Do French Bulldogs Shed? (10 Best Grooming Tools)
Do French Bulldogs Shed?
As much as I’d like to say French Bulldogs don't shed, I’d be lying to you…
French Bulldogs do shed however not as much as longer haired breeds. French Bulldogs can shed a lot more in warmer months but that is no different to other dogs. Toby's coat is fairly thick and therefore sheds a lot more than other French Bulldogs and because his fur is a beautiful creamy fawn color it’s quite noticeable on my charcoal grey couch and black clothing (which is basically my entire wardrobe). Whenever Toby and I walk around the park I always field the same question “Oh French Bulldogs are adorable, but do they shed and are they hypoallergenic?” To which I respond with a firm ‘absolutely not’, I elaborate by explaining that French Bulldogs have a bristly, thick coat and tend to shed two times a year.
It’s important to note that some French Bulldogs, like Toby, will have a second undercoat that will grow in colder seasons and of course in warmer seasons will shed more. Whereas other French bulldogs have thinner sleeker coats during all seasons and really depends on the animal’s genetics. French Bulldog coats can be described as “course seal fur which lacks the oil slick luster” and on a scale of 1-10, I would describe French Bulldogs as a serious 5 on the shedder scale.
In terms of cleaning up little deposits of fur left around the house, it is pretty easy and the great thing part is that when your French Bulldog matures so will its coat and adult French Bulldogs shedding tends to wane in later years. It is known that puppies shed a lot more in their younger years but never fret there are so many tools out there that can zap up all the hair.
Causes of excessive French Bulldog shedding
Now, the important item to remember is that French Bulldog should not excessively shed. Excessive is when you can locate bald spots on your French Bulldog body, if this is the case it can be due to a few different reasons. Seeing your local vet is a good idea if you start to observe your French Bulldog scratch in a particular area causing baldness or hair just falling. Determining the correct reason for excessive shedding is important to mitigate any health issues later on. Upon seeing your local Vet they will be able to determine if the shedding is natural or caused by an underlying health issue, common causes for excessive shedding may include:
- Food allergies
- Liver and thyroid disease
- Parasites (such as fleas or ticks)
- Bacterial and fungal infections
- Self-induced trauma, biting, scratching and licking
- Cancer
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Sunburn
- Poor nutrition
- Coming into contact with plants/shrubs
Sometimes excessive shedding can be caused by a reaction to a specific food or due to poor nutrition. It may be worth trying to omit certain foods and conduct a process of elimination to understand what foods may be causing the excessive shedding of hair. In almost all cases excessive shedding warrants a trip to the Vet, especially if you spot signs of skin irritation or redness, dull and dry hair, open sores, balding and constant scratching and/or licking.
Tips for Decreasing Shedding in French Bulldogs
In order to reduce Toby’s shedding, we’ve tried the below remedies:
15-minute Grooming: We brush Toby with a course boar bristle brush and he absolutely loves the feeling of the thick bristles running down his back. This is a win-win situation because I rid of the excess hair on his body and he gets a 15-minute massage from me! Despite what other people say about French Bulldogs enjoying a pamper here and there, I beg to differ!
Make sure to wash/bathe your French Bulldog: I can’t stand smelly dogs so I make Toby come into the shower with me. Toby doesn’t shower with me on a daily basis but as needed. It’s important not to bathe your French Bulldog more than once every fortnight as this may strip them of their natural skin oils that keep their fur healthy. Be sure to reward him/her after their bath!
Good quality food, nutritious is key: I always add a teaspoon of coconut oil to Toby’s dog food morning and night. I also feed Toby food rich in Omega 3 such as salmon or even give him a fish oil tablet. I find this helps keep his coat beautiful and soft and his skin well moisturized meaning no dandruff or excessive hair shedding around the house. Toby also eats a grain free diet which as improved his digestion.
Use A Fatty Acid Supplement: As mentioned above, supplementing your French Bulldog with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids have been proven to help the coat of French Bulldogs reduce shedding. You can buy this in the form of Salmon oil or in other dietary supplements.
But let’s be honest with each other, if we own a French Bulldog hair and pet hair removal are just a fact of life. Yes, it can be annoying seeing it on our clothes, clumped in little dust bunnies and lying in the corner of our house, however, it’s just a minor inconvenience we accept as part of being French Bulldog owners and if we can put up with their snoring, farting, food gulping and stubbornness I’m sure a little hair won’t hurt!
But If you are a clean freak like me and in order to keep your house tidy and guest ready, I’ve compiled a list of tools that may help you remove all traces (well, not ALL traces but it’ll do a mighty fine job banishing the hair!) of French Bulldog hair. Take a look and I hope you’ll find something here that will help.
Top 10 Best French Bulldog Grooming Tools
1. Dyson Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner
A solid but worthwhile investment, this is the Rolls Royce of pet hair removal tools and my absolute go to for pet hair removal. The Dyson Animal has powerful suction and boasts a tangle-free turbine tool to remove dirt and hair from carpets and upholstery. This is relatively light in weight and a dream to use and by far the best domestic present I have ever purchased for myself.
2. Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away
If you’re on a budget the Rotator is a good quality everyday vacuum. Though it’s not built like the Dyson and categorically known for pet hair clean up, it gets rave reviews from pet owners for its hair-annihilating properties. It’s easy to maneuver, super lightweight and easy to clean!
3. FURminator
This one is a little gem, great for thicker bristle-haired French Bulldogs, a quick brush through will leave you speechless, it’s fascinating how much hair it can pick up. It’s at a good price point and delivers what it promises,
4. Grooming and Deshedding Glove
They said it was impossible to have a grooming tool and de-shedder in one single device…once again the clean and tidy fairy strikes again, See the birth of the Groomer and De-shedding Glove. Amazing! Just pet your dog with the glove to give them a shiny coat, and then pick up stray hair from the furniture with the same petting motion.
This is a staple if you own a French Bulldog, the FURemover Broom has a strong hair-gathering ability and effective on several surfaces. Bend your back NO MORE with the brooms long handle, the beauty of this product is that you can use it on tiles, carpet, wooden floorboards and even vinyl.
I use this broom to clean my car after I sudd it up, it’s great for removing all the dried fecal matter, thanks, Seagulls! No more chips for you!
An epic French Bulldog grooming tool showcasing firm but gentle rubber bristles that remove loose hair and stimulate dogs’ skin for a healthy, shiny coat. I use this on Toby after his shower and he loves how it feels against his bodice.
These mitts are another key staple item I store in my cupboards. Why?
Because not only are they affordable but they are made with some voodoo magical material that makes fur and hair stick to them, what’s even more impressive is that you rub your mitts together in the opposite direction and hey presto! The hair/fur just comes right off.
You have to give this a try if you haven’t already experienced the Pick it up Mitt. Mitts are great for removing hair from more delicate clothing, as the soft material means your clothes won’t be pulled or pilled from abrasion.
Inexpensive and super easy to use, these beauties do a great job cleaning small surface areas especially used on clothes. I wish they had super large versions of these so I can lint roll my whole couch, however, this works wonders on all my work jackets, coats, pants, you name it! I even carry a mini one in my handbag if I have to see a client. No pet hair on me!
9. Evercare Pet Mega Cleaning Roller
Wait a minute…they do have a giant version of the lint roller!
I have been blessed by the clean and tidy fairies out there. This Cleaning Roller is like a lint roller but on steroids, just look at it! This will definitely clean larger surface areas like bedding, upholstery, and rugs.
If you’re running short of time because you forgot to buy milk the other day and realized your kids will be eating dry cereal in the morning alongside their dry toast because you also forgot the butter, do yourself a favor and get a Fur-D Duo Fur Remover. This is a two-sided device with small and big bristles, big bristles are used to brush your French Bulldogs coat and remove loose fur and the finer bristles are perfect for brushing the hair off the upholstery. The bonus is that the tool comes in an array of colors to suit your décor.
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