French Bulldogs: Complete Care Guide

French bulldogs are fun-loving dogs that everyone loves to keep as a pet. It was important to provide good care for French bulldogs because they can have health and allergy problems. If they don’t get enough care from the owner, French bulldogs have health problems such as cardiovascular, stress, and anxiety.

Good caring will improve the physical and health condition of French bulldogs. You need to provide value for your pets and care for them as a child. Spend some time with a French bulldog for reducing stress, and depression. You can notice several changes in the behavior of French bulldogs when you don’t care for them. In this article, you’ll know everything about French bulldogs and it was a complete detailed guide for beginners. 

Our research found that the majority of dog owners are not providing enough care for their dogs and the dogs can detect the behavior changes in humans most Veterinarians accepted that animals have emotions not only depression but also anxiety, irrational fears, and phobias.

History of French Bulldog

The French bulldog (Bouledogue Français) originated in England with unique charm and distinctive features and has become an excellent breed among dogs. It was the smallest version of the Bulldog that originated in England but later it was brought to France where it gained the name French bulldog (Frenchie).

French bulldogs are easily recognizable with unique small bodies with a muscular build and bat-like ears. The small bulldog was popular in France and gained the name French bulldog.

Later there was trade between England and France with small dog breeds. French bulldogs are intelligent, friendly, and sociable in nature. They have a strong bond with humans and need attention.

Appearance of French Bulldog

The appearance of French bulldogs has a compact size with a muscular build and bat-like ears. It was a small dog with a unique appearance with an expressive face, round eyes, and smushed nose. French bulldogs have a different color combination and a miniature of bulldogs except for large ears.

They are mainly low-grooming maintenance dogs but they need better caring and the owner need to spend time with French bulldogs. Some of the physical features of French bulldogs are their ears, nose, eye, tail, and height.

The ears of French bulldogs are bat-like ears rounded at the tips and stand upward. The nose is black in color with light coat color, The eyes are round and dark brown. There are a lot of varieties with green and blue that were not considered pure breeds of French bulldogs. The height and tails are short.

Important Facts about French Bulldogs

French bulldogs are friendly and social dogs. One of the essential facts is their physical appearance such as a small dog breed with bat-like ears and smushed nose. French bulldogs will not bark a lot and are patient with children.

Some of the essential facts about French Bulldogs are listed below.

Highly Sensitive: French Bulldogs are highly sensitive dogs, they can sense behavior changes in humans. You need extra cautious when handling French bulldogs because slight changes in human behavior make stress or depression.

Most can’t Swim:  Most French bulldogs don’t swim because of their size and short legs and lack of snout.

What are the different types of French bulldogs?

French Bulldogs come in a variety of coat colors.

Brindle: A pattern of dark stripes on a lighter background color.

Fawn: A solid tan or light brown color.

Pied: White with patches of another color (e.g., brindle or fawn).

Cream: A light, pale color.

How to choose a French bulldog

Choosing a gender was an important part of the selection of good dogs, Many people are looking for females for peaceful and relaxed dogs. But males French bulldogs are more energetic. You need to check the quality of French bulldog breeds such as their height, short legs, color, tails, smushed nose, and bat-like ears.

You need to check the mouth, ears, and eyes for any disease affection or skin allergies. You need to also check the health condition of parents and ask about the relevant vaccination. French bulldogs have several health problems such as 

• Deafness
• Hip
• Cherry eye
• Respiratory problems
• Stenotic nares
• Tracheal stenosis
• Heat stress
• Elongated soft palate
• Laryngeal collapse
• Internal disc disease
• Cataracts
• Von Willebrand’s Disease

That’s all about choosing a French bulldog, Now let’s know more about the French bulldog guide.

Food

French bulldogs need high rich food for better healthy and to gain immunity. You need to provide different food in different growth stages such as for puppies, for adults, and seniors. You need to feed them according to schedule and for puppies, you can teach them new behavior and train them with foods.

For 8-week-old puppies, you need to feed them 3.4 times a day. High-quality meals that need to meet their requirements or nutritional needs. Provide 1/4 cup of high-quality dry puppy food soaked in warm water until softened for puppies. As puppies grow, you need to increase the portion size based on their weight.

You need to always monitor the weight of French bulldog puppies and adjust the portion size according to their weight. If you change any food then you need to consult a vet before changing.

Sudden changes in the food may affect the health or immunity system of French bulldog puppies.

Here is the list of food for a 3-5-month-old French bulldog 

Protein Sources:

Protein Sources	Portion Size
High-quality puppy kibble	Follow packaging guidelines
Cooked lean meats	About 1-2 tablespoons
Cottage cheese	About 1 tablespoon
Plain Greek yogurt	About 1-2 tablespoons

Carbohydrate Sources:

Carbohydrate Sources	Portion Size
Cooked sweet potatoes	About 1-2 tablespoons
Cooked rice	About 1-2 tablespoons
Oatmeal	About 1-2 tablespoons
Pumpkin puree	About 1-2 tablespoons

Vegetables:

Vegetables	Portion Size
Cooked, chopped carrots	About 1-2 tablespoons
Steamed, chopped green beans	About 1-2 tablespoons
Cooked peas	About 1-2 tablespoons
Cooked, chopped spinach (moderation)	About 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon
Broccoli florets (lightly steamed)	About 1-2 tablespoons

Fruits (in moderation):

Fruits	Portion Size
Apples (seedless)	About 1-2 tablespoons
Blueberries	About 2-3 blueberries
Bananas	About 1-2 thin slices
Watermelon (seedless)	About 1-2 small pieces

Treats:

Treats	Portion Size
Puppy-specific treats	Follow packaging guidelines
Small pieces of regular kibble (training treats)	Small enough for training purposes

Allergies

The French bulldog has allergies to food sources, environment, contact allergies, etc. As a beginner, it was hard to analyze the symptoms of allergies in French bulldogs. Food allergies was caused by antibodies in a dog’s intestines. It was the most common allergy found in dogs, and it was mostly due to beef, dairy, chicken, egg, etc.

If you see any allergies in French bulldogs then consult a vet and change the food source for reducing the allergies. French bulldog Allergies will affect the health and immune system. The main symptoms of allergies in French bulldogs are coughing, face rubbing, itchy skin, wheezing, stomach problems, etc.

Training

Training is important for every dog for building confidence, and mental stimulation and creating a strong bond between humans and dogs. You need to start training when the French bulldog was the puppy stage. 

You need to train them for creating a small behavior and basic commands in the early stage. Don’t train them too hard in the beginning.

These are the different types of training for French bulldogs.

• Obedience Training
• Potty Training
• Crate Training
• Leash Training
• Clicker Training
• Positive Reinforcement Training
• Negative Reinforcement Training
• Punishment-Based Training
• Marker Training
• Free Shaping
• Target Training
• Behavior Modification
• Socialization Training
• Agility Training
• Search and Rescue Training
• Service Dog Training
• Therapy Dog Training
• Trick Training
• Off-Leash Training
• Boundary Training
• Counterconditioning
• Desensitization
• Impulse Control Training
• Distance Commands
• Heeling

Exercise

French bulldogs need appropriate exercise due to a flat face and difficulty breathing. The exercise was important for every dog. Many dog owners are not providing care and exercise for their dogs.

Regular exercise help to improve their health and immunity system. Just like humans, french bulldogs need exercise to maintain a healthy weight and strong muscles.

Here is the list of exercises need for French bulldogs

• Short Walks
• Gentle Play
• Avoid Strenuous Activities
• Swimming
• Monitor Breathing
• Keep Them Cool
• Indoor Activities
• Avoid High-Jumping
• Regular Health Checkups
• Weight Management

Grooming

Grooming is essential for dogs for maintaining overall health and appearance. Regular grooming is important for French bulldogs because brushing removes dead hair, and ear cleaning for preventing ear infections.

Without proper grooming, the dog may have health issues and skin infections, etc. Below is the reason for grooming.

• Skin and Coat Health
• Matting and Tangle Prevention
• Shedding Management
• Tick and Flea Detection
• Ear Cleaning
• Nail Trimming
• Oral Health
• Eye Care
• Sanitary Maintenance
• Bonding
• Early Problem Detection
• Cooling in Hot Weather
• Appearance Enhancement
• Comfort
• Overall Well-Being

Bathing

Every dog needs regular bathing for reducing the amount of dust, dirt, and dander. Bathing French bulldogs will reduce allergies and infection. You need to bathe dogs every week or once a month unless they smell or get dirty.

You can use shampoo for bathing dogs and remove the dirt and dander from dogs and provide proper care for avoiding skin issues. If you don’t bathe French bulldogs then a dry coat and irritated skin can be developed.

So you need to care for the skin and use quality shampoo for bathing. After bathing the dogs will get relief from stress and irritation due to dirt and dust on the skin.

Common Health Problems

There are different health problems for French bulldogs. If they have any health issues then you need to consult a vet because we can not treat the dogs for any common health issues or disease.

Here is the list of common health problems 

Brachycephalic Syndrome: Difficult in breathing due to snoring, snorting.

Hip Dysplasia: Common joint problems due to improper hip joints developed.

Allergies: Skin allergies such as itching, and skin infection.

Ear Infections: Ear infection due to improper cleaning.

Cherry Eye: In the eye, you can see a red, swollen mass near the nose or muzzle.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD): It was a health problem related to spinal.

Patellar Luxation: The dog’s kneecap dislocated from its normal position creates discomfort.

Entropion: The eyelids roll inwards and create irritation and pain for the eye.

Hemivertebrae: French bulldogs have spinal problems and paralysis due to the size and shape of a dog.

Obesity: French bulldogs will gain weight faster and cause problems in joints.

Skin Fold Infections:  Skin fold infection due to dirt and debris trapped on the skin and face.

Digestive Issues: Some of the Frenchie has digestive problems like vomiting and diarrhea.

Best Toys For French Bulldogs For Puppies

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Best Healthy Treats For French Bulldogs

Best Leash and Harness

Dental care

You need to observe the French bulldog’s oral health regularly for detecting dental problems. Some of the problems are excessive drooling, inflamed gums, and changes in eating habits. You need to brush the teeth of French bulldogs regularly for avoiding dental problems.

If your French bulldogs have dental problems then you can see the changes in the behavior of the dog.

French Bulldog diet

French Bulldogs have sensitive stomachs and digestive issues like gas. Provide high-quality ingredients with low fat. When the body weight starts increasing the French bulldog may have joint problems due to small legs.

So not only giving high-quality food, you need to exercise French bulldogs to maintain their health and weight. You need to feed the appropriate nutritious food for keeping the French bulldog healthy.

French Bulldog safety

French bulldog breeds have high market prices and dognapping has become a common occurrence in the world. So you need to keep your dogs safe. It’s the dog owner’s duty to keep them safe. 

• Here are tips to keep the French bulldogs safe.
• Don’t off-leash the French bulldogs because thieves are mainly targeting off-leashed dogs.
• You need to keep a collar with an Id tag.  If the dog was not kidnapped the information in the ID tag will help.
• Never leave your dog alone outdoors.

Understanding behavior

You need to understand every behavior of French bulldogs. They like to impress their owner every time. So you teach them some behaviors for sit, stay, and drop commands.

The French bulldogs also show some erratic behavior when they feel irritated or hungry. They have strong bonds with humans and be social.

What is the average lifespan of a French bulldog?

The average lifespan of French Bulldogs is 10 to 12 years. Proper care and exercise will improve their health and immunity system. Proper grooming is also important for French bulldogs for avoiding infections to the skin, ears, eyes, etc.

Don’t keep the dog alone because they can affect stress or depression. French bulldogs are attention seekers so they try to build strong bonds with humans. 

How long can French bulldogs live without food?

The French Bulldogs need quality ingredients for their diet and they can live 2 days without food. French bulldogs have sensitive stomachs so there will chance for gas formation. A proper diet and healthy food will improve the health and immunity system of the dogs.