TJ the Frenchie and Duncan
Learn how diet, supplements and mental stimulation keep TJ the French Bulldog in peak condition — plus the three everyday products we can’t live without.
Discover our key must-haves to keep TJ in tip-top condition and ready for adventures.
Diet
It took us a while to realise that the majority of well-known dog food brands are full of junk and fillers. We spent some time looking into this as TJ kept having skin and tummy issues, and it turns out that he’s really sensitive to lots of foods – gluten, chicken, white fish etc. From this point, we took control of everything we fed him, and focused on a meat and superfood diet and frozen fruit treats. He hasn’t had any issues since and always gets compliments on his shiny coat.
Supplements
Even with a good diet, supplements still play a huge part in TJ’s diet. We wanted to take a proactive, rather than a reactive, approach if he developed an issue. We focus on probiotics (Frenchies are known for their gas!) and these made a huge difference for TJ. We’ve also always given him a joint supplement to ensure his joints are as strong as possible, especially while he was still growing.
It took us a while to realise that the majority of well-known dog food brands are full of junk and fillers.
Mental stimulation
TJ is really energetic for a French Bulldog — he absolutely loves going on adventures, walking and playing. During the summer months, it can get too warm to walk him much, so we focus his energy more on mental stimulation – things like puzzle games, frozen treat bowls and lick mats. He has one toy — scented bags you can play hide and seek with and has a strong scent. We love watching him find it in increasingly difficult hiding spots.
Desert island products – if we only had three products to give him
We’d say:
- Coconut oil – this is a really accessible everyday item that not only works well in his food, but also topically – perfect to keep his nose and paws crack-free or even to run through his coat to keep it shiny.
- Blueberries – they’re a great bitesize treat – you can freeze them, put them in water for a game or just feed them straight to your dog. They’re one of TJ’s favourites (and he’s fussy with fruit and veg!)
- Kefir – a natural probiotic, which is an easy meal topper that’s easier to digest than cow’s milk and also supports skin/coat health. TJ loves a few spoonfuls over his dinner (and usually ends up with it all over his face!)
