How Often Should You Check Your Dog for Fleas and Ticks? A New Frenchie Puppy Family Checklist

A daily flea and tick check helps new puppy families catch problems early, rather than waiting for scratching or other signs. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease after attaching to a dog for 24 to 48 hours, according to the American Kennel Club.

So, how often should you check your dog for fleas and ticks? In this guide, you’ll find a simple first-week checklist, where to check your puppy, and when to involve your veterinarian.

Quick Answer: Check your dog for ticks daily when it goes outdoors, and ask your veterinarian about an appropriate flea and tick prevention plan.

What You Need Before You Start

Quick Answer: Gather a check log and your puppy's paperwork before arrival day.

• Requirements and information to have ready

Start with a simple log for dates, spots checked, and anything you find. Each BlueHaven puppy comes with a packet that includes the health guarantee and sales contract, immunization record, AKC paperwork, a veterinary examination, and three-generation pedigrees. Bring the packet to the first vet visit.

Your puppy's route home shapes your first check. Some families pick up in northern Utah or at the Salt Lake City airport. Others meet a puppy nanny or choose door-to-door delivery. Erin wrote about her carrier: "She made the transfer of the puppy a very smooth one."

Read the FAQs for New Owners before the big day.

Step-by-Step: How Often to Check for Fleas and Ticks After Arrival

Quick Answer: Pets that go outdoors need a tick check every day, according to the CDC. Checks catch pests early. Prevention, chosen with your vet, protects your puppy between checks. Treat these as two separate habits, and keep both going.

• Step 1: Run a baseline check on arrival day

Check your puppy from nose to tail once the trip ends. Use bright light and gentle hands. Write down what you see, even when you find nothing, and note the date and time. That log gives your vet a clean starting point.

Jennifer & Brandon wrote, "It has been 2 weeks since we picked up our bundle of joy from the airport." Your route may differ, from airport pickup to a puppy nanny or door-to-door surface delivery, which is currently the preferred option for many puppies. Do this check before the first nap.

• Step 2: Check daily after time outdoors

Make the check a daily habit. Never skip it after a walk, yard time, or a park visit. Start at the head, work back to the tail, and check the paws last.

Do a quick full-body pass at the door before your puppy settles inside. Short outdoor trips still count, even for a home or apartment companion. Repeat the same pass every day so the habit sticks for the whole family.

An estimated 31 million people in the US are bitten by ticks yearly, and 476,000 are treated for Lyme, as per the CDC report.

• Step 3: Know where to look for ticks and fleas

Run your fingers through the coat with gentle pressure. Then check the usual tick spots.

Tick spots on a dog include the feet and between the toes, lips, around the eyes, ears, near the anus, and under the tail, according to the AKC.

For fleas, comb from back to front with a flea comb, then dab any black flecks on a damp white paper towel. Flea dirt turns reddish brown when wet, and fleas hide in the armpits, groin, tail base, and skin folds, according to the Banfield Pet Hospital.

• Step 4: Remove ticks, log them, and plan prevention with your vet

Remove any tick right away with tweezers. Grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up. Then call your vet and record the date and spot in your log.

Ask your vet about year-round flea and tick prevention for your puppy. Amanda & Family wrote, "She had her 3rd series of shots and vet check last week and is perfectly healthy." A scheduled vet visit is a good time to raise the question. Keep your log handy so your vet sees the full picture.

When This Becomes a Job for a Professional

Quick Answer: Your vet chooses the products and the schedule, and a reputable breeder supports the handoff.

• Signs the task is beyond safe DIY scope

Call your vet after any tick removal to discuss next steps. Your vet can also show you how to remove a tick safely, which helps if you ever feel unsure. The right product depends on your puppy's age, health, and where you live. Check with your vet before you use any collar, shampoo, or spot-on product.

• How BlueHaven French Bulldogs support the transition

BlueHaven is a multi-generational family team, led by the father-daughter team of Bick and Lacey, with over 16 years of Frenchie breeding experience. Puppies grow up in the mother's room, which is part of the house.

Selection opens after the 6 to 8-week vet check, and puppies typically go home at 9 weeks. BlueHaven keeps a waitlist, with priority by deposit date and puppy preferences.

The contract and health guarantee spell out what BlueHaven stands behind. Browse the Prospective Owner FAQs for answers about the adoption process.

Frequently Asked Questions

These quick answers cover the questions new Frenchie families ask most.

1. How often should I check my puppy for ticks?

Check every day when your puppy goes outdoors, and check again right after each outing. Pair the daily check with the prevention plan your vet recommends. Log each check so patterns show up. A quick pass takes only a few minutes.

2. Should I use a flea comb on my puppy?

Yes, a flea comb helps. Comb from back to front and look for red-brown insects and black flecks. Dab the flecks on a damp white paper towel. Flea dirt turns reddish brown. Call your vet if the skin looks red or broken, even when you find no fleas.

3. Should I check my puppy after a delivery or airport pickup?

Yes. Run the baseline check once you get home. That applies whether you collect your puppy in northern Utah or at the Salt Lake City airport or receive your puppy from a puppy nanny or by door-to-door surface delivery. Share your log at the first vet visit.

4. Where can I read the BlueHaven health guarantee?

Find it in the Owner Info section of the BlueHaven website, on the Sales Contract and Guarantee page. Read it before you place a deposit so you know what to expect.

Make Daily Flea and Tick Checks Part of Your Puppy Routine

Knowing how often you should check your dog for fleas and ticks is simple: check your puppy daily after outdoor time and follow the flea and tick prevention plan recommended by your veterinarian. Keep your check log updated and bring it to your puppy’s vet visits.

If you’re looking for a French Bulldog raised in a family home, contact BlueHaven French Bulldogs to learn about available puppies, pricing, and the adoption process.

Email Bick at [email protected] to request the BlueHaven information letter and take the next step toward bringing home your Frenchie.