Many people think that dogs don't need clothes. This is not natural and interferes with the thermoregulation of the animal body. However, in our climate, short-haired dogs need heating. Their short coat does not protect them from heavy rain, strong winds and snow. When planning to get a dog, people think about its household items. The French Bulldog is easy to care for, but this breed does not tolerate extreme heat or unbearable cold.
What do you need to buy when you bring a puppy into your home?
When they get a purebred puppy, they immediately write down a list of necessary equipment. This includes:
- ceramic food bowl;
- iron bowl for water;
- bed (pillow);
- toys, which should be rubber or wooden, of medium size;
- a blanket or small blanket;
- tray;
- nail clipper;
- toothpaste and brush;
- dog shampoo;
- eye drops;
- cotton pads and cotton swabs;
- hydrogen peroxide – wipe the folds.
Arrangement of the place
The French Bulldog breed is very active and will delight its owners with its playfulness. The dog will be a great friend for school-age children. It is better not to let children near the dog .
When choosing a place for a dog to rest, do not place the bed on a walkway, for example, in the hallway or in the kitchen, where there are constant smells. Place the puppy in the living room or bedroom, but keep in mind that this breed sleeps quite noisily. If a dog has settled in a children's room, make sure that it does not disturb the children with its snoring.
Wash your pet on a rubber mat in the bathroom. Such breeds are not washed very often: once a month will be enough. But paws must be washed after each visit to the street.
Choosing clothes for a dog: autumn and winter options
The dog breed, having French roots, justifies its origin. A fashionable bulldog needs fashionable clothes all year round. Here is the little puppy's wardrobe :
- Waterproof overalls with silk or cotton lining for autumn. To prevent the puppy from catching a cold in the wind in bad weather. In the fall, you don’t take your puppy for walks much.
- Raincoat – to protect the animal’s body from dirt in the off-season. It is much easier to rinse a raincoat than to wash a dog.
- Winter bolognese overalls with a warm lining and a hood. The dog needs warmth on a winter walk. If there is no hood, buy a hat to prevent your ears from freezing.
- Winter warm sweater. The animal catches a cold quickly, so the dog should not be walked without clothes.
- Knitted T-shirt made of cotton or linen for summer walks.
- Cap, bandana against sunstroke.
All things are bought in special stores, clothes are selected for the puppy, and tried on on the spot. Clothes should not cause discomfort or rub the skin. You can order clothes online. In order to choose the right clothes, you need to determine their size correctly.
Usually the size is indicated according to the parameters:
- neck girth;
- chest girth;
- back length.
It must be borne in mind that winter clothing should cover the animal’s back completely, while summer clothing may be shorter . Small allowances are also taken into account so that things are not tight and do not interfere with the dog during active movements. They prefer to buy dog clothes with Velcro or snaps for easy putting on.
If things are large, then the dog can get tangled in them, getting his paws stuck in the legs of the overalls, which leads to injuries and fractures. Therefore, when shopping, take your dog with you and immediately try on new clothes in order to understand whether it matches the size of your pet.
It should be noted that for this breed of dog, clothing must be purchased according to the characteristics of their structure . Most clothing has a standard cut and can put pressure on a French Bulldog's massive neck.
The puppy is taught to dress for a walk from the first days, so he may refuse fashionable purchases and resist when trying to put on anything.
- It is recommended to dress the dog from the age of three months, and put on shoes from the age of five months, when the paws are fully formed.
- Train your pet to carry things around the house. During fitting, you should distract the dog with a game so that it does not immediately pull off the clothes. Good behavior can be rewarded with a tasty treat.
- Allow the dog to sniff the clothing before trying it on and allow it to be seen, demonstrating that the clothing does not pose a danger. Let the things stay at home for a while and acquire the smells familiar to the dog.
- They try clothes on the dog patiently and do not swear, despite the pet’s aggression and resistance.
Basic measurements
The most important of them is the length of the product; even a child can handle this measurement - trust him with this important procedure. First, put your Frenchie in a stand and order him to obey, put on the collar and get down to business.
Measure the exact length of the product (if it is a dress or cape) starting from the withers (collar) or measure from the withers to the base of the tail. This measurement is called DS - back length. You will also come across the name - the length of the product, then they write - DI.
Most often, overalls with a hood (replacement for a hat) or raincoats are sewn for the French. Wearing a vest is also a necessity - you can put it on quickly! So let's move on to the next measurement.
This is the neck circumference - OS, you can simply measure it using the collar. As we said, the collar is not matched to a given dog. Well, the last measurement is to measure your chest circumference. Since we have a hero in front of us, this measurement will be large. You need to measure from the withers down, passing under the front paws, clasping the entire chest.
If taking measurements, making a template and a pattern is a real torment for you, trust the experienced professionals of the atelier. Or go to the store, there are age-appropriate items for each breed. By the way, when sewing a product that goes for sale, specialists take into account precisely these measurements. Another thing is if your dog is the size that is not suitable from the store, or you find synthetic materials there, refuse to purchase.
Then everything is in your golden hands, because it’s the health and activity of your pet! So, you have two options - create a unique design masterpiece with your own hands - sew or knit, or go to a dog atelier. By the way, your pet should accompany you, because most likely a specialist will want to take measurements on his own, and suddenly you will need to take additional measurements.
Shoes
In the city, it is very important to put shoes on dogs, since in winter in cities they use chemicals to protect roads from ice. Shoes are essential to protect your dog's paw pads from injury. Shoes are not difficult to find, but they are selected by trying them on a pet. At home, the dog does not put shoes on for long, so that he gets used to this part of the wardrobe. The pet will gradually get used to the shoes and will calmly “put on” the shoes.
For the first time, purchase soft shoes with thin soles and gradually move on to other model options. Separate shoes are purchased for each season so that the dog is comfortable in any weather change.
Why do you need clothes?
Short-haired French bulldogs can fully experience all the disadvantages of bad weather. That is why it is not advisable to take them outside in rain, snow or just on a windy day.
But what to do if the cold or rainy season drags on? Constant sitting at home without fresh air is bad for the health of any dog, and French bulldogs are no exception. It is precisely for such occasions that pet clothing was invented.
Representatives of this breed must have in their wardrobe:
- raincoat;
- warm overalls.
These outfits will do an excellent job of protecting the animal from adverse weather conditions. A raincoat made of water-repellent material will keep your French Bulldog from getting wet in rain or snow. Insulated overalls will save the animal from hypothermia in the cold season. And in combination with comfortable and warm shoes, the dog will not be afraid of either frost or chemical reagents, which are often sprinkled on city roads during icy conditions.
Also, the French bulldog needs to purchase either a hat or overalls with a hood, because it has erect ears and completely open ears. Such elements of a dog's wardrobe can prevent possible inflammation of the pet's ears during wind or rain.
If the dog owner is planning a country trip, for example, to the forest, then a jumpsuit selected for the season can protect the pet from getting thorns, burrs, etc. on its fur. And it will be more difficult for ticks to get close to the dog’s skin if the size of the outfit is correctly selected. But examining the animal’s skin after a hike for the presence of parasites is still required.
But in summer it is best to go without clothes to avoid overheating the dog. On too hot days, it is advisable to leave the French Bulldog at home; its reaction to high temperatures can be unpredictable: from dehydration to heatstroke. Although for a not particularly hot summer period, you can buy your pet a light outfit made of breathable material.
Also, for French bulldog girls, you can purchase special panties that will protect the house from accidental traces of discharge during estrus. They can also be used after pet sterilization surgery.
If you want to sew clothes for your dog with your own hands, you need to take into account the peculiarities of its structure. Pay attention to the non-standard neck dimensions of the French Bulldog when making your pattern.
If you don’t have enough skills to sew clothes for your pet with your own hands, you can purchase it at any specialized store or order it. Fortunately, the dog clothing market offers a huge selection from shorts with T-shirts to a classic suit or evening dress. The variety of colors will please any picky buyer, and fashionistas will be able to choose an outfit for their pet that matches their accessories.
Regardless of whether you decide to sew an outfit for your dog with your own hands or buy it from a suitable store, you need to follow some rules.
Patterns
Below you can see clothing patterns for a French bulldog, including overalls that you can make with your own hands:
The main thing you need to know when purchasing a French bulldog puppy is that this breed is short-haired and gets cold easily. You will definitely need to buy clothes and good quality shoes. Poor quality materials cause allergies in dogs .
Take things seriously when purchasing clothes for dogs, choose things made from natural materials. Dog fashion is not only driven by convenience and practicality. It shows the status of the dog owner, his well-being.
Using the imagination of designers, such owners purchase clothes for their French bulldog for various holidays and competitions. Wealthy dog owners order anything from designers for these occasions: suits, skirts, boots, original hats.
Required tools and materials
To sew clothes for a French bulldog yourself, you need to prepare materials for work in advance.
You may need:
To make knitted items you will need yarn, knitting needles or a hook.
Since French bulldogs are prone to allergies, they need to choose natural fabric for their clothing. They should also be practical and retain their quality after multiple washes.
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