Tips and Advice on Feeding a French Bulldog

Sharing a home with a French Bulldog is tremendous fun because these little dogs bring a lot of pleasure into an owner's life thanks to all the antics they get up to. In return, owners should make caring for their Frenchies a priority which includes feeding them correctly, making sure they get enough daily exercise and mental stimulation so they stay fit and healthy. Frenchies enjoy a varied diet, but it's important not to overdo things because these little dogs although not overly greedy, do like their food a little too much so it’s important to get meal time portions just right.

What to feed Frenchie puppies when they first arrive home

The breeder would have given you all the information needed on what your new puppy should be fed and this must include how often a puppy has been fed throughout the day. It's essential to keep to this routine and to feed a puppy the same type of food, the same amount of food and to do so at the same times of the day to avoid any tummy upsets. Puppies are small and therefore when they develop any sort of digestive upset, they can quickly dehydrate which if left unchecked can seriously impact their well-being and could even prove fatal.

Young Frenchies grow in spurts and they need all the right nutrients in their diet for them to develop properly. Puppies typically need to be fed 3 to 4 times a day which ensures their blood sugar levels don't rise or fall too dramatically in between their meal times which must be avoided at all costs.

What to feed a Frenchie when they are 6 months old

Once a French Bulldog is around 6 months old, they can be fed 3 times a day rather than four. It is far healthier for them to be fed more frequently every day than cutting their feed times to twice a day at this stage of their lives because it reduces the risk of a Frenchie developing any gastrointestinal disorders. It's essential they be fed a high-quality diet because they are still growing and developing. A six-month old Frenchie needs anything from 152 g to 233 g depending on their size and build.

What to feed a Frenchie when they are 9 months old

As previously mentioned, French Bulldogs like other breeds tend to grow in bursts and as such they need the right levels of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients in their diets for their bones and joints to develop properly. A 9-month old Frenchie can be fed twice a day, although some canine nutritionists recommend they be fed 3 times a day even as they get older. The amount of food they are given every day should be anything from 110 g to 184 g depending on their size, energy levels and metabolism.

What to feed a Frenchie when they are 12 months old

When a Frenchie is 12 months old, they are already adult dogs and as such, they need to be fed accordingly. The healthy daily ration for a mature French Bulldog is between 128 g to 165 g every 24 hours depending on a dog's size, their metabolism and their energy levels.

Important things to remember

Like other breeds, a Frenchies nutritional needs will change at the different stages of their lives which not only includes when they are puppies, young dogs and mature adults, but also as they reach their golden years. As a Frenchie reaches their senior years, their food intake may need to be tweaked and you may find that their diet needs changing too.

The other thing to bear in mind is that a Frenchie's calorie intake must match the amount of daily exercise they are given. If you suspect your pet is putting on too much weight and they are losing their "waist lines", you should consult your vet and ask their advice on how much food to feed your pet. It could be that your Frenchie has a slower metabolism and therefore need to be fed less food. If you think your dog is looking a little on the thin side, the same applies and a quick trip to the vet is needed to get some advice on how much food you should be feeding your Frenchie.

Another important thing about feeding Frenchies is that some of these charming little dogs can have a reaction to wheat which can lead to them suffering from digestive issues including excessive flatulence. Some commercially produced dog food also contains high levels of "filler" which can cause skin irritations in Frenchies too. If you suspect your dog is suffering from any sort of rash, it's important for a vet to check them over and to determine whether the problem is being triggered by a food allergy.

Frenchies and overeating

French Bulldogs are known to like their food a little too much although most of them are not greedy by nature. However, they are prone to putting on too much weight if they are overfed or given too many treats which is why it's important to keep an eye on their waistline. You should be able to just see a little rib and your Frenchie should have a nicely defined waistline, if they don't, then it's time to rethink how much you are feeding them and to cut down on the number of treats a pet is given. It's far better to feed fewer high quality treats on special occasions than to feed too many lower quality ones more often.

Lastly, making sure your Frenchie has access to fresh, clean water

Just like humans, your Frenchie's body is made up of mostly water and as such they need to be kept well hydrated. French Bulldogs must have free access to fresh, clean water and more especially when the weather is warmer during the hotter summer months.