french bulldogs are very popular among the city dwellers
they're famous by the nickname of frenchie and are distinguished by their erect bat-like years as it
is clearly evident from their name and structure frenchies trace back their ancestry to bulldogs
the toy bulldogs were very popular among the lace makers in england when these lacemakers moved to
france they brought their toy bulldogs with them in france these dogs were crossbred with local
ratters and terriers which eventually resulted in the formation of these bat-eared frenchies
according to the latest ranking of american kennel club french bulldog
is the second most famous dog breed in the united states they are considered as
an ideal dog for an apartment life because of their small size and low exercise demand
there are many factors that define the food requirements of a french bulldog like age
size and activity level a dog has different nutritional requirements at different stages
of life puppies need more calories than adult dogs because they are in the phase of growing
a frenchy puppy needs to be fed three times a day when a puppy reaches one year of age switch its
food to adult type an adult dog needs a high calorie diet they should be fed twice a day
senior dogs are usually less active and have different nutritional requirements than adult dogs
when buying food from the market make sure to buy one that is appropriate for your dog's age
ideally a french bulldog should be given around 25 to 30 calories per pound of body weight if your
frenchie is over or underweight their food intake needs to be changed as advised by a veterinarian
it is a general rule that a more active dog will require more calories than a lazier one
the association of american feed control officials has set standards for different nutritional
requirements always buy food that is aafco compliant protein is the most important ingredient
in a dog's food it is supposed to be at the top of the ingredients list since ingredients on the
food label are listed according to the decreasing order of weight aafco recommends a minimum protein
requirement of 22 percent for a puppy and 18 for an adult dog proteins derived from animal sources
are more easily digestible than plant ones fat is the second most important ingredient
in a dog's food fats provide a concentrated form of energy according to aafco guidelines
the minimum fat requirement is eight percent for a puppy and five percent for an adult dog
prefer food brands that contain animal fats other main ingredients in the dog's food are
supposed to be carbohydrates omega-3 fatty acids essential vitamins and minerals buy a
grain-free diet don't buy food brands that contain fillers preservatives or chemical flavorings don't
change food type abruptly slowly introduce the new food by mixing it with the old one
frenchies are very food driven dogs and would eat anything you put in their bowl this high
food drive may lead to obesity or overweight obesity is a serious health condition that can
cause heart or joint diseases it is important to monitor their weight and calories intake
french bulldogs are not outdoor dogs and they require minimum exercise activities a short
walk of 15 to 20 minutes twice a day is enough to keep them in shape excessive exercise can be
dangerous for them because their short snouts and flat faces will make it hard for them to breathe
properly you have to be very careful when taking them outside for walks
since frenchies belong to the flat-faced breeds they are more prone to breathing problems in a
heated environment they have difficulty breathing which is why you need to take them outside in the
morning and evening or during the daytime when the temperature is not harsh at extreme temperatures
you might hear their obstructive breathing which is a sign of breathing difficulty
moreover frenchies are not good swimmers and shouldn't be left alone near pools streams etc
one of the advantages of having a french bulldog is that it's a low maintenance dog and is easy
to groom frenchies have short silky coats that are easy to groom they are average shedders and
need weekly brushing brushing spreads natural oils to the surface of a dog's skin and removes
dead loose hairs it also helps to spot your dog's skin for any kind of infections or skin lesions
thanks to their bulldog ancestors french bulldogs have those beautiful skin folds these folds need
to be kept clean and dry if there is any moisture in them a bacterial growth will occur which can
cause infection clean their wrinkles every day especially after they've been exposed to water
frenchies need only occasional baths usually once a month or as needed always use dog products
as humans shampoo or soap may cause allergic reactions in dogs it is important to clean and dry
their wrinkles after they take a bath frenchies are famous for their distinctive bat like ears
check them weekly for any buildup of wax or debris clean their ears with a damp cloth and
a vet recommended cleaning solution do not insert q-tips in their ears french bulldogs nails grow
faster than the other breeds trim their nails after every two weeks using a dog nail trimmer
be careful not to cut the quick portion of their nails like other dog breeds frenchies require
regular dental care brush their teeth several times a week use a dog's toothbrush and paste
frenchies are intelligent dog breeds but training them is a challenging task they are eager to
please their owners and learn new things training them could be easy as long as you do it on their
own terms without forcing them frenchies are independent and free thinkers and sometimes show
some stubbornness during the training process it means they will play the game on their own
rules and resist the training process if forced upon them this is a normal behavior of the breed
and shouldn't be dealt with harshly praise and treats will help you a lot in such situations
early socialization is required to make them well-behaved adult dogs
expose them to different people places or animals the ideal time for socialization of
a dog is from two to four months of age a poorly socialized dog will develop behavioral problems
positive reinforcement is the key to a successful training process praise and reward them whenever
they follow a command this will accelerate the training process scolding or punishing your dog is
totally counterproductive and should be avoided at all costs make the training sessions short fun and
easy for your frenchie a short focused training of 15 to 20 minutes is enough for your dog teach only
one command in a session french bulldogs have an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years they could live
longer than that if cared for properly however there could be some general and breed specific
issues french bulldogs are brachycephalic which literally means short-headed they have short
snouts and flat faces which make it hard for them to breathe properly in certain situations because
of their brachiocephalic condition frenchies cannot tolerate extreme temperatures and excessive
exercise it is best to take them outdoors only in moderate temperatures excessive exercise requires
increased breathing which is difficult for frenchies because of brachiocephalic condition
vaccinations are vital for your dog's health it usually starts around the sixth week of age
make sure that your puppy doesn't come in contact with other dogs or pets until it is vaccinated
the common vaccines include rabies distemper parvo virus and lime consult your veterinarian
about the vaccination process for your puppy if you are looking to adopt a french bulldog
puppy check for certain health clearances and certificates these health clearances mean that
the puppy's parents were genetically tested before mating thus eliminating the risk of genetically
inherited diseases some of the important health clearances for a french bulldog include
certificate from ofa for hip and elbow dysplasia certificate from crf for eyes
certificate from ofa for patella evaluation certificate from ofa for cardiac evaluation
you can confirm the results of these tests on ofa or chic websites