*Note from Kate
Grandpa Tom is my dad, and as he puts it he is very “technologically challenged.” So he’s asked me to share his thoughts “on the web” 😂 with the Country Farm Frenchie family and anyone else who loves Frenchies as much as we do. Here’s what Grandpa Tom has to say this month. Hope you enjoy it!
Grandpa Tom’s message
Why I started breeding French Bulldogs
Most of you have read or heard my story. I’ve shared the story of my accident and how my first Frenchie, Bella, was my support buddy and pig-faced companion through my year-long recovery (you can read about it here).
I got into the breeding hobby because I love bringing these joyful furballs into the lives of you and your families. Seeing your faces light up when you hold your new puppy for the first time makes all of the work I put into these dogs worth it. If your dog can do for you what mine did for me … that’s the goal.
I love hearing funny stories about your Frenchies and it makes my day to see your pics and videos on social media. Keep sending those to us! It’s the best!!
Grandpa Tom hates kennels
Lately I’ve heard more and more stories of “puppy mills” and “kennels” who are mass breeding French Bulldogs to move them like products on an assembly line. This breaks my heart. These little animals aren’t sneakers or cheap electronic devices, they are little members of our family and your family!
I spend hours every single day with my dogs. The personal touch I give them may go unnoticed by most, but I know how important that care is for raising healthy, loving pups. These dogs get their own “puppy palace,” as I call it, with indoor and outdoor shelter (that I myself clean daily), tons of lawn to play on, individually planned diets, frequent health checks with the best vets around, playtime with other animals, and lots and lots of hugs and snuggles from my grandkids, Grandma Wendy and friends.
I’ve seen the runaround the puppy mills give you. The biggest red flag is when they won’t let you come visit their location to see the pup. They don’t want you to see the kennel and the sad conditions the dogs live in! There is always some excuse why they want to “come and meet you with the pup at a gas station” or “deliver the pup to you.” But the real reason is that they don’t want you to see what is happening at the mill. Please don’t support those operations. Find a reputable breeder who is going to ensure your pup is healthy and happy.
By the way, I love it when you come to visit us. I wish everyone would come visit just to say hi and play with the dogs!
Happy, healthy, pups and mamas
I’ve been told I could make more money with my dogs if I’d do “fewer wellness checks” or if I’d skip the extra steps like a Fecal Flotation to check for parasites, for example. But that isn’t how I want to do things. It’s important to me that I never cut corners and that I always put the dogs’ health first. I’ve had vets and adopters tell me that I have the most healthy litters they’ve seen. I believe that to be true, and I know it’s because I am very selective with the dogs I will breed. As a responsible breeder I only breed our female Frenchies once per year and only if they are healthy enough to do it. I also only keep 4 females and 1 male at a time. Any more and I wouldn’t be able to give them the personal care and time they need.
Please come visit!
Like I said before, I love it when our Country Farm Frenchie family comes to the farm to visit. I really encourage anyone looking to adopt one of our pups to make the effort to come by and meet the pups and their parents in person. If that’s not possible, we can find a way to Facetime and give you a digital tour. I’ll have Kate take care of that, though.
Hopefully I can convince Kate to share more of my messages in the future. I didn’t even mention the new Frenchie BnB we have!! Next time…
Have a wonderful May!
Grandpa Tom