French Bulldog puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a French Bulldog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Energy is on the lower side for the breed, but every eight week old puppy still runs in bursts and then crashes. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
• Hereditary cataract (HC-HSF4-2)
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Skin fold and eye problems linked to the flat face

From French Bulldog breed information at https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/french-bulldog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your French Bulldog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a French Bulldog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 11 to 12.5 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other medium breeds

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