Best Dog Foods for Audit and Puppy French Bulldogs

Despite their small size, our little French Bulldogs are able to gobble up a whole heap of food (it’s a mystery where they manage to put it all).

Their dietary requirements are not all that different to other breeds of a similar size, but there are a few special things to watch out for.

With that in mind, today we are going to create the ultimate guide to feeding your French bulldog. We’re going to look at nutrition, feeding schedules, and we’re going to conclude with 7 food recommendations that are suitable for both adult and puppy frenchies.

Let’s get started.

What To Look For In A Good French Bulldog Dog Food

Calories

Our little frenchies are perhaps one of the most lively breeds of dog on the planet. Their small size never stops them from seeking out adventure, play, and sometimes a little bit of mischief. Due to this, they’ve got a reasonably large daily calorific intake requirement of around 750kcal to 800kcal.

This is a general guideline, and there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if your frenchie is a little older and wiser (and less active) then you can drop the daily calories a little. The same is true if your pooch has been spayed or neutered.

On the other hand, puppies and adolescent frenchies need more calories per day (proportional to their size).

This isn’t something that’s particularly unique to frenchies, most smaller dogs need a higher calorific intake (pound for pound) compared to larger dogs. Due to this, the vast majority of food designed for smaller dogs on the market will be suitable for a French bulldog. It’s usually much more calorically dense than food made for larger dogs and will provide them with the nutrients they need.

Protein

Like all dogs, French bulldogs require a large amount of protein in their diet – much more than us humans do. Almost all dog foods on the market take this into account and protein makes up the bulk of the food (dry or wet). As such it’s not something you really need to worry yourself over, but it’s certainly worth knowing about.

Wheat

As a rule of thumb, French bulldogs and wheat do not get along well with one another. Your little frenchie will happily gobble down kibble that has wheat inside it, but it’s you that will end up paying the price.

Wheat is well known to produce excessive flatulence in French bulldogs (and a few other breeds), and as such it’s a very good idea to avoid food that contains it. A little wheat won’t produce that much flatulence, so don’t rule out any food with wheat in it completely – but at a minimum do your best to keep wheat as a very small part of their diet.

Allergies

French bulldogs are particularly prone to allergies. The French bulldog association of America notes that many commercial dog foods on the market can cause allergic reactions in frenchies and advises that all owners remain vigilant for symptoms. If you do notice any symptoms of an allergic reaction you should take your pooch to the vet to see what the allergy is (so it can easily be avoided in the future).

Artificial Preservatives

As a rule of thumb, we generally recommend that all dog owners do their best to avoid foods with artificial preservatives in them. If we wouldn’t eat it, why should our dogs?

This is perhaps more important when it comes to French bulldogs than it is in other breeds. Frenchies are known to have negative reactions to several kinds of artificial preservative that are present in dog foods of all qualities.

Best Dog Foods for a French Bulldog

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas
Key Features :

• Salmon protein
• Wheat free
• Immune system boosting
• Contains omega fatty acids

If your french bulldog has specific dietary needs you need to keep an eye on, American Journey might be a great choice. Their recipes do not contain ingredients like wheat, soy, or corn, which can impact your dog’s stomach if they’re sensitive to them.

On the opposite end, you can find blueberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, and dried kelp to help boost your golden retriever’s immune system. Sweet potatoes and chickpeas help keep your dog’s energy levels high. Deboned salmon forms the core protein, while flaxseed and salmon oil both bring in Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids.

American Journey recipes provide plenty of consideration for dogs with strict dietary requirements and picky eaters.

Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Turkey breast, turkey liver, kale, carrots, lentils
Key Features :

• Human-Grade
• Cooked to order for your dog
• Portioned Individually for your dog
• Auto-ships direct to your door

If you are looking for a high quality food for your pet, considering a fresh food option is a great place to start. Ollie dog food is  human-grade and is delivered fresh to your doorstep based on a delivery schedule you can customize.  The particular recipe shown in the table above includes carrots (which are full of phytonutrients for eye health), blueberries (which are high in antioxidants), and chia seeds which are a source of copper, zinc, and manganese. They have a few different recipes to choose from. They also include super foods such as chia to help support your pet’s active lifestyle. You can rest-assured, when feeding your dog Ollie, that you are choosing a premium food. The foods are cooked slowly to preserve nutrients and they don’t use any preservatives or fillers. Although it can be a pricey compared to regular dog food, it has a lot of great benefits for keeping your dog healthy and active.

UnKibble by Spot and Tango Chicken and Brown Rice

Healthy Ingredients : Chicken Brown Rice, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Apples
Key Features :

• Three recipes available
• Human grade ingredients
• Portioned specially for your dog
• Ships direct to your door

UnKibble by Spot and Tango is a dry dog food that is made with real ingredients and delivered right to your doorstep. It is sort of like a combination between fresh food and dry food. UnKibble is made with 100%, whole, human-grade ingredients. The recipes are developed by veterinarians, and you can be sure that your pet is getting only the best. There are 3 different, simple recipes to choose from. When you sign up for Spot and Tango, you create a unique profile that will include the correct portion size, just for your dog. You won’t have to guess or measure, just follow your pet’s personalized plan and use the scoop specially sized for your dog. UnKibble is dried slowly at a low temperature so as not to compromise the nutritional integrity. Spot and Tango haven’t had any recalls, either. If you want the benefits of human grade food, at a cheaper price point, or in dry food form, we think UnKibble might be what you’re looking for!

Taste of the Wild Pine Forest Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Venison, Lamb Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas, Lentils
Key Features :

• Venison protein
• Wheat free
• Contains antioxidants
• Contains probiotics

This highly popular food from Taste Of The Wild is a product more than worthy of your consideration. Again it’s a grain free food (which means no wheat) and it’s high in protein too. Most of the ingredients are plant-based, which includes peas, lentils, and beans which creates a nutritious and balanced diet.

One of the things that we really like about this food is that the protein comes from venison. It’s an unusual protein source compared to the usual salmon or chicken you’ll find in other foods – but dogs seem to love it. Things like tomatoes, blueberries, and raspberries are added to the mix as powerful antioxidants and probiotic ingredients like dried chicory root will ensure your pooch has a happy and healthy stomach.

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes
Key Features :

• No artificial colors, preservatives, flavorings
• Locally sourced ingredients
• Chicken protein
• Gluten free

We’re sure that most of you reading this will be familiar with Merrick. They’re a brand that’s hard earned a reputation for creating tasty food from natural ingredients, without grain or padding. The protein in this product comes from real deboned chicken which again means all the essential fats and amino acids are still present. It’s a gluten-free product too which is great for frenchies and their susceptibility to common allergies.

There are no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavorings and it’s packed full of probiotics to ensure proper digestion and a happy stomach. All of the ingredients in Merrick’s foods are sourced locally to where the food is made which allows them to ensure consistent quality time and time again. If you’ve never fed your pooch food from Merrick, we highly recommend you add this to the top of your shortlist – they’ll love it.

Wellness Small Breed Complete

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Oatmeal
Key Features :

• 3 Protein sources
• Small kibble size
• Antioxidants

As the name suggests this is a complete all in one dog food that will provide your little frenchie with all the essential vitamins and minerals they need for a long, happy, and healthy life. Its been specifically made for smaller dogs from the ground up, even the kibble size is super small to make eating it with a tiny mouth as easy as possible.

There are 3 main protein sources in this food, real chicken, real salmon, and real turkey. The vitamins and minerals are found from vegetable sources like carrots, tomatoes, apples, and sweet potatoes. There’s a little bit of filler on the carbohydrate side in the form of oats, which isn’t ideal – but it isn’t the end of the world either.

Nutro Wholesome Essentials

Healthy Ingredients : Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice
Key Features :

• • Huge amounts of real chicken

• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• Made in the USA
• Well balanced formula

Many brands claim their food to be wholesome, but this is one of the few that live up to the name. The main ingredient is pure cooked chicken which makes this one of the tastiest foods on the market right now. The usual suspects are present in the vegetable department with tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potato providing vitamins and brown rice providing the carbohydrates required for an active and adventurous puppy

The amino acids in the pure chicken alongside the perfect balance of vitamins and minerals (and the lack of artificial preservatives) make this perfect for any puppy – promoting a healthy coat, strong joints, and a happy tummy.

Whole Earth Farms Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Potatoes
Key Features :

• Very good value for money
• Real salmon and real chicken protein
• No wheat
• Made in the USA

This product from Whole Earth Farms is one of the most affordable foods on this list, and it’s also one of the best. The protein is derived from real chicken and real salmon and there’s a healthy amount of additional amino acids and fatty oils added to promote a healthy coat and joints. It’s made in the USA, contains no wheat or artificial bad stuff, and is infused with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to allow your little French bulldog to grow up “big” and strong.

How Often Should You Feed A French Bulldog?

Most people recommend that you feed an adult French bulldog twice a day. Puppies, on the other hand, can be fed 4 times a day when they are very young, moving up to 3 times a day when they are adolescents. As they reach adulthood be sure to drop down to twice a day to avoid overfeeding.

Ensure you use measuring cups and provide the recommended amount of food instead of eyeballing the quantity. A consistent portion size is one of the best ways to regulate the weight of your pooch.

Because most food that is designed for small dogs like frenchies is very high in calories it’s often a little too easy to overfeed them. I’m sure most of you reading this will have seen a French bulldog at some point that’s been a little on the “porky” side. A fully grown adult French bulldog should ideally not weigh more than around 28 pounds (it’s the same for males and females).

It’s super important that you only feed your little frenchie the correct amount to ensure they don’t get overweight. By overfeeding, you can dramatically shorten the life of your pooch and you can also cause permanent damage to their physical structure (which is painful).

3 Best Foods to Feed an Adult French Bulldog

While we think the American Journey food above is the overall winner (and best value) for French bulldog owners, there are several other great foods on the market that we also recommend. Here are 3 specifically designed for adult dogs of a similar size to a frenchie.

French Bulldog Dog Food Comparison Table
Rank	Product	Price	Rating
Best Value	American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.49/lb	A+
Human Grade	Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	Varies 50% Off	A+
#1	UnKibble by Spot and Tango Chicken and Brown Rice  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	Varies	A+
#2	Taste of the Wild Pine Forest Grain-Free Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.75/lb	A+
#3	Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.07/lb	A
#4	Wellness Small Breed Complete  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$2.77/lb	A
#5	Nutro Wholesome Essentials  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.67/lb	A+
#6	Whole Earth Farms Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.60/lb	A
#7	Precise Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$2.70/lb	A

Conclusion

So there you have it, everything you ever needed to know about feeding your little French bulldog.

There are a few other foods on the market that are worth looking at, but to be honest we’ve rounded up the very best of them above. Any of the foods we have mentioned here today are more than worthy of being your little frenchie’s next meal.