Just like any dog, your French bulldog needs to be groomed regularly to help it flourish and maintain its health. Not to mention, they love getting pampered just as much as you do. 

However, French bulldogs require a little more care when it comes to grooming, and if you don’t know how to do it properly, there can be serious repercussions. 

Today, we’re going to learn how to groom French bulldogs properly and make sure you pamper your furry friend the right way. 

Let’s get brushing!

What You’ll Need to Groom a French Bulldog

Before you buy a Frenchie and start grooming it, there are some basic supplies you’re going to need before you get started. None of it is expensive or complicated. 

A grooming mitt with soft bristles is the preferred tool for brushing and scrubbing. A mitt gives you more control over the bristles and the pressure you use, and it’s easier to get into the crevices of your dog’s skin folds without hurting them.

Although, soft-bristled grooming brushes can also be useful for non-folded parts of the skin. 

For your shampoo, you want to invest in a high-quality dog shampoo. Don’t try to use dish soap or super cheap shampoos, and avoid human bathing products. You don’t bathe your dog too often. So, a bottle of the good stuff should last a fairly long time. 

Dog nail clippers are also essential. Get the type that help you trim their nails without going too deep. If you do cut too deep, you can hurt your dog. These last practically forever. So, it’s worth splurging on the best set you can find. 

That’s really it. You don’t have to cut a French bulldog’s hair, and the only thing we could recommend beyond this short list is a dog bath.

This isn’t necessary, but it can be helpful since you’ll have a small, dedicated space that the dog can get familiar with and you avoid messes or getting dog hair down your drain. 

1: Cut Your Dog’s Nails Every 2-3 Weeks

As your Frenchy’s nails grow, they can get too long. This will eventually make it harder for them to walk around, but it will also lead to them destroying your furniture, carpet, etc.

A lot of dogs naturally wear their nails down by living more active lifestyles, but one of the most attractive behavioral traits of French bulldogs is that they’re so docile and easily fit in with more sedentary lifestyles. So, they don’t usually get enough time outside to wear their nails down. 

Every 2 or 3 weeks, use your dog’s nail clippers to trim their nails. This is super easy if you take our advice and buy a set that prevents you from cutting too deeply. You should only be removing the tip any time you cut their nails.

How to groom french bulldogs - trimming their nails.

With this routine, your French bulldog’s nails will stay just the right length to keep them comfortable and the surfaces they move around on safe. 

2: Weekly Brushings

Before we dive into how to groom French bulldogs, you need to know a crucial thing about this breed – French bulldog’s coat is single-layered and short. So, you never have to cut it, and they don’t shed much. 

However, they do still lose hair and regrow their coat. As their hair falls out to grow anew, you need to brush them gently. This removes the old hair to make room for new growth, and it prevents infections.

While brushing your French bulldog’s coat, use your soft-bristled grooming brushes or your grooming mitt to gently brush the entire coat. Start with the flat spots that aren’t folded. 

Once you brush all of the easier spots, it’s time to get between their folds. 

This is crucial. If you don’t get into your dog’s facial folds or body folds, dirt, debris, and dead hair can get stuck, and infection can build up, and they can get extremely ill. 

Simply spread the fold apart gently and brush anything stuck in there until it’s removed. 

Since you need to keep their folds cleaned for their health, and they’re constantly regrowing their coat, it’s best to make sure you do this once per week.

Pick a day of the week, and make that your regular brushing day throughout the dog’s entire life. They’ll love this light pampering, and it will make it a lot easier to stay on top of their needs rather than doing it as you have time. 

3: Monthly Baths

Once per month, you have to be a little more in-depth with your dog’s grooming. It’s bath time. 

This might be difficult for the first couple of baths, but they’ll eventually become familiar with it and learn to enjoy the process like a spa day. 

This is mostly the same process that you do to clean yourself. 

First, brush the dog to get rid of most of the dirt and dead hair. This will keep wet hair and dirt from washing into their folds, and if you’re using your bathtub, it will keep dog hair from clogging your drains. It also helps relax the dog so they’re more open to bath time. 

Then, rinse the dog off just like you would yourself. Don’t forget to get into the folds, and make sure you rinse around the anus to prevent issues there, too.

How to groom french bulldogs - washing their folds.

Once your dog is rinsed, lather them up entirely, get between the folds, and rinse them off until all the soap is gone

Now, all you have to do is dry them off and let them go about their day. 

4: Check Skinfolds Regularly

If you’re buying a Frenchie puppy, there’s a unique grooming requirement for French bulldogs. Luckily, you can easily fit it into your weekly brushing routine. 

The adorable skinfolds on French bulldogs are prone to developing infections. Even if you keep them clean, there’s a chance that you’ll miss something, and they can get an infection from it. 

Every week, when you brush your dog, make sure to spread those skin folds apart and look for redness, sores, or anything else. If you find any, you need to consult your vet. 

Check Out Philly Frenchy

Now that you know how to groom French bulldogs, you’re probably looking to add a French bulldog to your family.

If that’s the case, or you just need guidance into the more technical care of these adorable companions, contact Philly Frenchy now!