Dorchen came from a classic car boot purchase and as a result had a difficult start to her young life. Plagued by numerous health problems such as parasites and severe pneumonia, the little Frenchie puppy had to go to numerous vet appointments and hospital stays. Although the little mouse lived with her last family from a young age, unfortunately they didn't manage to teach her the necessary house training, which ultimately led to her being given to the animal shelter.

Now the bulldog lady is starting a new life, but just as was the case when she moved in with her family at 11 weeks, it was immediately apparent during this move that Dorchen is anything but fit. Thankfully, more and more people are aware that French bulldogs are one of the cruelly bred breeds. The labored breathing, which is typical due to the shortened nose and long soft palate, is quickly visible and audible in Dorchen too. But unfortunately the French do not just have breathing problems. Bulldogs also suffer from their entire body shape: their drum-shaped chest and strong muscles put too much strain on the shoulders and point the elbows outwards. As a result, the dogs have a swinging gait that is typical for the breed, which increasingly saps energy and further worsens the dog's condition. In addition, the front limbs are often crooked, which can lead to further problems with locomotion, such as flat feet.

But the damage has already been done and we still want to give the young dog as happy and active a life as possible. Physiotherapy, careful weight control and activities adapted to the temperature are some of the important points that must be taken into account when keeping a dog.

> But when looking for a suitable dog, alongside its physical structure, its character is also crucial - and this is where our Dorchen scores highly. The young Frenchie is open-hearted and quickly took us caregivers to her heart. Even outside on the leash, a good bond with Dorchen can be quickly built. She likes to orient herself on her two-legged friends and, especially with the odd treat, a relaxed walk goes without a hitch.

In general, she has shown her best side - and so far, her most house-trained side. With regular walks, Dorchen has so far gratefully taken the option of doing her business outside and can even manage several hours. We hope that this will become well established in the new home with a fixed daily routine and that she can leave her past behind.