Meet Vivi and Frankie—our two wildly lovable French Bulldogs who’ve taken over our hearts, home, and most of my camera roll. This is the story of how we went from zero dogs to full-on Frenchie fanatics.

Introducing…

Let’s kick off the Pets section with an introduction to our two lively French Bulldogs:  Vivi and Frankie!  They are snuggly, stubborn, endlessly entertaining—and 100% part of the family.  You’ll see them often in future photos and posts, so I thought it was only right to give them a proper intro!

Falling for Frenchies

It all started when my sister’s family brought home Hogie, an eight-week-old Frenchie with a squishy face and a big  personality.  I was instantly smitten.  I’d invent reasons to visit, eagerly await his sleepovers and soak up his affectionate nature and hilarious antics.  I started to imagine what life might look like with a Frenchie of our own.

I mean, how could you not?

I started researching the breed, and thanks to my brother-in-law’s recommendation, found BlueHaven French Bulldogs, a well-respected breeder in northern Utah.  Their website is a must-visit if you’re considering a Frenchie, full of information on temperament, training, health concerns and more.  Their knowledge, care for the breed and experience are evident throughout, and gave me confidence I needed to move to the next step.

A Visit to BlueHaven

As luck would have it, my husband Neil and I had planned a trip to nearby Salt Lake City.  We made a detour to visit BlueHaven and meet the family behind the operation—Bick, Donna, Lacey and crew.  We gained even more confidence spending time with them and visiting their dogs—puppies and parents alike.  I was so hopeful that I could take home one of the pups I held… but the wait?  About a year.  Our minds were made up, though.  We were adding a Frenchie to our family, and we had chosen BlueHaven.  We paid a small deposit and settled in for our long wait.

From that point on, I was hooked on their (nearly) weekly YouTube videos.  Taken when puppies are close to adoption age of 8 weeks, they are beyond cute.  Yes, I streamed them on our 70-inch TV.  Yes, I watched them more than once. (No shame).  Yes, I was becoming obsessed with my puppy long before she was born!

Enter Vivi

When our turn finally came, we spotted a little black trindle girl—Baby Gemma—feisty, fun and full of personality.  We loved her immediately.  Bick offered us the option to wait for a cream puppy from another litter, but we’d waited long enough. We named her Vivi and brought her home to Southern California.

Vivi came everywhere with us.  One of her early outings was to the USC Alumni Relays – an annual event for current and former USC swimmers.  (Yes, she was a hit).  She was social, smart and soaking up all of the attention she could get.

Then Came Frankie

Here’s where the story takes a turn I didn’t see coming.  Even after bringing Vivi home, I couldn’t stop watching the BlueHaven videos of adorable new puppies.  All the while, Neil kept reminding me that one dog was enough for two busy professionals.  True, but…

One day several weeks later, we saw QT—a  cream boy from the very litter we’d passed on when choosing Vivi.  He was a little guy, held back to give him time to grow.  He was now 17 weeks old and available!  It was meant to be.  Unfortunately, Neil was still not convinced we needed another puppy.  By the time we went to sleep that evening, I had worn him down.  I got on a plane the next day to bring home our second pup.

Frankie was tiny, silly and immediately loved by his big sister.  He zooms.  He leaps.  He gives the best side-eye.  He is pure joy.

What I Didn’t Know:  Rescue and Adoption

At the time we were looking for our pups, I hadn’t been around dogs regularly since childhood, so I didn’t feel equipped to adopt or rescue.  Sadly, I had no idea how many French Bulldogs are surrendered – often due to the very health issues reputable breeders try to avoid.

However, I’ve since learned about organizations like SoCal French Bulldog Rescue and the French Bulldog Rescue Network, which do incredible work rehabilitating and rehoming Frenchies in need. Roadogs Rescue is another amazing organization that works to provide homes, medical support and comfort for Bulldogs.  So many in need!

I will be spotlighting some of the rescue organizations I’ve learned about to help raise awareness of the amazing work they do—not just for Frenchies, but for all of the other lovable cats and dogs!  I’m sorry to say that I don’t have direct experience with a rescue, but I will in the future!!

Our Life with Vivi & Frankie 

They are now 3 ½  years old and very much in charge of our household.

• Vivi is the queen: she loves to be pampered – baths, face cream, all forms of extra attention.
• Frankie is the goofball: sweet with people, mischievous with his sister, and ready to take on any dog twice his size.

They’ve taken over our hearts, our wallets, our couch, and most of my camera roll.

Thanks for reading!  Can’t wait to share more about life with these two lovable little lunatics.