French Bulldog: temperament, training and care

At a glance

Temperament

• Clownish and affectionate
• Happy in an apartment
• Can be stubborn about training

Training tips

Keep sessions short and cool: five minutes, lots of treats, then rest.

French Bulldogs can be independent thinkers. Find what your dog will really work for, keep sessions short and fun, and expect to repeat things more often than with an eager-to-please breed.

Start with a marker word, sit, come and leave it. For a puppy, see the puppy training guides.

Common challenges

• Heat and breathing. A short nose makes cooling hard. Train in the cool, keep sessions short and watch breathing. See heatstroke in dogs.
• Stubborn streak. Make training a game and reward the moment they choose to follow you.
• Potty training can take longer in some small dogs. A tight schedule helps: see potty training.
• Clinginess. Many Frenchies love company; build alone time slowly.

Lifestyle

Frenchies are often happy in apartments with short walks and play. They’re not usually strong swimmers, so take care around water.

Exercise and energy

A healthy adult French Bulldog typically needs around 30 to 45 minutes of activity a day. Mix walks with sniffing and short training games: mental work tires dogs as much as running does. Puppies need much shorter sessions while they grow.

See how much exercise a dog needs and our games and enrichment ideas.

Health to watch

Things the breed is known to be prone to. Ask your vet what to check for your dog.

• Breathing and heat. A short nose makes cooling down hard: walk in the cool of the day and stop at heavy panting. See: Heatstroke.
• Skin. Folds and allergies need care: keep folds clean and dry, and watch for itching. See: Allergic Reaction.
• Back. A long back is easy to hurt: use a ramp for sofas and cars, and carry them on stairs. See: Broken Bone or Sprain.
• Eyes. Prominent or sensitive eyes: see the vet the same day for squinting or a cloudy eye. See: Eye Injuries.