French Bulldog Puppies

Caring for A French Bulldog Puppy

For many dog owners, looking after a puppy is one of the most exciting and rewarding times. However, there is also a lot to learn – and with 8 week old French Bulldog puppies often weighing as little as 2 kilograms, new owners can sometimes be a little overwhelmed. Learning how to properly look after your tiny pup and instilling good habits for you both is key to being able to enjoy life with your adult dog. 

Bringing your French Bulldog puppy home.

On the day you bring your puppy home, it’s vital that he or she feels as safe and secure as possible. Leaving the litter can understandably be an upsetting experience, and they’re likely to be scared of the unfamiliar sights and sounds of their new home. 

While you’ll likely have lots of friends and family who want to meet the new addition straight away, try to keep visitors to an absolute minimum when you first bring the pup home. If you have children, encourage them to be calm when meeting him, and try to avoid overwhelming him with constant stroking and playing. 

Many owners find it helpful for their new puppy to have a ‘safe space’ where they know they can be left alone. This could be their bed in a quiet corner of the room, or their crate if you’re planning to crate train. After a short period of time handling your new puppy, try to leave them alone in their safe space. You’ll likely find that from here, they begin to explore their new home on their own and can gradually build their confidence.

Feeding your puppy. 

If you’ve got your French Bulldog puppy from a reputable breeder, they’ll likely send a few days’ worth of food with you when you pick up your puppy. It’s good practice to keep feeding your puppy the same food that they’re used to for at least a week in order to minimise stomach upsets. If you do want to change the brand or type of food your puppy has, try to do this gradually and over the course of a week or so. 

Remember that puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and so it’s important to keep feeding them food specially designed for youngsters. Typically, this will have higher levels of protein and fats to help them grow. Although your French Bulldog puppy may never grow above 12 kilos, it’s important to still keep them on this food until they’re around one years old. 

For more information on feeding your adult dog, such as how often and whether wet or dry food is best, visit our page on French Bulldog diet and exercise.

Puppy training and socialising.

As with all breeds, it is recommended that you give your French Bulldog puppy at least some basic training. The things you will likely want to tackle within the first few days of bringing your puppy home are toilet training and crate training. With both of these, it’s essential to form good habits as soon as you have your puppy. If you plan for your adult dog to sleep downstairs, then resist the temptation to keep your puppy in bed with you – however cute they may be! 

Similarly, if your puppy starts going to the toilet on carpet or furniture, then this can be a difficult habit to break. Introduce them to puppy pads from the first day you bring them home, and toilet training should go much more smoothly. 

A key part of raising a well-behaved adult dog is making sure they’re well socialised from a young age. Being able to interact with other dogs and people will make life easier for you, and ultimately lead to a happier dog. Once your pup has had all of the necessary injections, it’s a good idea to start introducing them to others. Puppy classes are obviously a great way to get them used to being around other dogs, while also learning some basic commands. If your friends or families have older, well-behaved dogs then organising a play date can also be a great way for your pup to learn.

Find out more about training your French Bulldog.