“I have three pups, all picky eaters, and they devoured their meals! I’m so happy to have found a quick, easy and super healthy food.”
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Breed Group
Non-Sporting Group -
Temperament
Playful, Alert, Adaptable, Affectionate -
Personality
- Height11-13 in
- Weight25-27 lbs
- Lifespan10-12 years
- EnergyModerate
- GroomingModerate
- SheddingModerate
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog’s history begins in England during the late 18th century on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution. Toy-sized Bulldogs were bred in the city of Nottingham by lacemakers who kept them as lap dogs and to rid their workshops of rats. This sturdy, compact dog breed continued to grow in popularity when the lacemakers migrated to France for better opportunities. Eventually these miniature Bulldogs were crossed with local breeds, resulting in the Bouldogue Francais or French Bulldog, the breed we commonly know today. Frenchies were quickly sought out by Parisian artists, actors, writers and celebrities. Even Americans visiting the city fell in love with Frenchies, and it wasn’t long before French Bulldogs made their way to the U.S. Frenchies were officially recognized by The American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1898.
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French Bulldog AppearanceÂ
French Bulldogs are undeniably charming. These dogs are characterized by their large, square heads, compact bodies and bat-like ears that are always on alert. Frenchies stand about 11 to 13 inches tall and generally weigh under 28 pounds once fully grown.
French Bulldog TemperamentÂ
Frenchies are the epitome of a small dog with a big personality. They love to play and enjoy entertaining their family. Frenchies are patient with children, friendly with strangers and get along well with other dogs. As a result of their adaptability, Frenchies are a good choice for first-time dog owners.
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Grooming Your French Bulldog
The French Bulldog’s coat is short, smooth and sheds very minimally. It’s recommended that you brush your Frenchie at least once a week with a medium-bristle brush or a rubber grooming tool. Brushing is important to help keep your Frenchies’ coat shiny and to promote new hair growth. As Frenchies shed their undercoat during the spring and fall, you may want to brush them more frequently during these seasons. French Bulldogs also have deep folds and wrinkles that will need to be kept clean and dry to discourage infection and bad odours. If your Frenchie has sensitive skin issues or allergies it’s recommended that you bathe them with a hypo-allergenic shampoo. Keeping your Frenchie well-groomed is one of the easiest ways to ensure your pooch stays happy and healthy.
Give your dog a shinier coat with fresh food
Training & Exercise for Your French BulldogÂ
French Bulldogs thrive on human affection. These dogs are eager to please, which makes them easy to train. As long as you use positive reinforcement, patience and consistency, your Frenchie will happily do what you ask to earn some positive attention.Â
When it comes to exercise, Frenchies require a moderate amount that doesn't permit them to overexert themselves. It’s recommended that you socialize and train your Frenchie early to help them develop into a well-adjusted adult.
Health Considerations for French BulldogsÂ
When a French Bulldog/s health is properly managed, they have the potential to live a long and healthy life. With a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, owners should be aware of some of the common health conditions French Bulldogs are prone to such as brachycephalic syndrome, hip dysplasia, and chronic allergies.
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BAOS)
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BAOS) is a combination of upper airway abnormalities that cause partial obstruction to a dog’s breathing. As a result of the Frenchies’ short nose and flattened face, they are more prone to this particular condition. French Bulldogs that are affected may experience a range of symptoms such as loud breathing, difficulty handling exercise, heat intolerance and difficulty eating.Â
Hip DysplasiaÂ
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is one of the most common canine ailments. It’s a genetic condition that causes an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which can eventually lead to lameness and arthritis of the joints. French Bulldogs have a lot of experience with hip dysplasia. Some of the common symptoms of hip dysplasia in Frenchies include decreased range of motion, hip pain or sensitivity, bunny hopping and an inability to climb, jump or run. Hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease that can be magnified by factors including excessive growth rate, age, types of exercise and improper weight and nutrition.Â
Although not all cases of hip dysplasia can be treated, there are ways to minimize the chances of your Frenchie developing this disease. Feeding your Frenchie high-quality dog food is a good start for development of healthy bones and joints. Providing an appropriate amount of exercise will help to prevent obesity, which is a main contributing factor of this condition in French Bulldogs. For prospective owners, it can also be helpful to do your research when seeking a breeder to ensure the appropriate health screenings are being done.Â
Allergies
Food and skin allergies are another common problem amongst French Bulldogs. Atopic dermatitis in Frenchies can be inherited or triggered by environmental factors or food-based allergens. Some common symptoms of allergies in Frenchies are excessive scratching, licking the paws, rubbing the face, sneezing and diarrhea. Frenchies who consume dog food full of artificial flavours, byproducts and other harmful ingredients are more likely to encounter health issues. Therefore, it’s important to feed your French Bulldog a healthy well-balanced diet, so they can develop a strong immune system. Being able to recognize the signs of allergies in your Frenchie and treat them accordingly will ensure they enjoy a healthy and comfortable life.
Strengthen your dog’s immune system
What Makes a French Bulldog Unique?
Frenchies are bad swimmers
Swimming is typically something dogs are able to do naturally. However, this is not the case for French Bulldogs. It turns out that Frenchies are not very good swimmers due to their anatomy. The Frenchie’s short nose and flat face means that they’d have to keep their head tilted back to keep their face out of the water. French Bulldogs' disproportionately large heads and short legs also make it difficult for them to float in water.Â
Frenchies don’t fly
When it comes to flying, most airlines have banned French Bulldogs from their planes as they can suffer certain health risks. Many brachycephalic breeds, such as the French Bulldog, have problems flying because of their flat faces and their bodies inability to handle prolonged pressure. Some Frenchies have perished while flying due to their airways collapsing from high stress and changes in temperature.Â
Interesting fact!Â
There was a champion French Bulldog aboard the Titanic named Gamin de Pycombe who was two years old at the time. He cost his owner Robert. W Daniel an equivalent of $20,000 today. Daniel survived the fatal disaster and lived until 1940, his Frenchie wasn’t as fortunate. Gamin de Pycombe was last seen swimming futilely for his life in the freezing water.Â
Frenchies are sensitive
Dogs have become masters at reading human body language and social cues. Frenchies in particular have a remarkable ability to sense your emotions. As Frenchies have very sensitive feelings, they don’t take criticism lightly. If you scold your French Bulldog, you'll likely find them moping around the house. The best way to discipline your Frenchie is through positive reinforcement and encouragement. Rewarding your Frenchie with praise and love will be more effective than speaking to them harshly.Â
Hollywood star
Frenchies have continued to rise in popularity especially amongst high profile celebrities including Lady Gaga, Leonardo di Caprio and Hugh Jackman. The breed has also been seen in a range of different movies and TV shows. They even had a French Bulldog play Gamin de Pycombe in James Cameron’s Titanic film. Â
French Bulldogs love to talk
Frenchies are a talkative bunch! They aren’t afraid to speak their minds and will communicate with you through a system of yips, yawns, growls and gargles. Although Frenchies don’t have a big bark, they can be very expressive with their voice when trying to communicate their thoughts and feelings. These characteristics are what make the French Bulldog such a unique breed and loved by many!
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Why NutriCanine Is Great For French Bulldogs
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Best Dog Food for a French Bulldog Puppy (1-4 years)
The best dog food for your French Bulldog puppy will be high quality and nutritionally complete to ensure they grow into a healthy adult. French Bulldogs will typically reach their full adult size between 9 and 15 months old. When choosing the best dog food for your Frenchie, it can help to understand the special needs of this particular breed. For example, French Bulldogs are prone to developing certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia and allergies. Choosing a dog food that contains well-sourced protein, nutrients, and a proper amount of fat will help in the development of healthy bones and joints. It’s also important to consider dog food that is free from any fillers and artificial ingredients, which can help reduce the risk of feeding allergies. The best dog food for your Frenchie puppy will support healthy growth and consider the breed’s health concerns.
As your Frenchie puppy is still in the process of development, another factor to consider is the consistency of their dog food. Your Frenchie will have an easier time digesting soft dog food as opposed to hard dry kibble. NutriCanine’s nutrient-dense and easily digestible meals are developed by a dog food formulation specialist for an incredible flavour and texture that your Frenchie puppy will love. Our dog food recipes offer complete and balanced nutrition for your pup, with human-edible animal proteins and our unique blend of highly digestible fruits and vegetables. All our dog food recipes are freshly prepared with no hormones, no antibiotics, and no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.
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Best Dog Food for an Adult French Bulldog (5-7 years)
When selecting the best dog food for your adult Frenchie, it’s important to ensure their nutritional needs are met without going overboard on the calories. As French Bulldogs are prone to obesity, high-quality and well-balanced dog food is essential to maintain a healthy body weight. The ideal dog food for your Frenchie will include lean protein such as poultry and fish, low-moderate fat content, wholesome ingredients and plenty of vitamins and nutrients. At NutriCanine, we will take the time to learn about your Frenchie and create a customized meal plan for their unique nutritional needs. Our dog food recipes come pre-portioned and ready to serve for a mess-free mealtime! NutriCanine dog food recipes are freshly prepared with real, human-edible, locally sourced ingredients.
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Best Dog Food for a Senior French Bulldog
Once French Bulldogs reach seniority their energy levels begin to slow down considerably. It’s important to feed your Frenchie dog food that contains high-quality ingredients and is low in calories and fat. Due to the fact that Frenchies have a higher risk of obesity it’s crucial that their diet is tailored to their age and health needs. NutriCanine’s raw dog food recipes are specially formulated to accommodate your senior dog’s nutritional needs; however, our gently cooked line might be easier for an older dog to transition to if they’re not accustomed to fresh dog food. Our fresh dog food comes in a variety of delicious recipes that your Frenchie will absolutely love, including high-quality proteins like chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and chicken and salmon.
There are numerous health benefits when feeding your Frenchie a diet of real, fresh dog food. With complete and balanced nutrition from NutriCanine, you’ll start to see health benefits in your senior Frenchie, including improved digestion, fresher breath, more stable energy levels, reduction of allergies and intolerances, brighter eyes, fresher breath, cleaner and whiter teeth, a stronger immune system, a thicker and glossier coat, less flatulence, and firmer stools, to name a few. Our dog food recipes offer complete and balanced nutrition for your Frenchie, with human-edible animal proteins and our unique blend of highly digestible fruits and vegetables. All our dog food recipes are freshly prepared with no hormones, no antibiotics, and no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.
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Best Dog Food for an Overweight French Bulldog
Frenchies love to eat. But as a result of their calm energy levels it’s easy for them to gain weight. If your Frechie is experiencing weight issues, it’s important to take the necessary steps to get them back to an ideal weight. Proper exercise is important and dog food that’s low in calories. There are numerous health benefits when feeding your Frenchie a diet of real, fresh dog food. With complete and balanced nutrition from NutriCanine, you’ll start to see health benefits in your Frenchie, including improved digestion, fresher breath, more stable energy levels, reduction of allergies and intolerances, brighter eyes, fresher breath, cleaner and whiter teeth, a stronger immune system, a thicker and glossier coat, less flatulence, and firmer stools, to name a few. NutriCanine dog food recipes also come pre-portioned, making it easy to track and control your Frenchie’s calorie intake.
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Best Dog Food for a French Bulldog with a Sensitive Stomach
French Bulldogs are known to have sensitive stomachs and the most common reasons are allergies and gas problems. When selecting the right dog food for your Frenchie, it’s important to consider three factors: the quality, source of the nutrients and the proteins used. To help alleviate your Frenchie’s stomach sensitivity, it’s important not to compromise on the quality of these three factors in your search for the right dog food.
Food allergies arise when your Frenchie’s body reacts or rejects a particular dog food causing them to have problems with digestion. Food intolerance and dog food allergies are not the same thing. Food intolerance can cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea while dog food allergies can result in symptoms like skin problems, itching and lack of appetite. To try and solve the problem your Frenchie is experiencing, we recommend consulting your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you’re also trying to change your pup’s dog food we suggest you do so gradually in order to find a suitable diet for your Frenchie.
Brachycephalic breeds like the French Bulldog have an increased amount of flatulence. This is the buildup of gas in the digestive system that can cause abdominal discomfort. NutriCanine’s gently cooked dog food recipes are a great option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Our gently cooked beef dog food recipe contains antioxidant-rich berries and highly digestible rice, making it the perfect meal for dogs who have immune responses to gluten. All our dog food recipes are freshly prepared with no hormones, no antibiotics, and no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.
Top 10 Facts About French Bulldogs
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NutriCanine Meals
Raw
NutriCanine raw recipes contain a unique blend of highly digestible fruits and vegetables. Our raw recipes offer complete and balanced nutrition, ideal for all dogs of all ages and sizes. The transition to raw tends to be easier for younger dogs and high energy dogs.
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NutriCanine gently cooked recipes are great for all dogs including picky eaters, sensitive stomachs, or senior dogs with brittle teeth. Our recipes are safe enough for humans to eat but specially designed to meet your dog's nutritional needs.
Try NutriCanine gently cooked recipes