Do French Bulldogs Bite?

French bulldogs are adorable, but they can be pretty cranky at times–especially when they’re puppies. It’s essential to know the risk of your dog biting if you have children in your home, are planning on adding a Frenchie puppy, or you’ve recently had your Frenchie for a few months now, and he seems to be getting feistier by the day.

There is a good chance your Frenchie may bite you or another person in your home, including children or elderly family members, especially if you don’t train it well in his first year of life. French bulldogs are active, so it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the signs that your French bulldog may bite.

In this article, we’ll look more in-depth at the question, Do French Bulldogs Bite? We’ll look at some of the things you can do on how to train a french bulldog puppy not to bite, and we’ll also discuss whether or not it’s safe to bring a Frenchie into a home with younger children.

Do French Bulldogs Bite?

As a French Bulldog puppy they can bite.  Most French Bulldogs grow out of this behavior especially if you properly train and socialize them.  French Bulldogs aren’t an aggressive dog breed by nature so with proper training and time your Frenchie should not be a biter.

Common reasons French bulldogs bite

Yes, French bulldogs are nippy especially as puppies, and in some cases, they bite. There are a few reasons why the dog keeps biting my feet:

Frenchie puppies can be especially mouthy and nippy when they’re teething

This usually starts around 3-4 months and lasts until your dog reaches 9-10 months of age. Not only do Frenchie puppies often bite when they’re teething, but they also have a poor judgment on how hard they are biting–so even if your Frenchie is nine months old, he can still nip at your hands pretty badly.

French bulldogs may become overprotective of their owners if you have children in the home and snap or even bite a child if they get too close. It isn’t the aggressive dog; he is trying to protect his family from what he sees as a threatening stranger.

Frenchies have “turned” on their owners once they’ve reached maturity, which means that around 1-2 years of age, your Frenchie may decide that you’re no longer his best friend and may even snap at you.
French bulldogs are also very aware of their size, which means scoldings for something they think is perfectly acceptable–like digging up the garden or chewing on your favorite pair of shoes –they will lash out at you to show that you can’t boss them around.

Unfortunately, the French bulldog’s over-confidence in his small stature can lead to nipping or biting if you reprimand him for something.

Most French Bulldogs are friendly. You must learn the signs of your Frenchie potentially being aggressive so that you know what kind of behavior is unacceptable. Some dogs are naturally nippier than others, but with proper training and socialization, you can help to curb this behavior.

How to prevent your Frenchie from biting

There are a few things you can do on how to train a french bulldog not to bite:

Be consistent with rules and discipline

If you let your dog get away with biting one time, it will think it’s okay to do it again.

Make sure your Frenchie gets plenty of exercise and playtime

A tired dog is less likely to be aggressive or nippy. Or, as my dog trainer puts it, “a tired dog is a well-behaved dog.”

Start obedience training early

It will help teach your Frenchie that you are the boss and that he needs to listen to you.

Socialize your French Bulldog

Get your French Bulldog out more often to meet new people, dogs, experience the world and experience different places. A confident dog with no fears is less likely to lash out at strangers or other dogs than a dog who has never met another animal before. The same goes for other things they might experience in the world.  The more you can expose your Frenchie puppy to the world the better.  Take them for ride, go to places with other people, walk them around often to try and expose them to more that the world has to offer. Here is another article I wrote about properly socializing your French Bulldog.

Is it safe to bring a Frenchie into a home with younger children?

There is no definitive answer to this question–it depends on the dog’s temperament and socialization. Once again, if you do a good job training and socializing your French Bulldog puppy at an early age it will help prevent issues with them biting.

Teaching your children and your Frenchie good integration skills is key.

Ideally, if you have small children in your home, you should wait until they are old enough to understand not to approach or touch a dog without asking permission from the owner.

If you have older children in the home who are responsible enough to know not to bother a dog while he’s eating or taking a nap, then it is likely safe to bring a Frenchie into your home.

However, it is always best to err on the side of caution and if you have any doubts about whether or not your Frenchie is child-safe, consult with an experienced breeder or veterinarian.

Best Chew Toys for Bulldogs

If you have a French Bulldog, provide him with plenty of appropriate chew toys. Not only will this help to keep your Frenchie’s teeth healthy, but it will also help to prevent him from chewing on inappropriate things like your furniture or shoes.

Some good chew toys for French Bulldogs include:
· Bully sticks
· Rawhides
· Nylabones
· Pig’s ear slices or pig’s ears (a popular treat amongst French Bulldogs)
· Cow hooves (make sure they are large enough for the dog not to swallow whole, and take them away when they get small enough)

When to get help with your French Bulldog’s biting problem

If your French bulldog has been neutered, you can rule that out as a potential cause for aggression.  However, suppose you have done everything possible to prevent your Frenchie from biting or nipping, and he is still showing signs of aggression or an unwillingness to obey commands. In that case, it may be time to seek help from a professional.

There are many different reasons why a Frenchie may keep biting your feet. It is best to consult with an experienced dog behaviorist or dog trainer to determine the root of the problem and best solve it.

Some specialists can help you train your Frenchie so that he is less likely to bite or nip. Just remember that French Bulldogs are an independent, stubborn breed, and it may take a little more time than you’re used to when training other dogs.

The dangers of a dog bite

While a dog bite can be severe, it’s important to remember that the vast majority of bites from pet dogs are not extreme.

Most bites from pet dogs do not even hit the skin–they only cause slight bruising or scratching. In most cases, you will know that your Frenchie has given you a warning bite because he will clamp down on your skin and not let go.

However, there are some risks associated with dog bites that you should be aware of:
· Infection-if the bite does break the skin, the wound can become infected. Clean the bite wound thoroughly and schedule a checkup with your veterinarian as soon as possible after the bite occurs.

· Rabies-if you or your Frenchie is bitten by an animal that may have rabies (such as a wild animal like a raccoon, fox, or skunk), then you should seek medical attention immediately. Statistically, most rabies cases in the United States are from unvaccinated pet dogs.

· Scarring-some dog bites can cause significant scarring, which can be a lifelong reminder of the attack.

· Death-rarely, but unfortunately, it does happen. A dog bite can be fatal. In the only case I have seen, one particular French Bulldog was bred to fight.  I had never heard of anyone training their French Bulldog to fight but, if you nurture a dog to fight there can be consequences.

How to Care for a French Bulldog

If you’re thinking of adding a French Bulldog to your family, there are a few things you should know about caring for this breed.

· French Bulldogs do not do well in hot weather, so avoid prolonged periods outside when it is warm.

· They are prone to overheating, and you should never leave them in a car parked in the sun.
· French Bulldogs are prone to several health problems. It would help if you took them to the veterinarian for regular checkups.

· They need regular grooming since they tend to shed a lot.

· Their diet should consist of high-quality dog food, and they should always have access to fresh water.
· They are a relatively inactive breed and do not need a lot of exercises but should be taken on a walk at least once a day.

· French Bulldogs can be stubborn and independent. This makes training them more complex when compared to other dog breeds. However, your Frenchie training needs to start early.

Is a Frenchie bite worse than a normal-sized dog bite?

A Frenchie only has the same bite strength as a regular dog, so their bites are no more dangerous than any other breed’s. However, because Frenchies have such small jaws, their bites can be very painful and may cause more damage due to their size. A french bulldog bite force pressure is about 180 and 230 PSI.

Conclusion – Do French Bulldogs Bite?

French Bulldogs don’t tend to bite once they get past the teething stage especially if they are properly trained and socialized.

You need to train your French bulldog as early as possible. The dog might also need grooming and regular checkups with the vet. It’s also a good idea to provide your Frenchie with high-quality dog food, fresh water, and plenty of exercise. While French Bulldogs are known for being stubborn, they are generally very affectionate and make great family pets.

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