The sleeping habits of Frenchies are the source of ongoing discussions, and there is no definite answer to this, as the habits of families and the personality of the puppies vary. However, there are some useful tips you might want to consider to establish a healthy lifestyle for your boy or girl, and still nights for yourself.
A calm place to sleep
French Bulldogs like to nap and sleep at any time and almost anywhere. So it’s quite normal for them to snooze a bit at any spot in the house. Still, make sure you allocate a nice, calm spot where your puppy can go to sleep for their night sleep. This is where their crate or cushion is, and where you should encourage them to return in the evening. Your furry child will quickly get used to this idea of ‘going to bed’ before the night.
The pre-bed routine
It’s important that in the period before he or she normally goes to bed you avoid activities which might excite your puppy as this will make it easier for him or her to calm down and be ready to sleep. Limit his or her food in the 2-3 hours before the sleeping time, as a full stomach makes it difficult to sleep and is not healthy. (Plus they might wake up during the night as a result of this.)
Make sure your puppy has some activities during the day
French Bulldogs don’t need a lot of activities and can be completely happy staying indoors the whole day. On the other hand, they fall asleep easier if they spend some time outdoors; walk, run or play with you. (Not to mention the other positive impact activities have on both of you.)
What if your puppy wakes up during the night
Puppies are supposed to sleep during the night and leave you sleeping. If your boy or girl wakes up and makes some noise, check if there is any special reason for that. If it regularly happens, try to change his or her pre-sleeping habits (see above). Make clear that the night is dedicated to sleeping and don’t start entertaining or feeding him or her.
Should your puppy sleep with you in the bed?
It’s very hard to say no to this, and hard to say no to your beauty when they would like to join you in your bed. From time to time you can let him or her do that, but to do that every night is not recommended for the sake of both of your health. After some nap, send him or her back to his or her regular sleeping place and try to be consequent with that.
How much do Frenchies sleep
It varies within the breed, but they need more sleep (15-17 hours altogether) when they are young and it gradually reduces until they are one year old. When they get old, their sleeping needs might increase again. One of the beauties of Frenchies, however, is that they can easily adapt to the lifestyle of their parents, and sleep as much or as little as the other family members do.
Visit our webshop to find some great dog beds from Chewy that we recommend for your fur baby!
The article was written based on the experience of the Tom Kings Puppies Team. Tom Kings Puppies have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and show a puppy from their breed. Check their available puppies here, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.
