I got a puppy.

I wasn’t planning on getting a puppy so soon after Fira, but somehow it happened. Videos of this adorable little grey mouse (a baby frenchie) popped up on my IG feed from California Cleft Pup Rescue and I kept checking for updates. I just fell in love with her. It just felt so right. 

It’s true what they say: dogs have a way of finding you.

Rue on our first car ride home!

What’s also true is that once you experience the joy of having a French bulldog, you can’t imagine living without one. They have the funniest personalities, so smart, so wise, so playful. I still stand by my original list I wrote back in in 2019:  The 6 Biggest Surprises of Owning a French Bulldog.

Because of the popularity of this breed (they take the #1 spot for most popular breed since 2022), shelters and rescues are overrun by Frenchies, sadly. Backyard breeders, inexperienced new owners and surrendering them, “breeders” creating exotic colors & unnatural furs, it’s become a problem.

Armed with 15+ years experience of having Frenchies, I wanted to make sure Rue has the best care and life possible. Even though I’m not a first time French Bulldog owner, it’s been years since having a puppy, so it’s felt like new territory!

So many things have changed and advancements have been made in the pet world. For example, Fira was spayed at 6 months old, which all breeders/vets at the time widely recommended. With recent research, the recommended age is 12 months (or more), so their hormones and biology have more time to fully develop. 

So, onto the fun stuff…

French Bulldog Puppy Essentials

• Crate/playpen
• Bed(s)
• Food + bowls
• Collar/harness + leash
• Puppy food
• Toys
• Pee pads
• Puppy shampoo/wipes
• Poo bag rolls

What I Bought for My French Bulldog Puppy

Crate + Playpen

For Rue’s sleep situation, I got her a small, soft crate- just big enough for a bed and half a pee pad. After just a few weeks, I was able to remove the pad since she learned to hold it and go outside. Not to mention, she also started playing and shredding the pee pads… 

Rest Eazzzy Foldable Soft Crate 

I cover it with a blanket for naps + bedtime, so it’s dark and cozy without any distractions. 

Eventually, I upgraded to a bigger, sturdier crate. This one is also foldable + soft, but it stays up with steel poles, so it’s stronger and stays put. It unzips from the top and from the front. Rue loves her little crate/safe place!

Best Treats + Food for French Bulldog Puppies

I always go for tiny, soft treats with limited ingredients, because they’re easier for Frenchies to chew and help keep calories in check since bulldogs can gain weight pretty quickly. My favorite dog treats for training:

• Pupford Dog Training Treats Freeze-Dried Beef Liver
• Pupford Dog Training Treats Rabbit
• The Honest Kitchen Surf & Turf Meaty Littles
• Lord Jameson Very Berry
• Lord Jameson Love Puffs
• Earth Animal No Hide Rolls. Love these and they keep ’em busy for a good while! Weston used to love digging these into the ground or under his bed. 

Blueberries are an amazing, healthy treat and frozen baby carrots! Great for cleaning their teeth, digestion and the cold helps soothes their sore gums. 

Rue started on N&D Lamb Pumpkin Puppy kibble and slowly transitioned to fresh cooked food (My Perfect Pet Buckaroo Chicken Puppy, Pure Dog Food Clean Chicken & Quinoa) by 4+ months old. I’ll start cooking her homemade dog food when she’s at least one year old, since puppies need more calcium and specific nutrients. 

When all her adult teeth are in (around 7 or 8 months), I’ll add Native Pet Clean Breath to her food. It’s mostly algae, zinc + probiotics.

Best Toys for French Bulldog Puppies

Nina Ottosson Level 1 Puppy Puzzle. This game is so fun for them! Just hide a treat under each “bone” and watch them figure it out! They will catch on pretty fast, but it’s a good way for them to keep them occupied for at least 5 minutes, lol. 

I’m already planning on getting the next level of the Nina Ottosson puzzle and Dr Catch. 

Nina Ottosson Level 2 Intermediate

Dr Catch Dog Puzzle

• Benebone Puppy Fishbone. Fira used to be obsessed with these! They’re perfect for chewers. They stay sturdy and don’t break apart. The shapes are great for fun chewing sessions.
• Nylabone Puppy Bone. A must for every first time puppy owner. Perfect rubbery toy for teething and massaging their sore gums. 
• Woof Pupsicle. You can purchase their refill pops and stick it inside, which keeps your pup busy for awhile, but you can even put your own treats or peanut butter in. I really like this as a general toy. It’s thick and withstands biting. The wheel-like shape makes it fun and travels pretty far. Great for fetch!
• Travel Collapsible Dog Bowl. Not a toy, but an essential, of course. This one comes in a set of 2: grey and pink! 
• Doggie Tail Ball. Toys with a tail are a must so there’s a bit of space between your fingers and your pup’s sharp teeth!
• Motion Activated Toy. Perfect interactive dog toy for entertaining themselves and boredom relief. Rue’s obsessed with this thing!
• Chilly Bone Dog Toy. Perfect to freeze to help their sore gums. You can also just twist a damp rag into a knot and keep it in the freezer for them to chew.

Best Grooming + Hygiene Products for French Bulldogs

Because Frenchies are so sensitive, I actually love using pure saline wipes (they’re safe for babies!) to clean under her eyes, folds, wrinkles, etc. If you like a little bit of scent, Our Floof Dog Wipes have a very clean, light scent. If you want more fragrance, Earthbath Wild Cherry Puppy Wipes smell SO good. They’re formulated for puppies, so it’s still clean + mild. I usually use them to wipe her paws down when they get damp from the grass, and she smells so clean and delicious. 

Ona Saline Wipes

• Duoxo Ear Cleaner. Rue started getting a bit of wax buildup in her ears, and I was cleaning them with a Q-tip and warm water. She hated it! My vet recommended Duoxo since French bulldogs can be prone to ear infections and it’s been a dream. She still hates ear cleanings, but I just squirt a bit into each ear and massage it in. Her ears have been clean since! I use it weekly or as needed.
• Duoxo Calm Shampoo. Such a gentle shampoo and good for sensitive French bulldog skin/fur, especially those with allergies.
• Natural Dog Company Snout Soother. This is a staple. I think I first tried it 15 years ago. Weston + Fira’s noses got easily dry, so I used it almost daily for them. It’s incredibly gentle and never caused any irritation.
• Natural Dog Company Skin Soother. Rue had a tiny knick on her ear, so I used the Skin Soother and it was gone within a few days. It has natural ingredients and perfect for small irritations, skin sensitivities, etc. 
• Vet’s Best Ear Wipes. I just love the convenience of the finger sleeve. Ever since I found the Duoxo Ear Cleaner, I don’t need these wipes as much, but I do still like having them around in a pinch. I even use them to wipe her butt after she poos, lol. 

• SleekEZ Shedding Brush. I’ve been using this brush for years to brush and de-shed. French bulldogs are notorious shedders, so a deshedding brush is a must. I like that this one is more shallow and doesn’t dig into their skin. 
• Skout’s Honor Stain & Odor Remover. Rue’s been home for 7 weeks and I’ve already used the whole 35 fl oz bottle. It has such a nice clean scent and really works! I’ve used it for pee, poo, and even vomit. It really removes the stain and doesn’t have that chemical smell that some other sprays have. 

Other Puppy Essentials

Puppies are constantly peeing and pooping, usually with zero warning, so I started tracking everything to figure out her patterns. The general rule is that they can hold their bladder for about one hour per month of age (ie: 3 months = 3 hours), but honestly, they go out way more often than that. I used the Pup to Date app ($9.99/year). It has a clean, user-friendly interface that makes adding updates super quick and simple. You can also add reminders and use their graphs, but I used it only to quickly input any pee/poo, naps + meals.

In the beginning, Rue sometimes peed every 15 minutes, but as the days passed, the time between stretched out longer and longer. This is when tracking comes in handy! You’ll see the progress weekly and be able to predict when they need to go out. 

Dog Stairs for Small Dogs

Steps are a must for French bulldogs, because of their potential back issues. Teach them to use the steps while they’re young! I used plenty of treats to show her how to use the steps up and down from the couch. I use the word “steps!” Doesn’t she look adorable?

Memory Foam Dog Car Seat

For beds, I don’t pay more than $20 because they can get ruined so easily. I always get them at Homegoods, Marshalls, etc. Also you can find that cute little grey sweater here.

Silicone Dog Food Mat

Elevated Ceramic Slow Feeder Bowl. It was such a journey to find the best bowl for my French bulldog Fira. It took many different bowls and changes. Rue is actually a very neat eater, but as she’s still a Frenchie, an elevated bowl is key. It supports digestion and reduces the chance of regurgitation. She loves her food and inhales it, so I’m finding this bowl as the best combo now.

Revolution Topical Treatment for Flea/Heartworm Prevention

Final Tips for French Bulldog Puppy Owners

Pet Insurance. We didn’t get pet insurance with Weston + Fira, but decided to with Rue. I chose Spot Insurance and added the Preventative Care as well (it covers up to a certain amount yearly for exams, vaccinations, spay, dental, etc). The insurance reimburses up to 90% and they pay out within a few days.  

Cleaning at Home. For a clean, pet-safe home, I highly recommend a Steam Mop– especially when you have a puppy. Steam mopping is one of the best ways to clean floors without harsh chemicals, while still naturally disinfecting and removing bacteria. Super important since puppies spend so much time on the ground, picking up things we can’t see and licking their paws. If you wipe your floors down with a Swiffer or cleaning solution like I do, following up with a steam mop keeps floors extra clean and safe for your dog.

If you have rugs or carpet, a portable carpet cleaner as a dog parent is a necessity. I have the Shark StainStriker and it is amazing. It’s really powerful and picks up all those pee spots and stains!

Plenty of Naps. Puppies need a surprising amount of sleep- about 14-16 hours a day! When puppies don’t get enough sleep, they can quickly become overtired, which means extra biting, zoomies, and naughty behavior. When Rue starts biting the toes and hanging off my pant leg, that’s nap time! It makes such a big difference. I make sure she gets 2 – 2.5 hour intervals of naps whenever possible. Usually, when they’re this young, they should be up no more than 90 minutes, then back for a nap.

Vaccinations. I decided to go with thimerosal-free vaccines + rabies shot. By eliminating thimerosal (a mercury-based preservative) it’s provides safer protection without unnecessary additives. Some vets do carry them now, so be sure to check. We’re allowing plenty of space between shots, so her vaccines are about 2-3 weeks apart and rabies will be done at 20 weeks old. 

Puppy School/Training. Rue and I go to weekly puppy classes, which she loves (and so do I!). She gets so much socialization and play time, which gives me a little break, honestly. Since she’s too young to go to dog parks, I love a controlled area where she can learn to socialize and play with boundaries. The pups also learn basic commands like sit/down, go to bed, leave it, and more. 

It’s a good idea to do 10-15 minutes a day of training with treats at home. It activates their brain and strengthens the bond between you two! Rue already knows sit, down, jump, gimme paw, go to your bed, leave it, look, get in your bag.

Get your puppy used to as many sounds, places and experiences as possible. One day, Rue will fly with us on trips occasionally, so I’ve already gotten her used to her carrier bag now- she jumps right in! Maybe she’ll be one of those dogs who like paddle boarding. That was something Fira and I loved doing together. Rue also loves going to restaurants already and small car rides. It just takes a lot of treats and praise!

• Read more: Step by Step Guide to Flying With Your Dog
• Read more: Best Airline Dog Carriers

Bringing home a French Bulldog puppy is such a special (and honestly a little chaotic) time, but having the right essentials makes everything so much easier. You really don’t need everything- over time, you’ll figure out what works best for your dog and your routine. I hope this guide helps you feel a little more prepared and excited for this new chapter- there’s nothing better than life with a puppy!