What toys do French Bulldogs like
Toys that involve treats are best to engage French Bulldogs in play. Frenchies are very people orientated and love company. Any toys that can involve you in a game are a favorite. They can sometimes need a little motivation or they lose interest.
French Bulldogs don’t need a large amount of exercise. Due to their compromised air passages, they are in fact exercise intolerant. However, it is important to encourage them to exercise to maintain good health, manage weight and occupy them to prevent boredom. Toys are a great way to motivate them to exercise. To learn more about exercise for a French Bulldog see here.
Most French Bulldogs also love plush toys. This type of toy is a comfort toy. View plush dog toys on Amazon.
Best chew toys for French Bulldogs
Chewing is a natural behavior for all dogs. It has numerous benefits including keeping them occupied and helping with dental health. In addition, chewing is great for stress. When a dog chews they release endorphins to their brains giving them a calming and feel-good effect.
When selecting chew toys for your French Bulldog it is important to choose toys that are an appropriate size for their mouth size and chewing strength.
Here are some of the best chew toys for French Bulldogs –
West Paw dog chew toys
The West Paw range of chew toys are durable and made from dog safe materials. They come in a huge range of different types and sizes so you can select the best one for your Frenchie.
French Bulldogs are not generally power chewers so you need chew toys that are not too hard and have a little give in them.
View the West Paw range of chew toys on Amazon.
Kong Classic
If you don’t know what a Kong for dogs is it is a tough rubber dog toy with a hole in the center so you can stuff it with treats or even flavored paste. the Kong is actually three dog toys in one.
- Food and treat stuffing puzzle toy. You can even freeze the Kong for a hot weather treat.
- Chew toy – made of safe near-indestructible rubber
- Fetch toy – due to its unique shape it bounces in unpredictable directions making a game of fetch more like chasing a rat
They come in a range of sizes from XS to XL. For a French Bulldog, I recommend using the medium or large Kong as the small doesn’t hold as much food or treats as you would think.
For a French Bulldog puppy, you should choose the Puppy Kong. These are made of softer more flexible rubber so they do damage to their young and developing teeth and jaw. See Puppy Kongs on Amazon here.
To learn more about how to use a Kong for dogs see here. If your French Bulldog doesn’t have a Kong, get them one or even two. See the Kong Classic on Amazon here.
Edible dog chews
Natural edible dog chews are highly appealing to dogs as they are food. a great way to add some variety to your dog’s diet. These include ears, antlers, bones, and bully sticks.
View Edible Chews on Amazon.
Best puzzle and interactive toys for French Bulldogs
French Bulldogs are curious and smart little dogs. It is crucial not only to exercise their bodies but their minds as well. Mental exercise can tire a dog just as much as physical activity.
The best type of types to provide mental stimulation for any dog is generally the puzzle-type toys. Most of these usually involve your dog working out how to get a treat out of the toy (with the exception of the iFrenzy – see below).
When selecting interactive puzzle type toys for your French Bulldog it is best to select toys that are difficult enough to challenge them but not to difficult they become frustrated. For more suggestions see Top Puzzle Toys for Dogs.
Petgeek Automatic Rolling Treat Ball
This automatic rolling treat ball from Petgeek is activated by a soft touch from your dog and can last for up to 7 hours. Requires two AAA batteries and goes into sleep mode after a period of no activity.
Provides physical exercise and mental stimulation as they figure out how to release the treats. Can hold up to 380ml of kibble or small treats(sized up to 0.3 inches). This is ideal for the home alone dog also.
View the Petgeek Automatic Rolling Ball on Amazon,
Wicked Ball
If your French Bulldog is ball mad then the Wicked Ball is the ultimate moving dog toy for them. The magic ball runs and bounces all by itself and the LED light adds another level of engagement for your dog. No App or remote controller required.
It has several settings such as the Intelligent Companion mode. In this mode, the Wicked ball has 10 minutes of play and 30 minutes of rest. If your dog pushes or hits the ball it starts the play cycle again. It also has three reaction modes (gentle, normal, active) so you can set it to suit your dog’s mood. Due to its obstacle avoidance system (collision sensor), it doesn’t get stuck in tight spots.
The Wicked ball is durable and dog safe and is also waterproof so can be played with when swimming. It also has a treat hole for dogs that are food motivated.
View the Wicked Ball on Amazon.
iFenzy
The iFetch Frenzy is the only dog puzzle toy that doesn’t use treats. The ball itself is the reward. Your dog drops the ball into the top and scrambles to find it as it randomly rolls from 6-12 feet out of 1 of 3 chutes at the base.
There’s no launching, like our other iFetch ball launchers but it still gives your Cockapoo the opportunity to chase. This product allows dogs to quickly return to the real challenge: the mental game of guessing where the ball will appear next.
View the iFrenzy on Amazon
StarMark Bob A Lot
The Bob A Lot puzzle toy is another great option for providing mental enrichment at meal times and in general. This toy comes in two sizes – Small and Large
The large can hold 3 cups of food which is enough for a full meal for most dogs. It has a weighted non-slip bottom with an upper and lower chamber inside.
You can adjust the size of the openings to vary the degree of difficulty. This is one of my own dog’s favorite puzzle toys and keeps her busy for up to 15 minutes. Much longer than many other puzzle toys
.It is strong and durable but be sure to remove the toy when your dog has got all the treats or food if they are prone to chew their toys.
Tornado Puzzle
The Tornado puzzle has three layers that spin with four compartments on each level. It also comes with bone puzzle pieces you can place over the treats to add an extra level of difficulty.
The constant movement and spinning action keep your dog engaged. This puzzle is also great to feed your dog their dry kibble to slow them down. Especially if they are fast eaters or to make mealtime last longer if they are on a diet.
View Tornado Puzzle Toy on Amazon
Snuffle Rug
A Snuffle Mat is another great way to provide for your dog’s natural digging instinct and to provide mental stimulation and relieve boredom. A Snuffle mat is a mat that is made of fleece and you can hide dry food or treats into it. If you are someone that is good at crafts you can try to make one yourself or check out the range of Snuffle Mats at Amazon.
Best plush toys for French Bulldogs
French Bulldogs love plush toys to play with. They will carry them around, cuddle and lick them. If your French Bulldog tends to shred and pull apart their plush toys I recommend getting plush toys that are tougher and more durable. See toys for dogs that like to shred for recommendations.
If your French Bulldog isn’t overly destructive with their plush dog toys there is a huge range available to choose from. View plush dog toys on Amazon.
Petbobi Plush Giggle Ball
This one is more than just a plush toy. The plush giggle ball makes dog growling sounds and has a shaking motion for 20 seconds when you turn it on. The toy will activate again by shaking or touching by your dog. This makes this plush toy far more engaging for your French Bulldog.
The plush cover can be removed and is machine washable. The toy runs off 3 x AAA batteries that come with the item.
For more dog toys that move on their own see here.
Best toys for French Bulldog puppies
When selecting the best toys for a French Bulldog puppy it is important to consider several things. Firstly, they should not be too hard and should have some give. This prevents damage to the jaw and the new teeth. It is also important that they do not shatter or break into small pieces. This is to prevent the risk of your puppy choking on any fragments that come off the toy.
Kong puppy chew toys
In addition to the classic shape Kong, there are other shapes available such as the Kong teething stick and the Kong Goodie Bone. These have grooves on the side so you can spread a little paste into them to make the toy more interesting than your shoes.
Kong teething stick
Kong Puppy Goodie Bone
Tuffy Junior dog toys
For puppies that love plush toys but tend to pull apart normal plush toys like many puppies tend to, The Tuffy Junior range is ideal. They are more durable than other plush toys and are machine washable. These are for puppies mainly as an adult dog would be more than likely to be able to destroy them. They are available in a range of sizes to suit your puppy.
Nylabone puppy key ring
The Nylabone puppy teething key ring is a classic. These have been available for teething puppies ever since I can remember. These are soft enough for enjoyable chewing, yet strong enough to withstand it.
They have lots of moving parts that make a sound when shaken. Toys that make a sound are always more preferable and fun for a puppy. The irregular shape and texture provide choices of different surfaces and feelings while chewing and after some chewing, raised bristles are released that clean the teeth to help dental health.
Let us know in the comments what your French Bulldogs favorite toys are.
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My french bulldog loves his kong teething stick and ball. He will play for ages with the kids outside.