What is a French Bulldog’s Average Weight?

In this research you will know the answer to the query “What is a French Bulldog’s Average Weight?“.

There have been at least three or four articles that I have written about French Bulldogs and their weight. Previously I have written about a skinny Bulldog and Frenchies that do not eat.

I am going to discuss the entire topic of the average weight of a French Bulldog in this post.

Dogs should neither be too skinny nor too fat to be healthy. Most dogs already know this. Do you know how to tell if your furry friend is of a healthy weight? 

Despite their small size French bulldogs can be hard to tell when they are underweight or overweight especially to untrained eyes. If however your Frenchie appears smaller or bigger than other French bulldogs of the same age then you may have a dog with a weight problem.

However before you get worked up over the current weight of your dog you have to compare it to the standard healthy weight and growth rate of French bulldogs. The only time you should be worried about your Frenchies weight is when it greatly deviates from this standard.

French bulldog healthy weight

In general male French bulldogs weigh a little more than their female counterparts. In spite of this even within the same age and gender these dogs vary slightly in weight. At 3 months old a male French bulldog weighs between 8.6 and 12.9 pounds on average. The average male Frenchie weighs between 15.5 and 23.6 pounds at 6 months and 19.8 to 30.4 pounds at 12 months of age.

For female French bulldogs the figures are somewhat lower. Female French bulldogs weighing between 7.7 and 12.1 pounds at 3 months of age. This weight will be between 13.8 and 22.1 pounds at 6 months of age. Between 17.6 and 28.4 pounds will be the weight of a female Frenchie when she is a year old. 

Frenchies weigh 20 – 28 pounds on average when they are adults (2 years old and above) while females weigh 18 – 26 pounds. You can safely say that your French bulldog is healthy if his/her weight falls within the weight range that corresponds to his/her age. It should be noted that a persons weight is largely determined by the genes they inherit from their parents in addition to diet age and lifestyle.

If your Frenchies weight is a little below or above the specified weight range for his age you may not need to worry. You should not worry about your dogs weight without any evidence that theres a problem. Rather than getting worked up over nothing find out for sure if your Frenchie is healthy by paying your vet a visit. 

Signs that your dog is overweight/underweight

When a dog is underweight overweight or healthy there are always obvious signs. By simply looking at and observing a dog in perfect body shape and size you can tell the dogs exact weight and size. 

Just by observing your dog you should be able to tell whether or not she is healthy and in perfect shape. Either by looking at your dog or by conducting a simple exercise where you check his body for too much or too little fat you can accomplish this. 

The only thing you need to do in this exercise is using your hands and eyes to feel your dogs body. Look down at the dog while she is standing. Any dog with a healthy weight will have a broad chest and a narrow waist. If your dog looks like this meaning its chest is broad and its waist is tapered thats a good sign. 

Your dogs body will need to be examined next. Using your open hands feel both sides of your body paying attention to the rib cage. With a healthy weight of a dog you should be able to feel the rib cage and spine beneath your palm but you would not be able to see the ribs clearly with your eyes. 

The rib cage and spine of an overweight dog will be buried beneath a thick layer of fat and you would not easily be able to see or feel them while the rib cage and spine of an underweight dog will be clearly visible beneath a thin layer of skin. 

Dogs with sagging bellies may also have too much in their bodies since healthy dogs have raised bellies. Generally puppies and young dogs tend to be skinnier than older dogs because they are more physically active and expend more calories. 

How to help your French Bulldog lose weight

Losing a few pounds and regaining a healthy weight for your Frenchie isnot as difficult as you might think. In theory its as simple as eating less and exercising more. You can burn off excess fat in your dog within 5 to 7 months if you create a weight loss plan and strictly follow it. The process will take several months since there isnot a quick fix for it but rather a long-term one. These tips will help you get started and keep you on the right path.

Feed your dog multiple times a day: A dogs eating routine should not include 1 or 2 large meals per day. Small frequent meals are a healthy way to feed a dog. The reason is partly that it will keep your dogs blood sugar level more stable throughout the day thereby reducing the number of extra calories stored in the dogs body. 

Replace sugary treats with healthy options: Some dog owners lose sight of the number of calories treats deposit in their dogs’ bodies. For your dogs weight loss and diet program to be successful drastically cut back on the number of treats you give him and replace unhealthy sugar-laden treats with healthy ones like fruits and vegetables. 

Consider a change of diet: If you give your dog store-bought or packaged food its much easier than preparing diet-rich home-cooked meals. The latter however is the healthier option and will provide your dog with all the nutrients she needs. Also you should consult a veterinarian to examine your dog and suggest healthy meals or draw up a diet plan to help your dog lose extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight. It is important to change a dogs diet gradually to prevent digestive problems. 

Help your pet expend more calories: Exercises are essential for your dogs weight loss plan. Exercise options for your dog include daily brisk walks lasting at least 30 minutes that leave your dog panting running up and down the stairs playing fetch with a ball a toy or other dogs in your neighborhood. To speed up your pups weight loss consider getting her a dog treadmill.

How to help your French Bulldog gain weight

Neither too much nor too little fat is good for dogs. If your Frenchie is too skinny these are some suggestions to help her gain some weight. Your dog is healthy when she has a healthy weight. 

Check with your vet to know if your dog is healthy

As soon as you suspect that your dog is underweight your first instinct may be to give her more food. There are times when a dogs weight loss is caused by a disease. Therefore before you begin your mission to fatten your dog you should let a vet examine him.

Make sure your pet’s getting sufficient calories

Your dogs diet should be examined to make sure she is getting enough nutrients and calories. Make sure the pet food you’re feeding her has all the nutrients she needs by checking the nutritional profile. You should also include foods with high protein content as these will encourage weight gain. 

Change your dog’s feeding routine

By giving your dog smaller portions of food (including homemade meals in her diet) several times a day you’ll ensure she gets all the nutrients she needs while maintaining a high level of energy. Additionally this feeding routine encourages your dog to clean her plate.

Support your dog’s diet with healthy treats

Pets love peanut butter treats because they are high in protein and high in calories. Apples carrots and pumpkins are other good choices. 

Health concerns of overweight/underweight French bulldogs

Overweight or obese dogs are more susceptible to a variety of serious health conditions. It only takes 5 extra pounds for your canine friend to develop a number of unpleasant and very serious diseases because dogs cannot handle fats as well as humans. 

The French bulldog is known for having breathing problems and if yours already has a respiratory condition even the slightest bit of extra fat can worsen the situation which is quite frightening. French bulldogs as well as overweight dogs have a higher risk of developing serious health conditions such as diabetes heart disease liver disease kidney disease and gastrointestinal disease. 

Underweight dogs are also not safe. These dogs lack some essential vitamins and nutrients and therefore have weak immune systems which make them more susceptible to diseases especially parasitic infections. 

Conclusion

There will be variations in a dogs body weight at different stages of his or her life; these variations are completely natural and are dependent on a variety of factors. As dogs age they gain weight so expect a Frenchie that is older to weigh more than one that is much younger. Age is not the only factor that affects a dogs weight. Gender genetics diet lifestyle and activity level are also important. Maintaining a healthy body weight is the best way to keep your dog healthy. It will help to protect the dog from infectious diseases.

If you want to read more about dog health tips read here: Dog Health Tips and Tricks.

What is a French Bulldog’s Average Weight? (Watch Video)