Are you the new best friend of a French Bulldog puppy?
If so, you know that these early months can be a beautiful bonding time. However, in addition to giving your dog plenty of cuddles, you’ll also be responsible for tending to their needs.
From feeding to bathing and every moment in between, it’s important to know what to do. Whether this is your first furry friend or one of many, each pup is different and requires individual attention.
Today, we’re sharing a quick guide to French Bulldog puppy care. With these steps, you can give your pet a great start and a solid foundation.
French Bulldog Puppy Care: Feeding
Let’s start with one of the basics: feeding.
For the first few months of your puppy’s life, it’s best to feed them three times a day, following a regular schedule. Try to stick to dry kibble, as it will be easiest for your pup’s tiny tummy to digest.
Rather than filling their bowl up all the way, you only need to feed your puppy around 1/3 of a cup at each feeding.
When they’re about six months old, you may find that you can cut back to two meals a day, offering more food at each meal. However, while they’re really little and still developing, they’ll burn calories quicker and need that extra meal to keep them full.
As they grow, remember to keep your meal schedule consistent, and only keep food out when it’s time to eat. Check out our online store for links to high-quality dog food, wafers, digestive aids, and more!
Bathing Your French Bulldog Puppy
Baby Frenchies only need a bath once every six to eight weeks or so. However, you’ll need to clean their beautifully wrinkled faces more often!
When it’s bath time, use a gentle dog shampoo that’s specially made for bulldogs. The water should be lukewarm.
Massage the shampoo into their front legs first, then work toward their back legs, and remember to give their paws a soft scrub, too! Once you reach the back, you can work your way forward again.
Then, wash their neck, all the way to the back of their ears. Let the shampoo sit for a few minutes and then rinse it off. You can wash their head, face, and tail pocket separately once their body has been thoroughly washed and dried.
The Key to Potty Training
Potty training is one of the most challenging parts of owning any breed of puppy. Yet, it’s an important step that all pet owners must learn.
As with feeding, consistency and routine are key.
Stick to a schedule and try to take your puppy outside every two to three hours. You should also go outside every time your pup drinks or eats. Soon, your Frenchie will learn the rules and will begin to give you their trademark “sign” that they need to go out.
This involves making a circular motion on the floor, with their nose to the ground. If they appear to be pacing in a circle and sniffing, it’s best to act as quickly as possible!
Keep puppy food for treats on hand and reward your pup for going potty outside! It will usually take a few weeks to get this new habit down, and accidents can still happen for a month or so. Puppy pads can help keep your home stay clean while you’re learning together.
With patience and determination, you can help each other through this milestone!
The Teething Stage
Their baby teeth will make an appearance when they’re about two to three weeks old. Then, most French bulldogs will begin to teeth around two months of age.
As their baby teeth give way to permanent adult ones, they’ll seek out anything they can find to relieve the pressure and discomfort.
Look for special teething toys designed to help soothe your Frenchie’s sore teeth and gums. Rather than soft stuffed animals, find ones made from ropes and rubber that are tough and harder to tear through.
While you’re searching for the perfect chew toy, avoid picking up any rawhide bones or similar edible chews. While popular, these can present a choking hazard and could become a blockage risk. If your pup were to swallow a fairly large piece, it could become lodged in their digestive tract. Also treats other than puppy food can cause upset stomachs.
Today, you can find plenty of safe and effective teethers that avoid this issue and are great alternatives to traditional rawhide.
The Importance of Exercise
It’s no secret that puppies need to play! This is true of almost every breed, and as a responsible pet owner, you’re tasked with making sure they get plenty of exercise.
Try to take your new pal on a few walks a day, or simply give them time to play in a safe area in the yard. Frenchies are an active and lively breed and will love the extra time to stretch and run around.
Plus, this is a great way to establish an emotional and social bond with your pet. Spending time together can help establish trust, set boundaries, and create an environment of respect that will guide future interactions.
Little Frenchie in the Big World
The first few months of their life are paramount for your little French Bulldog. An owner who loves and nurtures them is essential to their lifelong well-being.
The steps above can help you acclimate to your puppy’s needs and know how to respond to them. From keeping them clean to making sure they’re full, there are many aspects to remember!
While some parts can be challenging, French Bulldog puppy care is easy when your new companion is so adorable, loyal, and calm-natured. This is one reason why this breed makes such a wonderful family pet.
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