Do French Bulldogs shed and what can you do to reduce pet hair around your home? As pet owners, we all know that our beloved animals come with a few downsides, including noise, smells and hair. Sometimes it seems like picking hair off your best clothes is just something you’ve signed up for.
Some breeds lose more coat more than others though, so if you’re looking into getting a new dog you might have considered a low-shedding breed.
If you’ve ever wondered whether French Bulldogs shed excessively and how to prevent shedding, read on for all the answers.
- Best dog brush: Keep your hound happy with their hair
- Dog shedding: What causes it and how to manage it
Do French Bulldogs shed excessively?
All dog breeds shed to some extent, a throwback to the times when they had to grow a thick coat for winter warmth. Although most of us now keep our pets at least partly indoors, nature has yet to catch up!
The good news is that French Bulldogs are short haired and don’t normally shed excessively compared with other breeds. They have famously smooth, shiny coats so won’t shed anything like as much as a long-haired breed. You can still expect to see them losing hair twice a year, in spring and fall, as they prepare to change coats seasonally.
If you see your Frenchie shedding a lot of hair outside those times, then you could be looking at a health problem.
What color French Bulldog sheds the least?
There’s some anecdotal evidence to suggest that shedding can be slightly affected by color. Pure-bred French Bulldogs come in a range of colors including:
- Brindle (a mixture of light and dark colored hair)
- Cream (a uniform pale color)
- Pied (white with a few patches of darker color)
- Fawn (a solid light brown, which can vary from light tan to reddish brown)
- Chocolate (ranging from light to dark brown)
- Black (pure black, normally with a white blaze on the chest or throat)
Pale colors are thought to shed more than darker colors, although that may just be because white hairs are easier to see on the carpet!
What causes shedding in French Bulldogs?
So just why does your Frenchie feel the urge to deposit hair all over your best trousers? We’ve already mentioned the main reason, which is seasonal change.
Your pooch will shed out his thicker winter coat in the spring when the weather turns warmer, and then loose the summer threads in the fall when he needs more warmth.
If you spot your French Bulldog shedding excessively outside those times, it could be down to one of the following:
- Age: Puppies have finer hair than adults, which gives them that adorable fluffy appearance. Around the age of six months they’ll lose their puppy coat and grow an adult coat. This could happen at any time of year.
- Temperature: These little guys can be prone to breathing problems due to their flat faces, and also have a tendency to overheat. If the weather is very hot or you have your heating cranked up too high, your Frenchie may shed his coat in an attempt to cool off.
- Diet: For a shiny, healthy coat, your doggo needs a balanced diet. Feed a good quality dog food with plenty of omega acids. You could also supplement with dried fish or fish oil for an extra-shiny coat.
- Parasites: A pet with ticks or fleas is an itchy pet, and an itchy pet is a pet that scratches! Sometimes dogs can scratch out areas of coat when they’re trying to catch that pesky parasite. If you notice your pooch scratching excessively, speak to your veterinarian.
- Disease: Skin diseases and conditions such as hypothyroidism can cause hair to fall out. Skin disease such as bacterial infection normally causes bald patches, whereas hypothyroidism makes the coat thin and sparse. With their sensitive skin, Frenchies can also be prone to sunburn. They can also be subject to health problems making them an expensive choice of pet so any uneven shedding should be investigated by your veterinarian.
- Pregnancy: If your pup is pregnant, then she’ll be undergoing some hormone changes. These can affect her coat and make her temporarily more liable to shedding.
How to stop shedding in French Bulldogs
As already discussed, shedding is a natural process and can’t be prevented entirely. You can, however, minimize and manage the amount of hair that ends up in the house! Once a week, give your pup a gentle grooming with a good dog brush. Work from his head, along his body to his tail to remove loose hair. Most Frenchies love a cuddle and will happily curl up on your lap while you do this.
Once a month, give your pampered pet a bath with warm water and dog shampoo for sensitive skin. Make sure you dry him off carefully afterwards, paying particular attention to folds of skin which can get damp and sore.
Do French Bulldogs shed all year round?
Like other breeds, Frenchies will have two major sheds a year when they change their coats according to the season. For modern pups who live in heated houses, there may be a small amount of shedding all year round. The main event should only happen twice a year, though.
What is the best dog brush for shedding in French Bulldogs?
Due to their short coat and sensitive skin, one of the best tools to have in your grooming kit is a glove. Pop on a pair of these specially designed gloves and give your Frenchie a weekly stroking session to remove dead hair and promote a shiny coat.
Conclusion
So as we’ve seen, yes, French Bulldogs do shed – but not so much, compared to other breeds. With regular care, a good diet and a weekly grooming routine, the whole ‘dog hair on the couch’ issue can be kept to a strict minimum.
To find out more about this cheeky, mischievous breed and their characteristics, read our article uncovering fascinating facts about the French Bulldog.
