The Frenchie Wedding
Posted on 21. Aug, 2008 by admin in Blog
Well it is finally official……Franke and Ethel exchanged wedding vows or barks on Saturday August 16, 2008. the day was absolutely gorgeous! The wedding party featured our little Chihuahua Cricket as the flower girl, followed by Pepe and Yadi as Best man and maid of honor ( both chihuahua’s), then Pinot and Mini Me ( English Bulldogs, Oliver and Kedah ( English Bulldog and chihuahua), and finally Rosco and Misty (Boxer and Yorkie). All were dressed in tuxedos and satin. The nuptials were performed by Papa C, the Grandfather of the Groom. Followed by a reading from the brother of the Bride. The wedding was attended by over 100 guest with several bringing along their canine pets. The brides dress was from a wonderful company out of New York. The bride and groom were escorted from the alter in their wedding chariot (A wagon).
After the exchanging of the vows the bride and groom were toated with a champagne toast and the releasing of balloons by all the guests. There was a traditional period between the wedding and reception for everyone to take photos. The entire wedding party was very patient during this process. We are still waiting for all the photos from the guests. The news station was there to capture the moment, and it was video taped by several people. We will hopefully have a copy of the video uplaoded on our site for all to enjoy very soon.
After the photo session Franke and Ethel took a short rest and changed into a more casual attire. Ethel wearing a yellow and white sundress. Our cakes were beautiful, we had one for the people to enjoy and one for the canines. The wedding party and their guest truly enjoyed every minute of eating and sharing the cake. Of course the food was also a big hit with all who attended. A little begging was happening all around the reception area. But, of course this was to be expected. As the party continued the DJ arrived and the fun just continued. At this point Franke and Ethel changed into their matching swimsuits. A very skimpy two piece bikini for Ethel and boarding shorts for Franke. Of course the wedding included a pool party also. However, Franke and Ethel didn’t take part in the swimming, but they sure looked cute!
In lieu of gifts we asked our guest to make a donation to our local animal rescue, The Anna Shelter, and of course everyone was very generous. Thanks to all of you!!!! We did receive several darling gifts that were very much appreciated. The day was more wonderful that any of us could have imagined. we wanted it to symbolize not only the union between Ethel and Franke, but between Linda and Jeff and Bill and I as we start off on our journey into breeding our new line of Frenchies. We look forward to many years of success in breeding quality animals. And to also share our love of the breed.
Another Show
Posted on 15. Jun, 2008 by admin in Blog
Today was another show, we were able to get a 2nd place for Franke, and Ethel took winner’s bitch and best of opposite. They looked really good today. Even though it was hot and humid, Ethel and Franke seemed to handle it well. We are taking a couple weeks off before our next show. It can be hard traveling this time of year because of the heat and also family functions. We have some show photos that we will be adding to the website as soon as they are available from the photographer. Thanks for visiting!!!
Politics As Usual
Posted on 14. Jun, 2008 by admin in Blog
Another weekend, and almost another show behind us. We didn’t do very well today. There seems to be a unspoken bond between the professional handlers and the judges. Sometimes it is hard to have them even give your animal a good look. It is very obvious to all who are watching this happen. All we can do is keep our chin up and smile. We try our best each and everytime we enter the ring. Some days are just harder. The heat has been hard on all of us. Today it was raining and lightning while we were showing. That was quite an experience. Hopefully tomorrow the rain will hold off until later in the day. We have won two second place and two first place this weekend. Tomorrow hopefully we will get the purple ribbon………..
The journey has begun…..
Posted on 09. Jun, 2008 by admin in Blog
Well we are off to a great start. Ethel and Franke have added several blue ribbons, purple and white ribbons, and yes even purple!!! Along thew way we have met many wonderful people. We have listened to the tips and suggestions, some good, some not so good. The frenchies are really enjoying themselves.
Learning the tricks, some new and some forgotten, that happen in the ring has been an experience in itself. No offense to the professional handlers, but we are determined to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of you in the ring, and let our pride in our animals shine through to the judges.
This past weekend the lodging left a lot to be desired. I didn’t know that motels like this still existed. It was very retro. These are the things that add to the experience. When we did the New castle cluster a few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of staying at our dear friends home. Along with us was several other exhibitors with their little Japanese Chins. Fun was had by all. The points that were earned that weekend were celebrated each day. Margarita night was very memorable……. There was song and laughter, and all the dogs got along very well.
Ethel had the experience of her first heat cycle which started the day before one of our clusters, let me tell you that the weekend in the hotel with Franke was quite an experience. I spent a lot of time outside the room, and during this time I had the pleasure of meeting several other frenchie owners staying at the hotel. Sometimes the experiences outside the ring and after the show are just as important as the show itself.
You many notice that there is a wedding photo in our gallery. One of our partners, Linda, is an excellent hostess and entertainer. She loves her frenchie as much as we do, and to commemorate the start of our line of frenchie, she has decided to have a wedding for Franke and Ethel. The wedding will take place in August. There will be many new photos and hopefully a video posted on the website in August. We took several photos over the weekend and hope to have them posted in the gallery very soon.
I will try to stay current with our show blog to share the experience with all of you. Thanks for visiting, and stay cool……
This weekend we are off to Stockton, NY and Albion, PA. Hopeful that the frenchies do well with this heat wave we are having. It is 6:30 in the evening and still 93 degrees!
Stud Dogs
Posted on 02. Mar, 2008 by admin in Blog
We would like to introduce you to our stud dogs.
Franke D’Frenchie. He is a gorgeous little boy. He has a nice cobbie body, and weighs about 18 lbs. His coat is a beautiful red.
Cruiser is a beautiful fawn male. He has nice bone, short back, great personality. Finished champion with strong champion bloodlines.
If you would like more information regarding stud service, please feel free to contact us @814-7461770 or send an email through our contact page.
Show Dogs
Posted on 12. Jan, 2008 by admin in Blog
This is a place where you can keep up with up our newest prize puppy, Ethel, and her journey to super stardom!
Harlequin’s Mademoiselle Ethel will be making her debut in the show ring at the end of March. She is in the training process, and loving every minute of these activities. She absolutely loves riding in cars, and going out in public. She truly has been a joy. Getting in to the frenchies has returned a passion that we thought was lost to us after we stopped showing our bullies. It is wonderful to get a second chance. All we can say is…..Look out world, here comes Ethel!!!!!
Puppies
Posted on 12. Jan, 2008 by admin in Blog
We are expecting a litter in February 2009! We are very excited and we will post photos as soon as possible.
When we have puppies a deposit is required to hold a puppy. Also to be placed on a wait list a deposit is required. The deposit amount is $500.00 which is non-refundable. This helps with serious inquiries only. You can then let us know the sex and color you are looking for. When we have a litter we will match our wait list with the pups available. You will be contacted and given the details of the puppy you have requested, including photos. The deposit amount comes off the price of the puppy. Of course we cannot guarantee how long it will take to match your special request. An estimated time line will be given before we accept a deposit. We accept Cashier Checks or personal checks. We would hold the checks for two weeks to make sure they clear. We do not accept credit card checks. We have a contract that we will make available at the time of deposit, this must be completed and returned before time of purchase. We offer a one year health guarantee from any genetic life threatening disease. Our puppies include full AKC registration. The buyer must also agree that the puppy will not be resold to a commercial facility, puppy broker, pet shop, or puppy mill.
Frenchie Facts
Posted on 12. Jan, 2008 by admin in Blog
It is believed that the Frenchie’s origin was from a English Bulldog and a toy breed. The goal was to create a lap dog. The breed was taken to France from England by lacemakers. In 1897 the French Bulldog Club of America was formed. In 1898 the first French bulldog Specialty show was held at the Waldorf-Astoria. The rest is history……….
Frenchies love to be the center of attention. training can be easy if you make it fun. It has always been our experience that the bully breeds are intelligent, but very stubborn. Playtime is probably a frenchie’s favorite activity. It is very important to begin socializing your frenchie from a very early age. We take our puppy to visit the neighbors and friends. This way they are exposed to different people of all ages, including children and the neighbors pets. Always keep a close eye when around children or other animals. not only for their protection, but for your frenchies safety as well.
One of the things we love about the breed is that they require very little grooming, exercise, and overall maintenence. They are very active in play and enjoy going out for a walk. They also enjoy a nap on your lap just as much. They love being part of the family.
Frenchies snore quite loud at times. This is typical of most bully breeds. They, unfortunately, also tend to be very proficent at passing gas!
Always keep your frenchie out of the heat during the summer months and warmer weather. They enjoy being outdoors, but this must be done in moderation during these times of the year. Keep them nice and cool, with plenty of water. Frenchies are a house dog, and should never be left outdoors unattended for long periods. Because of their free spirit, we don’t recommend letting them outdoors without a fenced yard or on a lead. They do tend to have a mind of their own!
A frenchies back is very delicate. You should avoid allowing your frenchie to jump off furniture. Their spine is delicate because of their compact size.
Swimming is another problem for Frenchies. They love water, but due to being top heavy, they don’t swim well. They will go under head first, and bottom up. Never leave them unattended near a water source.
Always use a high quality kibble for your Frenchie. we raise all our pups and adults on Royal Canin. They are weaned on the Baby Dog formula, then we keep them on the Small Breed Puppy, and move into the Small Breed Adult at one year of age. If you use a quality food you don’t need to worry about vitamin supplements.
The frenchie has a distinct ear. It is different from the English Bulldog in the size and shape of the ear. The English has a rose ear, which is not always the healthiest ear to have in a dog. They tend to be tight and are prone to yeast type bacteria. The Frenchie has a large bat ear. If not for the bat ear, the frenchie would be a miniature English Bulldog.
Frenchies are very smart, but also very willful. They are loving and loyal to their families, and this makes them a good watch dog. We have found that they have a unique bark. Sometimes it reminds us of the sound that a seal makes.
From our experience, Frenchies are very good with children and other dogs. We have several little pet chihuahua’s sharing our home with our frenchie. Ethel’s best friend is a 3 lb. chihuahua. She is very gentle when playing with the little dogs.
Grooming is very easy with the Frenchies. It is important to keep the heavy creases or folds on their face clean. Also frequent nail trimming is a must. They shed very little.
Helpful Hints
Posted on 12. Jan, 2008 by admin in Blog
This is a place where we will provide tips about how to properly care for, or breed, your French Bulldog.
If you want a Frenchie to breed because you think you will make money, then you are making a mistake. Breeding should not be taken lightly. If you still think you want to breed, then the following tips may be helpful.
We cannot stress enough that breeding your Frenchie should be taken very serious. This is not an easy process. The well being of your Frenchie is the most important thing to consider. Do not breed without first educating yourself. Talk to experienced breeders, your vet, and read all that you can on the subject. It is very important to have a good vet that you know and trust. We could never have breed Bulldogs for the past twenty years if we didn’t have our vet by our side. We have become friends with a mutual respect for one another. This is priceless!
You should breed for health and temperment. Breeding can be very expensive. It can involve artificial inseminating, and a guaranteed C-section. It is important to give proper diet and exercise during pregnancy. Once the pups are born is when the real work begins…. You must be prepared to help nurse the pups every 2-3 hours for the first week.
To determine pregnancy a sonogram can be performed around the 26th day. Otherwise, an x-ray in the last week of prgnancy can determine the number of pups. We have had X-rays done and they didn’t give the correct number of pups. Sometimes the image bounces back before it penetrates deep enough to give an accurate count. I’m not a vet, but I think it has to do with the speed of the film and also the density of the dog.
Welcome
Posted on 09. Jan, 2008 by admin in Blog
Welcome you to our new site. We have been involved in the “Bully” world for 20 years. We want to share our love and enthusiasm for the breed with all of you. We got our start with the help of Blue Grass Kennels, where we aquired our beautiful Frenchies. We wanted only the best for new line of frenchies. This site will also include our puppies for sale when they are available. We welcome comments and questions. We have a helpful hints section, if you would like to contribute, just send us an email. Harlequin Frenchies looks forward to your visit!
Jacquie &Bill Linda & Jeff
