs exercise daily
french brittanys need some daily physical activity to stay healthy, recharge their brains, and keep healthy. Physical activity also tends to help french brittanys fight boredom, which often has the potential to lead to to naughty behavior. Going outside would appease many of your french brittany’s instinctual urges to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Individual exercise needs vary based on your french brittany’s level of health and her age—but just a couple of walks around the block every day and ten minutes outside probably won’t be enough. If your french brittany is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will probably be relatively more.
french brittany Grooming Tips
You can help keep your french brittany clean and reduce shedding with brushing. Inspect for ticks and fleas daily during warm weather. Most french brittanys don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Prior to the bath, comb or cut out all mats from the french brittany’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap.
Handling Your french brittany
Puppies, as opposed to adults, are obviously the easiest to manage. To carry the french brittany puppy, put 1 hand beneath your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting his hind legs and rump. Never attempt to lift or grab your puppy by his forelegs, back of the neck or tail. When you must pick up a larger, adult french brittany, lift from the underside, holding his or her chest with one arm and rump with the other arm.
Housing your french brittany
french brittanys need a comfy peaceful spot in order to sleep apart from all drafts and off the ground or floor. You might want to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one out of a wooden box. Place a clean sheet, blanket, comforter, or pillow in the bed for cushioning. Wash the french brittany’s bedding frequently. If the french brittany will be outdoors much, make certain he has access to plenty of cool water and covering in the summer, and a dry, covered, warm shelter when it’s cold.
french brittany Licensing
Your area has licensing regulations to follow. Be sure to attach the license to your french brittany’s collar. The license, together with an ID tag, could help you recover your french brittany should he go missing.
french brittany Behavior Information
Thoughts on french brittany Training
Well-behaved, companion french brittanys can truly be a blessing to raise. However, left untrained, your dog could be a pain. Teaching your french brittany the basics—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—strengthens the relationship with both the french brittany as well as the company. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin teaching her the appropriate behavior as soon as possible! Use a treat as recognition and incentive. Pups should start obedience classes when they have been adequately vaccinated. Contact the local SPCA or humane society for information about training classes. It is wise to walk your french brittany leashed while in public, even as a pup. Be sure your doggie will come to you when you say so. An aggressive or disobedient french brittany can’t play with other people.
About your french brittany’s Health
french brittanys should visit the veterinarian for a thorough assessment, immunizations and heartworm examination every single year, and ASAP when he is sick or hurt.
The Oral Health of Your french brittany
Although we may object to our french brittany’s halitosis, it’s important to be aware of what it might mean. Bad breath usually indicates that your french brittany needs an oral exam. Plaque triggered by unhealthy bacteria results in a foul smell that can only be eliminated by professional treatment. Once your french brittany has had a professional dental cleaning, the teeth and gums may be maintained in a healthy state by eliminating table food, feeding a special diet focused on maintaining dental health, and brushing regularly. Your veterinarian can supply you with other info on reducing dental problems and stinky breath. You should brush the french brittany’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a simple baking soda and water paste a few times per week. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Some french brittanys get periodontal disease, frequently referred to as gum disease. This troublesome disease can cause your french brittany’s loss of teeth and propagate infections throughout her body. The vet will sometimes clean the teeth at a regular physical.
french brittany Bad Breath
If your french brittany has smelly breath, periodontal disease might simply be a symptom of another ailment. A pleasant, even sweet smell can sometimes be indicative of diabetes, while intestinal or liver diseases may cause foul breath. When your french brittany’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease might be the reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your french brittany has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in french brittanys
Throughout the summer, it’s important for you to perform regular, daily inspections of your french brittany for fleas and ticks. Use a flea comb to remove and find fleas. There are many new technologies of flea mitigation. Consult your french brittany’s doctor about his or her recommendations.
Heartworms in french brittanys
This parasite resides in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your french brittany by way of mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be potentially fatal. It is very critical that you make sure your french brittany submits to a blood screening for heartworms each year during the spring. You should also give your french brittany a monthly pill in mosquito season to help you protect him from heartworms. Your french brittany should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some more moderate climates, vets advise preventive parasite medication throughout the year.
Poisions and Medicines
Please don’t give your french brittany medicine that has not been prescribed by her veterinarian. One little ibuprofen tablet is known to create stomach ulcers in french brittanys. Make sure your french brittany is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you have reason to suspect that your dog has ingested a toxin, call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 24 hrs. per day for instructions.
Spaying and Neutering french brittanys
It is recommended that female french brittanys be spayed—the extraction of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months of age. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the risk of breast cancer, which is a usually fatal and common condition for more mature females. The possibility of an infected uterus, which is another serious condition that impacts more mature females, can be removed by spaying when young. Neutering male french brittanys helps prevent prostate and testicular diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
Shots for your french brittany
- The combo vaccine (also called the “five-in-1 shot”) ought to be given to your french brittany at two, 3, and 4 months of age and then once per year. This immunization immunizes your puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The french brittany puppy’s vaccination program cannot be completed prior to 4 months old.
- If your french brittany has not been immunized and is older than four months, he will need to be given 2 innoculations promptly, two or 3 weeks apart. After that you must immunize yearly.
- french brittany pup vaccination and socialization should coincide. Most doctors recommend that new owners bring their french brittany pups to socialization courses, beginning at 8 or 9 weeks of age. They should have received their first immunizations by this point.
Rules are so different between different areas, that it’s best to contact your local veterinarian for rabies innoculation information. For example, NYC statutes state that pets older than three months be vaccinated for rabies. After the initial immunization, you must get a second shot the following year, and then every 3 years after that. There are a variety of innoculations that might appropriate for your french brittany. Your veterinarian can give you her opinion. Also, if your french brittany gets sick because she is not immunized, do not administer the vaccination until the dog has made a full recovery.
Hookworms in french brittanys
french brittanys are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a french brittany’s feces. Even the healthiest of french brittany puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. The secret to treatment is correct diagnosis. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be effective against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your french brittany’s doctor can best identify the culprit—and assign the right medication.
french brittany Care Tips: Additional Information
french brittany Supply Checklist
- Premium-quality dog food and treats designed for french brittanys and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush & comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog box or bed with quilt or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to french brittanys:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Raisins and grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, chives and garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Retain your french brittany on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in space. And please, when your french brittany defecates on your neighbor’s yard, remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about french brittanys
Was this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂
Follow