Cassie DeNisco

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Finding a French Bulldog Breeder

The top asked question in my dms when I post Sky is who was her breeder. The next question is how did you find a french bulldog breeder you trusted. I won’t sugar coat, it took me over 6 months of research on not only breeders but the breed itself to find someone I trusted.

French Bulldogs are a unique breed and can have a lot of health issues if they are bred incorrectly. You are spending so much money already on your puppy. It’s crucial to make sure you can avoid major genetic issues as well as some physical ones as well.

I’m going to share with you my thought process in picking a breeder but not the breeder itself. Unfortunately they are no longer breeding but I also think you need to find a breeder on your own. Recommendations are great but honestly there’s a lot at stake when choosing your French Bulldog breeder.

Facial Features

This is probably my top tip and something I didn’t realize until after I got her. Frenchie’s can have major breathing problems due to their smooshed faces but so far we haven’t seen that with Sky. Her nose is actually much further out on her face and I think that’s why.

I’ve noticed the dogs how have the super smooshed faces seem to be the snorters and the ones that breath super heavy. Sky has minimal breathing like that but seriously not that bad. When going to pick out your Frenchie, I would look for breeders who have dogs with longer snouts because that just means more air and room for air for your pet.

Health Info

This one is pretty obvious but you need to have a breeder who’s willing to give you info on the health of all of their dogs. Not just the parents of your puppy but also the other dogs in their care. I was able to actually meet her parents and look at them as well as get their health info written out.

They didn’t have anything that would’ve been a warning sign or indicator of hereditary health issues that they could give to Sky. I wanted to also meet some of their other dogs because it gives you an idea of how well they take care of their pets and if they have any health issues.

Vibe of the Breeder

I can’t tell you how many breeders I talked to that were way too pushy. If I’m reaching out about a dog, clearly I want one but not just the first dog you have. I also was turned off by breeders who had insanely strict contracts for vaccines and spaying/neutering.

When I take home my puppy, I want to be able to make decisions for it that I have researched and feel is best, not anyone else. I get why breeders have contracts to preserve their line of dogs but I wanted a breeder who would guide me, not decide for me. Sky’s breeders were super laid back and answered any questions I had in the early months of having her.

Social Media Tags

This is one that I think a lot of people don’t think to do. My breeder had an instagram account and I found it super helpful to go to their tagged pictures and see how their dogs were doing now. This gives you an better idea of their health problems that maybe a breeder wouldn’t want to tell you.

Through social media, I was also connected with some of Sky’s siblings to talk about the dogs and how they’re doing. This was just so helpful to see happy and healthy older dogs because it gives you an idea of what you’re getting.

What does your puppy come with

After talking to a bunch of breeders, it’s common to have dogs come with other health tests done. I think the more health testing your breeder can offer the better because then you know what you’re getting.

Some dogs also need vaccines so it’s important to make sure your pup comes up to date with those. Some breeders send home other things like collars or toys. I don’t find that as important as getting those health tests that you would want.

Obviously price and color come into play but these 5 things were at the top of my mind. You are trusting this person to give you a healthy dog that’s very expensive. Research is essential and taking the time to choose is necessary.

My top tip is just start emailing your local french bulldog breeder or breeders at a distance you’re comfortable in going to. Honestly, building a relationship with the breeder and getting to know their dogs is my top tip.

Check out more Frenchie posts here and be sure to subscribe to my mailing list here so you don’t miss a post!

French Bulldog Products You Can’t Live Without

I’m back again with another French Bulldog products post. You all loved my last one, Frenchie Must Haves for Heat so I thought I would share some more general products. My puppy is now almost 2 years old and I seriously can’t believe it. This is such a magical breed and these dogs have the funniest personalities. Frenchies also can be prone to health issues. Most of these products are geared toward setting them up for success.

Pet Ramp

This ramp was actually a more recent purchase. I noticed Sky would jump off my bed and land really hard. French Bulldogs are more susceptible to things like IVDD and hip/joint problems so I knew we needed to find a solution. I love this ramp, it’s not the cutest in my room but it provides her a gentler way to get off the bed and she seems to be okay with it!

Ear & Eye Cleaner

Finding good products for your pet is literally the best thing you can do. Sky got an ear infection around 6 months old because of those giant and open ears, so we started cleaning her ears out 1-2 times a week. This ear cleaner was recommended by our vet so we love it. We put in in her ear, massage it, then let her shake it out and we take a cotton round and wipe out any excess.

As for eye cleaner, I honestly never thought twice about her tear stains until around January of this year. I noticed they were getting a lot of buildup and even seemed red on the skin. We started wiping her eyes with medicated wipes from out vet once a day. Now, we use these every other day just to keep out infection and bacteria. It’s important to look for eye wipes that are safe to use near the eyes and are anti microbial so they actually work and help to seal out moisture.

Car Seat

french bulldog products

I almost cringe every time I think about how we used to drive with her in the car. I would just let her sit on my lap in the front seat and I now realize how dangerous that is. Dogs really need to be restrained. If you get in an accident, you don’t want them thrown from the car. We are OBSESSED with this Pup Saver car seat. It was pricy but it is actually crash tested and rear facing. I feel so great knowing that she’s as protected as a baby would be. This is probably my top french bulldog products.

Travel Water Bowls

french bulldog products

The one thing I tell everyone is that Frenchies get overheated quickly. I always make sure to have water bowls in whatever car I’m in and fresh water. After going in to a store or walking around she needs some water. I love these with a lid from Amazon. These help to keep the car clean because once she’s done we can cover it up.

Healthy Treats

french bulldog products

This is a big one because Frenchies really can’t be too overweight. It puts a lot of stress on their bodies and can flare up a lot of the health issues we’re trying to prevent. I like to look for low calorie treats that have good ingredients. My favorite brand to buy for her is Bocce’s Bakery. These treats are only 4 calories and have good ingredients that I would eat myself.

Another pro tip that I like to do in the summer is swap out treats for fresh fruits or veggies. I find that things like watermelon and cucumbers help to refresh her in the summer and keep her cool. You can even make your own puppy pops which not only are good treats but can help to keep your pup cool in the summer.

I honestly could go on and on about French Bulldog products. I am obsessed with Sky and am always looking for ways to make her life better. Frenchies are such interesting little characters but you need to make sure you really know what you’re getting into before you get one.

Let me know if you have any dog products you can’t live without because I am always looking to try new things!

French Bulldog Must Haves for Heat

Frenchie tips + products for summer

My puppy Sky just turned one so I thought it was fitting that I put together a list of French Bulldog must haves. Frenchies are a super unique breed with some potential for health problems but to be honest, that comes with any dog. I have had the best experience so far with my French Bulldog and she is a serious goof ball. Here’s my list of French Bulldog must haves for heat!

One thing that you don’t realize about Frenchies until you have them is how hard it can be for them in the summer. Because of the structure of their nose and their fur, staying cool becomes a real challenge. Aside from having air conditioning on and not walking her in the heat of the day, she still loves to go out and play but I realized she would get hot and tired so quickly. I purchased these French Bulldog must haves for heat below and I am so glad I did!

Cooling Vest

french bulldog must haves

I got mine from Canada Pooch and Sky and I are obsessed with it. A cooling vest works to help dogs sweat since that is something they can’t do on their own. I put Sky’s in cold water, ring it out, and then put it on her for a few hours. Be sure to check that it hasn’t gotten to warm periodically so that you’re not making her more hot. I have noticed a serious change with her with this on because she’s able to take a nap and get comfy in it when its hot. It also it prevents her from getting to hot on walks. This an ABSOLUTE French Bulldog must have for heat and will seriously help your Frenchie this summer. (For reference Sky is 23 pounds and I got a size 14)

Cooling Collar

Similar to the cooling vets, a cooling collar works the same way. It’s just focused on keeping their neck and head cool. Sky isn’t the biggest fan of having something wet on her neck but I love using this when we’re just hanging outside for a little while. I initially purchased the two pack on Amazon but haven’t used the ice one yet. The blue one gets the job done and keeps her cool. I purchased the Canada Pooch one when I got the vest and I love this one too. This one is definitely more high quality and keeps cool longer BUT the Amazon one is the one she is definitely more comfortable in.

Cooling Mat

french bulldog must haves

Sky isn’t so sure about this one but I feel like on really hot days she’ll thank me. This cooling mat from Amazon is really cool because it has an ice insert that keeps it cool for hours. Right now, she doesn’t lay on it to sleep but she does eat her bones on it . This mat is great to keep her cool and comfy when she’s hanging out on the deck outside. The ice in it lasts awhile and I high recommend trying this out.

My Sky loves to be outside which is something that is just not feasible for her all summer long. She does pretty well in the heat, at least she has so far, so with all of these products it does allow her to be outside much longer. Some tips for keeping your dog cool are to always have fresh water. I also have see the rule to not let them play too long in over 75-80 degree weather. My final tip is to give your pup cool treats frequently. Whether it’s an ice cube or a puppy pop (recipe here), cool treats help them to cool down just like us!

If you’re a Frenchie parent or any dog parent with tips and tricks on how to keep your dog comfy and cool this summer, leave a comment below! Let me know what you thought of these French Bulldog must haves.

Follow me on Instagram: @cassiedenisco & @skythefrenchgirl !

Homemade Dog Treats

This quarantine has turned me into the homemade dog treats queen. If you read my last post about puppy products you need, then you would know I am a strong advocate for minimal ingredient treats. If you wouldn’t eat them for yourself, then why give it to your pup? I’ve started to make homemade dog treats and I’ve dedicated this blog post to my absolute favorite recipes!

4 Ingredient Dog Biscuits

homemade dog treats

Ingredients:

1 Banana

1 c Pumpkin

2 c Whole Wheat Flour

1 egg

Directions:

This is one of the best recipes for dog biscuits. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Mash up your banana and then mix it with the pumpkin and egg. Slowly start to add the flour and begin mixing with your hands. Once the dough forms, roll it out and add whatever shape. Bake for 25 minutes and let harden before you indulge with your pup! (These store for about a week)

Dog Peeps

homemade dog treats

Ingredients:

1 c Honey

1 c Water

1 tsp Vanilla

1/4 tsp Salt

3 tbls Unflavored Gelatin

Coconut Flour

Silicone ice cube trays

Directions:

First start by combining 1/2 c of water and gelatin in your mixing bowl. While that is sitting, start stirring the honey, 1/2c water, vanilla and salt in a sauce pan on a medium to high heat. The temperature of the mixture should reach around 240 degrees which will take about 6-10 minutes. After the mixture is the right temperature, add to the gelatin and mix in slowly. Put your mixer on high until you reach a fluffy consistency. Grease your silicone trays and then carefully pipe your fluff mixture into the trays. Let this set for at least 4 hours (I did overnight) and then remove from the mold. I dusted mine with coconut flour because they were still tacky and then let Sky enjoy!!

Puppy Pops

homemade dog treats

Ingredients:

1 Banana

1 c vanilla yogurt

1 tbls Peanut Butter

Directions:

These are my go to treats for Sky! She loves them. First add all your ingredients to your blender and then pour into silicone ice cube trays. Let set and then store in your freezer. Take one out whenever you want to give your pup a sweet treat! These are my all time favorite homemade dog treats!!

As you can see, these homemade dog treats are first so easy to make but second pretty healthy. Too much sugar for dogs isn’t good but making sure they are getting in fruits and veggies is so important. I love knowing exactly what is in Sky’s food so these homemade dog treats are perfect for us!

Follow me for more recipes on Pinterest @cassiedenisco!

Puppy Products You Need Right Now!

It’s hard to believe that Sky is now 10 months old! I’ve been putting together a list of puppy products you need right now these past 7 months. These months have had some of the best and hardest times of my life. People really aren’t kidding when they say puppies are as hard as babies. My list of responsibilities has grown but I wouldn’t change a thing because she is always the best part of my day.

One major thing I’ve learned from having a puppy, similar to a baby, is you have to do what’s best for your own dog regardless of the tips people give you. It’s always nice to hear what products people love or training tricks they have but you have to be flexible because something that one person loves might not work for you and your pup. This list is full of products and things I’ve come to love for Sky and would reccomend you and your pup try out!

1. Hut or Play Pen

puppy products

We soon found out that Sky hated her metal cage. No matter how comfy we tried to make it, she would just freak out in it. After some research, we found this mesh play pen from Amazon and she is so comfortable in it. We use it similar to how we would use her crate but it’s just more cozy than a normal cage. This was a serious game changer!

2. Car Seat

puppy products

I will never drive with Sky again without her car seat! We used to just keep her on my lap in the passenger seat but she started to get so crazy, not to mention it’s not the safest for her to not be tethered to something. This K & H Pet Bucket Booster was pricy, but we bring it inside when she’s not using it and it doubles as a bed in my kitchen for her. This a puppy products that changed the game for us. It’s seriously awesome because it keeps her safe and she loves to be in it!

3. Antlers over Raw Hide

puppy products

For so long I remember getting raw hide bones for my families’ dogs but they are not good for them! Once they eat the raw hide it can expand in their stomachs and then make them sick. We switched to antler chews for Sky because as she gets older, she does need something to chew and these are more natural. We get them at all stores like Walmart, Petsmart, or PetCo and they keep her busy and happy!

3. Ear Cleaners

puppy products

With Sky being a French Bulldog, her ears stand straight up and attract so much dirt. She even got an ear infection because we weren’t doing the best job cleaning them. We found a cleaner that you pour into their ears, let it sit for a second and then have them shake out. After that, we take a cotton pad and just gently pull out the extra wax that didn’t already come out. It definitely is more effective and helps to keep her ears healthy.

5. Velcro Harness

puppy products

This is another Frenchie tip but I do think velcro harnesses are really great for all dogs. We noticed for Sky, normal harnesses don’t sit correctly on all of her muscles and she needed one to come up higher on her neck and leave more room for her shoulders. We love this Voyager Harness from Amazon not only for the quality but for the price as well. We’ve actually gone through two harnesses and I don’t think I’ll ever buy another brand, unless I want a patterned one!

6. Fruitables Dog Treats

puppy products

What I’ve learned about treats is that if you wouldn’t eat them yourself, you shouldn’t give them to your puppy. I like to get minimal ingredient treats. It’s good to know exactly what the ingredients are and I would eat myself. I love the Fruitables dog treats because they are minimal ingredients and the actually smell good. I also love that they help Sky get in her fruits and veggies that are so good for her.

7. Toothbrush & Toothpaste

puppy products

Dental hygiene is so important even in dogs so as weird as it sounds, brushing your dogs teeth should be a step in their weekly routines. Sky actually doesn’t hate having her teeth brushed but I find her tooth brush and paste does much better then the cleaning stick treats. I prefer just putting the little silicone brush on my finger because I can really move around her teeth. Starting with a good oral hygiene routine now will set your puppy up for a great mouth as they get older. These puppy products are a must get.

8. Kong Products

puppy products

Not only are these a yummy treat for your pup, but they also are a tool for you to use to keep them distracted! The puppy phase is definitely tough, especially working from home so I loved giving Sky a little peanut butter or a few small treats in here when I needed her to play quietly. I highly recommend these because they help to keep you and your puppy sane!

9. Training

I was definitely skeptical about enrolling Sky in training programs. With her breed and what I’ve read, they’re usually pretty easy to train but I’m so glad we signed her up. We use clicker training and to this day, it still works. I would look into it if you’re looking for a training method for your dog. We found a beginner class at our local Petsmart and not only did she learn tricks, she also got to socialize with so many puppy friends which was great!

10. Gates

puppy products

Sky came home on a Saturday and by Monday our house was already gated. Baby gates are so helpful because they allow her to roam freely in the room we’re in, without her heading to another room. With working from home, I would just keep her in whatever room I was in and it would make my life so much easier. Everyone I know agrees gates are a must get puppy products.

Getting Sky was seriously the best time of my life so far and she is the greatest companion. I know a lot of you are thinking about getting puppies or just got one because of quarantine so I say just do it. I hope this list of puppy products is so helpful! As long as you can afford them and will give them the love they deserve, it’s always the perfect time to add a new friend to your home.

Follow me on Instagram : @casssiedenisco

Follow Sky on Instagram : @skythefrenchgirl

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My Fall Night Routine

fall night routine

Fall is totally my favorite time of year because of the change in weather. Summer is fun but the coziness of fall is my absolute favorite. My first night routine post was pre puppy so everything is so different now. I thought it would be fun to show you my chill fall night routine. Here’s a night in my life!

10/30/19

I get home different times from dance but the first thing I always do is take a shower. Because I’m a dance teacher and I’m moving around for my job, it’s inevitable that I’m going to need to shower. After that I start my dinner. Usually I’ll have already meal prepped for it, meaning that I have already cut up the veggies and the meat and just need to throw it all in the oven. Prepping it beforehand seriously makes like so much easier and it helps me to make sure that I’m eating healthy. While we eat, we like to feed Sky too around 7. This ensures that she eats but also that she won’t be around begging us for food. She usually doesn’t but just in case she decides to start that habit she can’t.

After dinner in my fall night routine, I like to hop right into skin and hair care. Usually while we eat I like to keep my hair up in a towel. It soaks up the water and then I use the It’s a 10 leave in conditioner to detangle it. I really love it because it makes my hair so smooth. It also acts as a heat protectant for when I’ll style my hair in the morning. After that, I’ll always wash my face in the shower so I start using my Drunk Elephant and Clinique products. I use my Clinique toner first and then go in with Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C Framboos and Eye cream. Skin care is so important so no matter how tired you are make sure you get to it!!

Once all of that is done in my fall night routine, it’s finally time to walk Sky and head to bed to watch a show. Since I’m writing this in October we did watch American Horror Story and Halloweentown High last night to get us in the Halloween spirit. Sky will usually head right to bed once I put her in my bed which means that I have time to actually sit and watch a show without her running around and being her crazy little self. I usually will walk her one more time around 10pm before bed and then I’m in bed before 10:30 since someone likes to wake up at 7am.

I hope you enjoyed reading my fall night routine! It’s pretty chill and relaxing which I need after a long day with the puppy, school, work, and my internship. Let me know in the comments below if you do anything special for your fall night routine.

Follow me on Instagram: @cassiedenisco !

Life Updates!

puppy life updates

Wow I can hardly believe that we’re halfway through October so I decided it was time to do some life updates. Seriously can’t figure out why time moves so quickly. We’ve had Sky now for 3 full weeks and I honestly am absolutely in love. She is the most perfect pup and I am so impressed with her intelligence.

Overall, she’s doing really well with potty training. We only have accidents in the house once every few days and she really knows when she needs to go out. One of our biggest challenges is still putting her in the crate overnight. I know that it’s best for her but she cries so much. I would let her sleep on my bed with me but I’m worried she might fall off and my bed is quite high off the ground. We also don’t totally trust her yet for that long without going potty, and I don’t think I even want to imagine cleaning up that mess. Other than that we are doing great and she seriously is such a fun puppy to have!

In other news in life updates, I have also accepted an internship. I’m currently working with a digital marketing agency and I absolutely love it. It’s exactly what I want to be doing. I am so lucky that I was able to find something with such flexible hours and so close to home. I’ve also been with this internship now for about 3 weeks and I feel like I’ve learned a lot. At the same time, I also am working on the skills I already had.

Digital marketing is basically what I do for this blog. From writing and designing websites to promoting it on social media, in a sense I’m my own marketing person. I think it’s so cool that this is actually a job that people have because it’s fascinating. I work on the social team so I get to create graphics for Instagram and come up with captions. There’s a lot of hashtag research involved as well which is something I can apply to my own blog and posts.

With all that is going on in my life I definitely have had moments that I feel overwhelmed. I actually wrote a blog post about all of this change as it was happening. Although, I just didn’t share the details but you can read it here. I was doubting myself for so long and now that I’ve let go I am seriously so happy. Friends in life come and go but you have to be your own cheerleader 100% of the time. I really was able to learn that this year and I know how capable I am of handling any type of situations. 2019 so far has been a crazy year and I can only imagine where else it will take me.

Hope you enjoyed reading my life updates. Stay tuned for more because 2019 is not over yet and there’s still so much more to come!

Sky’s Instagram: liifewithsky

My French Bulldog Puppy!!

I am so excited to finally share with you my new french bulldog puppy! She’s a cream French Bulldog and only 3 months old. Her name is Sky and I am absolutely obsessed with her.

Jordan and I picked her up on Saturday from a french bulldog puppy breeder in New Jersey and we are so in love. She’s very playful and has been constantly keeping us on our toes. We had been looking at Frenchies consistently for the past 6 months and randomly came across Sky’s breeder on Monday. We had been talking back and forth and ended up becoming obsessed with her.

Like I said, she is only 3 months old and is crate trained but we have started potty training today so that we can get into a good routine. She is my first dog although I have been around many. If you have any puppy tips, leave them in the comments below, I’m all ears! Also, let me know if you have a french bulldog puppy or any of the bully breed.

Be on the lookout for more Sky pictures and now blog posts dedicated to all of our furry friends. Follow our adventures on her Instagram: liifewithsky

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