If you keep a pet in your house or apartment, chances are you have to deal with unwanted hair on your floor or furniture: it’s just part of the package! Fortunately, there are some ways to keep shedding at a minimum level, which we’ll detail in this article. We’ll also answer the question that lots of people ask: do French Bulldogs shed a lot? Read to find out!
About French Bulldog shedding in a nutshell
You might think that Frenchies with their short and smooth coat don’t shed as much as dogs with longer hair. The truth is actually far from that: most Frenchies tend to shed all year long and even more so during warmer months. Before you start worrying about your furniture, we have some good news too: it’s possible to keep your French Bulldog’s shedding under control and you’ll learn some of the best ways from this article. Remember that Frenchies are one of the most popular apartment dogs and their low-maintenance is one of the main reasons why.
Excessive shedding: these are the possible reasons
Seasonal changes, warmer weather
It’s probably no news to you that the current season plays an important role in your Frenchie’s shedding. During spring and fall dogs change their coats almost completely: first they lose their winter coat as the weather starts warming up, then once summer is over they start growing it back and replace their old coat with shinier, brighter and nicer fur.
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So, excessive shedding is completely normal twice a year, but don’t be surprised if you experience it during the summer months as well. Frenchies don’t do well in heat, so getting rid of some hair is their way of keeping their bodies cooler. If you live in a place with a warmer climate, chances are you’ll have to deal with this even more.
Unsufficient nutrition
Although you can’t control seasonal shedding, there’s something that you definitely can, and that’s your Frenchie’s diet. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you don’t buy cheap and unhealthy dog foods for your puppy! These foods are made with low-quality proteins and loads of additives, which may not only cause excessive shedding but may even reduce your baby’s lifespan too. You should also remember to always provide enough water for your puppy as dehydration may also result in hair loss.
Allergy and other issues
Another thing that could cause excessive shedding in Frenchies is allergies. Whether it’s an ingredient in their food (like chicken), some sort of medicine or something in their environment (like a new detergent), your puppy may react to it by shedding if they are allergic. Click here to read the three most common French Bulldog allergies and how to treat them.
How to keep shedding at a minimum level
Lucky for us Frenchie parents, there are certain ways in which we can reduce the amount of hair our fur babies leave behind in the house (or on us). Getting a robot vacuum is definitely one of them, but let’s see what you can do to keep shedding at a minimum level.
Ultimate Guide
to Raising a Frenchie
Provide the right diet
We’ve already mentioned how important it is to provide a high-quality diet for small dog breeds, like Frenchies, and we’ll say it again. Always look for a premium dog food with high protein content, and if one food doesn’t work out don’t stop searching until you find what works best for your fur baby. Read our extensive guide on how to find the perfect dog food for your Frenchie.
The proper nutrition alone will ensure a healthy coat and skin, but if you want to further boost them during the shedding season, you can also add some supplements to your Frenchie’s diet. Salmon oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which will keep your puppy’s coat nice and shiny as well as treat skin problems and prevent allergies. Giving a multivitamin will also help to control your baby’s hair loss.
Brush your Frenchie often
Regularly brushing your Frenchie is by far the best way to maintain shedding, and if you do it right, grooming sessions will even enhance your bond with your pup! There are lots of brushes and combs on the market that are specifically designed for short-haired dogs, but we found the Furminator to work best for Frenchies: it removes the undercoat that has fallen out but is still in the hair very efficiently.
You might be tempted to reach for the Furminator every day when your Frenchie is shedding more, but you should actually wait about 3 days before using it again so that you don’t hurt your baby’s skin. When the shedding season is over, it’s enough to brush your dog about every two weeks.
If you’re the lucky owner of a beautiful fluffy French Bulldog, you should of course opt for a brush designed for long-haired dogs. You might think that fluffies shed more than regular Frenchies but that’s not necessarily true, though their long hair is definitely more noticeable on furniture. Brushing them regularly will also prevent their long hair becoming matted.
Fluffy Frenchie
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Bathe your Frenchie occasionally
Giving a bath to your Frenchie can significantly accelerate the shedding process as it helps get rid of all the loose hairs. You shouldn’t overdo it though and bathe your pup too often! That way you will wash off the natural oils form their skin resulting in dryness, irritation and other skin problems.
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Bathe them once a month at most and make sure to use a dog-friendly shampoo which you rinse off completely. When you’re done, rub your pup with a towel and use a blow dryer to dry them: that will further get rid of any loose hair. Most Frenchies love baths but if you have trouble getting your puppy in the tub, read this article.
If you’d like to learn more about Frenchies, join our Facebook group called TomKings Frenchie Family to read our Frenchie parents’ experiences!
The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.
FAQs
French Bulldogs tend to shed through most of the year, especially in the spring and the fall.
Unfortunately you cannot stop shedding, but providing a healthy and high-quality diet, regular brushing and occasional bathing can largely help reduce it.
French Bulldogs are not hypoallergenic, in fact no dog breed is completely hypoallergenic.
French Bulldog are not considered to be low shedders as they tend to lose their hair throughout the year.
