Do I need a big house and fenced-in backyard to properly care for a Frenchie?

As a Frenchie breeder, I sometimes respond to the questions from prospective pet parents who come to me looking for a french bulldog as their prospective pet. One of the most frequently asked questions is whether they will require a huge backyard or a big house in order to properly care for their frenchie. In fact, a couple of times even my friends and some acquaintances of mine who don’t have pets have posed this very same question to me. Some, in fact, have wanted a puppy for some time but have never really taken the plunge. In fact, many even think it’s not fair or even possible for them to take the plunge to being a pet parent since it would restrict their pet to a small house or no open space for their pet to walk about in or to do his or her daily morning job in.

Whether big or small place is good?

I always respond to such questions by reminding prospective pet parents that there are many really lovable dogs that are small in size like the french bulldog. The frenchie does not require much walking space or huge open backyard spaces for doing their morning jobs and getting their daily exercise. In fact, having a huge outdoor backyard space as being helpful for a French bulldog is really a myth. While the same may hold true for a larger or more rambunctious dog like the golden retriver, great dane or any other active breeds.

amongst other breeds. In the case of a french bulldog, it’s not required. In fact, there may be many days when you may have to forcibly take your French bulldog for a walk as he or she may just not want to do that. As far as their daily morning job is concerned a french bulldog can be easily taught or trained to do their daily morning job on a newspaper or pee pad in a bathroom in your house. Although it may be a good idea to let a professional train your frenchie to do that in puppyhood itself.

 

 

 

 

My puppies  are litter box trained or pee pad trained. I use a “Fresh pet” litter which is made out of pressed paper. It is in pellet form. And if the puppy eats it, that won’t lead to a big emergency room trip because pressed paper is not that dangerous. It is still dangerous to the point, of course. But from my experience, I haven’t had that happen. They may eat a pallet or two and lose the interest to it. The safest way is a reusable pee pad. It is very hard to tear it up, easy to clean and can be used many times. Just throw it in the washer and good as new. They absorb well, don’t leak, easily washable and the smell goes away after the wash.

French Bulldogs in Small Places

I think one of the reasons for this is that through history french bulldogs have always been comfortable in small places. In fact, I am talking about their historical roots to the lacemakers of Normandy who had as pets and companions the ancestors of our modern day French bulldog. Believe it or not the Frenchies would in those times live traditionally beneath the lacemaking looms in the tiny workspaces of the lacemakers. It was here that they were noticed for their cuteness (I like to believe ) and soon became a popular pet amongst the artists, aristocrats, and ladies of the night all of whom were frequent customers of the lacemakers. It’s no wonder Frenchies are so well suited to being an indoors companion and very well suited to small spaces.