I would never have imagined that French Bulldogs would turn out to be the number one breed in America! I my opinion they certainly deserve the top spot. Until recently, they were fairly obscure, and I had never seen one until we got a dog identification guide book. Talk about love at first sight. When we got our first Frenchie, Gabby, I was actually astounded at how rascally and friendly and loving she was, she never disappointed. We’ve also been parents to Aster, Springer, Mouseish, Faffy and Pip. Springer and Pip were our guys, and you wouldn’t have found braver dogs anywhere..
French Bulldogs have a short coat that requires only a minimum of grooming, a weekly brushing is quite enough. However, there are other grooming issues that any Frenchie owner should be aware of: wrinkles. Facial wrinkles on Frenchies need regular cleaning because they can become irritated and infected. If you’ve noticed the face of your wrinkly friend getting a bit smelly, it’s time to use a wrinkle-cleaner or wrinkle-balm to clean and soothe those irritated folds.
It’s not just facial wrinkles that might be the problem, Frenchies have some folds around their tails that need attention, too. (Other dogs with wrinkles, Shar-pei, Blood Hounds, English Bulldogs, and Mastiffs, can also benefit from these products.) One time, when we were cleaning Springer’s tail wrinkles, he broke away and took off with a cotton swab waving around in the air like a flag.
Are Frenchies fussy eaters? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, it seems to depend on their mood at the moment. We’ve had ours turn up their noses at some premium chow and then dive into a bag of chicken feed. However, providing a balanced and complete diet can help keep any French Bulldog in good condition. Frenchies will accept kibble in many cases, even ours did, and I have to admit that they got a lot of human food along the way, too. I think they would have loved the fresh frozen food that is now available, especially if it was heated up a bit. Even if you decide to feed your French Bulldog a fresh frozen diet, it’s probably a good idea to have shelf stable food or kibble, like Unkibble, as a backup. Emergencies can not only keep you from getting out, but might impact deliveries. If you would prefer a moist food for your Frenchie, try Nextrition
Keep Those Teeth Clean
I know well that French Bulldogs can be subject to dental problems. Some of our Frenchies, like Pip and Aster, never had a speck of tartar on their teeth, but Gabby had recurring dental problems. We got Gabby when she was a bit over three years old, and she came with some tooth issues, which we addressed quickly. She had to have about half of her teeth removed and several cleanings to keep her mouth in good shape. While it would be irresponsible to say that simply brushing your dog’s teeth will prevent trouble, it can go a long way to keeping tooth problems more manageable.
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Pet toothpaste in flavors such as beef or chicken may make tooth brushing a bit less stressful for both of you. The earlier you break your young Frenchie in to getting his or her teeth brush, the smoother it will probably go.
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You will need something to put the paste on, so you can have the choice between a ‘regular’ toothbrush and a finger toothbrush, which I recommend for ease of use. Your Frenchie will probably be much more receptive to your use of a finger toothbrush than to the other kind.
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Additives for your French Bulldog’s water can also help prevent the buildup of tartar. Usually, a small amount is added to your pup’s drinking water every day. This will also help with ‘doggy breath’, too.
Because French Bulldogs are brachycephalic, which means they have shortened faces, they are more prone to dental problems, so please make sure that you add daily brushing to your dog’s care. It’s not only the brachycephalic breeds that can have dental problems. Smaller breeds can also experience these issues because their teeth tend to be more crowded.
Clothes Make the Frenchie
Do your French Bulldogs balk at going outside when it’s cold? Ours sure did. Frenchies have short, comparatively sparse hair, so going out during the winter can be uncomfortable for them. Frigid temperatures can make walks outside a nightmare for these little guys, which is why it’s important to make sure they have warm coats or sweaters during cold weather. Boots for dogs can also help prevent frostbite, and don’t forget those sensitive ears. Hats for dogs can help make outside a lot happier for a Frenchie. During one very cold winter I made Gabby a special hat that had upright ‘ears’ on it to accommodate her ears. She absolutely loved it and it definitely kept those upright ears warm and toasty on windy, cold winter days. Fitwarm has a huge range of clothing that can help keep your Frenchie warm and dry during the worst weather.
Bat-Ear Bedtime
I suspect a lot of Frenchies wind up sleeping on their owner’s bed, but, when you’re looking for a comfortable bed for your pooch, there are plenty of choices:
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Bolster beds
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Covered beds
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Orthopedic beds
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Sofa beds
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Elevated beds
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Pillow beds
The main criteria here is to find a bed for your bulldog that will be warm, comfortable, and provide him or her with a feeling of safety. Don’t forget to add a blanket or throw for those chilly winter nights. These dogs are sensitive to the cold, so make sure that their sleeping arrangements keep them nice and warm. Ours slept with us, and we all kept one another warm. When we got Mouseish and Faffy, they were only around 8 weeks old, and it was February. We made a little nest for them between my husband and myself and they settled in without a single whine. They never messed that little nest, either, they would get up once during the night to pee on their papers, then right back to sleep. They were sleeping through the night in two weeks time.
Just a Terrific Breed
While I personally believe that there is no better breed than the French Bulldog, anyone considering one should always make sure they have some understanding of these dogs. To begin with, Frenchies are exceedingly clingy. This was fine with us because we work at home. Most of my work has been done with a Frenchie on my lap or snuggled up against me. These dogs do not like to be left alone, and the few times that we had to leave them for a couple of hours for a doctor’s appointment, they left messages to indicate their displeasure. And no, we didn’t even scold, just cleaned up.
French Bulldogs are excellent with children, too. I saw this several times when Gabby was around small children. One example will serve. I was in the bank having copies of some documents made. While waiting, I was sitting in a chair with Gabby on my lap. A man came in with his daughter who looked to be around two years old, and she was eating some candy. As soon as she saw Gabby, she said, “Puppy” and came over, with her candy in her left hand. I saw the father stiffen instantly, and I did keep my hand on Gabby’s chest. The girl started petting Gabby, and would you believe it, she never even looked at the candy, although even I could smell it. It wasn’t long before I saw the father relax and turn to the teller to complete his business.
And, French Bulldogs are subject to some health problems, as every breed of dog is. Some have breathing problems because of their short faces, and they can have back problems as well.
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Ear Infections
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Back Problems
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Conjunctivitis
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Heat Exhaustion
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Allergies
It’s always smart to remember that no breed of dog, and no race of humanity, is free from health problems. I’ve always thought that to focus on the negatives would lead to there soon not being any dogs or any people. We take what we have been given and do our best with it.
The best ways to make sure your Frenchie is as healthy as possible is to check the health of the parents before you choose a puppy, feed a high quality dog food, and make regular checkups at the vet; beginning problems are always easier to treat than are established ones. All that being said, I think they are still the best breed, and well worth, doubly well worth, any baggage they may bring.
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