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French Bulldog Growth & Weight Chart (With Growth Stage Pictures)

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By Nicole Cosgrove

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The French Bulldog is a pup you can’t help but love. He is a sweet dog that can live just about anywhere, as long as he can stay close to you and get lots of attention. It’s no wonder that this pet has captured fourth place as the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) most popular breed. It’s a no-brainer on so many scores.

This pup is part of AKC’s Non-Sporting Group. However, that doesn’t give you an indication of his size since it includes a wide range of breeds. Instead, these are dogs that didn’t have a particular job, such as herding or guardian roles. One characteristic that factors into the Frenchie’s size and care is the fact that he is a brachycephalic or flat-faced breed.

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Facts About the French Bulldog

french bulldog puppy
Image Credit: Firn, Shutterstock

The standards of many breeds often include a range of height and weight. That’s not the case with the French Bulldog. While his height runs from 11–13 inches, his weight is under 28 pounds. Of course, females are smaller than males. The AKC considers any dog over that limit a disqualification. Balanced is an ideal trait, too. Even though he’s small, the Frenchie is a muscular pup.

The French Bulldog’s head is relatively large when considering the proportions of the dog. His front legs are also shorter than the rear ones, which accounts for the distribution of his weight. This pup feels like he’s all muscle. That makes sense for his playful nature, but otherwise, this pooch isn’t the most energetic of canines.

French Bulldog Puppy Weight Chart

The weight ranges below provide a guide to the growth pattern of the French Bulldog. Bear in mind that small breeds mature more rapidly, both physically and sexually than a large dog like a Newfoundland. He’ll reach his adult weight at about 12 months. On the other hand, a bigger pooch will reach the same milestone at 16 months or older.

Male French Bulldog Weight Chart

    Age Weight Range
3 months 8.5–12.75 lbs
6 months 15.5–23.5 lbs
7 months 13–24 lbs
8 months 17–26 lbs
9 months 18–28 lbs
10 months 19–28.5 lbs
11 months 19.5–29 lbs
1 year 20–30 lbs

Cute French Bulldog playing with toy at home
Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

Female French Bulldog Weight Chart

    Age Weight Range
3 months 7–12 lbs
6 months 13.5–22 lbs
7 months 15–24 lbs
8 months 16–26 lbs
9 months 16.5–26.5 lbs
10 months 17–27 lbs
11 months 17–27.5 lbs
1 year 17.5–28 lbs

You need to take good care of your pet while they are growing, so you can use our calculator tool to help you know how much to feed your pup and keep their well-being:

The exact amount of calories an individual animal needs to maintain a healthy weight is variable and influenced by many factors including genetics, age, breed, and activity level. This tool is meant to be used only as a guideline for healthy individuals and does not substitute veterinary advice 

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French Bulldog Growth Pictures

There are several vital life milestones for a French Bulldog that are a joy to watch. The early months are critical. During this time, he is getting his first vaccinations that will bridge the gap from his mother’s immunity to his own. The timing is vital. He must stick with the schedule recommended by your veterinarian.

Some apply to all dogs, such as distemper and rabies. Others will vary depending on your pet’s risk. If your French Bulldog is in contact with other pups, you should get him a kennel cough vaccine. Likewise, if you take him on the trail with you, consider getting him a Lyme disease vaccine.


2 Month Old French Bulldog

Adorable french bulldog puppy_Angyalosi Beata_shutterstock
Photo Credit: Angyalosi Beata, Shutterstock

This life stage is a vital one for a French Bulldog. They are starting to learn social skills and how they fit in the hierarchy with their littermates. They are becoming more independent and starting to show signs of their unique personalities that will define them as adults.


3 Month Old French Bulldog

french bulldog
Image Credit: Liliya Kulianionak, Shutterstock

A 12-week-old puppy is ready both mentally and physically to make the transition to a new home. It’s still a stressful experience, but at least his immune system is capable of handling it. Socialization is critical at this age as it will determine how well he gets along with other people and pets.


4 Month Old French Bulldog

4 Month Frenchie
Image Credit: CC0 Public Domain, pikrepo

A four-month-old pup starts to get bolder, making training imperative to control bad habits early in the game. At this point, he’s gaining confidence and might try to get away with things. It’s essential to get his nippy behavior in check with positive reinforcement instead of harsh reprimands.


6 Month Old French Bulldog

French Bulldog
Image Credit: CC0 Public Domain, pxhere

This age is the puppy equivalent of the terrible twos. He’s teething now, with his adult teeth replacing the baby ones. Anything is fair game for this pup. He will chew on anything he can find, whether or not it’s appropriate. Supervise his time in the house to make sure that he’s not going after your shoes instead of his chew stick.


9 Month Old French Bulldog

french bulldog

It is vital to continue consistent training with your nine-month-old French Bulldog. You’ll find bad habits harder to break if he’s still misbehaving at this age. He’s close to his adult size at this point, with just a bit more filling out before he’s done growing.


French Bulldog 1 Year Old

french bulldog with collar
Image Credit: speckfechta, Unsplash

Your puppy French Bulldog is now an adult. You can transition him to a dog food for pups at this life stage. It’s critical to make this change because his caloric and nutritional needs are lower now. If you keep him on a puppy diet, he will likely gain weight if he doesn’t get enough exercise to offset it.

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When Do French Bulldogs Stop Growing?

A French Bulldog reaches his adult size at 12 months. That doesn’t mean he won’t get larger if he eats more than he burns off from his daily activity. That’s your challenge as a pet owner. Unfortunately, this pup has a relatively high tendency to gain weight. That puts him at risk for many chronic health conditions that can complicate the ones associated with him being a brachycephalic breed.

How Does Neutering/Spaying Affect My Dog’s Growth?

Unfortunately, neutering and spaying carry health risks because they can affect your pet’s metabolism and cause him or her to gain weight. That brings a host of other health issues that advisable to avoid. We suggest discussing altering your pup’s sex with your veterinarian. While breeding also can have adverse effects, keeping your pet intact may offer a viable option.

Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth

Nutrition is at the heart of these issues. More likely, stunted growth is the outcome. That’s why it’s imperative to feed your puppy a diet formulated for this life stage. Growing up takes a lot of energy. Dog foods aren’t all the same. While the Association of American Feed Control Officials doesn’t mandate it, they have standards that they develop with the FAA to ensure the quality of these products.

The danger of stunted growth also extends toward so-called teacup varieties. These pups are at a greater risk for health problems because of their size. We recommend buying puppies from reputable breeders who understand the particular needs of the French Bulldog.

What If My French Bulldog Is Not the Right Weight?

The best way to gauge the weight of your French Bulldog is to look down at his body shape from above him. He should have a well-defined waist. You should also be able to feel his ribs. If not, then your pet’s body condition is less than ideal. Obesity is a serious problem because it can increase your pup’s risk for other chronic health conditions and lessen his lifespan.

It’s essential to monitor his caloric intake to keep your pup fit and trim. The feeding guidelines on the back of the package or can are not written in stone. Base his feeding schedule on his current weight and state of health. An online calorie calculator can help you plan his mealtimes correctly.

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Conclusion

The cuteness of the French Bulldog makes it easy to overfeed him. His cute face begs for a treat. However, it is essential to keep your pup at the ideal weight for the breed. It will reduce his risk of chronic health conditions and improve his quality of life. After all, you want him to hang around as long as possible as your BFF.

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