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The French Bulldog is a small-breed dog known for its perky ears and big puppy-dog eyes. This breed was ranked the ninth most popular breed in the United States by AKC registration statistics in 2014, up from 11th place in 2013 and 24th place in 2009. The French Bulldog was rated the fourth most popular breed in the UK in 2014. Regardless of registration statistics, it is clear that the French Bulldog is an incredibly popular breed and it is only becoming more popular as time goes on.
What many people love about the French Bulldog is its compact size and friendly personality – this breed is definitely a companion dog. If you treat your French Bulldog right, you will be able to enjoy his company for 14 years, or more if you are lucky. In order to make sure that your Frenchie stays around for as long as possible you need to provide him with a wholesome and nutritious diet. Below you will receive some tips for selecting a healthy commercial diet for your French Bulldog – you will also receive information about special considerations and recommendations for high-quality dog food brands.
Nutritional Needs for French Bulldogs
The French Bulldog is a small breed than stands about 11 to 12 inches high and weighs up to 28 pounds at maturity. True to the Bulldog name, the French Bulldog has a short stature and a stocky build – it also has a compressed face with a wrinkled snout. It is not just the breed’s small size that makes it so popular as a companion pet – the Frenchie (as fans of the breed are known to call it) has a fun-loving and friendly personality that has won the hearts of dog owners everywhere. As a small-breed dog, the French Bulldog has certain nutritional requirements. Before you can learn the specifics about a diet for Frenchies, however, you should first learn about the nutritional needs of dogs in general.
Like all animals, dogs require a balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrate in their diets. Protein is the most important consideration and it should come from high-quality animal-based sources like fresh meats and meat meals. Fats are also important (especially for small-breed dogs) because they provide concentrated energy as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support skin and coat health. Dogs do not have specific requirements for carbohydrates but this nutrient should come highly digestible sources like whole oats and brown rice. Carbohydrate provide your dog with vitamins and minerals as well as dietary fiber to promote healthy digestion. In addition to these top three nutrients, French Bulldogs also require water and various vitamins and minerals in their diet.
When it comes to selecting a commercial diet for your French Bulldog, you should definitely go with a product that is specially formulated for small-breed dogs. You may be surprised to learn that small-breed dogs actually have higher energy needs that large-breed dogs – this is because they have very fast metabolisms. A small-breed dog may not need as many calories as a large-breed dog, but it requires more calories per pound of body weight. A small-breed dog formula should be nutrient-dense, providing the dog with the nutrients and calories it needs in a smaller quantity than large-breed formulas – this is important because small-breed dogs have small stomachs and cannot eat a lot at once. Small-breed formulas are also higher in fat than large-breed formulas because fats are a highly concentrated source of energy (and calories) for dogs.
Special Considerations for French Bulldogs
Although the French Bulldog needs a nutrient-dense diet to support his fast metabolism you still need to be careful about overfeeding. Dogs with stocky builds (like the Bulldog and the French Bulldog) have a higher risk for obesity and, once they become obese, they are at an increased risk for developing some very serious health problems. When feeding your Frenchie, follow the feeding recommendations on the dog food package. Pay attention to the total daily portion that is recommended and divide it into three or four smaller meals that are evenly spaced throughout the day. Keep a close eye on your dog’s weight and body composition. If he seems to be losing weight or doesn’t have enough energy, increase his daily ration a little bit. If he starts to gain too much weight, cut back. Your veterinarian will be able to help you determine a healthy body weight for your dog.
While your French Bulldog is still a puppy you should consider feeding him a commercial diet specially formulated for small-breed puppies. Small-breed puppies grow more quickly than large-breed puppies so they need a diet that is high in protein and fat. Your French Bulldog needs plenty of energy to fuel his growth and development during the first few months of life. With a proper diet, he may reach his adult size as early as 9 months of age. It is a good idea to switch your puppy to a small-breed adult formula once he reaches about 80% of his adult size – this could happen as early as 6 or 7 months of age depending on breeding. Switching to an adult formula at the right time is important because it will reduce your dog’s risk for becoming obese.
Top Recommended Dog Foods for French Bulldogs
If you need some help in finding the right food for your French Bulldog, consider one of the commercial dog food brands discussed below. Be careful when considering a breed-specific formula for your dog – do not just assume that the formula will meet your dog’s needs without evaluating the product for yourself. Consider the ingredients list to make sure that the product is of high-quality before offering it to your dog.
Earthborn Holistic Small Breed
The Earthborn Holistic pet food company follows a wholesome approach to nutrition, using only the freshest, most high-quality ingredients in their products. This company believes that nutrition should be approached from a holistic view, rather than focusing on specific ingredients. Earthborn Holistic offers three different lines of dog food products – Natural, Natural Grain-Free, and Moist Grain-Free. The Natural line of dog foods includes a Small Breed Natural formula which is designed to meet the nutritional needs of dogs up to 20 pounds. This formula is made with wholesome ingredients like chicken meal and whitefish meal to ensure that your dog’s needs for protein are met – it is also supplemented with oatmeal and ground brown rice. The Natural Grain-Free line of dog foods includes a Weight Control formula that may be beneficial if your Frenchie starts to gain too much weight. This formula is rich in protein but low in fat to help keep your dog fit and healthy.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Adult
The Blue Buffalo pet food company is known for providing cats and dogs with healthy, natural diets made from the freshest ingredients available. Blue Buffalo offers four different lines of dog food products – the Life Protection line, the Freedom line of grain-free foods, the Basics line of Limited Ingredient Diets, and the Wilderness line. Within the Life Protection line of dog foods there are both small-breed puppy and small-breed adult formulas which are perfect for the French Bulldog. These formulas include Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits which are made with a proprietary blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support whole-health and nutrition. If your French Bulldog has food allergies (like many do), the grain-free Freedom line of dog foods might be a good option, or the Basics line of Limited Ingredient Diets. The Basics line includes two small-breed specific formulas and the Freedom line offers one small-breed adult formula.
Wellness Small-Breed Complete Health Adult
The Wellness pet food company designs their products to encourage the five signs of wellness – skin/coat, digestive health, eyes/teeth/gums, energy, and immunity. Wellness offers an assortment of dog food formulas including many that are specially designed for small-breed dogs. The Wellness Complete Health line of dry foods contains five different formulas for small-breed dogs – these formulas are made with top-quality ingredients like salmon meal, whole chicken, and oatmeal. Wellness also offers several healthy weight formulas as well as senior formulas. If you are looking for a brand that offers a wide selection of products for small-breed dogs like the French Bulldog, Wellness is definitely one to consider.
The French Bulldog is a loyal and fun-loving breed that gets along with everyone it meets – this makes it one of the top companion breeds in the world. If you want to do what is best for your Frenchie, make sure you select a high-quality, properly balanced dog food for him. If you need some help making your selection, consult the information provided above and consider one of the top recommended dog food brands for French Bulldogs as reviewed.
