Some aspects of grooming your Frenchie can be harder, some can be easier. They have short coats that are easier to maintain. But they also have skin folds that can get nasty without regular cleaning.
There is no one-size-fits-all grooming plan for all dogs. You need to cater to each breed’s unique needs. So to know how to best take care of your Frenchie, read on.
Are French Bulldogs Low or High Maintenance?
Owning a French Bulldog is a lot of responsibility because they can be high maintenance. Their temperament, personality, and health would need much of your time and money. So Frenchies are not for everyone, here is why.
Frenchies are companion breeds that want to be with you all the time, from the moment you wake up until you sleep. They hate being alone and many recommend that they should only be alone for 4 hours. If you leave them alone for long hours too much, they may develop unwanted behaviors.
And since they have an obsession with their owners, they are prone to separation anxiety. This overattachment to you makes them very stressed when you are not around.
Other than that, Frenchies are not healthy dogs. They have a genetic predisposition to many health issues. They have sensitive skins and stomachs, breathing problems, and mobility issues. So you might have to shell out a lot of money on vet costs down the road, especially when they are older.
So that you know what to expect, here are some of the most common health problems in Frenchies:
- Allergies
- Diarrhea
- Hip Dysplasia
- Skin Problems (Pyoderma and Skin Fold Dermatitis)
- Breathing Issues (BOAS and URT Infection)
- Intervertebral Disc Disease
- Patellar Luxation
- Conjunctivitis
There is a lot more that should be on this list, but these are commonly seen in this unhealthy yet lovable breed. Caring for a Frenchie is a big emotional and financial commitment.
Should You Groom a French Bulldog?
Although they have short coats and shed moderately, Frenchies still need regular grooming. This is part of keeping them healthy since this breed in particular has sensitive skin. To highlight the importance of grooming, here is why you need to groom your Frenchie.
Brushing keeps their coat shiny and healthy by distributing their natural oils. If this oil accumulates near their skin, it can block their pores. This can trigger your Frenchie’s skin problems, which they are prone to.
And whenever they shed, the loose hair can get tangled. If left untreated, this can cause matting. This is painful for your Frenchie as it tugs their skin, leading to sore patches. These patches may get infected, which gets worse and worse.
Your Frenchie’s face also needs special attention, since they have facial folds. Dirt and bacteria can accumulate in these areas. Lack of hygiene can cause uncomfortable infections for your furry companion.
These are only a few examples of why it is important to groom Frenchies. Grooming is a way for you to check their physical health and is a great way to bond with them. Being a short-haired breed does not mean that you should leave the grooming all to yourself.
Are French Bulldogs Easy To Groom?
Frenchies are easier to groom than other breeds because of their short coat. They do not need haircuts, so regular brushing and baths will suffice.
Other than that, you need to be particular in cleaning their wrinkles. These can trap dirt and moisture, which can produce a bad smell. Cleaning their teeth and eyes, trimming their nails, and more are also pretty standard.
While you can groom your Frenchie at home, it is best to see a professional groomer once in a while. These groomers have the tools and expertise that you may not have. So it is a great opportunity to enhance your Frenchie’s looks.
What Kind of Grooming Does a French Bulldog Need?
Frenchies need grooming that addresses their special needs. Their sensitive skin, eyes, facial folds, wrinkles, and ears need consistent cleaning. These areas can be problematic if left alone so be meticulous with these.
You can also groom them the same way you do with other dogs. Trimming their nails, brushing their teeth, and others.
In general, short-haired breeds only need a few baths yearly. For Frenchies with skin allergies, monthly or weekly baths are needed to combat this.
How Often Do You Need to Groom a French Bulldog?
The frequency of grooming your Frenchie depends on the area of their body. Some areas like their teeth need cleaning every week. Others, like their nails, need grooming every few months.
To give you a grooming calendar for your Frenchie, here’s a guide below:
- Baths: Most indoor Frenchies need a few baths each year, taking a bath only when they are dirty. Some bathe their Frenchies monthly or weekly for their skin issues.
- Coat Brushing: You need to brush their coat at least once a week. Doing this every other day will reduce their shedding during seasonal changes.
- Ears: Since they are prone to ear infections, you need to clean their ears weekly. Some Frenchies who have very dirty ears need ear cleaning twice or thrice a week.
- Teeth: Brushing your Frenchie’s teeth at least thrice a week will do. If they have some teeth stains, you can brush their teeth more.
- Nails: You need to trim your Frenchie’s nails every 3 to 4 weeks. When your Frenchie makes a sound as they walk, that means their nails are already touching the ground. With this, they need their nails trimmed.
- Eyes, Folds, and Tail Pocket: Clean these areas every few days or even every day. Especially when you see some dirt. Not cleaning these areas often can make your Frenchie smell funky.
When Should I Start Grooming My French Bulldog?
Once your Frenchie has gotten used to their new house and family, you can already groom them. Depending on where you live, Frenchies can go to their new homes at 8 weeks old. So around 10 to 12 weeks old, they can have their first grooming session.
Their first grooming does not need to be extensive. They need a basic introduction so bathing, blow-drying, nail trimming, and ear cleaning will do. It is important that their first grooming is a positive experience so they will not fear it the next time.
The earlier you groom your Frenchie, the better. Younger dogs are more open to new experiences since their fears are not yet established. The more you groom your Frenchie young, the better they will be in this situation.
Older dogs already have fixed fears. So when you take them to the groomers later in their life, they may not like it. Remember, one of the ways Frenchies react to fear is by aggression, and you do not want that.
How to Groom French Bulldogs
When grooming your Frenchie, you need to keep their special considerations in mind. This is vital to keep your furry companion healthy. To know your Frenchie’s grooming needs, below is a list of some tips for you.
Baths
Short-haired breeds usually do not need frequent baths. Especially if they stay indoors most of the time. So Frenchies may only need a few baths each year.
But since they are prone to having skin issues, your Frenchie may need baths monthly or weekly. Many things can trigger their skin to act up. Food allergies like wheat, soy, chicken, and environmental allergies like pollen and dust.
To combat that, a shampoo for sensitive skin works best. This soothes their skin’s itchiness and redness to make your Frenchie more comfortable.
When bathing them, you should take your time. Make sure to rub thoroughly so that the shampoo touches their skin. The shampoo will work best if it comes in contact with your Frenchie’s skin.
Do not worry about being too meticulous, your Frenchie will also enjoy the massage that they get.
Brushing
Frenchies are moderate shedders, so brushing them at least once a week will do. You can do this more often so that they will shed less during their shedding cycle.
Brushing their coat does more than reduce shedding. There are other benefits of this including the following:
- Removing Dander and Dirt
- Improves Blood Circulation
- Distributing Their Natural Oil
- Prevents Matting
- Massages Your Frenchie
Ears
Unfortunately, Frenchies are prone to ear infections. Many health issues can trigger this too. So regular grooming keeps their ears clean and also helps you check their health.
You can clean their ears with a cotton ball or a cloth with damp water or ear cleaning solution. Make sure to check for any unusual discharge or foul smell while you are at it. Do this every week, even if it is for checking their ears.
Teeth
Failing to brush their teeth can lead to tartar buildup and dental diseases. To avoid this, brush their teeth at least thrice a week. It may be difficult to do this every day, but this will help their teeth stay healthy. You can also use dental sticks to help you with the cleaning.
Eyes
Frenchies will have red discharge from their eyes. If you leave this alone, it can stain their eye area. Keep in mind that Frenchies are also prone to eye problems, such as cherry eyes.
So you need to be diligent in cleaning their eyes. If not each day, do it every other day. Use a cloth with warm water or doggy wipes to remove any discharge.
Wrinkles and Facial Folds
Like their eyes, your Frenchie’s folds need regular cleaning too. These folds are a breeding ground for bacteria since they trap dirt and moisture. If not cleaned, this can develop into a bacterial or yeast infection.
So when grooming your Frenchie, make sure to wipe their face and body folds. Do not forget their tail pocket too, as this area is often overlooked.
Nails
A good rule of thumb to follow is to trim their nails when you hear a clicking sound from their paws as they walk. That is the sound of their nails touching the ground. But in general, they need their nails trimmed every 3 to 4 weeks.
Dogs naturally trim their nails when they walk on rough surfaces like concrete. This is also true for your Frenchie, but they may need more help since they are not heavy enough to do this.
Having long nails is painful for your Frenchie. There are nerve endings in their nails, which supply blood to them. Long nails can put pressure on the quick, causing discomfort.
How Do You Groom French Bulldog Ears?
You can clean your Frenchie’s ears with a cotton ball or a clean cloth, damp with water or ear cleaning solution. Using cotton swabs is fine too, but you should be very careful with this. You do not want to go too deep into their ear canal.
Once you have cleaned their ear canal, use some tissue or doggy wipes to clean outside their ears. This is to collect some debris that you got from inside their ears.
Before cleaning their ears, make sure that they are calm first. This prevents any accidents like poking their ears because they are moving too much.
Do French Bulldogs Need to Go to the Groomers?
Short-haired breeds also need to go to the groomers, not only long-haired ones. This is a common misconception because short-haired dogs like Frenchies need less maintenance. Dogs of all breeds no matter their fur will need to see a groomer every 4 to 6 weeks.
Professional groomers have the expertise to thoroughly examine any dog’s body. Their fur and skin are a good reflection of what is happening inside. If your Frenchie has health issues you do not know about, your groomer will know from the examination.
With their watchful eye, they look for any sign of any health issues. Sores, lumps, parasites, and more. You may catch any serious health problems by taking your Frenchie to the groomers.
Other than that, professional groomers have equipment that you may not have at home. These tools will help your Frenchie to look and feel great.
Taking out mats or undercoats, for example, are hard to do at home. But a professional groomer is well-equipped to do this for your Frenchie. They make sure that your furry companion leaves feeling better than they did coming in!
How Much Does It Cost to Groom a French Bulldog?
A full-service dog grooming for your Frenchie can cost around $40 to $75. The price varies depending on where you live, though. Since they are a smaller breed, grooming them is not as expensive compared to larger dogs.
How Do You Groom a French Bulldog at Home?
You can groom your Frenchie at home like how you would with short-haired breeds. It is a simple process, consisting of the following:
- Occasional Baths
- Regular Brushing
- Nail Trimming
- Frequent Wrinkle Cleaning
- Frequent Eye Cleaning
- Tail Pocket Cleaning
- Regular Tooth Brushing
When grooming your Frenchie at home, you will need a get couple of products first. Since Frenchies have special considerations, some of these products should cater to those. No one product works best for every Frenchie, so you have to figure out what works for yours.
So before buying their grooming products, here is how to choose one for your Frenchie.
Shampoo
A Frenchie’s sensitive skin needs a shampoo that will not irritate it. Choose a shampoo that is pH balanced, hypoallergenic, and organic. Shampoo with oatmeal and aloe vera as ingredients will help soothe their itchy skin.
If your Frenchie can tolerate shampoos well, then it will all boil down to your preference. But there are certain ingredients you need to stay away from. These are the following:
- DEA (Cocamide DEA and Lauramide DEA)
- Dyes or Colorants
- Parabens
- Stearalkonium Chloride
- Mineral Oil
- Fragrances or Perfumes
- Sodium Laurel Sulfate
These products can irritate your Frenchie’s skin. Some contain allergens that can trigger an allergic reaction. Others like parabens and colorants have links to cancer, which you should stay away from.
If your Frenchie has skin problems, they may need to bathe on a weekly or monthly basis. Frequent baths can dry up their skin, which can cause problems too.
To combat this, you should invest in a dog conditioner as well. Make sure you choose one that will not irritate their skin too. So avoid the ingredients listed above when choosing their conditioner as well.
Ear Cleaner
There are ear cleaning solutions on the market that you can use. But make sure that the one you buy is both alcohol and chemical-free.
If you want to use at-home products, you can use water to clean your Frenchie’s ear. Or you can make an ear cleaning solution out of vinegar, water, and tea tree oil.
To make this homemade ear cleaner, mix one teaspoon of vinegar and one teaspoon of water. Add a drop of tea tree oil as well.
With any ear cleaner, use a cotton ball or cloth to wipe your Frenchie’s ears. Some Frenchie owners use a Q-tip, but this is risky since you might poke their eardrums.
Face, Eyes, and Folds Cleaner
These areas need frequent wiping to avoid any infections. Use alcohol-free doggy wipes, or water will do fine as well.
Wipe their eyes to remove reddish discharge that can cause staining. This is clearer in lighter-colored Frenchies.
Make sure to also wipe dirt from the wrinkles all around their body. Pay special attention to their facial folds and their tail pocket. These tail pockets are often overlooked.
After cleaning these areas with wipes, make sure to remove the moisture, too, with a dry cloth. If not removed, this can also cause an infection, especially on their folds.
Caring for these folds is tricky because if you also leave them too dry, they can get irritated. So after wiping these areas, put some vaseline in the folds to bring some moisture back.
Nail Trimmers
There are two types of nail clippers you can get, a guillotine and a scissor type. If you are trimming your Frenchie’s nails at home, it is best to use a scissor-type trimmer.
In general, scissor nail trimmers are easier to use. This type gives you the best visibility when cutting your Frenchie’s nails.
Some dog owners prefer to use guillotine nail trimmers. Although this is usually used by people who have great experience in cutting a dog’s nails.
No matter what type you choose, you need to make sure your Frenchie’s nail trimmers are the right size. Frenchies are medium to small dogs, so it is best to buy smaller trimmers for them.
How Do You Groom a French Bulldog With Clippers?
Trimming a dog’s nails can be scary since you need to make sure you are not cutting too much off. To give you a guide, here are the steps in cutting your Frenchie’s nails:
- Step 1: Touch your Frenchie’s paws often until they feel comfortable. Do this for a few days until they do not mind you handling their paws.
- Step 2: Grasp your Frenchie’s paws firmly, but not too hard. Cut their nails at a 45-degree angle, taking off little bits at a time.
- Step 3: Trim their nails until you see white inside their nails with a black dot in the center. If you cannot see this, you can continue to cut until you do.
Do French Bulldogs Smell Bad?
French Bulldogs are not the smelliest dog breed out there. But they can get quite stinky. They are prone to being stinky because of their skin folds, gassiness, and short coats.
Like other wrinkled dogs, Frenchies have oily folds that can trap food, dirt, and moisture. The two wrinkly areas that need the most attention are their facial folds and tail pockets.
Frenchies can get messy when they eat because they have a hard time with it. They have short snouts, so they need to dig their faces in their food bowls to reach the bottom. With this, it is easy for food to get trapped in its folds, causing a foul odor.
In connection to skin folds, Frenchies have a tail pocket that can get quite smelly too. This tail pocket is below their tail and above their rectum, which is a pretty hidden spot. This area is prone to infections, also trapping in dirt and moisture.
If you do not clean your Frenchie, they will get stinky. And because they have short coats, these foul odors can get through easily.
Other than folds, Frenchie can also be smelly because they fart a lot. There are many reasons why your Frenchie gets gassy. But the main reasons are due to the way they eat and their sensitive stomachs.
Sometimes, Frenchies can also get smelly paws. The common cause for this is due to a yeast infection. The symptoms of this include:
- Excessive Paw Licking and Chewing
- Swollen and Red Paws
- Flaky Paw Skin
- Hot Spots
Since their feet are almost always in contact with the ground, they can pick up dirt. Without any cleaning, their paws will not smell the best.
Frenchies can also have smelly ears because they are prone to ear problems. Their ears face forward and are open and this catches dirt, debris, and even pollen. This can cause ear infections that are uncomfortable for your Frenchie.
So Frenchies are not smelly, as long as you are meticulous in cleaning them. You cannot expect them to smell like flowers, they should smell like dogs. But their smell should not put you off.
Other reasons why Frenchies get smelly are the following:
- Not Fully Drying After Getting Wet
- Dirty Dog Bed
- Dirty Environment
- Bad Diet
- Anal Gland Issues
How Do I Stop My French Bulldog From Smelling?
Frequent cleaning can help to prevent your Frenchie from smelling bad. This includes cleaning their environment, too, because they tend to pick up smells. Good ones, and bad ones.
You can give them regular baths, but that may not be necessary for every Frenchie. There is a simpler way to do this, use doggy dry shampoos.
These are great to freshen up your Frenchie between their regular baths. Make sure that you get one that is organic and hypoallergenic so that it does not irritate their skin.
Wiping their face, folds, ears, and paws with a doggy wipe will do wonders too. Their folds are the most common culprit for the foul odor. So do your best and focus on their skin folds.
For facial folds, it is best to wipe their face after each meal. But this is not practical, so you can wipe their face every day instead.
Their tail pockets are also close to their rectum and anal glands, so they can smell quite fishy. Make sure to wipe these regularly as well.
It is also a great practice to wipe their paws each day. Dogs use their paws for almost everything, so they can get dirty. You can clean this every day or every other day.
In the same way, you should also brush their coat occasionally. Their fur can attract dirt from their environment. Especially if your Frenchie has access outdoors.
By combing your Frenchie’s fur, you can get rid of any debris and dander along with dead hair. This simple act can help with how they smell a lot already.
Other than cleaning dogs themselves, you should also clean their environment. Particularly wherever they like to lie down on the most, like their bed.
Your Frenchie’s bed might be one of the dirtiest areas in your home. It collects nasty stuff like dirt, feces, urine, and more. This can smell horrible and if your Frenchie lies down on this, they will pick up the bad smells too.
So with constant cleaning, you can prevent your Frenchie from smelling funky.
How Do You Clean a French Bulldog?
Keeping your Frenchie clean includes bathing, brushing, and wiping areas of their body. Since most Frenchies do not need frequent baths, you should focus on how to clean them between baths. Below are simple and practical ways to do this.
Get rid of dander, dirt, and debris that gets trapped in your Frenchie’s coat by brushing it. Since they have short coats you do not need a heavy-duty brush.
Use coats with rubber or pin bristles to brush their coat every week or every other day. You can brush them every day, but this may not be practical. Regular brushing can help them shed less when their shedding cycle comes.
Wipe your Frenchie’s wrinkles with doggy wipes or a damp cloth. This is an important step in keeping them clean and smelling nice. Their folds harbor dirt, moisture, and bacteria that can smell funky if left alone.
Do not neglect their paws when cleaning your Frenchie. Especially after you take them for walks outdoors. Their paws attract so much dirt and bacteria after being in contact with many things.
Do French Bulldogs Like Baths?
There is no exact answer to this as some Frenchies hate baths, while others enjoy it. If your Frenchie is not a fan of baths, it is not because they hate it, baths can be scary for them. To make baths a positive experience for them, here are tips that you can do.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Before bath time, shower your Frenchie with positivity. This will calm them down, helping them to tackle their fear. If you show them any negativity, they will sense this and this can worsen their fear.
You can do this by giving them lots of praise, playing with the water, and giving them lots of affection. This will help your Frenchie power through.
Do this before and during their bath time. After baths, you can also reward your Frenchie with praises and treats for their great job.
Harness the Power of Treats
Frenchies love to eat, so use this to your advantage! A popular trick many dog owners do is smearing some peanut butter in the bathtub. This will entice your Frenchie into jumping in.
If you want, you can get a distraction feeding mat too. Stick this mat inside your bathtub and apply your Frenchie’s favorite treats on it.
When you do this, they will have positive associations with bath time. This can help to erase their fears or forget about them in the meantime. You can scrub away while your Frenchie licks their peanut butter.
Use the Right Water Temperature
The wrong temperature can put your Frenchie off. They cannot handle very warm water or cold water. To make them more comfortable, bathe them in lukewarm water instead.
Why Do Some French Bulldogs Hate Baths?
Frenchies can dislike baths for many reasons, like a scary experience. Bathing is necessary for dogs, so figuring out why your Frenchie fears it is important. This way, you can tackle the problem and help them tolerate or even like it.
Below are the common reasons why Frenchies fear baths.
Traumatic Experience
Scary situations related to water can make your Frenchie fear baths. Some examples of this include:
- Drowning
- Falling or Slipping in the Tub
- Getting Hurt by Hot Water
- Getting Stung by Shampoo in Their Eyes
There are many more experiences that can cause this irrational fear. Sometimes, it can be due to something unrelated to water.
They can also fear any form of grooming in general because of some accidents in grooming. Clipping their nails too short, for example, can cause this.
Fear of the Unknown
If it is your Frenchie’s first time taking a bath or they are not used to it, they get scared of the whole experience. Being put in a tub with water and scrubbed with shampoo is something domesticated dogs have to learn.
Your Frenchie’s first few baths must be a positive experience for them. Otherwise, they will learn to dislike or fear it when they grow up.
Lack of Control
When your Frenchie enjoys playing with water, it is natural to wonder why they do not like baths. Playing in a kiddie pool is a fun and voluntary activity for them. Meanwhile, taking a bath is not their decision.
They do not like that there is a lot of handling and restraining involved, leaving them with no choice. They are not a fan of this temporary lack of freedom, which can upset them.
How Often Should You Bathe a French Bulldog?
There is no exact answer to this since Frenchies have different lifestyles and needs. Dog breeds with short hair only need about 5 baths per year. This prevents stripping away too much of their natural oils, causing their skin to become dry.
But for Frenchies who love to go out and roll around in the mud, this is not practical. You will need to bathe them whenever they get dirty since it can lead to an infection.
Some Frenchie owners give their furry companion a bath a month or every 2 to 3 months. This is great for indoor Frenchies with a normal lifestyle, who get dirty now and then.
In some cases, Frenchies may need to take a bath every week or every two weeks. That is when your Frenchie is battling a skin allergy. Treatment for skin allergy typically includes a medicated shampoo to calm their skin.
But if your Frenchie does not have any skin problems, you can bathe them less often. To figure out what is best for your own Frenchie, it is best to talk to your vet.
Their skin is so sensitive that if you leave it alone too long, Frenchies can get pretty smelly. And if you bathe them too much, it can dry up their skin, causing skin irritation. Your vet will be able to tell you the perfect setup for your Frenchie, including products to use.
Can I Bathe My French Bulldog Once a Week?
Unless your vet instructs you to, you should not bathe your Frenchie every week. Bathing your Frenchie too often can strip off their natural oils. This grease is necessary to keep their fur and skin healthy.
Weekly baths can dry out their skin and fur. Their skin may become irritated as a result, while their fur will become dry and brittle.
In extreme cases, overbathing your Frenchie can cause the following:
- Dandruff
- Frizziness
- Seborrhea
If you are worried about your Frenchie’s smell, there are other ways to solve this. Use dog wipes to wipe down their body, focusing on their skin folds. These areas are the major culprit for their foul odor.
Other than that, you can use a dry shampoo formulated for dogs. This can freshen them up without stripping off the important oils that they need in their skin.
How to Wash a French Bulldog
Bath time is not your Frenchie’s favorite bonding time and it may not be yours as well. So to make it worthwhile, you need to make sure that they get some good scrubbing. Below is a step-by-step process on how to bathe your furry companion.
Get Them Ready
Other than getting their bath products ready, you need to mentally prepare them too. This will help them to overcome a stressful bath better.
You need to keep a positive attitude throughout the whole bathing process. Especially from the start when your Frenchie is anticipating bath time. If you are dreading bath time, your Frenchie will also reflect this negativity.
So you need to lift their spirits too, starting with you. Give them lots of praise and affection before bath time. You can also play with the water with them first before a bath to ease their tension.
Check the Water Temperature
Frenchies do not do well with very warm water. Some of them who fear baths may have had a scary experience with scalding water. So if the water feels too hot for you, it is also too hot for them.
The right amount of warmth will make baths soothing for them. But some Frenchie owners also like to bathe their dogs with lukewarm water. Test the waters and see what temperature your Frenchie likes.
Get Them in the Bath Tub
Before anything, make sure the depth of the water is just right. Having it too high can make bathing difficult for your Frenchie. Having it too low cannot soak them enough.
This step is hard, especially if your Frenchie dislikes baths. But you can lure them into the bathtub by putting some treats inside. You can put some peanut butter in the bathtub and they will hop in.
If you are not comfortable with that idea, you can get a distraction feeding mat. Stick it in your bathtub with some peanut butter to lure and distract your Frenchie during baths.
Soak Your Frenchie
Using a cup, make sure that your Frenchie is fully wet. Be careful not to pour water over their face. Use a damp cloth to clean this area instead.
If your Frenchie is playing outside in the dirt, you can get these out with a quick rinse. Rinsing can also loosen the dried mud they have in their fur.
Soap Them Up
Use a shampoo that works for your Frenchie’s sensitive skin. Take your time with this step, especially if your Frenchie has skin allergies.
Make sure you get to the following areas:
- Neck
- Belly
- Behind Their Ears
- Back
- Tail
- Legs
- Between Their Toes
- Wrinkles
Pay extra attention to their skin folds. Lift them up and thoroughly clean this area to get the gunk out. Do the same for their tail pocket, found below their tail and above the rectum.
Clean their eyes, too, but with a damp cloth or with your wet hands. Do not put shampoo near their eyes as it can sting them.
Be thorough with this step as this is your chance to get them squeaky clean. You can use a gentle brush to scrub your Frenchies folds for a more thorough clean.
Make sure their shampoo gets to touch their skin, especially for medicated ones to work. It is always a great idea to let the shampoo sit on their skin for a few minutes too.
Rinse Your Frenchie
When rinsing your Frenchie, make sure that you get all the suds out. Otherwise, the shampoo residue can irritate their sensitive skin. If your Frenchie is still dirty, you can apply shampoo and scrub them again.
Brush Their Fur
Bathing can release a lot of loose hair that you need to get rid of. After a rinse, brush your Frenchie’s coat to get these off.
Use a Towel to Dry Them
Your Frenchie will shake their body to dry themselves. But they still need your help to dry up. Use a towel or two to dry them very well. A hairdryer will work too, but make sure to put it in a cool setting.
Drying your Frenchie is a crucial step in the bathing process. If you do not dry them well, they will still come out of the bathroom smelly. Walking around damp is also uncomfortable for your Frenchie.
Brush Them Again
There is nothing wrong with being meticulous in grooming your furry friend. To make sure you remove most of their loose fur, brush them again once they are dry.
Should I Clean Inside My French Bulldog Ears?
Cleaning your Frenchie’s ears should not only be a task for professional groomers. Frenchies are prone to ear infections, so you should clean their ears at home too.
They are prone to ear infections because of two main things. One is that they have an abnormal ear canal due to their skull shape. The second one is that they are prone to allergies due to both food and environmental allergens.
As they age, they become more prone to developing ear infection flare-ups. This is why you need to get them used to it.
If you do not clean your Frenchie’s ears, this can have serious repercussions. This can lead to a chronic and painful ear canal disease. Unfortunately, an extreme case like this is often irreversible.
How Often Should You Clean French Bulldog Ears?
You can clean your Frenchie’s outer ears every one to two weeks. Whenever you see that it is dirty, give it a quick wipe too. For their inner ears, limit the cleaning to once a month only.
Cleaning your Frenchie’s ears is not necessary and can do more harm than good. Overcleaning can irritate their ears and can lead to infections, which is what you are trying to avoid.
How Do I Clean the Inside of My French Bulldog Ears?
A thorough cleaning of your Frenchie’s ears needs a series of steps. Your Frenchie may not be a fan of this, so it is important that you get your tools ready within arm’s reach first. From getting them into position to taking out debris, here are the steps in cleaning their inner ear.
Prepare Your Tools
Cleaning your Frenchie’s ears can be a messy battle. So prepare your cotton balls, ear cleaning solution, and towel. It is not advisable to use Q-tips or cotton swabs because you can poke their eardrums.
Some Frenchie owners use cotton swabs but only if their Frenchie is well-behaved. These can help with hard-to-reach debris inside their furry friend’s ear canal. But to be on the safe side, stick with cotton balls instead.
Position Your Frenchie
Choose a safe place where your Frenchie cannot escape. Then sit on the floor and put their rear between your legs. This will help to keep them in place because they will try to break free.
Apply Ear Cleaning Solution
Grab your Frenchie’s ear flap firmly with one hand so that you expose their ear canal. With your free hand, get your ear cleaning solution and put a few drops in their ear. Ear cleaners have different instructions, so the number of drops will depend.
But most ear cleaners will instruct you to fill their ear canal. If some of the solution spills out, do not worry about it.
Make sure that the tip of the ear cleaner does not touch your Frenchie’s ears. This can contaminate the solution with bacteria and yeast.
Massage Their Ears
While still holding their ear flap, massage the base of your Frenchies ears for 20 to 30 seconds. This is to make sure that the solution breaks up the ear wax and debris in your Frenchie’s ear.
Wipe The Debris
After soaking their ears, your Frenchie will shake their head. Let them do this as it helps to dislodge any remaining debris in their inner canal.
Now that those are loose, wipe the debris off with a cotton ball or a cloth. Clean as far as you can into their ear canal, but do not go beyond what your fingers can reach. Do not forget to wipe their outer ears too as they may have some leftover debris.
Reward Your Frenchie
Give your Frenchie a treat before moving on to the other ear. Doing this will help them have a positive association with ear cleaning. Over time, your Frenchie may not fight you off whenever it is that time of the month for ear cleaning.
Is It Common for French Bulldogs to Have Bad Breath?
Frenchies are prone to having bad breath because food can get stuck in their jowls. This can happen to other dogs too. But the food-loving Frenchie can beat them in eating food in one sitting.
This is easy to fix, though. Regular tooth brushing can prevent their teeth from smelling funky. A healthy and well-groomed Frenchie’s breath should not smell bad.
Why Does My French Bulldog Have Smelly Breath?
The main cause of your Frenchie’s smelly breath is a lack of oral hygiene. Without this, plaque can build up and turn into tartar which can cause severe gum infections. But there are many other reasons for their stinky breath too.
To figure out what causes your Frenchie’s foul breath, here are the possible reasons.
Periodontitis
Lack of oral hygiene can lead to this serious gum infection. With periodontitis, your Frenchie’s breath can smell like rotten garbage. This disease can cause chronic pain and treating it can get expensive.
You should treat your Frenchie’s oral health seriously. Because only the first stage of periodontal disease, gingivitis, is reversible. Beyond that, there is no way to cure this.
So how does not brushing your Frenchie’s teeth lead to periodontitis? The accumulated bacteria in your Frenchie’s mouth can develop into plaque. Plaque develops fast, after 24 hours.
If plaque is not removed after 3 days, it will mineralize and turn into tartar. New plaque can form onto tartar as it will be easier for it to stick to the tooth.
The accumulation of these leads to gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease. This is when your Frenchie’s gums become inflamed. If left untreated, this will go deeper into their gums.
Once that happens, your Frenchie develops periodontitis. This affects the structures surrounding their tooth, making them weak. And that is why periodontitis can cause bone and tooth loss.
Diabetes
If your Frenchie’s breath smells like fruit, you should see your vet as this can be a sign that they have diabetes. With this condition, your Frenchie’s body cannot break down sugars. Since sugar is their source of energy, the body will instead get energy from fat. This releases ketones into their bloodstream, causing the fruity smell of their breath.
Kidney Disease
If your Frenchie’s breath smells like pee, it can be a sign that they have kidney disease. When a Frenchie suffers from this, their body has a hard time breaking down protein. So the protein gets into their bloodstream, causing their ammonia-like breath.
Anal Gland Issues
You may be wondering what your Frenchie’s other end has something to do with their breath. There is a pretty nasty reason behind this.
Frenchies have anal glands that are for producing fluids with an odor unique to each dog. Sometimes, these glands can get blocked or infected, making their rectum smell fishy.
As you know, dogs will lick themselves from grooming, even their rectum. So the fishy smell from that area will transfer onto their mouths, causing their foul breath.
Liver Disease
If you notice that your Frenchie has bad breath, you should check their mouth right away. Check if their gums have a yellowish tinge. If they do, they may have a liver disease so you should see a vet immediately.
Ulcerations
Painful ulcers can occur if your Frenchie licks harmful substances. This includes bleach, detergent, and other chemicals. So if they have bad breath along with excessive thirst, this may be the cause.
Oral Infection
Injury in your Frenchie’s mouth can lead to infections. Chewing sharp objects like cooked bones can cause wounds in their mouth. This infection can make their breath smell bad as a result.
Tooth Abscess
Bad breath along with swollen cheeks can be due to an abscess. A visit to the vet will solve this issue. If they find that the abscessed tooth is rotten, they will remove the tooth.
Paw Injury
Injured paws can get infected and if this is the case for your Frenchie, they will lick their paws. Licking their paws is a way for them to soothe themselves. So the odors from the paw infection can transfer to their mouth.
Coprophagia
Some dogs have this unusual behavior of eating feces. Poop does not smell nice at all. And as you already know, anything that gets into their mouth can affect the smell of their breath.
Unusual Eating Habits
In connection with the point above, some Frenchies have an appetite for things they should not eat or drink. They can go into the trash and eat leftover or spoiled food. Or they can drink water from your toilet.
How Can I Help My French Bulldog With the Bad Breath?
The best way to get rid of your Frenchie’s bad breath is to seek your vet’s help. If their smelly breath is due to a health issue, you need to address that first. After that, your Frenchie can see a veterinarian dentist for professional cleaning.
Once you have sought professional help, you need to maintain their oral health. This will help to prevent any dental issues from happening again. Below are some tips on how to do this.
Regular Toothbrushing
A consistent and diligent toothbrushing routine is the key to this. Brushing removes bacteria and food debris that can lead to problems like plaque. You should brush your Frenchie’s teeth at least thrice a week but the more you do it, the better.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar has antibacterial properties that can help with their breath. You can add apple cider vinegar into their water bowls for them to drink. Make sure not to use more than 1 tablespoon (15 mL) per 50 lbs (23 kg) of body weight.
Choose Healthier Treats
Giving your Frenchie a slice of ham as a treat may not be the best for their oral hygiene. Apples are a great treat alternative to keep their breath fresh. Or you can get dental chews as a treat instead.
Get Chew Toys
If your Frenchie is not a fan of getting their teeth brushed, use a chew toy to help you clean their teeth. Rubber chew toys have pins that act like a toothbrush to get rid of the dirt on the surface of their teeth. This also helps massage their gums, which feels nice for your Frenchie.
Should I Brush My French Bulldog Teeth?
No matter what breed, dogs need your help in cleaning their teeth. Especially Frenchies who often have bad teeth due to their small skulls.
They have the same number of teeth as every other dog, cramped into their small jaws. This makes it easy for food and debris to get stuck between their teeth. Unfortunately, they cannot remove everything on their own.
The lack of adequate dental hygiene makes their breath smell bad. But it can lead to more serious issues, like gingivitis and periodontitis. Your Frenchie may lose all their teeth if you do not brush their teeth enough.
How Often Do French Bulldogs Need Teeth Cleaned?
You must brush your Frenchie’s teeth for at least thrice a week. Do this every day if you can, as this will make sure that there is no leftover food debris from their daily meals.
Aside from teeth cleaning at home, they need professional teeth cleaning twice a year. Most dogs only need this once a year, but Frenchies tend to have overcrowded teeth. This makes it hard to thoroughly clean their teeth at home.
With professional teeth cleaning, your Frenchie needs to undergo anesthesia. So you can only take your Frenchie to a veterinarian dentist once they are full-grown, at 2 years of age. And before the procedure, your vet will run tests to make sure that they are healthy enough for this.
How Do I Clean My French Bulldog Teeth?
Cleaning your Frenchie’s teeth only takes 5 simple steps. But that does not mean it is easy, because they may try to escape out of it. They may not enjoy it but a dental routine is necessary for their health.
If you do not know where to start with this routine, here is how to brush your Frenchie’s teeth:
- Step 1: Get a doggy toothpaste and toothbrush. If you do not have a toothbrush, a gauze pad will do.
- Step 2: Let your Frenchie sniff and taste the toothpaste before brushing their teeth.
- Step 3: Lift your Frenchie’s lips so that you can see their teeth and gums.
- Step 4: Brush their teeth slowly, getting to all their teeth and gums. Make sure to brush their molars too since this is where plaque buildup is worse.
- Step 5: Reward your Frenchie with praises and treats for their job well done!
How Long Should a French Bulldog Claws Be?
You should be able to see your Frenchie’s nails, but it must not be long enough to touch the floor. A sign of an extremely overgrown nail in dogs is when it curls over their paw. If your Frenchie’s nails are too long, it can be very painful for them to walk.
Nail care is part of ensuring your Frenchie’s quality of life since they are on their feet a lot. Given its importance, you should be able to tell when they are long enough. Other than doing this by eye, here are other ways to tell that your Frenchie’s nails need some trimming:
They Make Clicking Sounds When Walking
This is the sound of your Frenchie’s nails hitting the floor. Their nails should not make a sound as they walk. So if you hear this, it is time to give them a trim.
Their Nails Curl Over Their Paw
Your Frenchie’s nails should be about the same level as his paw. Curled paws are a sign that your Frenchie needs a trim as soon as possible.
They Have a Limp
Since long nails make it painful for them to walk, your Frenchie may develop a limp. Walking with long nails can cause them to crack or split. If the split is near your Frenchie’s quick, the more painful it is for them.
They Scratch You by Accident
If your Frenchie puts their paw on you to grab your attention, they should not scratch you. With long nails, they may do this even if they do not know.
They Skid on the Floor
Long nails mess up your Frenchie’s stability. With the correct length, they should be able to have a good grip on the floor. Overgrown nails make your Frenchie slide on the floor and this can lead to serious injuries.
They Lick Their Paws Excessively
Licking is an enjoyable activity for dogs, but it can also mean that they are in pain. This canine behavior is an attempt to soothe themselves from their paw pain. Sometimes, overgrown nails can lead to infection so you need to maintain their nails.
How Often Do French Bulldogs Need Nails Clipped?
Frenchies need their nails cut every 3 to 4 weeks. This can vary depending on how quickly your Frenchie’s nails grow. But whenever you notice that they make a clicking sound, cut their nails immediately.
How to Trim French Bulldog Nails
Before trimming your Frenchie’s nails, making sure that they are comfortable is important. Otherwise, they will squirm around and you will have a hard time. So give them praises and treats before you start and do this while cutting their nails.
Prepare your tools and let your Frenchie sniff their nail clippers. After that, place the clippers near their paws to ease them in. Make sure you give them treats throughout this process.
After that, clutch the clippers so that your Frenchie can hear how it sounds. Give them a treat again as a reward. If your Frenchie is calm, you can proceed to cut their nails.
Trimming their nails is pretty straightforward, so here is the process:
- Step 1: Position your Frenchie and lay them across your lap. If you want, you can place them on a table while they are lying down.
- Step 2: Cut one nail, taking off a small chunk each time. See how they react first before moving on to the next.
- Step 3: Give them a treat as a reward. If they stay calm, proceed with the other nails. Do not forget your Frenchie’s dewclaw, which is higher up their inner paw.
- Step 4: Once done with all their nails, remove any debris on their paws. Wiping a damp cotton ball on their nails will do.
- Step 5: Give your Frenchie lots of praise and treats for being such a champ. This is important to make their nail-trimming experience a positive one.
Whenever you trim your Frenchie’s nails, be mindful of the quick. On clear or pale nails, you can easily see the quick as a pinkish part of the nail. On darker nails, this will be hard to see so cut only small bits of your Frenchie’s nails.
Also, if your Frenchie’s nails are overgrown avoiding the quick is harder. Their quick will grow along with their nails, so they become longer.
Should You Trim a French Bulldog?
As a short-haired breed, French Bulldogs do not need haircuts. Their hair only grows at a certain length, so trims are not necessary. More importantly, they need fur that they have only very little of.
Frenchies use their fur for insulation and sometimes even this is not enough for them. Especially if you live in a colder climate.
Their fur will shed itself, so they only need regular brushing.
The only time you give your Frenchie a haircut is when your vet recommends one. This is usually because of a health issue they may have. Or if a piece of gum is stuck in their fur, you can cut out that affected part too.
Can You Brush a French Bulldog?
While they do not need haircuts, Frenchies need their coat brushed at least once a week. Brushing their coat is one of the ways you can maintain a shiny coat and healthy skin. But that is only one of its benefits.
Below are the top benefits of brushing your Frenchie’s hair regularly.
It’s Your Bonding Time
Spending time with your Frenchie is not limited to cuddling or playing with them. Grooming them is how you take care of them. Brushing their coat, in particular, feels very good for your furry friend.
A simple act of combing them will strengthen your bond with your Frenchie. They will appreciate you trying to make them feel and look better!
It Cleans Their Fur and Skin
Dirt, dander, and dead hair can accumulate in their fur, even if they have a short coat. Licking themselves is not efficient enough to get rid of these. But a thorough brushing will swipe these unwanted objects in their fur.
It Helps With Their Ventilation
During a hot day, brushing your Frenchie’s coat is one way you can help to cool them down. This spreads their fur and exposes their skin, allowing air to reach their skin. Your Frenchie will thank you for helping them stay comfortable.
It Prevents Matting
Your Frenchie can form some mats in their fur when it gets tangled and knotted. Not only is this painful, but it can also lead to skin irritation and infections. And when the mats are dense, you may not be able to catch parasites that are on their skin.
It Distributes Their Grease
Frenchies have natural oils in their coat that serves a lot of purposes. If not brushed enough, these oils can accumulate and can irritate their skin. Brushing can distribute this to make their coat shiny and moisturize their skin.
It Helps You Check Their Skin Health
Brushing your Frenchie’s coat is a good opportunity to examine their skin. You may find something unusual, like skin problems, bumps, or parasites. Spotting these earlier can help you seek help right away before the problem gets worse.
It Decreases Shedding
Frenchies will have loose hair now and then that will fall off. They are moderate shedders, but they can shed so much during winter and summer! This can drive many Frenchie owners crazy.
By brushing their fur, you are catching these loose hairs before they ruin your couch. This can help them to shed less during their shedding cycles as well.
It Feels Good for Them
Some Frenchies loved getting brushed, and it is not hard to see why. Brushing is a form of physical stimulation and it can help with their blood circulation too. You might find an itch that they have been meaning to scratch and this gives them immense relief. So while you groom your Frenchie, you are also giving them a good massage.
How Often Should You Brush a French Bulldog?
Frenchies need brushing at least once a week. This is enough to maintain their coats, but doing this every other day may be better. You can choose to brush them every day, but this is not necessary.
How Do You Brush a French Bulldog?
Combing your Frenchie’s fur is not as extensive compared to long-haired breeds. But this does not mean that they do not need thorough brushing. So grab your dog brush because, in this section, you will learn how to properly brush your Frenchie’s coat.
Prepare Your Tools
With many types of dog brushes to choose from, it can be tricky figuring out what will work best for your Frenchie. Their coats do not need a special brush, but some brushes work better for them than others. Below are the different types of dog brushes you can choose from:
- Pin Brushes: These look like human hairbrushes and are great for removing dead hair and dirt. Pin brushes with a protective covering will not irritate your Frenchie’s sensitive skin.
- Slicker Brushes: This brush is wonderful for digging into your Frenchie’s fur. It is very effective in cleaning their fur from loose hair and dander. But this brush can hurt them if used wrong.
- Bristle Brush: Often used as a finisher, this brush is great for making sure that there is no debris left in their fur. Bristle brushes usually work better for short-haired breeds.
- Grooming Gloves: This is a popular tool for brushing a Frenchie’s coat. Although it is not as effective as the others, it still does a good job of combing and massaging them.
Make Them Comfortable
Your Frenchie may not be a fan of the brush, and that is okay. If you brush them often, they will learn to tolerate or even like getting brushed.
Before grooming them, have them examine the brush. Allow them to sniff or lick it and give them a treat for staying calm. Shower them with praises and reassurance before each grooming session.
Positive reinforcement during brushing sessions works great for your Frenchie. This way, they will not develop negative feelings towards it. Some may even look forward to it!
Get to Brushing
Make sure to brush your Frenchie from head to toe using long and vertical strokes. Brush your Frenchie down and out, pulling away from their skin. Also, you must always comb in the direction of their hair growth, not against it.
Do not brush them too much in a single area. You may overbrush them and it will get uncomfortable for your Frenchie, no matter how soft your brush is.
Overbrushing your Frenchie can burn their skin. They have sensitive skin, so it will get red and irritated for a few days. This is why daily brushing may be overkill for your Frenchie.
But what if your Frenchie has mats? You can dampen that area with conditioner or mat spray to soften their fur, making it easier to brush. Use a wide-toothed brush to gently comb through it.
If this does not get rid of the mats, you can cut them out with scissors. This can be scary to do yourself, so you can also seek the help of a professional groomer.
What Is the Best Brush for a French Bulldog?
There is no cut-and-dry answer for this as it will depend on your preference. In general, the best brush for Frenchies should be gentle enough not to irritate their skin. But it should also be effective in getting rid of loose hair, dirt, and dander.
It is always best to use a combination of brushes for a more thorough grooming. To help you in search of the perfect brush, here are the popular brushes for Frenchies:
- Brush Glove: Usually made out of silicon, this is a coat-friendly brush that most Frenchies like. It takes out hair, dirt, and dander from their fur. But this may not be effective at detangling knots.
- Slicker Brush: This is one of the best brushes you can use to maintain your Frenchie’s fur. Make sure to get one with soft and flexible bristles so that it will not hurt them.
- Furminator: An effective brush to remove your Frenchie’s undercoat during shedding season. You do not need to use this all the time, but it is great to have in your arsenal.
How to Hand Strip a French Bulldog
Hand stripping may be necessary for certain breeds, but French Bulldogs are not one of them. Usually, it is dogs with wiry coats that need this, like the Terrier family.
There is a specific coat that needs hand stripping. A dog should have a short and dense undercoat with thin hair. While their topcoat should be long, thick, and wiry.
Frenchies have coats that are short, smooth, and fine. They do not meet the requirements for hand stripping, so you should not do this for them.
The process of hand stripping removes the undercoat with a special brush. There is a debate whether this hurts a dog or not, so you should not put your Frenchie through unnecessary pain. All you need to do is brush your Frenchie’s fur frequently to maintain their coat.
Do French Bulldogs Need Haircuts?
You should not cut your Frenchie’s fur because their hair does not grow long. Maintaining their coat is easier than other breeds because of this. They only need their hair brushed and washed and they are good to go.
Removing the little hair that they have does more harm than good. Their fur protects them from dirt and environmental allergens that irritate their skin. So if your Frenchie loves going outdoors, rolling in the grass and mud, cutting their hair will harm them.
Other than that, their fur serves as protection from wounds too. Frenchies can get hyper, zooming around to their heart’s content. If they get snagged in a bush or a tree branch, their fur will help to decrease the damage.
And for a breed that does not do well with cold temperatures, they have a short and fine coat. This does not give them enough warmth during very cold weather. If you remove their fur, they will end up shivering.
So cutting your Frenchie’s fur is a bad idea all around. Taking it off will not give them a better quality of life and you would not want this.
Can You Shave a French Bulldog?
Like haircuts, you should not shave your Frenchie’s fur unless your vet tells you to. If they have health issues, they may need their fur shaved. Otherwise, do not do this to your healthy Frenchie.
Sometimes, shaving may be necessary for your Frenchie. If they have mats or if there is something stuck in their fur, shaving may be the only option you have left. Still, you should try to get it out with a comb and other products to soften their fur first.
How Long Does French Bulldog Hair Take to Grow Back?
In general, a dog’s hair grows about half an inch per month if they are healthy. Compared to other breeds, a Frenchie’s hair grows faster. Their new hair will be visible in about a week or two.
If you want your Frenchie’s hair to grow fast, there are a couple of ways to do this. Here are some tips that you can do at home:
Check Their Diet
What your Frenchie eats plays a big part in their coat quality and also the speed at which it grows. Make sure that your Frenchie’s meals meet their dietary requirements. To figure out the best diet for your Frenchie, you should seek your vet’s help.
If your Frenchie is a fan of eating food off your table, you should discourage them from doing this. Frenchies are allergic to many foods. An allergic reaction affects their skin and coat, making hair growth difficult.
This is the same for environmental allergens. If you know that your Frenchie is allergic to seasonal pollen, avoid letting them go outside.
Brush Them Regularly
Distributing your Frenchie’s natural oils all over their coat will make it shinier. But it can also help to stimulate their hair growth by improving blood circulation in their skin. Do not worry about the loose hair falling off, healthy fur will grow in its place.
Use Supplements
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are great for your Frenchie’s skin and fur quality. These reduce skin inflammation, preventing your Frenchie from scratching their skin. Adding these supplements to their diet makes their fur healthier, shinier, and softer.
Homemade Topical Remedies
Sometimes, the answer to your Frenchie’s hair growth is in your kitchen or garden. There are a few topical remedies that you can make at home:
- Lemon Juice: Lemon has antibacterial properties that can help their hair regrow. Mix lemon juice with water and use a cotton ball to wipe it on your Frenchie’s bald patch.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This works the same way as lemon juice does. You can also use the same method above for your Frenchie’s bald patch.
- Aloe Vera: This plant is popular for soothing irritated skin. Apply a bit of it on your Frenchie’s itchy spots when they get an allergic reaction. The enzymes in aloe vera also help to remove dead skin to encourage hair regrowth.
How to Take Care of French Bulldog Puppies
Taking care of a Frenchie puppy is like taking care of an adult one, with some special considerations. Some routines will be harder, like grooming them, this is because they are not used to these yet. But in time, your Frenchie will learn not to fear these.
Before anything else, part of taking care of your Frenchie pup is making sure they have all their needs. To help you out, here is a list of their necessities:
- Nutritious Food for Puppies
- Supplements
- Food Bowls
- Dog Bed
- Collar for Identification Tags
- Harness
- Leash
- Shampoo
- Puppy Fence or Crate
- Grooming Brush
- Toys
- Nail Trimmers
Now that you know what they need, below is how you can take care of your adorable Frenchie puppy.
Proper Nutrition
Puppies have different dietary needs from adults, so you should seek your vet’s help. They will help in coming up with a diet plan specific to your Frenchie puppy. This includes deciding between kibbles, wet food, raw food, or a combination.
Remember that Frenchie puppies are voracious eaters. They will inhale their food until the last small piece as long as there is something in their food bowl. So stick to their diet plan and control yourself from indulging them too much.
This will not only make sure that they are getting the right nutrition. But it will also help to prevent them from getting overweight or obese.
Regular Wiping
Frenchie puppies have the same special needs as adults. So pay close attention to their eyes, folds, and tail pocket as well.
Wipe these areas with a damp cloth or cotton ball. Warm water will be enough to clean out any dirt, crust, or food debris. But you can also use doggy wipes to clean your Frenchie as well.
For their eyes, you can get a special solution for tear stains to clean this area. If you leave out any discharge on their eyes, it can stain their fur.
Although puppies may not be as dirty as adults, you should still clean them regularly. Not only to keep them clean but also to get them used to the many grooming routines that they have. This will help in cleaning them much easier as they age.
Nail Trimming
It is harder to trim their nails because puppies are smaller. For smaller dogs, use a scissor-type trimmer instead. This will give you the best control when trimming your Frenchie’s nails.
Toothbrushing
Starting this at an early age will set you up for success. You will have an easier time brushing their teeth as adults. This way, you may even be able to brush their teeth daily.
Make sure to use toothpaste made for dogs as human ones contain xylitol. This is a toxic substance for Frenchies that can cause liver damage. Also, you can use a toothbrush for dogs but a damp cloth is also okay to start.
Regular Brushing
Puppies do not shed much when they are very young. But once they start replacing their baby fur with adult fur, it can be a nightmare. So get them used to the sensation of having their fur brushed early as well.
Training
During their young age is when Frenchies learn most about the world. It may be easier to train puppies because they are more open to learning and have not developed bad habits yet. Training is part of taking care of your Frenchie so that they learn self-control.
They will learn that eating from the trash is bad, or begging for food is bad, and so on. But what training does your French Bulldog puppy need? Below are some basic training examples that your pup needs.
Obedience Training
Making sure you control your Frenchie prevents temperament and behavioral problems. Even if you set the rules for your Frenchie, if they cannot obey you, this will all be in vain.
With obedience training, you will learn that you are their pack leader. So they should listen to you and your instructions.
If you are training your Frenchie for this, you need to be consistent and firm, yet gentle. Make sure you do not punish your Frenchie’s bad behaviors. Instead, use positive reinforcement and reward them for their good behaviors. This way, they will learn better.
Crate Training
No matter what their age, Frenchies hate to be alone at home. Adults cannot be alone for more than 7 hours, but for puppies, this is way less. And if they are only a few months old, you cannot leave them alone at all.
Crate training is important because it teaches your Frenchie how to spend time alone. This will help to prevent overattachment, curbing behavioral issues when you are away.
Frenchies are prone to separation anxiety. This training is one of the ways to help them feel more at ease when you are not with them. So crate training your Frenchie at a young age can be a big help when they are already adults.
Potty Training
Teaching your Frenchie where to go whenever they want to pee or poop can take a very long time. You can be teaching them for months and they can still get accidents. Begin potty training them as soon as you can so that they will learn where to go earlier.
Leash Training
Frenchies are easily excitable dogs. This is why when you walk them around the neighborhood, they should have a leash on. This prevents them from running into trouble, like running into a speeding car.
When your Frenchie is first starting to learn how to walk on a leash, use a harness first. A harness will not put any unnecessary pressure on their neck and spine, which can cause injuries. A collar can do this if your Frenchie keeps tugging at their leash.
But once your Frenchie is well-behaved on a leash, you can switch to a collar. As long as you can keep them under control and not tug on the leash too hard, they will be fine.
Keep Them Warm or Cool
Unfortunately, Frenchies are not the best at maintaining their body temperature. They have an inefficient airflow that makes it hard for them to cool down. They also have short furs that may not be enough to keep them warm.
On a hot day, help them cool down with an air conditioner or a fan. You can also go outside and have them play in a kiddie pool or play with them using a hose or sprinkler.
On a cold day, you can make them extra cozy with fluffy blankets and a warming pad. They may want to stay near your heater, so let them do this.
Socialization
This is very important for your Frenchie pup. Socialization has many benefits like preventing unwanted behaviors and aggression towards strangers. This will also make them friendly towards other animals, not only dogs.
Another benefit of socializing your Frenchie is that they become less fearful. Some experiences may scare your Frenchie, like the sound of cars. This can be difficult if you take your Frenchie out on walks when a car passes by.
Car rides can also be scary for your Frenchie at first. But sometimes they need to ride in a car to go to the vet.
You need to let your Frenchie go through as many experiences as they can repeatedly. This is a part of the socialization process and while it can be hard, it is necessary. Your Frenchie puppy will grow to be friendlier and more confident.
How Do You Clean French Bulldog Puppies Ears?
Cleaning your Frenchie puppy’s ears is pretty much the same as cleaning a Frenchie adult’s ear. It may be trickier since puppies are not used to getting their ears handled yet. So you need to take more time in making them feel comfortable.
Before anything else, you need to prepare your cleaning tools. Here are the basic ones that you need:
- Ear Cleaning Solution
- Clean Warm Water
- Cotton Balls
- Your Frenchie’s Treats
Now that you have what you need, here is how you can clean your pup’s ears.
Help Them Get Comfy
Not all Frenchies will allow you to clean their ears the first time out of fear. So try your best to ease your pup into it with affection and lots of treats. Run your hands through their ears to see their reaction.
If they stay calm, give them treats and praises as a reward. If they have a negative reaction, ignore them for a bit until they calm down. Once they have, try doing this again.
Get Them Into Position
Make sure your Frenchie is in a place where they cannot escape. A corner of the room works best. But if you want to, you can have them lie down on a table.
Have their rear end face you so that you can restrict them a bit. If you are on the floor, place them between your legs so that your two hands are free. Your cleaning tools should be nearby before this to maintain your position.
Cleaning Their Outer Ears
Your Frenchie’s outer ears need cleaning whenever they get dirty or smelly. Cleaning their outer ear is not as extensive as their inner ear. Wiping them down will do.
Take your cotton ball and dampen it with clean water or ear cleaning solution. You can also use a damp cloth as well. With this, wipe the gunk off of your Frenchie’s outer ears.
Cleaning Their Inner Ears
Their inner ears need a few more steps for a thorough cleaning. First, you need to grab their ears, exposing their ear canal. Then take your ear cleaning solution with your other hand and place a few drops into your Frenchie’s ear.
The tip of the ear cleaning solution must not touch their ears for sanitary reasons. You do not want to contaminate the solution with bacteria or yeast from your Frenchie’s ears.
Now you need to massage your Frenchie’s ears to loosen any debris or wax. Your one hand should still be holding their ear flap while the other one is massaging the base of their ear. Do this for about 20 to 30 seconds.
After this, let go of their ears. Your Frenchie will shake their head to get rid of the solution, do not worry about this. Let them shake their head as it further loosens the dirt in their ears.
Now that the debris and wax in their ears are loose, take a clean cotton ball and wipe their ears. Make sure to also clean the ridges of their ears. But only clean what you can reach, do not go too deep in your Frenchie’s ears.
Give Them A Treat
Reward your Frenchie with affection, praises, and treats for doing a great job. This is important for puppies to understand that ear cleaning is not something scary. A positive association like this will help make ear cleaning easier in the future.
How Do You Bathe a French Bulldog Puppy?
Usually, puppies are not a fan of taking baths since they have not done this often yet. So you need to get them to like or tolerate the process first. This requires you to get them comfortable before baths.
It may take you time to get there, but hang on. Here is how you can give your Frenchie pup a good bath.
Create a Positive Atmosphere
This is a crucial step to make baths a more pleasant experience for you and your Frenchie. Like any other grooming process, you need to give them affection and treats to ease them in.
Most Frenchies like to play with water. So before giving them a good scrub, you can play with them using the water from the bathtub. This can lift their mood and help them to overcome their fear of baths.
Brush Their Fur
You can brush your Frenchie beforehand to release loose hair and dirt. This will help you cut time once you get to shampooing your Frenchie.
Get the Water Ready
No matter their age, Frenchies cannot tolerate very warm water. It is best to use lukewarm water when bathing your puppy. You can use warm water, but make sure it does not burn your Frenchie.
Remember not to use cold water too, they will not like it. The wrong temperature can make baths a negative experience for them. So they might fear taking a bath the next time, which you need to avoid.
Bribe Them Into the Tub
This step can be the most challenging one since your Frenchie may try to wriggle their way out of this. Since they are food-motivated, why not bribe them in with treats?
You can feed them their favorite treat inside the bathtub. A popular trick is to take some peanut butter and put some on the sides of the tub. This way, your Frenchie can lick away while you are washing them.
A distraction feeding mat is also a great idea. You can smear their favorite treat on this silicone mat and place it in the tub. This way, cleaning can be easier.
Give Them a Good Rinse
With a cup or your shower head, soak your Frenchie thoroughly. Make sure to get into its folds too, especially their tail pocket. This is a good way to loosen any dirt before you get to shampooing them.
Rub Them With Shampoo
Use an organic and hypoallergenic shampoo to clean your Frenchie. A great shampoo does not irritate a Frenchie’s sensitive skin.
Soap up their belly, behind their ears, backs, legs, tail, and the rest of the body. Make sure to go over their beck a couple of times since this area can get dirty from eating food.
Also, be thorough in rubbing their folds. Puppies like to get dirty and these folds can accumulate dirt and food particles that you need to get rid of. Otherwise, it can lead to an infection.
Rinse the Shampoo Off
Give your Frenchie pup a good rinse, making sure that all the suds are off. Leaving any residue can irritate their skin and make it itchy. And with excessive itching, your Frenchie can have bald patches.
Brush Them Again
Taking a bath will loosen up most dead hair and debris in your Frenchie’s fur. But a bath may not be enough. So brush their fur while it is wet so that it is easier to take all these out.
Towel Dry Your Frenchie
Take a towel and do your best to dry your Frenchie completely. This may take time, but it is important to get rid of that doggy smell. Also, it is not very comfortable for your Frenchie pup to go about their day while they are still damp.
You can also use a blow dryer to speed up the process. Make sure to use a cool setting so that your Frenchie does not get burned.
How Often Should You Wash a French Bulldog Puppy?
Generally, Frenchies only need a bath a few times a year. But they are very adventurous as puppies so they get dirty quite often. So bathe your Frenchie only when they get dirty.
Some Frenchie owners like to bathe their puppy every 1 to 2 months. But this can be excessive and can strip off the natural oils in their hair. To know what works best for your Frenchie pup, you should ask your vet for advice.
