Are you planning to introduce a new member to your family in the form of an adorable French Bulldog? If yes, then you must be worried by questions like: “Do French Bulldogs shed?” So gear up because this article is going to answer all your queries related to shedding in French Bulldogs and how to deal with it.
Do Frenchies shed a lot?
Well, to be honest, the answer is: Yes!
French bulldogs shed a great deal. And the worst part is that most of them shed all year round! So if you are considering getting a French bulldog, you must be mentally prepared to have your sofas, car seats, carpets, and even your clothes covered in dog hair.
But the good news is that with proper care and grooming, you can easily manage the problem and spent quality time with these charming companions.
Is it normal for French bulldogs to shed a lot?
Frenchies normally have a thick coat of short smooth hair. This leads many people to have a false notion that they do not shed. But as it turns out it’s quite the opposite. Despite having short-haired coats some of these little monsters shed like crazy. Just like other dog breeds, Frenchies use shedding as a natural mechanism to get rid of old worn-out hair and replace it with new stronger hair.
So don’t let their short shiny coats deceive you!
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How Much Do French Bulldogs Shed?
Different Frenchie owners answer this question differently. Some owners report a substantial amount of shedding while others claim that their Frenchie sheds minimally. However in most cases, the shedding is not that bad and unless you don’t generously rub and tickle your French bulldog while playing, shedding won’t be a significant problem. In addition, French bulldogs are small-sized dogs so the amount of hair they shed is not significant enough to create a mess.
In short French bulldogs are average shedders in general but depending on the genetics a few will exhibit greater shedding
Do French Bulldogs Shed More Than Pugs?
Although french bulldogs tend to shed more, the good news is that they do not shed as much as pugs do!
Seasonal Variations in Shedding
Even though French bulldogs moderately shed all year round, the problem gets quite out of hand in summers.
According to AKC, this excessive summertime shedding is a part of their body’s mechanism to combat the heat. As the warmer months approach, Frenchies start losing their undercoat and grow lighter coats instead. This helps them to stay cool and survive the intense heat of the summer months.
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Do French Bulldogs Shed in Winter?
If you are under the impression that you’ll have a break from shedding problems in winter then you are mistaken. Even though most Frenchies will grow a new thicker coat in winter to insulate and stay warm, they will still shed. This shedding is to get rid of the light summer-friendly coat and replace it with a thick insulating coat that is better adapted to keep your dog warm.
Hence owning a Frenchie means getting used to finding dog hair in random places in your house.
Do French Bulldogs Shed Excessively?
Although it is normal for these French canines to shed to a slightly greater extent than other breeds, an extraordinary amount of shedding could probably hint at an alarming situation. Especially as Frenchies naturally have a greater genetic and environmental tendency to develop canine atopic dermatitis (CAD), they are more prone to suffer from allergies and skin-related conditions.
Excessive shedding accompanied by the following signs and symptoms is definitely linked to an underlying unaddressed health condition.
- Skin irritation
- Bald patches
- Excessive scratching
- Dry flaky skin
- Lesions
- Crusty sores on paws, legs, or face
- Vomiting and diarrhea
In this case, you should instantly rush your dog to the vet.
Other Factors That Affect Shedding in French Bulldogs
Apart from the seasonal changes in their shedding patterns, several other factors determine the extent to which French bulldogs shed.
Also, it is important to note that shedding patterns vary for individual french bulldogs. This means that depending on various factors like genetics and lifestyle different Frenchies will show slight changes in the amount of shedding.
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Gender
Female French bulldogs will shed more when they are near their heat period.
Although both sexes are equally prone to moderate amounts of shedding, if you happen to own a female bulldog you’ll notice that she’ll shed more at the time of approaching heat. This problem is not associated with male Frenchies. Also if a French bull is about to give birth or has recently given birth, chances are that she will shed more than usual. Neutering your female Frenchie will help with this problem.
2. Coat Color
Although it seems surprising, French bulldogs show variations in shedding according to the color of their coat. According to the data collected from various French bulldog owners, a general conclusion was reached that Frenchies with lighter-colored coats shed way more than dark-colored Frenchies. To be more specific a blue French bulldog is famous for shedding the least followed by other Frenchies with darker coats. The reason for this peculiarity is that french bulldogs that boast a dark-colored coat naturally have less hair that is also silkier than lighter shade varieties. As a result, they shed less amount of hair and don’t leave it all over the place.
On the contrary french bulldogs with coats in shades of cream and fawn shed a considerable amount of hair when renewing their coat.
3. Puppies vs Adult Dogs
French bulldog puppies will shed far more than adult Frenchies.
This is explained by the fact that as the puppies grow and transform into grown dogs they go through a shedding phase. This happens around four to six months of age. During this phase, they shed their smooth but weak puppy hair and replace it with thick stronger hair.
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4. Diet
A diet that fails to meet the nutritional requirements of your dog will result in more shedding.
Feeding your dog a healthy diet that provides all necessary nutrients crucial for dog health is extremely important. A low-quality, cheap dog food that is poor in nutrients affects the overall health of your dog resulting in severe skin problems which then manifest in the form of extreme shedding. Apart from this Frenchies can be allergic to certain food types such as grains and protein and consuming a diet containing such food can trigger an allergic reaction leading to an increase in shedding.
Moreover, if you suddenly replace your Frenchie’s dog food with a newer variety, there is a chance they shed more.
5. Allergies
French bulldogs will shed considerably more if they develop an allergy.
It is common for dogs especially Frenchies to develop allergies to a particular food, medication, grooming items such as shampoos, or other household cleaning supplies. Once they develop an allergy they will start showing several symptoms. One of the symptoms will definitely be copious shedding.
6. Lifestyle
Some owners tend to keep their Frenchies indoors most of the time while others will make sure their dog gets plenty of fresh air and exercise. This also influences the amount of hair your french bulldog will shed.
Frenchies that spend a lot of time outside the house are more exposed to changes in temperature as compared to those that mostly stay indoors. This temperature fluctuation also has a minor role in determining the amount of hair your Frenchie will shed.
7. Stress-Induced Shedding
Dogs are extremely sensitive creatures and even a small disturbance could easily stress them leading to more shedding.
Stressful situations like going to a vet, changing places, and lack of attention from the owner–are a few examples of instances that can emotionally drain your Frenchie. Just as in humans stress in dogs manifests in the form of physical signs. In the case of dogs, they will start to shed a lot more than usual in response to stress.
8. Frequent Bathing
Although regular bathing is an integral part of a french bulldog’s grooming session, too much bathing could lead to dry skin which eventually results in a rise in shedding. It is important not to give very frequent baths to your dog because it leads to the loss of natural oils and moisture. Also, some shampoos are quite harsh and lead to dry flaky skin and inevitably hair loss.
However, make sure to bathe your Frenchie once in a while so that he/she doesn’t grow fleas or ticks.
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French Bulldog Shedding Solution
Owning a Frenchie can sometimes be quite a frustrating job especially when you or one of your family members is allergic. And you might have desperately looked for solutions to get rid of this nuisance. But the bitter truth is that remedies can only help to reduce the shedding problem and not end it entirely.
The following remedies have been proven useful to make Frenchies shed less than they usually do.
- Regular brushing
- Deshedding Tools
- Bathing with a good shampoo
- Coat drying
- Dietary modification
- Hydration
1. Regular Brushing
Regular brushing helps to remove excess, damaged, and broken hair and smoothens out the coat so your Frenchie won’t shed all the time.
This method is employed by nearly all French bulldog owners. This helps to get rid of all extra hair at once. So your dog will not shed naturally in unwanted places such as your living room sofas. It is also important to choose the right brush types according to your dog’s coat. For french bulldogs bristle brushes and combs are usually effective.
Also, it’s a good idea to carry out brushing sessions outdoors. This way you wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of cleaning the hair that falls off during brushing.
2. Deshedding Tools
Deshedding tools like a grooming glove or furminator also help reduce shedding problems by removing dead hair. Using a furminator greatly helps with de-shedding your dog. Silicone grooming bruh effectively removes and lets your dog enjoy a good massage. This is recommended once or twice a week.
2. Bathing
Giving your Frenchie a good bath with good quality, moisturizing shampoo followed by a conditioner is equally essential to lessen shedding. Dogs that go without washing for long periods grow mites and fleas leading to excessive scratching. This aggravates the shedding problem.
It is equally important to ensure the shampoo used is hypoallergenic and does not react to your dog’s skin.
3. Dry Coat
After a good bath make sure to dry your dog’s coat either through blow dry or a microfiber towel. This helps to remove all hair that might have broken loose during bathing.
4. Dietary Modifications
Feeding your Frenchie a diet that lacks essential nutrients could lead to more than normal shedding.
If your dog’s shedding problem has grown to a worrisome extent then it’s high time you modify their diet to make sure your dog consumes a varied diet that consists not only of meat products but moderate amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables as well. Also, try incorporating omega-3 fatty acid-enriched food into their diet. Cod liver oil, olive oil, and coconut oil are good options to introduce into their diet. these promote healthy skin and hair and eliminate problems like dandruff and dry skin which eventually reduces shedding.
Many French bulldog owners have reported noticeable results after using these supplements.
5. Hydration
Drinking adequate amounts of water is vital to maintain a healthy coat and mitigate shedding in French bulldogs.
As a french bulldog owner, it is important to make sure that your dog has access to clean drinking water throughout the day. Dehydrated Frenchies are at a higher risk of shedding than properly hydrated ones. Hence if your Frenchie is suffering from a major shedding issue then you must consider increasing their water intake.
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Tips for French Bulldog Owners
Cleaning your house and getting rid of all the dog hair that sticks to your furniture and carpets can be a daunting task. Especially when you have a French bulldog whose hair is much shorter and difficult to remove. The following tips can help to alleviate the problem
- Cover your sofas and car seats with mats or waterproof covers. These can easily be dusted off or washed to get rid of the hair and you won’t have to go through the ordeal of picking out tiny bits of hair.
- Use a vacuum cleaner. This effectively pulls out hair from carpets and sofas. Cleaning the house with a vacuum cleaner after two to three days saves you from the hassle of manually brushing off hair.
- Use duct tape to remove hair from places that are out of reach of the vacuum cleaner. Even the tiniest hair sticks to the tape and is easily pulled off.
Conclusion
Despite the fact the Frenchies shed in moderate to high amounts, there is no denying that they make great companions and people adore them. French bulldog owners claim that their cuteness and charming personalities are worth the trouble. Also, it is important to note that each dog differs from the other in the degree of shedding. This means that not every French bulldog will shed copiously. If you are lucky enough you might find a Frenchie that sheds to a lesser extent.
Anyway, with the right diet and regular grooming, shedding is not a real problem and you can spend quality time with your adorable Frenchie without dog hair getting in the way.
However, if you are prone to allergies then you should consider a less shedding dog breed rather than putting your health at stake.