First Day Home with your French Bulldog Puppy

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I want to buy a French Bulldog!

So you want a Frenchie, huh?

If you’re interested in buying a French Bulldog, the first thing you should read up on is their potential genetic health problems and behavior problems.

They’re not the cheapest…

While I love French Bulldogs more than anybody, there’s no denying they’re not necessarily the cheapest or easiest dog breed.

And they’re prone to expensive health issues

Their health issues can easily cost you thousands and thousands of dollars.

I can’t stress it enough on how important it is to know what you’re getting yourself into when you get a Frenchie.

Some owners find themselves unable to afford their vet bills

Sadly, there have been owners that end up putting their Frenchie up for adoption when they’re unable to afford the vet bills for their sick Frenchie.

Try to find a well-bred Frenchie

This is why it’s so important that you look for a well-bred, healthy French Bulldog even if it means paying more for your puppy; it could save you a lot more money in the long run.

Pet insurance is always recommended

I’d also recommend pet insurance to any French Bulldog owner as it covers many medical expenses and can give you a lot of peace of mind.

Getting a French Bulldog Puppy

There’s nothing more exciting than bringing home a new puppy!

What is supposed to be an exhilarating, action-packed day can quickly go south if you haven’t made the necessary preparations.

The first few days can be stressful

The first few days at their new home are the most stressful and it’s essential that you make the process as stress-free as possible while they acclimate to their new environment.

They require constant care

Your new puppy will require much more attention than an adult dog would! Your puppy is still a baby at this point, and it’s important that you keep them supervised 24/7.

Before they arrive

As I said before, a little bit of preparation goes a long ways.

You’ll want to stock up on the essentials so you can spend less time running back and forth to the pet store and more time with your puppy.

Consistency is key

Work with your family and devise a set of rules for your Frenchie that you all can agree on.

Get everyone on the same page

Consistency is one of the important factors when it comes to training a dog, so make sure your entire family is on the same page with training and discipline.

You want your expectations for your Frenchie to be clear and consise.

10 things you’ll want to have

1. Harness and Leash
2. A collar and tag
3. Toys (a lot of chew toys)
4. Food and Water Bowls
5. Food
6. Training Treats
7. A comfy bed!
8. Puppy gates or puppy pen
9. Stain remover
10. Grooming supplies

1. Harness and Leash

I recommend a 6-foot leash that is ½ to ¾ inch wide.

I personally use a shock absorbing leash, which is great as it helps protect their joints.

My Frenchie loves pulling on the leash when we’re on a walk or she gets excited, so this feature is gladly welcomed.

Leash pulling can cause lots of health issues

I’ve just heard way too many horror stories of other Frenchies developing serious problems with their spine, neck, and trachea from years of pulling on the leash.

I use a No-Pull Harness

I also like to use a no-pull harness that lets me clip the leash in the front… it reduces the strain other harnesses can have on your Frenchie’s neck and spine.

2. A collar and tag

If your puppy has yet to be microchipped, you’ll want an identification tag with the following:

• Puppy’s name
• Your contact information
• Veterinarian contact info

3. Toys (a lot of chew toys)

French Bulldogs have surprisingly powerful jaws and will go through toys like nothing.

Always look for rugged, durable toys for your Frenchie!

Not only does your Frenchie need toys for having fun, they’ll need something to chew on while they’re teething to relieve the pain as their adult teeth grow in.

Here are my favorite teething chews that my Frenchie had when she was a puppy.

Chews for a Teething Frenchie

4. Food and Water Bowls

When it comes to dog bowls, there’s really three types: regular, ergonomic, and slow-feed bowls.

We all know about regular bowls, but what about the other two?

A Slow-Feed Bowl forces your Frenchie to slow down their eating, which can help them with stomach issues such as farting and throwing up after eating.

The ergonomic bowls make it as comfortable as possible for your Frenchie to eat/drink. This one is slightly elevated and angled which lets them eat in a much more natural position.

Best Bowls for Frenchies

Here’s a nice & simple Ceramic Dog Bowl Set — it has a non-slip base to prevent your Frenchie from knocking the bowl around & making a mess. It comes in a few different colors & sizes so you can match it to your home decor.

Slow Feed Bowl

Frenchies are notorious for farting — a lot.

The most common reason for Frenchie farting is them eating too fast.

Eating too fast can cause them to get air into their stomach, which you guessed it: turns into gas.

You can easily slow down your Frenchie’s eating with a Slow Feed Bowl — this one from Outward Hound comes in a bunch of different colors & patterns so you’ll be able to find one that matches your home & Frenchie’s personality.

Travel Bowls

I highly recommend having some of these Collapsible Travel Bowls to take with you when going on long walks or traveling — these ones come in a pack of two and you can hook it onto your leash or bag.

5. Food

Obviously, you’re going to need some healthy & tasty food for your new puppy.

Ask your breeder what they’ve been feeding your puppy. You should slowly transition them from their current food to a new one if you want to switch.

A sudden change in diet can cause gastrointestinal issues, so at least try to stick with the same protein source, and not switch from salmon to beef for example.

If you don’t have this information, our food guide can help you choose the best food for your puppy. The worst that’ll happen is they’ll have an upset stomach for a few days as they get used to the new food — but it’s nothing dangerous.

Check out these Puppy Foods!

Looking for something special?

None of the foods above catching your eye?

You should check out Ollie — it’s 100% human-grade dog food that is customized to meet your Frenchie’s unique nutritional needs.

They ship the food right to your door on a regular basis, so you’ll never need to worry about running out of food again. It’s the most expensive food option, but they offer a money-back guarantee for your first box so you have nothing to lose if your Frenchie hates it!

6. Training Treats

You’ll want to start training immediately using a high-quality, low-calorie treat

You want a treat that isn’t too high in calories— but you need something that your Frenchie actually wants!

My favorite training treat

Frenchies can be a bit stubborn when training, but they’re highly food motivated…

They also are known to gain weight easily & struggle to get it off.

For this reason, you’re going to need a training treat that is low in calories.

My Frenchie’s favorite is Zuke’s Mini Naturals — with less than 3 calories per treat, they’re healthy enough so that your Frenchie won’t gain a ton of weight, but trust me: they’re delicious & your Frenchie will be doing whatever it takes to get another one.

Fussy Frenchie?

Looking for more variety?

Worried about overfeeding your Frenchie while training them? Check out our Training Treats 101 Guide.

It covers everything you need to know so you can keep you Frenchie fit while feeding them an endless supply of training treats.

Here are some other Training Treats my Frenchie likes

7. A comfy bed!

After an exhausting day, there’s nothing your Frenchie will appreciate more than a comfy bed.

And if you don’t want them sleeping on the bed with you or the couch, they’re going to need something of their own.

Here are 3 beds that your Frenchie will absolutely love — my Frenchie loves the Donut Bed.

3 beds that your Frenchie will love

8. Puppy gates or pen

Have you heard of puppy proofing?

It’s the process in which you remove any and all hazards on the floor or in reach that could potentially harm your pup.

If you want to section off an area of your house for your dog, you’re going to want some kind of puppy gate.

A Dog Pen

If you want to give your puppy an area of their own, I recommend a Dog Pen.

A Dog Gate

But if you want to let your Frenchie roam around the house but block off certain areas like the kitchen, I recommend a Dog Gate.

9. Stain remover

When it comes to puppies — mistakes happen.

Don’t be unprepared for a messy, stinky accident. Be sure to stock up on stain removers so your carpets and furniture don’t get ruined.

10. Grooming supplies

You’ll need everything on this list at some point in time so it doesn’t hurt to have them on hand when you need them most.

Puppy-Proofing your house

Puppies are notorious for chewing everything around the house bar none. Whatever they find left on the ground is fair play in their eyes.

You’ll want to puppy-proof every inch of your house. We don’t want anything that could make your new Frenchie sick!

The VIP Section – Puppy Gates

If puppy-proofing every inch of your house sounds too daunting, then let me introduce the “VIP section”

I recommend dedicating an area of your house solely for your Frenchie, preferably one that you and your family frequent. You can close them off to this area by using a puppy fence.

Not only does this keep your puppy in a secure, safe area, it also helps from overwhelming them.

If you are opposed to this idea, instead, you can use a dog fence to restrict access to certain areas of your house such as the upstairs.

The smaller the area your puppy has to roam around, the quicker they will become acquainted with your house. Too much area to explore will overwhelm your puppy with endless possibilities and new experiences, and it will take them longer to become comfortable.

Look out!

You’ll want to scour the house looking for anything potentially hazardous to your puppy.

Electrical cords, choking hazards, shoes, etc. should be temporarily moved as your puppy is teething.

You have to be conscious of any dangling cords that your Frenchie could potentially trip over, knocking over a lamp or worse.

If you’re interested in learning more about puppy-proofing your house, be sure to check out our full puppy-proofing guide!

Picking up your puppy

Prepare for the car ride!

Before making the trip to pick up your puppy, you’ll want to make preparations for the car ride home.

Your puppy is likely to be scared and overwhelmed with the whole experience so you’ll want to make this go as smooth as possible. You don’t want your new French Bulldog to despise car rides! Make them feel comfortable!

If you are going to get the puppy by yourself, consider asking a friend to come and hold your new puppy as you drive. It’s never a good idea to let your dog sit on your lap while driving; not only does it increase the likelihood of an accident, your dog would be severely injured if the airbag were to deploy.

When you get to the breeder or pet store

If you’re getting your puppy from a breeder, you’ll want to ask a couple important questions.

• What times are they going outside, eating, and sleeping
• What is their diet like? What brand? How much are they eating? How many times a day?
• Raw food, wet food, dry food? You don’t want to change the puppy’s diet suddenly.
• When changing your puppy’s diet, you want to do so slowly over a period of week. Read more about how to transition your Frenchie’s diet.
• Ask your breeder for information regarding your puppy’s schedule for eating, peeing, and sleeping. Don’t forget to write down these essential details.

Consistency is key

The key to a well-behaved Frenchie is consistency.

The rules that you devised earlier will serve as a foundation for the future of their training.

When you get home

Hooray! You made it home safe! Now the real fun begins!

Get off on the right foot – Training

You’ll want to begin training as soon as possible.

Reward desirable behavior and refrain from excessive scolding. Frenchies are especially sensitive and don’t tend to respond well to anger. Check out this post we have on basic training tips!

Clicker Training

Some people like to use a clicker to train their dog… the idea is that when they hear the sound and receive a treat, they will know the exact moment they show the right behavior.

The Right Environment

For the first day or two, make sure to tone everything down a notch. Simply being in a new environment is stressful enough for your Frenchie and there’s no need for any added stimuli.

Unfortunately, your friends will have to wait to meet your new best friend (you should be quarantining anyways)! Give them time to acclimate.

What else?!

Bringing a new puppy home sure is tiring!

With a little bit of preparation, you’ll be able to make the whole process go a bit smoother.

Double-check that you have all the necessary supplies and have made proper accommodations around your household.

Find a vet

If you don’t have a preferred vet, now is the time to start your search.

Your Frenchie will have no choice but to go to the vet from time to time, so it’s important that your Frenchie’s first vet experience goes as smoothly as possible.

Don’t forget!

Your new puppy requires much more attention than an adult dog would! Your puppy is still a baby at this point, and it’s important that you keep them supervised 24/7.

It’s also important to stay consistent with your training and expectations and expose them to a variety of social conditions.

The early days of your puppy’s life are crucial in their development in becoming a happy, well-behaved adult.

New French Bulldog Puppy Tips

• You want to make sure you are able to spend a lot of time with your puppy for the few following weeks.
• Keep them under your supervision at all times. They still don’t know the house rules and could potentially hurt themselves.
• Don’t punish their accidents; it only makes things worse. Lots of praise and positive reinforcement will help them learn even quicker.
• Your puppy has little to no bladder control. Take them out immediately after meals or when they drink water. Not only will this cut down on the number of accidents around the house, it also helps in the potty training process.
• If you see signs that your puppy has to go to the bathroom such as sniffing and circling, take them out right away.
• After they do their business, reward them immediately. Many dog owners give their puppies a treat after they go back inside, but this is too long for them to make the association.
• Bring treats with you outside, and reward them on the spot.
• Make sure you’re using a food designed for puppies. They require a different diet than an adult would.