The French Bulldog is the ideal companion dog. A sociable and people-friendly breed, perfect for singles, couples or families with children. A loving and friendly dog, always ready to make you laugh.
But, are French Bulldogs good apartment dogs?
French Bulldogs are a good choice for people who live in apartments. It’s a small breed that needs little space and adapts easily to any environment. They are clean dogs that require little exercise and only bark when they have something important to say.
But we have to take into account that the French Bulldog may not be the perfect dog for everyone. It’s necessary to know his needs, both physical and emotional, to know if he’s a dog that can adapt well to our lifestyle, especially if we live in an apartment and the busy life of the city.
In this article, you will find some of the things that are important to consider before living with a French Bulldog in an apartment.
French Bulldogs Temperament and Personality Traits
French Bulldogs are known as “clown dogs” because they are fun-loving pets with a playful personality. They are intelligent dogs with a great sense of humor.
They like to play, but also relax and cuddle with their family.
They are very fond of people. They are loyal, patient and affectionate with their owners. They even become possessive with their family, especially in the presence of other dogs.
They are very sociable dogs that adapt very well to any environment. They get along well with other pets and children.
Are French Bulldogs Good Family Pets?
French Bulldogs are wonderful family dogs. They are dogs that love to be close to people, but in particular to their family. They are extremely devoted to their pack.
Their small size and gentle and easy-going disposition make them perfect for families with children. They tend to be very playful and their gentle nature and loyalty make it very unlikely that the dog will be a threat to a child.
Although it is always advisable to supervise the interaction of a dog with young children. And this is for the safety of both since due to the small size of the French Bulldog, care must be taken that young children learn how to treat a dog.
When thinking about kids, it’s worth mentioning that Frenchies like vigorous games and rough play.
Are French Bulldogs OK to Be Left Alone?
French Bulldogs need and enjoy being close to their family. They are not dogs that handle being alone well.
Although they can be left alone for short periods, they often suffer from separation anxiety when they are left alone for a long time. Although this is more common when they are young, it also happens to adult dogs.
This can cause them to manifest destructive behaviors when they are alone.
Is a French Bulldog a Good First Dog?
French Bulldogs are a good choice for first-time dog owners.
They are dogs that require little exercise and don’t need much grooming. Very loyal and dedicated to their family and are a good choice for families with children.
But not everything is as perfect as it might seem.
As with any dog, there are certain things that a new owner has to consider.
Always keep in mind that a French Bulldog comes with some potential health issues such as breathing problems. This implies taking certain extra care than with other breeds, as well as the additional costs that this implies.
Another main thing that first time owners should be aware of is that French Bulldogs tend to suffer from separation anxiety. They are not dogs for owners with busy lives or who spend little time at home.
In conclusion, it’s a good first dog. But as with all dog breeds, it is necessary to know their needs and characteristics in-depth. Knowing if it’s the right dog for our lifestyle and if we are willing to put the time and effort they require and deserve.
Do French Bulldogs Bark a Lot?
Although French Bulldogs do bark, they don’t bark as much as most small dog breeds. In general, they are dogs of a quiet nature.
But when a Frenchie barks it is because he has something to say.
The most common reasons Frenchies bark are:
- Excited and Happy.- A Frenchie can’t help but bark when he’s excited about something. Either because of the excitement of playing or because you came home after being away from home.
- Attention.- French Bulldogs like attention. It’s common for them to bark when they feel ignored and want to get attention.
- Territorial.- Frenchies are pretty territorial. If they see any other dog or animal invading their territory, they will bark as a warning and the intention of driving them away.
- Distress.- A Frenchie may bark when he feels distressed. This usually happens when left alone.
- Alarm.- French Bulldogs can be good watchdogs. If there is a stranger at the door or a strange sound nearby, it will bark to let you know something is going on.
Exercise Needs
French Bulldogs have minimal exercise needs. But because they tend to be overweight, which can cause them various health issues, they require at least one daily walk.
But while exercise is important to keep them healthy, strenuous exercise should be avoided, especially in hot weather.
Due to their brachycephalic face, they may have difficulty breathing if they exercise a lot or spend a lot of time in the heat.
To avoid over-exercising, instead of having a long walk a day it’s recommended that you have several short sessions during the day.
Being dogs that like to play, play sessions are a good way to ensure they have the exercise they need. But we must always be vigilant and stop as soon as we see them tired or very thirsty.
When exercising, remember that French Bulldogs are not able to swim due to their body structure, so they must not have access to swimming pools or any body of water.
Grooming Needs
French Bulldogs don’t have many grooming needs due to their short coat. They are considered average shedders since they shed very little, but during spring and fall, they lose their undercoat. During these shedding seasons, they need to be brushed more often to remove the excess of hair.
But normally one brushing a month can be more than enough. Although it’s more advisable to brush them once a week to keep their coat healthy. Brushing helps new hair grow and helps distribute skin oils in their coat.
Something that needs to be done regularly with Frenchies is to clean and keep their facial folds clean and dry at least once a week. If dirt and moisture build-up in the folds of their face, it can lead to fungus and infections.
Other grooming requirements to take into account are ear cleaning, tooth brushing and, if they do not wear them naturally, cut their nails.
Training and Socialization
Training and socialization are important for all dogs. All dogs, as social and friendly they may be, can develop behavioral problems if they are not properly socialized and trained.
And the French Bulldog, even with his easy-going and social personality, is no exception.
Frenchies are very smart dogs. But, when it comes to training a Frenchie, you have to consider that they can be quite stubborn.
But this doesn’t mean that they are difficult to train. You just have to consider that it takes a little more patience and consistency to train them than other dogs.
They are also very food-motivated, which helps a lot in training.
You have to start training them from the first day you bring them home. Even from eight weeks of age, they are already able to assimilate everything you teach them. The longer you wait, the more likely you are going to deal with a more stubborn dog, which will require more work.
Potty Training
They are a relatively clean breed that likes to keep things tidy. This makes potty training relatively easy, although his stubbornness can make things a little more complicated.
A Frenchie will try to avoid accidents while he has the chance to do so.
But as with all small breeds, they have small bladders so they cannot hold it for long.
Puppy pee pads can help with this, mainly if you live in an apartment. But it’s always more advisable to take them outside often to do their things.
When they are puppies they can hold it the equivalent of their months of age in hours. That is, a 3-month-old puppy will have to go to the bathroom every 3 hours.
Every time they go to the bathroom outside and do it in the place you want them to go potty, you have to praise them. You should never scold them when they have an accident. In these cases, just make sure to clean well the area with an enzyme cleaner so that there is no trace of the odor.
With repetition and consistency, you are going to have great results and when you least realize it, your dog will be asking you to go out to potty.
Socialization
It is always recommended to start socializing them from a young age.
Although Frenchies are very sociable and like to be with almost any person who shows them affection, it’s necessary to introduce them to various people from a young age so that they know how to behave and relate correctly.
Also, socialization helps him develop their social skills with other dogs. A dog must know the rules of interaction between dogs so that he can communicate and handle various social situations properly.
If possible, bringing them to puppy kindergarten helps them socialize with other dogs and strengthen their social skills from an early age. You just have to take care of taking them only when they already have their vaccines complete to avoid acquiring any disease.
In the meantime, you can start socializing them with family, friends, and dogs you are sure they have their full vaccinations.
Tips for Raising a French Bulldogs in an Apartment
1. Help Your Frenchie to Better Handle Being Alone
French Bulldogs don’t like being home alone and they generally don’t handle it well. For this reason, a French Bulldog is not usually recommended for owners who have to leave their dogs alone at home for long periods.
If it were up to most French Bulldogs, they would never be alone. But this is not always possible and there are ways that owners can help them manage the situation better.
To help a French Bulldog to handle better the periods he has to be left alone, it’s necessary to make the dog feel comfortable and safe at home.
From the first day he arrives, you have to help him adjust to his new home.
At first, you have to avoid leaving them alone and to give them time to get to know and familiarize themselves with their new environment. After a while, when you see that he feels more secure and confident at home, you can gradually start leaving him alone for very short periods.
It is important to do it gradually and not to rush the process. Over time, they will learn to manage to be alone for longer periods.
Likewise, you must have a space in your home where they can feel safe and comfortable. It’s recommended that it be a cozy and warm place and to avoid places with a lot of hustle and bustle.
We must ensure that they have everything they need to be comfortable:
- Bed.- They need a comfortable bed and if necessary, provide blankets or pillows, especially in the cold season.
- Toys.- Dog toys help keep them entertained during the time they spend alone. Each dog is different, with different tastes. Some prefer to have their chew toys nearby while others like food dispensing toys.
- Water.- All dogs must have water at their disposal. We must try to leave enough water to drink when we leave them alone.
2. Handling the Problems of a Bored French Bulldog
Boredom is the main reason why a French Bulldog can manifest destructive behaviors.
Frenchies can be easily bored and chewing all they can put into their mouths is the main way to entertain themselves.
Although this is mainly a behavior of puppies, it can last until adulthood.
Some tips to handle this are:
- Make sure to keep personal items out of your puppy’s reach.
- Use baby gates to limit access to areas of the apartment that you don’t want them to enter.
- Provide various chewing toys to direct the chewing behavior.
3. Keep Your Frenchie Cool
Due to their flat faces and shortened snouts, French Bulldogs have difficulty regulating their body temperatures. This increases the risk of overheating and breathing problems.
For this reason, they don’t handle hot climates and environments well. The slightest heat and overstrain can cause them health issues.
When living with a French Bulldog in an apartment, it’s important to make sure that the apartment is always fresh. In hot climates and seasons, it’s necessary to have good air conditioning.
Also, to prevent overheating, take your Frenchie for a walk early in the morning and at night when the temperature has already dropped and it is cooler.
4. Be Careful With the Stairs
When living in an apartment where you have to go up and down the stairs, you have to be careful and take the necessary measures.
Please note that, although French Bulldogs can easily climb stairs, it’s difficult for them to descend them.
Likewise, as a Frenchie ages, he becomes more likely to have health problems such as Hip Dysplasia or Patellar Luxation. These health problems can worsen with the constant use of stairs.
In these cases, the advantage of the French Bulldogs is that, due to their size, we can carry them up and down the stairs.
5. The Problem of the Bathroom in an Apartment
The potty issues are always one of the main concerns of dog owners. This becomes more tricky when we live in an apartment. But with patience and perseverance, it can be done.
The problem with French Bulldogs, as with all small breeds, is that they have small bladders so they have to go to the toilet more times than a large breed.
The most recommended option is to train our dog to go outside to the bathroom. With a Frenchie, this means taking a lot of trips outside to the place that we choose for him to do his things. These trips are more frequent when they are puppies, but they decrease with time.
Living in apartments on the ground floor helps a lot.
In the beginning, it helps to have a regular schedule since it helps you know his potty needs and to regulate the times he needs to pee.
But, the most common solution for small dogs, is to use pee or grass pads.
You have to find a place in the apartment without a lot of hustle and far from where they sleep and eat. Dogs are usually very clean if they have a choice. They usually don’t do their things near where they sleep or eat.
An important rule to be successful with potty training is to never scold our dog when he has accidents. You just have to reinforce the desired behavior with rewards and praise.
Final Thoughts
A French Bulldog can be the ideal companion for apartment life.
We just have to be sure that a French Bulldog adapts well to our lifestyle and we have the possibility of covering his physical and emotional needs.
Having a dog is a long-term commitment.
That is why you have to know French Bulldogs well to be sure of being able to offer a Frenchie a healthy and full life.
Resources
- French Bulldog Dog Breed Information by The American Kennel Club
- What is the French Bulldog Temperament Like? by PetPlace
