French Bulldog Care

The French Bulldog (loving nicknamed the Frenchie), with its iconic "bat ears" and friendly, goofy personality, is one of the world's most popular companion dogs. Breed members are fairly rare (and therefore expensive), though--so not much info or testimony exists about how to actually take care of a French Bulldog. Not to worry--this page is full of French Bulldog tips and all sorts of relevant info on French Bulldog care and maintenance.

Below you'll find plenty of details about caring for a French Bulldog: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are covered here. For answers to your questions about raising a French Bulldog, keep reading!

These dogs are playful and active--but they're also fairly small, so French Bulldog exercise requirements aren't very extensive. Frenchies are energetic enough that they'll fulfill a lot of their daily activity needs with their own playing, but a walk or two (and perhaps a dedicated period of play) will help keep their weight down and tone that French Bulldog muscle.

Specifically how much exercise does a French Bulldog need each day? In short: not a whole lot.The athletic, muscular French Bulldog will only require 30-45 minutes of proper exercise per day to stay in good shape. You can start your young Frenchie's workout sessions when the pup is 2½-3 months old by going on short walks, then you can increase the distance as the puppy grows.

A few things to consider with French Bulldog exercise: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't do too much jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as these can injure their still-developing joints and bones. It's also important not to exercise a Frenchie in the heat. This breed is brachycephalic, meaning its short nose doesn't cool air as well as longer-nosed dogs; this makes Frenchies easily prone to heat exhaustion. So it's best not to take these dogs out in hot weather. When you do take your Frenchie out in public, be sure to use a leash, because these social little dogs may run off in search of new playmates--and they can also be protective and confrontational around unknown people and animals (especially other dogs). And finally: Frenchies love their people, and will suffer separation anxiety if left alone, so it's best if they exercise with someone rather than doing so alone.

Precautions aside, it's important to exercise your French Bulldog every day. Without consistent activity, these dogs will become bored and restless--which will make them unhappy and destructive (especially if left alone). Regular exercise will be great for both your Frenchie's and your own peace of mind! A few French Bulldog exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Tug-of-War: Good muscle-building activity; use a rope or old towel
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Frenchies enjoy the company of other dogs; be sure to use a leash
• Laser Pointer: Your Frenchie will go nuts chasing that "little red dot"

When indoors, it's good to give your Frenchie access to balls or toys so the dog can burn excess energy. Owners should also create a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs will need regular care. French Bulldog shedding is fair; French Bulldog drool is a moderate problem.

These dogs have short-haired, smooth coats--and the coats are single-layered, so there's no undercoat that sheds seasonally. Frenchie shedding is not heavy, but it is year-round, so owners should brush their dogs twice a week with a bristle brush or grooming mitt to keep their French Bulldog from shedding a lot. And does French Bulldog shed accumulate over time? It does, but owners can vacuum the floors and use lint rollers on clothes and furniture once every week or two to alleviate the French Bulldog shedding problem.

And because of their hanging lips, Frenchies might drool in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous. Even so, a French Bulldog drooling excessively, like a Saint Bernard or Bloodhound does, is rare; in any case, it's a good idea for owners to keep rags in the rooms the Frenchie spends a lot of time, to be used to clean up that French Bulldog slobber.

Like all breeds, the French Bulldog diet will need to include animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best French Bulldog dog food is premium dry kibble, as it contains all the above-listed nutrients and more--and no empty "filler" ingredients like most cheap dog food.

And some premium brands actually carry breed-specific lines. Royal Canin, for example, offers Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy food, Royal Canin French Bulldog Junior, and Royal Canin Adult--with each product specifically formulated for the breed in its particular life stage. Frenchies are prone to obesity, so the breed-specific products offer balanced nutrition without too much fattening content.

But specifically how much to feed a French Bulldog puppy or adult? With premium food, it won't be a lot! Adults will only need about 1½ cups per day, divided into two meals. Portions of food for French Bulldog puppy dogs are a bit less: depending on the pup's age, about one cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until five months of age.

For further info on feeding a French Bulldog, here's a handy French Bulldog puppy feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. These dogs will quickly become obese if constantly overfed (and under-exercised)--and a fat French Bulldog will have numerous health problems and a shortened lifespan. Help control your Frenchie's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps (and easy on the French Bulldog treats!), and by not keeping the French Bulldog food bowl out and full of kibble all the time. It's better to put the bowl down only when your French Bulldog is eating, then put it away right afterward.

If you're worried you have a fat French Bulldog puppy or adult on your hands, give the dog this test: run one hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Though opinions differ, a majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best dog food for a French Bulldog is premium dry kibble, because it has balanced portions of the nutrients your Frenchie needs to maintain its health in the long term.

Some premium brands that make the best food for French Bulldog puppy and adult dogs are: Royal Canin (which actually has breed-specific French Bulldog food), Blue Buffalo, and Taste of the Wild.

There's no question that as companion animals, French Bulldogs will be much happier living inside with their people than stuck out in the yard. These dogs also don't need much space, so a French Bulldog in apartment living will be fine. A warning, though, to people who leave their pets at home: a French Bulldog left at home may become destructive and a nonstop barker.

Also: for owners of a French Bulldog, temperature is an important factor. Since it suffers heat stroke easily, hot weather is not good for a French Bulldog; cold weather, meanwhile, equals a cool French Bulldog because of its short coat. In a nutshell, it's best to keep your Frenchie inside during outdoor temperature extremes.