From what we’ve experienced, there’s a big difference between a Frenchie puppy and an older Frenchie dog. Something around the two year mark makes a big difference in their behavior. Most of what I am listing here is about the two year old dog, so if your pup is less than that they will want more energetic and playful activities.
Here is a list of things to include if you want a miserable Frenchie, and things to avoid if you want to have happy one:
- Go on lots of long, high-paced, physically strenuous adventures. Some dogs are meant for hiking and racing and long hunts. Frenchies are not. When exercising your Frenchie, taking a 15-20 minute walk around the neighborhood when the temperature is decent works for them. Usually once it hits 80 degrees we keep the dogs inside except to go to the bathroom. They’re prone to overheating, so if you push your Frenchie too much he might not be miserable, but dead! If you’re wanting a companion to join you on hikes, you might find a more appropriate breed.
- Leave your dog alone for long stretches of time regularly. The whole design of a Frenchie is to be a social member of the family. They need lots of human interaction and would like plenty of dog interaction, as well. If you want to add a Frenchie to your family but plan on leaving them alone for 40 hours a week, you might reconsider!
- Cheap out on food. Just like there is bad food for humans (which is usually less expensive than the good stuff), there is bad food for dogs. Dogs are carnivores, so a good rule of thumb is if the list of ingredients doesn’t start with meat, it’s probably not super good for them. A poorly fed dog feels a lot like a poorly fed human: miserable.
- Have no rules. Frenchies are notoriously stubborn, and if you don’t establish yourself as the alpha and establish household rules, you and your dog will have irritating communication problems. If she is not properly trained, then she might think she is the alpha and be confused by you not taking her lead!
I hope you don’t want a miserable Frenchie! The more you understand dogs, and the Frenchie breed specifically, the happier your pup will likely be. Overall, your Frenchie needs good exercise (but be aware of their breathing difficulties), good socialization, good food, and a good household structure.