The Complete French Bulldog Puppy Guide for New Frenchie Parents: Part 3 – Caring For Your Puppy 

French Bulldog Grooming

The complete French bulldog puppy guide Everything you need to know if you are going or have purchased a French bulldog puppy.

You have purchased a French bulldog puppy (or are you going to buy one)? A super decision, but there are many things that you will have to prepare and that you will have to take into account.

If you have not yet read PART 1, CLICK HERE

If you have not yet read PART 2, CLICK HERE

How often should you groom a French bulldog?

Start early. A French Bulldog puppy that is washed and brushed regularly and has gotten used to trimming its nails will learn quickly that these are normal parts of its life. He will, therefore, resist it much less than an adult Frenchie.

Always work carefully but purposefully so that all grooming tasks take place with as little stress as possible. Start with a short brush when you and your dog are relaxed. Then brush a little longer every day until your French bulldog has no problems with a full brush. Always end up with something positive, and reward your Frenchie for being good.

With a puppy, it can take a few days before the whole grooming process is complete. If you make something fun out of it, like just cutting a nail or brushing for a few minutes can be a very nice experience for you and your puppy.

Do you brush French bulldogs?

Yes, of course. A French bulldog loves being brushed. 

How often should I brush my French bulldog?

If you brush your French Bulldog regularly, it will shed a lot less during its 2 shedding cycles per year. Which in turn means less hair on carpets and furniture.

Brush your French Bulldog once a week; that will suffice. You can do it daily, but that’s basically overkill because they really don’t need to be brushed every day, but it is part of French Bulldog grooming.

What kind of brush do you use on a French bulldog?

The best brush for a French Bulldog is The Furminator. Because French Bulldogs have no underskin, they have sensitive skin, so keep that in mind when buying a brush for your Frenchie.

It is best to brush its short hair with a rubber brush and to finish with a regular hairbrush. If you want extra shine on his fur, a velvet glove can do wonders; this removes all dust particles from the hairs.

First, brush against the direction of hair growth so that the dead hairs come loose, then brush with the direction of hair growth. Don’t forget “pants” and “collar” (this is the hair on the hind legs and on the chest, respectively), as well as the hair on the front legs, the tail, and the belly. You can comb after brushing; this way, you check whether your Frenchie is free of tangles. Regular brushing also means less hair on your carpet, furniture, and clothing.

How often should you wash your French Bulldog?

Wash your French bulldog only when it is really necessary. Three to four washes per year should suffice. Use a special dog shampoo for this: the skin of a dog has a very different PH than that of humans. Make sure there is no draft where you wash the dog and use lukewarm water. It’s also important to make sure that no water gets into the ears; Frenchies have very sensitive ears. Wet his entire body, including the undercoat, but keep his head, nose, and ears dry. Use a few drops of shampoo and massage the product into the coat. Always rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue from the coat.

A French bulldog is never trimmed. The only exception is the hair on the sole of the foot: between the cushions, the hair can sometimes grow a little longer if your dog walks a lot on the carpet. Cut this gently with curved scissors.

It is best to use a balm or cream rinse for dogs; this ensures a nice shiny coat. Follow the instructions on the packaging for this, as this usually takes some time to settle in the coat. Again, don’t forget to rinse carefully.

Dry your Frenchie first with a towel and then with the hairdryer. When the dog is completely dry, you can still brush or comb it. This is all part of the French Bulldog grooming process.

Do French Bulldogs Shed?

Do French bulldogs shed a lot? French bulldogs do not shed extremely, but a periodic molting period is a normal part of the fur growth cycle. The French Bulldog shedding cycle usually falls in the spring and the fall. Most dogs get a thicker coat against the cold in winter, but this process is sometimes inhibited by artificial light. If your French bulldog stays mainly indoors, it’s possible it can shed all year round (this is very rare, but it does happen to some Frenchies).

How often should you clean French Bulldog ears?

Check and clean the ears of your French bulldog weekly. (They are very sensitive to this)

If you see that weekly isn’t enough, you can go two or three times a week. When your French bulldog takes a bath, this is an ideal time to clean his ears, but also check the ears regularly in between (weekly). Because of their raised ears, which regularly get dirty, Frenchies tend to suffer from ear problems. Also, check the ears for hairs that grow in the ear canal. These can be pulled out carefully. If you are not familiar with this, ask the vet or a grooming salon.

Why do French Bulldog’s eyes water?

Watering eyes are not attractive and can lead to eye inflammation if they are not cleaned. You gently rub the edges of the eye with natural rose water on a cotton ball. However, if the eyes keep tearing for a long time, this may be due to a clogged tear canal. Never experiment with drops and ointments yourself; you can cause irreparable damage.

French Bulldog Teeth and Nails

Do French bulldogs have teeth problems?

The breed is not subject to early tooth loss. And you can do something about it yourself with good dental care. Tartar is the culprit here, and brushing regularly (e.g., every week) is the solution. Start learning from an early age with your French Bulldog puppy that you look into his mouth and touch his teeth. Always reward him if he allows this. The next step is to rub his teeth with a toddler toothbrush. If this is possible without protest, switch to dog toothpaste, do not brush for too long, and reward him with a treat.

This way, your Frenchie knows that after the unpleasant cleaning, a nice reward will follow, and he will let it happen. Always ensure that the dog can drink water afterward so that he can rinse his teeth.

A dog without tartar keeps its teeth for years and has a pleasant-smelling breath, so there are only benefits!

Safe chew toys also keep the teeth clean and sharp; your French bulldog can have fun with them for hours.

How often to trim french bulldog nails

It’s best to do this every 2 to 3 months. French bulldogs don’t trim their nails by running like large breeds because of their low body weight. It is, therefore, necessary to trim them. It is also important to learn this at a young age with a treat if he allows this. If you really have an older dog that opposes, it is better to get a second person to hold the dog well so that you have both hands free. cut the nails with a good nail clipper, and make sure you do not cut into the blood vessel that runs into the nail. It is better to regularly cut a small piece than a long piece once every six months.

So that’s it for PART 3. In PART 4, ​​we are going to talk about raising your cute French bulldog puppy.

CLICK HERE for PART 4