Lily Countdown

I’m picking her up in two days (Saturday) and she’s all I can think about!

I started ‘collecting’ frenchie photos on flickr a while ago and am finding new ones everyday. A few of my favorites will appear sporadically in this post in between the paragraphs where I talk about how I found mine.

Photo Credit: Bullmarket Frogs

I’ve known for a very long time I wanted a french bulldog. Amazingly cute, laid back, a goofball, and small, the dog has it all (rhyming unintentional). The search for her wasn’t easy though. I looked for months and months but always came to a dead end. Most breeders I came across were either shady or had a ridiculously long wait list (think years). If they had the latter there was no guarantee you would ever get one, you would just have to wait and hope the answers you gave in the questionnaire (to see if you were a suitable owner) fit the breeder’s criteria. Often times they were overwhelming–6-10 pages of questions about your work, education, hobbies, living area, camera availability, etc…One even required I read a book. I understand their need to do that completely though…These dogs are like their own children! They only want the best for them. Not unreasonable, just tiring.

Photo Credit: *Fatemeh*

Since they are known to have health problems, I wasn’t going to risk getting a frenchie that was not bred properly. I also didn’t want to support “breeders” who just crank out puppies for money and mate any ol’ frenchies together. One local “breeder” was already mating ONE YEAR OLD PUPPIES.

Photo Credit: Weiko

To find a reputable french bulldog breeder I went to the french bulldog page through the AKC website. I looked at the list of clubs for a local one and sent an email to all their listed breeders. I was lucky enough to get a few replies and they all pointed me to the same one…and they just had puppies!

Photo Credit: ItsVeryHipVic

After a few emails and a phone call, I was number three on the list with only two female puppies available. I’ve never crossed my fingers so hard! Knowing I was so close but not necessarily ‘there’ was torturous. A few days later I got the phone call that made me the happiest person ever.  I ran to the studio to scream at my Mom, “I GOT THE PUPPY…kind of.” I didn’t want to jinx anything until I paid the down payment, but as soon as I did I started surfing the web for the raddest puppy toys, beds, leashes, collars, dishes, carriers…anything she might need.

Tomorrow I’ll post the pet/dog supply stores I found that meet my criteria for radness, then Saturday I’ll do a Lily post!

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