Best treats for French Bulldogs: A simple guide for happy, healthy Frenchies

Those big bat ears, that hopeful snort, the little wiggle when the treat jar comes out – French Bulldogs know exactly how to ask for a reward. But Frenchies are built a little differently from most dogs, so choosing their treats needs a bit of thought. In this guide to the best treats for French Bulldogs, we'll cover the size and shape that suit a flat face, the ingredients worth looking for, how many treats to give and how to use them for training – all kept simple.

At a glance:

Small and easy to pick up: Frenchies have short muzzles, so small, flat or soft treats are easier to eat.

Simple ingredients: One protein and a short list are a good choice for Frenchies with sensitive tummies or skin.

Little and often: Frenchies can gain weight easily, so keep treats tiny and count them in the daily food.

Perfect for training: Food-loving Frenchies learn quickly with small, tasty rewards.

In this guide:

• What makes French Bulldogs different?
• What to look for in the best treats for French Bulldogs
• Treats to be careful with
• How many treats should a French Bulldog have?
• Using treats to train your Frenchie
• Treats for French Bulldog puppies
• Choosing the right treats for your Frenchie

What makes French Bulldogs different?

The Royal Kennel Club describes the French Bulldog as a small breed needing up to an hour of exercise a day. It also notes that, as a flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed, Frenchies can have extra soft tissue in the nose and throat, as well as crowded teeth and skin folds.

What does that mean for treat time?

• Short muzzle: Picking up and chewing large, round or very hard treats can be awkward.
• Fast eaters: Many Frenchies gulp their food, so treat size matters.
• Easy to overfeed: Small dogs with moderate exercise needs don't need many extra calories.
• Sensitive tummies and skin: Plenty of Frenchie owners look for simple, single-protein treats.

If your Frenchie has a health condition, is on medication or you're worried about a change in them, please speak to your vet first. Noisy breathing, struggling in warm weather or tiring quickly are always worth discussing with your vet.

What to look for in the best treats for French Bulldogs

The right size and shape

Think small and flat rather than big and round. Treats about the size of a pea or a fingernail are ideal for training, and soft strips you can tear are brilliant because you control the size. Our treats for small dogs are a good place to start.

A soft or easy-to-break texture

Soft treats are easier for a short muzzle to manage and quicker to eat during training. Our Meaty Mini Strips are soft and easy to break into tiny pieces.

One protein

Single-protein treats make it easier to see what agrees with your Frenchie. If your dog is happy on turkey, a 100% turkey treat keeps things simple.

A short ingredients list

The fewer the ingredients, the easier it is to know what your dog is eating – especially helpful if your Frenchie is prone to itchy skin or an upset tummy.

Lower fat options

Because Frenchies can put on weight easily, lower-fat treats are a useful everyday choice. You'll find options in our low fat treats collection.

Treats to be careful with

• Large, hard chews: These can be tricky for flat faces and may be gulped. If you give a chew, choose one too big to be swallowed whole, and always supervise.
• Rawhide: Many owners prefer to avoid rawhide, especially for dogs who gulp.
• Rich, fatty treats: These add lots of calories quickly.
• Treats with long ingredients lists: Harder to work out what suits your dog.
• Human food: Rich leftovers can upset a Frenchie's tummy, and some foods are toxic to dogs. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions and xylitol are poisonous to dogs – contact your vet straight away if your dog has eaten any of these.

How many treats should a French Bulldog have?

A widely used guideline is to keep treats to around 10% of your dog's daily calories, with the rest coming from their complete food. For a small dog like a Frenchie, that doesn't leave room for many big treats – which is why tiny pieces are so useful.

Simple ways to keep things balanced:

• Break treats into small pieces. Ten tiny rewards feel better to your dog than one big one.
• Count everything. Training treats, chews and titbits all add up.
• Adjust meals on training days. Take a little from their daily food if they've had lots of rewards.
• Check their shape. You should be able to feel your Frenchie's ribs easily and see a waist from above. If you're unsure, your vet or vet nurse can help.

Mr Barnaby's top tip: Measure out the day's treats into a small pot each morning. When the pot's empty, it's praise and cuddles only.

Using treats to train your Frenchie

French Bulldogs are clever, food-loving and sometimes wonderfully stubborn. Treats help make training feel like a game.

• Keep sessions short. Two to five minutes, a couple of times a day, works well.
• Reward quickly. Small, soft treats are eaten fast, so you can reward the exact moment your dog gets it right.
• Train on cool, calm days. Frenchies can find warm weather hard, so keep active training gentle and avoid hot parts of the day.
• Use a mix of rewards. Praise, a quick game and a cuddle all count.
• Be patient. If your Frenchie decides to sit and stare at you instead, make the step easier and try again.

Three easy first tricks for Frenchies

1. "Look at me": Say your dog's name, and the moment they look at you, say "yes" and give a tiny treat. This is the foundation for everything else, from busy streets to vet waiting rooms.
2. Sit: Hold a treat just above your Frenchie's nose and move it slowly backwards over their head. As their bottom goes down, say "yes" and reward. Keep the treat low – Frenchies don't need to stretch their necks up high.
3. Settle on a mat: Pop a mat down and reward your dog each time they step on it, then each time they lie down on it. Before long, the mat becomes their favourite place to relax.

Practise each trick for a minute or two at a time, and finish while your dog is still keen. Two short sessions a day will get you further than one long one, and your Frenchie will start to look forward to training time.

For more ideas, our guide to dog training treats explains how to choose the right reward for each situation.

Treats for French Bulldog puppies

Frenchie puppies are learning fast, so treats are a big part of early training. Keep these points in mind:

• Go even smaller. Pieces the size of a lentil are plenty for a puppy.
• Choose soft treats. Easier for small mouths and growing teeth.
• One new treat at a time. Puppies' tummies can be sensitive, so introduce new treats slowly over a week.
• Use part of their daily food. For easy training at home, some of their kibble can be a reward.
• Check the pack. Follow any age guidance on the treats you choose.

Choosing the right treats for your Frenchie

At Mr Barnaby's, our air-dried treats are made to keep things simple. Most are 100% one meat, grain-free and hypoallergenic, with no added nasties – made with single or novel proteins, which many owners of sensitive dogs prefer.

For Frenchies, we'd suggest starting with soft Meaty Mini Strips torn into tiny pieces for training, and a single-protein bite for everyday rewards. If your Frenchie has a sensitive side, our hypoallergenic treats are a simple place to look.

Summary:

The best treats for French Bulldogs are small, soft or easy to break, made with one protein and a short ingredients list, and given little and often. Frenchies have short muzzles, can gain weight easily and sometimes have sensitive tummies, so tiny, simple treats work best. Count treats in the daily food, supervise chews and speak to your vet about any health worries.

FAQs:

Q1: What treats are safe for French Bulldogs?

Small, soft or easy-to-break treats with simple ingredients are a good choice. Avoid giving large, hard chews unsupervised, and never give chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions or xylitol.

Q2: What is the best treat for a French Bulldog puppy?

Soft, single-protein treats broken into tiny pieces suit most Frenchie puppies. Introduce one new treat at a time and follow any age guidance on the pack.

Q3: How many treats can a French Bulldog have a day?

Aim to keep treats to around 10% of your dog's daily calories. For a small dog like a Frenchie, that means a few small treats broken into tiny pieces, with meals adjusted on busy training days.

Q4: Are chews safe for French Bulldogs?

Chews can be enjoyed with care. Choose a size that can't be swallowed whole, always supervise and take the chew away once it's small enough to swallow.

Q5: Do French Bulldogs have sensitive stomachs?

Some Frenchies do, and many owners find simple, single-protein treats suit them best. If your dog has ongoing tummy upsets, speak to your vet.

Q6: Are French Bulldogs easy to train with treats?

Most Frenchies love food, which makes treats a great motivator. Keep sessions short and fun, reward quickly and be patient with their independent streak.

Not sure which treats suit your Frenchie? Take our 60-second quiz and we'll make it simple.