JohnnyFrench bulldog shedding and how to prevent it is quite a popular topic. Why? Well, French bulldogs are notorious for shedding all over the place – despite their short hair.
Now, here’s the thing:
Shedding is unavoidable; it’s part of being a pet parent. And yes, it can undoubtedly cause quite a few problems around your home – but the sooner you make peace with it, the better.
It’s not like you can stop your Frenchie from shedding, anyway.
However, there are still things you can do to minimize it – at least to an extent. That’s what we’re going to talk about today:
How you can slow down the shedding, keep it under control, and, well, make it more “bearable.”
Are you ready? Let’s get to it, then!
Why Do French Bulldogs Shed?
French bulldogs are known to have a fantastic coat that’s silky, smooth, and easy to groom. But they aren’t that different from any other short-haired dog breed when it comes to shedding.
All dogs shed – some more than others. And having dog hairs all over the place – your furniture, your clothes, carpets, and floors – is just a part of it.
French bulldogs shed for the same reason as other dogs; it’s seasonal and part of their nature – but there are a few reasons behind it.
First off, their coat is what’s keeping them warm during the winter. And when spring comes, they have to trade in their “winter clothes” for something more appropriate for warmer weather – and that means spring-time shedding galore.
It’s all about avoiding overheating during the summer.
Then, as the weather starts changing and temperatures begin to drop, your Frenchie will, once again, switch its coat – now trading in the summer one for a thicker, warmer coat suitable for the colder months.
And even if all the other conditions are right, your Frenchie went through the seasonal shedding cycle, and you know that there’s no underlying cause to the shedding; you’ll still find dog hair all over the place.
Why?
Because, even if nothing else is going on, your French bulldog will still have to shed its old and damaged hairs. That’s the second reason why your Frenchie sheds, by the way:
To renew its coat and keep all of its “properties” intact.
What we mean by “shedding to renew their coat” is that the follicles of their coat don’t stay as strong forever. And if the hair follicles aren’t renewed regularly, the old coat will become weak and won’t serve the initial purpose of protecting your Frenchie’s sensitive skin and helping with thermoregulation.
Shedding will occur two times a year no matter what you do – because your dog’s hair follicles will enter the anagen phase and grow new hair, pushing out the old ones. It’s what they do!
For the most part, though, Frenchies shed year-round, which isn’t uncommon for dogs that have short coats. It’s just not as bad as with long-haired dogs.
We’d like to add one thing:
These occurrences are natural. You shouldn’t be frightened if you see your Frenchie’s shedding more than you’re used to during certain times of the year.
How To Decrease Shedding With Frenchies?
The fact is that you can’t stop your dog from shedding completely.
There are some ways you can decrease shedding – but to completely stop it is, well, practically impossible.
But before we get into that, we need to emphasize one thing:
If you see your Frenchie shedding excessively at the time of the year when it’s not “normal” nor expected, go to a vet. That could be a sign of a health-related problem.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s see what you can do for your French bulldog if you want to decrease the shedding.
#1 Good Skincare Routine And Regular Bathing
A good skincare routine could be crucial to your French bulldog’s skin and coat. Like humans, Frenchies can also get irritated by something in their surroundings – which could, in turn, trigger shedding.
A proper skincare routine could prevent this and ensure that your Frenchie won’t experience this issue.
Granted, there aren’t as many skincare products for dogs as there are for humans, but you can still find a good shampoo, conditioner – and some creams.
So, pick something reliable and stick with it since adapting to a new product may be stressful for their skin – as well as for their coat.
Upping your Frenchie’s skincare could help decrease the shedding a bit by allowing the follicles to remain healthier for more extended periods.
Cremes are reserved for skin irritations and similar short-term problems – but it’s always good to have them around.
#2 Use De-Shedding Tools (Brushes) Regularly
Grooming is sometimes overlooked; people assume that short-coated dogs generally don’t shed as much – until they see their Frenchie shedding first-hand.
So, hear us out:
A de-shedding brush – or any other de-shedding tool – can be a complete gamechanger!
Invest in a good tool that will help both you and your dog go through seasonal shedding with as little stress as possible.
Regular brushing with a de-shedding brush is a good habit of responsible dog owners. However, keep in mind that it might still cause some skin problems when done too often.
So, aim for the golden middle – meaning two to three times a week at max.
That’ll allow your Frenchie to shed most of its hairs while you’re brushing it, not leaving much to fall out while your pet is walking around.
It won’t stop or decrease shedding per se, but it could prevent the “outcome” – finding their hairs all around the house.
#3 Water Intake And Proper Diet
Another thing humans and dogs share is a bad reaction to dehydration and poor eating habits. We are what we eat – and the same is true for our Frenchies.
A healthy diet and adequate water intake mean healthier and stronger hair follicles – which, in turn, means less shedding.
If you love your Frenchie – and we know that you do – you’ll be aware of their water intake and make sure they’re eating properly.
Oh, and one more thing:
Test your Frenchie for food allergies – just in case.
It wouldn’t be uncommon to notice increased shedding and other skin-related diseases in dogs with allergies. So, rule that out first.
If you love your French bulldog, you’ll treat their eating and drinking habits as your own.
Final Word: French Bulldog Shedding And How To Prevent It?
Now that we’ve discussed French bulldog shedding – and how to prevent it – it’s time to sum it all up.
First off, you need to be aware that you can’t stop the natural shedding process of any dogs – including French bulldogs. You can decrease the shedding intensity of your Frenchie in multiple ways, but you can’t – and shouldn’t – stop this natural process.
There are three distinct things you can do to decrease your Frenchie’s shedding – and they are:
- Introducing a good skincare routine and regular bathing
- Using a de-shedding tool to catch loose hairs
- Feeding your pup a healthy diet and keeping them hydrated
A good skincare routine makes the most difference. However, using a de-shedding brush might eliminate almost all the hairs from your living space.
The crucial step is to keep track of your Frenchie’s water intake, diet, and test them for allergies, though.
That’s not only important shedding-wise; it makes a world of difference to your Frenchie’s health and wellness, too.
