Bringing home your Frenchie Puppy is both fun & stressful — here’s everything you’ll need for your Puppy so you’ll be prepared for anything.
1. Harness and leash
How could we not start with a good harness and leash?!
Unless you trust your Frenchie not to immediately charge at the first squirrel it sees, this is crucial.
Proper fit is key
Not just any harness or leash will cut it though. A proper fitting harness is needed for your Frenchie’s comfort and health.
FrenchieWiki Harness Recommendation
I personally use this No Pull Harness for my Frenchie. You’ll probably want it in x-small if they’re a tiny puppy still, but if they’re starting to grow a little bit a small might be a better fit.
It has clips in both the Front & Back so you can use it like a normal leash or clip it in the front to prevent them from pulling as much.
It is frustrating when your Frenchie pulls on the leash— and training them to stop can be even more frustrating at times...
For Frenchies that won't stop pulling on the leash, a front-clip harness is one of the best ways to help stop this annoying behavior.
- 2 clips— one in the front, one in the back
- High-visibility— reflective material for night visibility
- Controllable— handle that is easy to grab to control your dog
- Perfect fit— The large size is perfect for most adult Frenchies
Leash
The leash, while not as important as a harness, cannot be neglected. Frenchies are muscular ones and as I’m sure you know, can tug on that leash HARD.
If the leash is too thin, your hand will start to hurt you the second they start pulling on that leash. When your Frenchie is young, the leash thickness doesn’t matter as much because they’re not big enough to cause strain, however, as they get older you’ll definitely start to feel the need for a beefier leash.
Trust me, your hand will thank you.
FrenchieWiki Leash Recommendation
For this reason, I recommend a leash at least 1″ thick. I personally use the Tuff Mutt Bungee Leash because my Frenchie often charges at squirrels she sees — it takes some of the stress off her joints when she does decide to go wild.
Shock-absorbing bungee technology protects your Frenchie's joints from the stress of leash-pulling
48 inches – extends to 60 inches
- Easy to grab— control handles to easily grab your dog
- High-visibility— reflective stitching for nighttime visibility
- Good for joints— protect your Frenchie's joints from the shock of them pulling on the leash
2. Collar & Identification Tag
This one is so obvious that you might just overlook it.
I know, you might not think this is necessary — I mean, who’s going to lose their brand new Frenchie puppy?!
Well, the truth is: puppies are unpredictable…
When my Frenchie was a puppy, I brought her out back at 2AM to potty… before I knew it, I was running down the side of my neighbors house chasing my wild Frenchie.
Fortunately I was able to catch her, but the moral of the story is this: you never know when your Frenchie will get loose, so it’s best to have an ID tag on their collar at all times.
ID Tag
If your Frenchie ever gets lost (knock on wood), you’ll be glad they had an ID tag.
Here’s a customizable ID tag that you can easily personalize on Amazon — both the front & back are customizable. It comes in a bunch of different shapes too!
A must-have for any responsible dog owner — this ID tag is easily customizable at checkout so that your Frenchie can advertise your contact info to everybody they meet.
Collar
Now that you’ve got your Frenchie an ID tag, you’re also going to need a collar to attach it to.
There are lots of fancy dog collars out there, but you might want to wait until your Frenchie is fully-grown until you splurge on a fancy collar — they’ll outgrow their first collar pretty quickly.
Here’s a classic, no-frills dog collar that’ll get the job done.
An essential for any dog owner— this is just a basic dog collar.
3. Puppy Food
You are what you eat… so is your Frenchie! Don’t settle for just any dog
You’ll need a
Here are 4 of the top foods that you could feed your Frenchie. I’ve always fed my Frenchie Instinct Raw Boost and have nothing but great things to say about it — it’s got little bits of Raw Bites mixed in with the Kibble & my Frenchie loves it.
Frenchie Puppy Foods
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My Frenchie's Favorite
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High-Quality Kibble
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Wet Food for Fussy Eaters
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4.7
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$29.99 ($0.47 / Fl Oz)
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$41.99 ($3.23 / lb)
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$39.00 ($4.16 / lb)
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- Nutrients needed for healthy puppy development
- Contains DHA promotes healthy cognition & vision
- Benefits of a raw diet with the convivence of kibble
- Made in the USA
- Made with fresh & raw ingredients
- High protein, vegetables, fruits, and botanicals
- Free of any artificial ingredients
- Contains DHA and ARA to support cognitive & retinal health
Another option
None of the foods above catching your eye?
You should check out Ollie — it’s 100% human-grade dog
They ship the
Meet Ollie — personalized nutrition for your Frenchie's unique needs freshly cooked & delivered to your door.
Benefits include...
- Shinier coats
- Increased energy
- Healthier digestion
- Improved overall health
You know what they say...
"Your Frenchie is what they eat" — Feed your Frenchie the best with Ollie.
- Money-back guarantee
- Delivered straight to your door
- Customized to your dog's unique needs
- Improved coat shine, better digestion, and increased energy levels
- A bit expensive
- Requires freezer storage
- Shorter shelf life than kibble
4. Food and Water Bowls
Sure, you can really use anything as a
There is also a type of bowl called a slow-feed bowl, which is designed to slow down their eating.
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.
- Multiple sizes & colors
- Durable & easy to clean
- Non-slip base prevents spills
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.
- Reduces farting
- BPA-free plastic— safe to eat from
- Multiple fun shapes & colors to choose from
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.
- BPA-free & dishwasher safe
- Folds flat for efficient storage and travel
- Climbing buckle to attach to nearly anything
- Make mealtime easy and quick anywhere, indoors or outdoors
5. Training Treats
When your Frenchie comes to their new home, I highly recommend starting training with them immediately or as soon as possible.
Why, you might ask?
The earlier you start the training, the easier/quicker they’ll be able to pick up on stuff.
More importantly, having consistency in your expectations helps them understand what behavior is good or bad.
For example, if you ignore them begging for
“Oh, they’re just a puppy, I’ll break the habit when they’re older”
You’re doing both you and your Frenchie a disservice.
The longer these behaviors go on, the harder they will be to break.
Not to mention, it will confuse your puppy when they used get table scraps one week, and then the following week you’re yelling at them to stop begging.
What else could you expect?
My favorite training treat
Frenchies can be a bit stubborn when training, but they’re highly
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.
Frenchies may be stubborn— but with a treat like this, they'll be doing whatever it takes to get another one...
With chicken as the #1 ingredient and only 3 calories per treat, this is one of my favorite Frenchie treats for both training & snacking.
- Made with chicken
- Less than 3 calories per treat
- Made with natural, whole ingredients
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
6. Toys
This should really be #1 on this list.
To your Frenchie, nothing is more important than toys and treats (and maybe you).
With this being said, don’t just ransack the aisles of your local pet store for every toy that catches your eye!
Why you shouldn’t get cheap toys
- Can be made with toxic chemicals… especially ones made in China. You never know what they’re made from or where they’re produced.
- They’re more likely to break and pose a choking hazard
- Frenchies tear through toys with ease. They need more durable toys than most breeds.
What to look for in a toy
- Make sure these are chew safe.
- Made with nontoxic chemicals
- Won’t tear and spew a bunch of stuffing
- They should also be pretty durable
- Sure, you might save some money on cheap toys, but your Frenchie will probably tear through it in ten minutes.
FrenchieWiki Puppy Toy Recommendations
Nothing catching your eye? Check out our full list of toy recommendations that are sure to withstand your Frenchie’s might.
7. Travel Crate or Carrier
If you plan on doing any type of traveling with your Frenchie, whether it be in the car or airplane, you’ll definitely need something to hold them in.
For traveling in the car
Are you going on a road trip with your Frenchie soon?
If so, you’re definitely going to need a car seat.
Car seats not only keep your Frenchie comfy on those long rides – they’re a must-have for safety.
What to look for in a Car Seat
- Strap to secure them with the seatbelt
- Comfy and doesn’t irritate skin
- Proper size
- Supports your Frenchie’s weight
- High-quality materials that are machine washable (longevity)
If you haven’t already seen it, be sure to check out our guide on everything
you need to know for safe travels with your Frenchie.
FrenchieWiki Recommendation: Snoozer Luxury Lookout Pet Car Seat
The comfiest car seat we've tested— this soft & plushy car seat will keep your Frenchie comfy & safe on even the longest of car rides.
19" tall / 22" wide / 17" deep
- Easily connects to the seatbelt
- Supports Frenchies up to 25lbs
- Easy to clean & built to last 5-10+ years
For flying on planes
Taking your Frenchie for a flight? If so, an airline carrier is not optional. Every airline requires you to keep your
Frenchie under the seat in an approved carrier for the duration of the flight.
With so many pet carriers on the market, it can be hard to find one that really works for your Frenchie.
FrenchieWiki Recommendation: Sherpa on Wheels Pet Carrier
Lugging your Frenchie around the airport is no fun— with the Sherpa on Wheels Pet Carrier, you can push/pull them around just like a suitcase!
It's part of the Guaranteed on Board program, meaning it's airline approved.
If you are denied boarding due to the carrier, Worldwise will refund you the entire cost of your flight.
Dimensions: 21" L x 12.25" W x 10.5" H
Weight: up to 22 pounds (10kg)
- 1-year warranty
- Airline approved
- Ventilated on all 4 sides
- Has wheels & padded pull strap
What you need to know
What makes the carrier better than other carriers is its wheels.
There’s nothing worse than lugging around your heavy Frenchie for hours at the airport. Its adjustable shoulder strap can also be converted into a convenient padded pull handle.
It’s available in two sizes, medium and large, but your Frenchie is probably going to need the larger size.
Its dimensions are 21″ L x 12.25″ W x 10.5″ H is enough for Frenchies up to 22 pounds. It is also a part of
the Guaranteed on Board program, and if you are denied boarding you will receive a full
refund.
It’s ventilated on all four sides which are perfect for keeping your Frenchie at a comfortable temperature.
Calling all Frenchies to board
Be sure to check out our complete guide on flying with your Frenchie.
It covers everything you need to know, from pre-flight preparations, mid-flight tips and tricks, and what to do once you land.
Check out our guide to Flying with your Frenchie!
8. Puppy Shampoo & Grooming Supplies
Fortunately, Frenchies don’t require a ton of grooming to keep them looking their best.
Essential Grooming Supplies
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Stop Shedding Instantly!
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Controls Shedding!
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All-Purpose Grooming Wipes
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Soothes Dry Nose
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$16.99
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$12.99
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$13.95 ($13.95 / Count)
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- Easy to use— just gently brush their coat
- Effective— reduces loose shedded hair
- Safe— won't cut skin or damage coat
- Controls shedding, dander, and allergens
- Moisturizes skin with Shea Butter & Omega Fatty Acids
- Money-back guarantee
- All-natural— free of any hard ingredients
- Hypoallergenic— won't irritate sensitive skin
- Easily removes odors
- Easy to apply
- Non-toxic & fragrance-free
- Helps with broken skin, hyperkeratosis, and dry skin
For more on keeping your Frenchie looking their best, check out our Frenchie Skin Care Guide.
9. Dog Bed
There’s nothing like plopping down onto your comfy bed at the end of a long day of tug-of-war and fetch.
Your Frenchie is going to need some beauty sleep after all the fun.
3 beds that your Frenchie will love
10. Puppy Gates or Fence
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 plan on puppy proofing your house (which I highly recommend), a puppy gate or puppy pen is going to be your first line of defense.
