Wondering how to bathe a French Bulldog puppy and the products to use?
This article will take you through a step-by-step process to make it easier for you to clean your dog. It will also list some of the bathing products you’ll need.
Come with us for this and much more.
How to Wash a French Bulldog in a Bath and Shower
Wrap your French Bulldog in a towel:
Two towels are necessary before bathing your Frenchie. You’ll use one to pick your dog up and carry it, especially if it’s muddy, to avoid messing up your house.
Test the heat of the water:
Before washing your dog, ensure the shower water has the right temperature. Run the shower water away from your Frenchie and keep adjusting it while using your hand to test it till you get the proper temperature. The water should be lukewarm, just warm enough not to blister your dog’s skin but still warm enough to produce enough heat for a thorough wash.
Put your dog in the bath:
Place your French Bulldog gently. This step can be difficult at first, and your dog may attempt to leap out of the bath once the shower is turned on. You’ll need to take things slowly and remain patient. With time, your dog will learn to trust you and stop panicking, remaining calm in the bath.
Thoroughly wet your dog:
Before applying shampoo to your French Bulldog, rinse and ensure its fur is wet. This will help loosen up and remove the bulk of the dirt before shampooing. However, ensure that no water enters your dog’s ears or eyes, which may cause discomfort. You can also cover your dog’s head with a bathing cap to prevent unforeseen circumstances.
Shampoo your dog:
Squeeze some shampoo into your hand and apply it to your Frenchie’s coat. Gently massage it into your Frenchie’s fur from head to tail. Pay attention to areas behind the ears, under the neck and belly, down the legs, and between the toes. Ensure you clean the pocket tail well, as it is susceptible to bacteria.
Rinse out the shampoo:
Allow the shampoo to work for a few minutes, then rinse it off thoroughly. Ensure that everything is washed out and no shampoo is left behind. Any shampoo residue can lead to irritation. While at it, ensure that the water and shampoo do not get on your Frenchie’s face, as this can make it panic and try to jump out of the bath.
Repeat shampooing:
If your dog is extremely dirty, you may need to reapply shampoo after rinsing the first time. This will ensure that you get rid of all dirt. Massage the shampoo on the areas with dirt and rinse off well.
Brush through your Frenchie’s coat:
Bathing a French Bulldog produces lots of hair. You’ll need to brush through its coat to get some of the hair shed off before drying it.
Dry your dog thoroughly:
Ensure you dry your washed Frenchie thoroughly, as you don’t want your fur baby walking around completely drenched and comfortable. Wrap your dog with an absorbent towel to dry it completely. You can use a hair dryer with no heat to dry your Frenchie. Keep combing its hair while using the hair dryer.
Use a dry clean spray shampoo:
Although this step is optional, you can spray your dog’s coat with a dry clean spray shampoo to keep it smelling fresher. Just give a few sprays over its body to eliminate the wet dog smell.
How to Keep Frenchies Clean Between Baths
It may not be possible to give your bath all the time. Additionally, bathing your dog too frequently can deplete its skin of its oils, making it extremely dry. However, there are several methods you can use to keep your dog clean between baths. These include:
Utilize wet wipes:
Frenchies are prone to bad odor due to their heavy wrinkles and folds. Pet wipes provide an excellent way to keep your Frenchie fresh and clean before its next bath. You can use these to clean your dog’s wrinkles, folds, armpits, and tail pockets. Remember, Frenchies are prone to allergies and skin sensitivities. Thus, ensure you go for wet wipes that contain natural ingredients, as these are gentle on the skin.
Brush regularly:
Brushing your French Bulldog often is an essential part of keeping it clean. It will help prevent dirt from sticking to your dog’s fur. Regular brushing helps remove loose hair, dirt, and parasites and decreases shedding. It also stimulates proper blood flow helping your Frenchie maintain a healthy and shiny coat.
Dry shampoo:
You can apply a dog-friendly dry shampoo on your Frenchies coat and brush it out to keep it smelling great. These shampoos are antibacterial and rich in herbs that give them a fresh scent. Just massage the shampoo on your dog and brush it; no need to rinse it off.
Keep your dog’s mouth clean:
Regularly brush your Frenchie’s teeth with doggie toothpaste. This will keep its mouth fresh and prevent stinky breath. You can also give your dog dental chews to help prevent tartar buildup.
Keep your dog’s wrinkles and paws dry:
Wrinkles are a perfect breeding place for infections when moist. Wipe these areas with wet wipes or tissues to keep them dry, prevent infections, and keep your dog smelling fresh.
Clean the eyes and ears:
Frequently clean your dog’s ears and eyes to prevent painful infections and bad smells. You can use a soft towel to do this.
Keep the sleeping area clean:
Your dog can’t be clean if its sleeping area is dirty. Ensure you wash your Frenchie’s bedding and clean the sleeping space to keep it looking and smelling fresh. Don’t litter the bed area.
Clean the tail pocket:
Frenchies don’t have tails but tail pockets. This dark and moist area can hide dirt and feces, making it susceptible to harmful bacteria. Ensure you raise the tail and clean the tail pocket clean at all times. You can use wet wipes to keep the area clean.
Bathing Products
These are some of the things you’ll need to bathe your French Bulldog;
- Dog shampoo: Always go for a specifically designed shampoo for dogs. This should be gentle and made with natural ingredients to avoid irritating your dog’s skin.
- Grooming gloves: Get a good pair of gloves before washing your dog. You can also use these to remove dead hair from your dog’s coat.
- Moisturizer: These are essential for moisturizing your dog’s skin and coat to avoid excessive dryness and flaking. Use moisturizers specially formulated for dogs, which are gentle on their sensitive skins.
- Grooming brush or comb: You’ll need this to brush your Frenchie’s coat and keep it from tangling. It’s also essential for removing excessive and loose hair from your dog. The brush or coat should be soft enough to avoid hurting your dog.
- Towel: You’ll need clean, soft, and absorbent towels to help dry your dog.
- Oils: After drying your dog, you’ll need essential oils to keep your dog smelling nice and to keep pests at bay.
What can I use for bathing my French Bulldog puppy?
You can use a gentle dog shampoo made with natural ingredients to avoid irritating your dog’s skin. Never use any harsh detergents or chemicals for bathing your French Bulldog puppy.
What kind of soap do you use for French Bulldogs?
You should use a dog-friendly soap that’s gentle and devoid of harsh ingredients or chemicals that can harm your dog’s skin. A soap that contains natural ingredients only and is free from parabens is the best choice.
Can I use baby shampoo on my French Bulldog?
Yes, you can use baby shampoo on your Frenchie as it’s designed to be gentle and sensitive to the skin hence less likely to irritate your dog’s skin. However, it’s best to stick to shampoos specifically for dogs.
What can I shampoo my French Bulldog with?
You can use a specifically dog-formulated shampoo designed for sensitive skin because Frenchies have very sensitive skin.
Can I wash my French Bulldog with dish soap?
You can use dish soap such as Dawn or Palmolive to wash your French on rare occasions. However, using this regularly is not advisable as it can lead to skin irritation or infections.
How do I wash my Frenchies face?
You can use a clean, moist washcloth to remove dirt or debris between wrinkles and folds. Then, use a clean, soft, dry towel to wipe away any moisture and keep it dry.
How can I make my French Bulldog smell better?
You can make your Frenchie smell better by washing it using natural shampoo. You can also use a dry shampoo or dog spray on its coat to keep it smelling fresh between baths.
Can you use Vaseline on French Bulldogs?
No, you should never use Vaseline on your Frenchie. While this is not toxic, your dog can end up licking it off its skin and paws, which can be harmful if ingested in large amounts.
How often should I bathe my Frenchie?
You should bathe your dog once every 1-2 months. Frenchies should be bathed at least five times a year to avoid drying out their natural skin oils.
Can I use baby wipes on my French Bulldog?
No, you shouldn’t use baby wipes or any other human wipes on your French Bulldog as the PH level on human skin is different to dogs and, as such, can lead to skin issues such as irritation and itching.
Can I put coconut oil on my French Bulldog?
Yes, you can use coconut oil on your dog’s coat. It minimizes the dog odor coming from the coat or skin of your Frenchie hence promoting healthy skin. It can help keep your dog’s skin and coat well moisturized.
How do you dry a bulldog after a bath?
You can use an absorbent towel to squeeze out water from your Frenchie’s hair. You can also use a hair dryer or a quick-drying spray to dry your dog after a bath. Allow your dog to shake itself to dry itself.
Should I wipe my dog after he poops?
Yes, you can wipe your dog after it poops to help keep it cleaner. However, this is unnecessary as dogs can clean themselves after pooping. Dogs also have glands that release a substance that aids in lubricating their stools, making it easy to poop without leaving much residue.
How do I wash my dog without a bath?
You can use pet wipes to wipe out your dog and keep it clean without needing a bath. You can also apply dry shampoo or dog sprays on your dog’s coat to keep it smelling fresh and clean.
Final Thoughts
Frenchies are playful and have heavy wrinkles and folds, sometimes making them stinky. It’s thus crucial to keep them clean at all times by giving them a thorough wash occasionally.
However, bathing your Frenchie frequently is not recommended as it can cause its natural body oils to dry, leading to skin issues.
Bathing a French Bulldog can be challenging, especially for the first time. You must exercise patience and allow your dog to get used to it. Following the tips above will make the process easier. Go ahead and try them out.