French Bulldog Grooming: Coat, Wrinkles, Ears, Nails and Teeth

A French Bulldog's coat is the easy part: short, fine, sheds steadily, a weekly go with a rubber mitt keeps it glossy and the hair off the sofa. Everything else on this list matters more than the brush.

The Sunday routine

Ten minutes, with treats, every week. Mitt over the coat. Folds wiped and dried: nose fold, face wrinkles, tail pocket. Ears looked at with a light and sniffed. Paws checked between the toes, nails checked for length. Eyes wiped of tear stains, one clean pad per eye. Teeth brushed, or at least looked at. Weight glanced at from above. Ten minutes, and you have caught most problems a week before they became problems.

Folds and the tail pocket

Wipe every day or two with a damp cloth or a vet-approved wipe, then dry completely. A damp fold grows yeast. The tail pocket, the dip under a screw tail, collects everything and is the one owners forget; find it, clean it, dry it. Red, smelly or sore means a vet and usually a medicated wipe.

Ears

Look and sniff weekly. Clean only when healthy, with a vet-approved cleaner, never with cotton buds down the canal. Dark wax, smell, redness or head-shaking is a vet visit, not a home clean, and repeated infections mean an allergy underneath.

Nails

Frenchies walk little and wear their nails less than most. Every two to three weeks with clippers or a grinder; a grinder is easier on dark nails. Clicking on the floor means too long, and long nails change how a dog stands, which loads the knees and back.

Teeth

A short jaw means crowded teeth and early gum disease. Brush most days with dog toothpaste and a finger brush; thirty seconds counts. Ask your vet to look at the teeth at every visit and to book a dental clean before there is a problem. Avoid antlers and very hard chews that crack teeth.

Bathing

Every four to eight weeks, or when dirty, with a gentle dog shampoo, or a medicated one if your vet advises for the skin. Rinse well and dry the folds and tail pocket completely afterwards. Over-bathing dries the skin and makes the itch worse.

Eyes and anal glands

Prominent eyes in a flat face get scratched and dry out. Wipe stains daily, keep the nose fold clean so it doesn't rub the eye, and treat any squint, redness or cloudiness as a same-day vet visit. Scooting, bottom-licking or a fishy smell means full anal glands, common in the breed; your vet or groomer empties them, and fibre in the diet helps some dogs.

The two mistakes

Leaving folds damp, and cleaning infected ears with shop products. Between them they cause most of the skin and ear trouble we hear about. Dry the folds, and take a smelly ear to the vet.