Large ears, persuasive eyes, petite yet chunky body, and baby wrinkles gathered near the beany nose- your adorable French bulldog puppy has probably captivated all your senses. And now he/she has your complete attention and care. But if you’re new to parenting these energetic pups, then you’re most likely clueless about the way things work. And despite how much you want to shower them with the best care and love, you cannot do it on your own. You need to know some basics, at the least. So, waste no time and learn everything you need to know about caring for your Lil Frenchie from this article.

Diet

Let’s first talk about their food and eating patterns. To keep your puppy healthy and strong, make sure their diet is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, nutrients, etc. The next thing is, knowing what to avoid feeding them. Avoid chocolate (obviously), gluten, caffeine, raisins, and any other ingredients that may cause health issues. Most packaged animal foods have fillers like wheat and corn that should be avoided as well. So, always check the ingredient list before making a purchase and opt for healthier brands. Regarding raw food, it would be better to avoid it, especially for puppies.

Along with quality, quantity is also important. The number of times and measures of food you feed your pets depends on their size and age. So, you can feed three times a day for a puppy between two to six months. At each serving, the amount of dry food can be around 40g. And as your Lil Frenchie grows, you can gradually alter the food amount and timings.

The puppies will often zoom fast across rooms and between legs. So, always make sure that there’s a bowl of clean water ready for them always.

Maintenance

A good diet can make sure your pet’s internals are maintained. When it comes to puppies’ external appearance, they may need a little help from you. From small things like bathing them to big things like managing to clip their nails without tension- these are some grooming procedures you will need to become familiar with and hopefully excel in it.

French bulldogs are known for having short fur, which makes grooming them quick and easy. However, this doesn’t mean you can avoid cleaning them for days. Routine grooming is a must. Use a safe shampoo and avoid bathing them too often. Too many baths can cause your little puppy health issues, as well as the loss of natural oil. However, you can regularly clean them with a brush or a grooming glove.

From time to time, clip their nails to avoid them from overgrowing and causing infection. And regarding your little puppy’s teeth, it would be helpful if you brush their teeth once in a while. It will evade any tartar formation on their teeth, and they can go on munching their favorite snack without any difficulty.

Training

When bringing home any puppies, the first thing you want to do is ‘potty training.’ Frenchies are analytical and smart dogs- meaning that they will check their surroundings and adopt habits quickly. Take the puppy to an area outside, if you want outdoors, where he/she can go to handle nature’s business. Do the potty training as early as possible.

Whenever you do any training, try to put in positive reinforcements. It can be physical rewards and treats or verbal praise. Frenchies are ‘people pleasers,’ and an abundance of positive reinforcements makes them train quicker and better. They can also be stubborn, so be patient and firm when training them.

Say the commands (sit, potty, stay, come, down) clearly and in a loud voice while guiding them to do the desired behavior. And reward them generously every time they get it correct. Lastly, but not least, keep training to a limit- say about 5-minute periods. Training lessons can be for about 3 to 5 times a day. Bulldogs usually lose patience fast due to their less attention span (remember history classes? it’s the same for them).

Exercise

Don’t be fooled by their cuddly, flat face personality. French Bulldogs are an active breed. Yes, French Bulldogs typically have lower energy levels and loves to be indoors, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need the exercises.

And it is fascinating to see how fast, eager, and active they are in going outdoors to play than you’d think. Known to be social and smart, exercises for Frenchies should be something that complements their personality.

Short walks and socializing with other dogs or people are a great way to keep them fit. Now that we are all on lockdown, there should surely be empathy to keep them indoors all the time, eh? If outdoors isn’t an option, then give them some good old tennis balls or toys to get them moving about.

Frenchies can be over-exercised, but it is not wise to overdo it. As they are a brachycephalic breed (flat face and short nose), it becomes difficult for them to keep their body temperature normal when over-exercised. It can also cause other problems like heat exhaustion and joint pains. The best way is to be observant of their physical responses during exercises. Usually, a 15 to 20-minute exercise per day should be more than enough.

Due to their brachycephalic condition, it is best to take your Frenchie for exercises outdoor during the cooler part of the day. For indoor activities, investing in some pool or similar cooling effects will do the job.

Sleeper space

The first times are naturally the hardest time for the puppies as well as for you. But what you want to ingrain into them is good habits. And, sleeping space plays a vital role. If you allow them to sleep on your bed often, it may become hard for you to make them sleep in their crate. Therefore, from the get-go, your Frenchie should be made to sleep in their own space. This way, they would not get used to otherwise.

Now, how to get a good sleeper space? Prepare a very fluffy and comfy bed for your pup- which they will take a liking to it. You can make a bed crate or a basket that is positioned a bit up from the floor. Adding a piece of your clothing also makes them get used to your scent and will let them feel nearer.

Inside the crate, place some toys that your Frenchie can sleep or play with. Sleeping in a crate also provides a reason for the pup to relieve themselves outside the house. If they continue with their crying, train them to obey commands like ‘stop crying.’ Never try to feed to make them stop crying. Do this, and you may find yourself with a pampered pup that throws tantrums.

Some pups may not like the crate and prefer a cushion or basket and vice versa. Be patient and find out which option suits them the best. You can also experiment by getting a bigger size or more comfortable crate if it helps.

To conclude

Follow these simple and basic caring techniques, and watch as your Lil Frenchie grows into a healthy adult.