How Much Do French Bulldogs Shed? Guide, Prevention & Solutions
Alex Vicente • Updated on August 28, 2023
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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Shedding is something that all dog owners have to deal with, regardless of breed.
Some dogs shed little hair, while others are downright hair factories!
What about Frenchies? How much do French Bulldogs Shed?
French bulldogs shed a bit more hair than your average dog.
A few minutes on the couch could mean a lot of cleaning time.
Additionally, some Frenchies have a bit more hair than others, and so they’re more likely to shed even more.
Shedding could be normal or abnormal, and there are ways to handle both types of shedding.
But before anything, let’s learn more about dog shedding.
Table of Contents
What Is Shedding?
Shedding in dogs is when your dog replaces his old or damaged hair.
This is a completely natural process that shouldn’t worry you in any way.
French bulldog puppies lose their puppy coat around the age of 4-5 months.
It’s usually not much of a problem because the dog’s size is still small and the hair wouldn’t bother you as much.
Once they reach their full size and weight around 19 months, their shedding begins to get a bit annoying.
You should already know the average shedding rate of your dog before you get it.
If you notice more shedding than you were normally expecting, chances are that something is wrong.
Before spotting the abnormal, we should first know the normal.
Let’s see how much a French bulldog sheds normally.
Normal French Bulldog Shedding
French bulldogs are in the middle of the spectrum when it comes to shedding.
The hair coat isn’t uniform between all the Frenchies, so people’s feedback could vary.
However, we can say that Frenchies shed a bit more than most people would like.
If you pick up your Frenchie, you’ll have plenty of hair on your shirt.
Frenchies will shed all year long and that would still be considered normal.
You’ll notice that their shedding increases in summer and decreases in winter.
That’s because they build up their winter coat when it’s cold, and lose most of it when it’s warm.
Summer is when most owners complain of the hair lying everywhere.
Excessive French Bulldog Shedding
With time, you should be able to get used to the amount of shed hair lying around.
However, when excessive shedding occurs, there’s a high chance you might notice it.
If you notice more shed hair than usual, then you should have a look at your dog.
Use your fingers to go through his hair and look for any rashes, flakes, hairless patches or red skin.
If you find any of these, then your pup has a problem and he needs to see a vet.
Reasons for Excessive Shedding
There are many reasons why a Frenchie would shed more than normal.
We’ll discuss some of them briefly.
Diseases
The most common reason for abnormal hair fall is having diseases.
Your Frenchie may have caught an illness that manifests itself as hair loss.
Take your dog to the vet to find out what’s wrong.
Medical Side Effects
If you notice excessive shedding after your dog has started to take a certain medicine, there’s a high chance that the medication is the reason.
It’s always advised to consult a vet before giving your pup a medicine or before you abruptly stop it.
Allergies
Any living creature could be allergic to something.
This something could be foods, liquids, weather conditions, or any flying particles in the air like dust.
Your vet will be able to tell you if your dog is having an allergic reaction to something.
Look for anything your Frenchie might have eaten or got exposed to recently and prevent it from happening again.
Pregnancy
If your female French Bulldog is pregnant, there’s a good chance she might lose a lot more hair than usual.
The extra hair shed in this case is considered normal.
However, it would never hurt to consult a vet.
Sun Burns
Frenchies are quite picky about weather changes, especially hot weather.
If you live in a hot area, avoid taking your dog for long walks to keep his skin safe.
It’s also advised to keep the AC on at home or in the car if you need to leave your dog there for a while.
How to Handle Shedding
We’re not talking about shedding that may have been caused by any of the mentioned reasons. That is easy to fix if you consult a vet.
We’re talking about everyday shedding that could get very annoying to some people.
Here’s what you could do to control that type of shedding:
Brushing and Grooming
Using a dog brush is probably the best way to control your dog’s shedding.
The brush collects all the loose hairs between the bristles so you could easily get rid of them instead of having them lying everywhere.
Brush your dog’s hair once a day or once every other day and you’ll notice a considerable difference.
If you take your pup for many car rides, it’s recommended to brush him right before the ride or put him in a travel crate.
It will save you the hassle of cleaning your car later.
High-Quality Food
There are many cheap brands out there. It may seem tempting but they will harm your pup one way or the other.
Feed your dog good quality foods like Purina Pro Plan to keep him healthy.
Shedding supplements
Food supplements rich in Omega-3 fatty acids help keep your dog’s health at its prime.
Bark & Spark supplements are a great choice.
Enough Water
A dehydrated dog is susceptible to many health problems.
The dry skin associated with little water is a very common reason for hair loss; even in humans.
Make sure that your dog drinks enough water every day.
Final Words
That’s everything we have for now about the shedding of the Frenchies!
It’s important to make sure that your dog doesn’t suffer from any disease that may cause extra shedding.
As for normal shedding, groom your pup and brush his hair constantly to get rid of all the loose hairs.
Feed him good quality food and make him drink plenty of water to keep his good health.
Your lovely companion will be healthy and happy, and you won’t have to be on hair cleaning duty.
About Alex Vicente
Dog Lover, Founder & Chief Editor at Paws Insider
I’ve been rescuing dogs since a very early age. I got my first dog when I was 9 years old and I remember how he, out of a litter of 6 puppies, started running towards me. He’d just chosen me. Ever since then, my love for dogs only grows stronger and I want what’s best for them. My mission is to let our readers know about the best products in the market for our best friends, as well as providing guides and tips on how we can take better care of them.