Ahh, French Bulldog sleeping! If you’re a new Frenchie owner, you may be wondering do French Bulldogs sleep a lot…or is this abnormal! It may be concerning to see your canine sleep its day away especially if you’re not used to French Bulldog sleeping patterns.
So, do French Bulldogs sleep a lot? Yes. Adult French Bulldogs sleep as much as 14-16 hours per day. Frenchie puppies may sleep as long as 18 hours per day and senior French Bulldogs tend to sleep for much longer.
Still, any pet owner must be able to identify what is a healthy sleep pattern for their dog and when to spot abnormal sleeping habits.
How Long do French Bulldogs Sleep in a Day?
French Bulldogs are flexible sleepers and can easily follow a routine sleep pattern according to their owner’s resting period.
Age affects how much sleep Frenchies will need. Usually, adult Frenchies can sleep up to 14 to 16 hours a day, but, baby Frenchies would sleep at a much longer period, taking up to 18 to 20 hours a day as their growing bodies follow a similar development period to human infants.
Senior French Bulldogs tend to sleep for much longer as their body is not as active as younger Bulldogs.
Though they may take up long hours of their day practically lazying around and being moments away from taking their next nap, it takes a lot for Frenchies to be active as much as being active sleepers.
These adorable grumpy looking canines need a lot of sleep to recharge their bodies from giving out big bursts of energy from being active.
However, as important as it is for French Bulldogs to get their sleep, like other dogs, their sensitive hearing means that they’ll be woken up easily if an abrupt sound was made. A Frenchie sleeping in a noisy environment may hinder it from getting the right amount of sleep which may affect its temperament and health.
French Bulldog Sleeping Habits
French Bulldogs are one of the lowest energy breeds, but their jovial personalities allow them to express their enthusiasm in incredible bursts of energy that’ll probably last for a short while.
Generally, Frenchies are loved for their friendliness, but they’re also canines that tire quickly which in turn relies on long naps more often.
As a sleepier breed, French Bulldogs have different personalities embedded in their sleep patterns as well and its vital for all owners to be able to know their Frenchy’s sleeping quirks.
Adult French Bulldogs
It is normal for Frenchies to take lots of naps even though it may have already spent long hours sleeping.
These dogs often sleep much more during the day than keep themselves awake. Even so, these sleepy dogs are advised to have their sleep monitored as sleep deprivation may affect their behavior and will fall sick.
French Bulldog Puppies
Young Frenchies are much different than adults as baby Bulldogs tend to sleep for much longer hours.
At 10 weeks old, French Bulldog puppies sleep as much as 18 hours a day, so it is not advised to wake them up no matter how tempting it may be to have fun as the amount of sleep they can impact their health.
Sleeping with Eyes Open
A unique quirk that French Bulldogs have is their ability to sleep with their eyes open.
If your Frenchie is staring blank at you and is not responding to anything you say, chances are it’s probably sleeping. At other times, it may look as if their eyes have rolled into the back of their heads.
Spotting this behavior is often no cause for alarm as this habit is inherited as a unique defense mechanism against other predators in the wild, even though your dog has no other present predators surrounding it.
On the other hand, frequent eye-rolling in their sleep can also indicate a sign of seizures.
Sleeping with Tongue Out
A common dog behavior when sleeping is having their tongue laid out and hanging paired with heavy drooling.
But it is important to regularly ensure that your French Bulldog puts its tongue back right where it should be once it is woken up. If it is unable to do so, it could indicate jaw injury or symptoms related to a hanging tongue syndrome.
Rapid Breathing
Fast breathing may come along with loud snoring and is a normal sleeping habit in French Bulldogs. This is due to their airwaves being restricted as well as their oddly shaped and underdeveloped snout.
However, if your Frenchie is constantly breathing rapidly and is accompanied by high body temperature or has an unusual sitting posture, it is an indication that something could be wrong with their body.
When to Spot Abnormal Sleeping Habits in French Bulldogs
Just like monitoring their food intake and exercise, monitoring their sleeping habits is also equally important.
Abnormal sleeping habits could indicate that your Frenchie has fallen sick. To help keep you aware of their sleep patterns, here are a few common symptoms to look out for:
- Difficulty waking them up even after sleeping for a good amount of time.
- Unusual sleep cycles (e.g being awake at night).
- Staying awake for 10 hours or more.
- Continuous rapid breathing while sleeping.
- Sudden convulsions with frequent eye-rolling indicating possible seizures.
French Bulldogs are notorious for their health problems even though they are listed as one of the most healthier breeds of Bulldogs.
As Frenchies are categorized as flat-faced dogs, it also means that they are much more prone to heat sensitivity and sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea due to their abnormal airways.
French Bulldogs rely on their owners to live as comfortable as they can, and all pet owners should try and provide a good environment for their Frenchie to sleep in.
Helping Your French Bulldog to Sleep Better
As much as French Bulldogs love to sleep, they are also prone to health issues related that can tremendously affect their sleep quality. Due to their oddly shaped skull, sensitivity to allergies, and genetics, sleeping can get a lot harder.
Here are some tips to ensure that your Frenchie is getting the comfortable sleep that she needs:
Exercise
Regular exercise could help your Frenchie to build the right muscles for its joints and improve its sleep by reducing the severity of irregular breathing due to airway obstruction related to sleep apnea and snoring, which are common problems in flat-faced dogs.
But make sure you do your research before taking your French Bulldog swimming!
Humidifier
Like other Bulldogs, Frenchies are also prone to suffer from sleep apnea, a condition that would make repeated pauses in their breathing that often makes them restless the next day.
Humidifiers help by controlling the levels of humidity in the room that balances the amount of moisture in the air and prevents your pet’s airways from becoming too dry and irritated.
Shift Between Sleeping Positions
Certain sleeping positions may help your French Bulldog to snore less and sleep better. As snoring is often related to breathing issues in their sleep, changing their sleeping positions to determine which position gives them better comfort reduces the risk of sleep apnea.
You could also use pillows or suitable bedding to ensure that its sleep quality is improved.
Keep Her Clean
Allergies are a common issue in Bully breeds, and French Bulldogs are no exception.
Allergens from fine particles could irritate its nasal airways and trigger its allergies, prompting a difficult time to fall asleep due to an unhygienic environment.
Ensure that your Frenchie’s resting area is kept clean at all times by keeping their bedding free from dust and dirt that may trigger allergy symptoms.
Dog Food
You’d be amazed how much nutrition plays in a dog’s health and energy levels.
Many people wrongly assume dog food is dog food is dog food.
WRONG!
French Bulldogs fart. A lot!
And what you feed her can upset her stomach even more. And those farts can even wake your Frenchie up from a deep, restful sleep. The best dog food for French Bulldogs can also help your dog achieve proper digestion and the most restful sleep possible.
So is Your French Bulldog Sleeping Too Much?
Sleepy Frenchies are completely normal and though it may be a cause of concern for new owners, getting to know their dog’s sleeping pattern is one of the first few important steps in ensuring that they are healthy and well rested.
There is no doubt that French Bulldogs are one of the most perfect apartment dogs.
As one of the smaller breeds of Bulldogs, they’re definitely packed with intelligence, curiosity, and charm in their tiny bodies.
But if you suspect that your Frenchie might be sleeping a little too much, is looking dull and lethargic, low in energy, or displays illness symptoms, consult your local veterinarian for best-medicated options to provide for your French Bulldog.
Related Questions
Due to their genetic structure, a French Bulldog’s body is abnormally structured just like the rest of its Bulldog family. Their snout and irregular airway makes it difficult for them to be energetic for a long period of time as breathing can get tough. Because of this, their small bodies have adapted throughout the years to conserve their energy and became one of the most lovable, couch potato dogs.
Yes! Compared to higher-energy breeds, Frenchies are laid back dogs that love spending their time relaxing and napping. They still do love being playful around their owners and other dogs, but due to their low-energy and small stature, they will most likely spend more time sleeping their day away to recover the small amount of energy they can carry.
