Overview
The French Bulldog has become one of the most common dogs on a British street, and it is unlike any gundog or terrier you will walk. It is a companion breed through and through: sociable, clownish, a little stubborn, and happiest at a gentle pace with a person nearby.
The shape that makes Frenchies so popular also makes them fragile in ways a walker has to take seriously. The short muzzle restricts breathing, the compact body holds heat, and most of them cannot swim at all. None of that makes them hard to walk, but it does change what a good walk looks like.
Exercise and walking needs
Two short walks a day of twenty minutes or so suit most Frenchies better than one long one. They enjoy pottering, sniffing and meeting people, and they tire quickly if pushed. A brisk hour that would be a warm-up for a Spaniel is too much for most of this breed.
Heat is the overriding rule. On a warm day walk early or late, stick to shade, and be prepared to cut a walk short the moment breathing gets noisy. If the owner has agreed a route, a shorter one on a hot day is always the right call.
On the walk
- Breathing: Listen to it. Snorting is normal, but loud rasping, a blue tinge to the gums or a dog that stops and will not move are signs to stop, cool down and ring the owner.
- Pulling: They can be surprisingly strong for their size and the neck is not one to put pressure on. Walk a Frenchie on a well-fitted harness, never a collar alone.
- Other dogs: Usually friendly and quite bold, which can read as rude to a bigger dog. Keep the greetings short and calm.
- Water: Most cannot swim and the heavy front end sinks. Keep them away from deep water, canals and anywhere with a steep bank.
- Stubbornness: A Frenchie that has decided the walk is over will sit down. It is usually about heat or tiredness, so treat it as information rather than defiance.
Tips for professional walkers
- Carry water and offer it often, even on days that feel mild to you.
- Keep walks in the cool parts of the day in summer and avoid hot pavements, which burn pads quickly.
- Choose flat, shaded routes over hills and open fields.
- Wipe the facial folds after muddy or wet walks if the owner asks; grit sitting in them causes sore skin.
- Note the dog's normal breathing on its first walk so you can tell when something changes.
What to ask the owner
- Has the dog had any airway surgery, and does the vet have any limits on exercise?
- How does the dog cope in warm weather, and at what temperature should you cancel or shorten the walk?
- Any skin or fold care the owner wants done after a walk?
- Is there a harness the dog is used to, and does it pull?