The French Bulldog is such a funny little dog. They run around in circles, are super playful and look absolutely hilarious in those silly little life jackets! This summer I’ve seen quite a few of these goofy dogs on boats with life jackets and I got to wondering, can these guys swim? I decided to look it up.
Can French Bulldogs swim? No. Believe it or not, there are breeds (like the French Bulldog) that absolutely love water but cannot swim. Sure, they have the instinct and know-how to go through the motions, but they usually end up sinking underwater pretty quickly. You should NEVER have your French Bulldog around without constant supervision.
And those life jackets? That’s proof that their owner is responsible.
What is it then about this breed that makes it impossible for them to get very far in the water? There are a few different factors at work. The defining traits of the Frenchie are the very reasons why these guys can’t swim.
French Bulldogs are Top Heavy
Take a good look at the next Frenchie you see…
Notice how they have narrow little hips and skinny back ends?
See how their front end tends to be wide and stocky?
The breed description lists the head as “large and square”.
The front legs are short, stout and wide apart. These physical traits just make it impossible for the Frenchie to keep afloat. Simple physics just isn’t on his side.
That Short Muzzle Doesn’t Let Them Breath
French Bulldogs are brachycephalic. This term refers to all the short-muzzled breeds out there.
(And most of those breeds have a hard time swimming as well.)
The Frenchie has a particularly shortened muzzle, however, and a nearly non-existent neck. If you combine these two factors, dogs of this breed just can’t keep their heads tilted up out of the water.
If French Bulldogs can’t keep its head out of the water…it drowns.
Unfortunately for the Frenchie, being brachycephalic also means that it just has a hard time breathing.
Swimming is a really vigorous exercise and results in heavy breathing. Because of the Frenchie’s shortened muzzle, rapid and heavy breathing can be difficult, painful or even dangerous for them.
But Frenchies Love Water!
It’s true that most French Bulldogs actually really, genuinely love water. Frenchie’s have a really hard time cooling off because they aren’t efficient panters, so sometimes you’ll see a French Bulldog lay down in a puddle or even a kiddie pool. This is a really great way for them to stay cool on a hot day.
They also really love to play, so when they see a ball in the water, their instinct is to go after it!
This can, unfortunately, lead to a French Bulldog jumping into a too-deep pool or launching itself off a boat with playful intentions.
The French Bulldog’s love of water and their inability to swim make drowning a very serious and real risk for the breed. You must supervise your dog at all times whenever you are around any water deeper than your dog is tall.
Doggie Life Jackets Save Frenchie Lives
The canine life jacket was invented 10+ years ago and has since become a commonplace sight on beaches, boats and around pools.
It is highly recommended that you get one for your Frenchie, and don’t let him near water without putting it on.
You wouldn’t want your favorite pooch launching himself into the pool after a stray ball only to meet his demise.
Getting your French Bulldog an appropriate life jacket is the responsible thing to do.
What Kind of Life Jacket is Best for a French Bulldog?
Because of the Frenchie’s unique shape, make sure to get a life jacket that has been specially designed for the breed. There are a few specific characteristics that you should look for:
- Make sure your Frenchie’s life vest has adequate side and belly flotation panels. Frenchie specific designs should also have a strap that goes over their chest and under their chin. This is really important for helping them to keep their heads out of the water!
- Is the life vest adjustable? Not every French Bulldog has the exact same size and shape, so make sure there are plenty of straps to allow you to get the best fit for your pooch.
- Is it durable? Depending on where your dog will be enjoying the water, the life vest can be exposed to pool chemicals, salt, dirt, and mud. It’s a good idea to check the quality of the stitching to make sure the life jacket will hold up and not fall apart during the summer.
- It should have a back handle and sturdy ring to hook on a leash. These two features are really practical for being able to quickly grab your dog out of the water and for being able to walk him around while leashed, without having to take off the life vest.
Consider a Kiddie Pool
Lots of French Bulldog owners have found a happy middle ground by providing their pup with an inexpensive kiddie pool to splash around in.
This allows your Frenchie the cooling benefits of freshwater, lets him play to his heart’s content, and keeps him safe from drowning.
A kiddie pool is shallow enough that your dog can jump in and out of it at his own will, and poses no risk of drowning. There are even some really great, foldable options if you want something a bit more portable.
Can You Teach a French Bulldog to Swim?
French Bulldogs actually know how to swim. They have a natural love of water and have an instinct for the natural “doggie paddle” that all dogs use for swimming. They can’t help it their bodies are just not designed for something they love!
So you can actually “teach” a Frenchie to swim. The most important thing to remember is that swimming is a strictly supervised activity. Here are the steps to teach your French Bulldog to swim:
1. Life Vest + Leash
Start by putting your pooch’s life vest on and attaching the leash.
Accompany your dog, first in shallow water, walking around back and forth. Don’t worry too much about real swimming yet. The idea is to get your dog used to being with you in the water.
2. Move Deeper
Gradually move into deeper water until your pooch has to start paddling.
Observe them and make sure they are using all four legs to swim.
If you notice that they don’t seem to be using the back legs much, put your arm under their belly to offer them a little extra support. This will prevent your dog from becoming too tired too fast and will encourage them to use those back legs.
3. Frenchies Don’t Have Much Stamina!
Remember, French Bulldogs tire quickly.
Keep the swimming lessons short and if you notice any signs of stress or panic, head back to shallow water. Show your dog how to get out of the pool or back onto a boat or back to the shore so that they learn how to do it on their own.
Be sure to rinse off your Frenchie with fresh clean water to get off any salt or pool chemicals (these can irritate their skin) and reward your dog with a treat or two and lots of praise.
4. Rinse, Repeat 🙂
Repeat this all summer long until you feel confident in your pooch’s ability to swim around without you by their side.
Even after training, you will always need to be vigilant to make sure your Frenchie is not stressed out or in danger.
Related Questions
The best advice I can give you: Treat your Frenchie as if it were your baby. Would you leave an infant or toddler unsupervised around any body of water that could potentially pose a danger? Of course not! You should have the same level of vigilance with your dog.
Other common-sense measures include keeping your dog leashed around water, building a fence around backyard pools, keeping pools covered when not in use, and always keeping the canine life jacket on your dog whenever he will be by the water.
You might even want to consider taking a canine first aid class. It might come in handy in the event of a “worst-case scenario”.
