Can French Bulldogs Be Left Alone?

We all want only the best for our pooches. Whether it’s taking care of them, buying different essentials, and choosing the best diet, our Frenchies deserve to have the best life beside their owners. Can French bulldogs be left alone is one of the common questions I get from my clients. Since there isn’t a person who will be able to spend 24/7 with his/her dog, teaching your pup to become independent is crucial.

Can French bulldogs be left alone from an early age?

French bulldogs, like any other companion breed, shouldn’t spend plenty of time alone during their puppyhood. Otherwise, they can become anxious and start suffering from separation anxiety. Separation anxiety in French bulldogs is difficult to treat if it’s not spotted on time. Therefore, the best thing you can do for your Frenchie is to start early and gradually with lessons of leaving him/her alone.

Even dogs who don’t belong to companion breeds can develop a separation anxiety disorder. Therefore, the crucial thing is to make your dog confident and relaxed during your absence, so he/she can develop a healthy personality.

What is dog separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety in French bulldogs is a behavioral disorder. We can describe it as a condition where a dog suffers and shows strange behavior such as excessive howling, barking, chewing, licking body parts, and even self-injuring.

A dog who is over-attached to its owner will go through a severe stage of fear and anxiety during the time of loneliness. In severe cases, a dog can even try to escape and hurt itself in order to find the owner.

Can French bulldogs be left alone when they grow up?

Every Frenchie should be able to spend several hours a day alone. Depending on the training lessons your dog got, the time can be increased gradually. However, it’s also important to mention that every pet needs mental stimulation and occupation to stay prevented from destructive chewing. People often mix separation anxiety with dog chewing due to boredom. Destructive chewing indeed is one of the symptoms of separation anxiety, however, it should also be followed by many other symptoms as well.

Therefore, keep your dog’s mind occupied with different interactive toys, chew toys, and interactive dog puzzles. That’s how he/she will be less inclined to think about where their owner is. French bulldogs would not be a good pick for people who live busy lives. These little gremlins require a lot of attention, love, and affection. That’s why we often call them ‘Velcro dogs’. Frenchies will never get tired of following their owners wherever they go, even to the bathroom. However, with the right lessons, and an early start, your batpig will become able to spend up to 4 hours a day alone.

Can French bulldogs be left alone with their favorite toys?

Keeping your dog’s mind distracted and occupied with toys will be the best solution if you need to leave him/her home alone. Our suggestion is to choose the  Interactive UFO Toy For Frenchies that will release the dry kibble food as your pooch rolls it. You can even serve the dog’s meal with this practical toy.

Another toy that will help in keeping your Frenchie’s mind occupied is the following French Bulldog Training Blanket/Mat. You can set the shape, fill it with snacks for your Frenchie, and let him/her enjoy sniffing and investigating for hours. The scent of food will attract your little gremlin’s sense of smell to continue sniffing it.

Self Rolling Interactive Ball is our third pick of French bulldog toys that will make your dog pleasantly tired and excited. This plush ball will continue rolling even when colliding with walls and furniture. It will automatically change the direction, so your furry friend will stay curious to find out how it works.

What to do if your Frenchie can’t spend time alone?

If your furry friend seems like he’s having a hard time when spending time alone, our suggestion is to consider bringing the second dog into a family. This decision should be made with the help of a behavior specialist in order to escape other potential behavioral issues. Since Frenchies are generally known as friendly dogs, bringing another dog into a family shouldn’t represent a problem. However, the meeting must be done gradually and will a lot of understanding. Otherwise, you can induce jealousy in your Frenchie.