How to Care for a French Bulldog

By Melissa Maroff

Instructions

Step 1:
Spay or neuter your French Bulldog. Spaying females before the first heat prevents breast cancer and decreases the chance of uterine infections. Neutering male dogs before age four prevents testicular cancer, helps maintain a healthy prostate and curbs aggression.
Step 2:
Take your Frenchie for regular medical check-ups and stay current on vaccinations.
Step 3:
Have your French Bulldog’s teeth cleaned professionally on a periodic basis. Ask your veterinarian for a recommended schedule.
Step 4:
Keep your French Bulldog at a healthy weight. Overweight Frenchies are likely to experience a swollen abdomen and breathing trouble. Feed a balanced, natural diet of real meat and other fresh foods or a premium quality, holistic dog food. This type of diet will result in less gassiness.
Step 5:
Take your Frenchie for daily walks. They are good for apartment life and can be active indoors, but still need regular exercise.
Step 6:
Brush your French Bulldog about once a week with a rubber brush or rubber grooming mitt to remove loose and dead hair. They are average shedders.
Step 7:
Clean your French Bulldog's face folds and mouth regularly with a warm, wet washcloth, since they tend to drool.
Step 8:
Bathe your French Bulldog when necessary. Usually every few months is okay. Clean the ears with a cotton ball and baby oil or ear cleaning solution for dogs. Keep your Frenchie's nails trimmed to a comfortable length (skip the French manicure).

Tips & Warnings

French Bulldogs tend to get along with other dogs, but some may be dog aggressive if not properly socialized. They normally get along with cats.
Frenchies get along with strangers and love every family member, but normally bond most with one person.
French Bulldogs are better with older children, because they don’t tolerate rough play well.
Frenchies thrive on human companionship and won’t do well if left alone for too long.
French Bulldogs snort, wheeze, grunt and snore loudly. That’s all normal.
French Bulldogs can be stubborn and do better with patient, consistent training rather than harsher methods.
Being a flat-nosed breed, French Bulldogs are susceptible to heat stroke and don't do well in extreme temperatures, either hot or cold. Keep them in air conditioning during the summer and supervise their outdoor activity so they don’t over-exert themselves and become overheated. They are definitely indoor dogs.
French Bulldogs are prone to eye and respiratory problems. Some also experience joint disease, spinal disorders and heart defects.
Anesthesia can be risky for a French Bulldog, due to their compromised respiratory system. The upside is that their laid-back attitude permits certain procedures to be done without an anesthetic that would otherwise be required for a more excitable breed.
Be careful around swimming pools. Most French bulldogs are not able to swim.

Resources

Photo/Video Credit

Photo Courtesy French Bulldog Rescue League

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