A good toy for a French Bulldog is the right size, stands up to the way your dog chews and doesn’t push a breed that overheats easily. Adults average 11 to 12.5 kg, about 24 to 28 pounds (PDSA), which puts most Frenchies in the small-to-medium range on toy size charts.

Why playtime matters for French Bulldogs

Frenchies don’t need marathon walks, but they do need activity and something to think about. PDSA suggests up to an hour of exercise a day, and flat-faced dogs can overheat and struggle to breathe very quickly in warm weather. On days when a long walk isn’t a good idea, indoor games and food puzzles fill the gap. Our guide to French Bulldog health issues explains the breathing problems behind that advice.

Bored dogs find their own entertainment, and it often involves chewing something they shouldn’t. The ASPCA’s advice on destructive chewing includes plenty of exercise, tug and fetch, training, serving meals in food puzzles and rotating chew toys every couple of days so they stay interesting.

Toys can also help a dog who struggles when you leave. For mild separation anxiety, try a food-stuffed puzzle toy that takes 20 to 30 minutes to finish, given every time you go out (ASPCA). More serious cases need a gradual training plan, often with a behavior professional; a toy won’t fix them on its own.

And play is simply time together. A few rounds of tug or fetch will show you what your dog enjoys most.

Toy safety basics

Size comes first. Balls and toys that are too small can be swallowed or get stuck in a dog’s mouth or throat (Seattle Humane). If your dog falls between two sizes on a brand’s chart, go up.

Squeakers, stuffing and rope need supervision. Some dogs will work at a toy until the squeaker comes out and then swallow it, and even “safe” stuffing isn’t digestible. String, ribbon and rope strands are worse, because long, thin objects like these can create holes in the intestines if swallowed.

For hard chews, use the thumbnail test: you should be able to make a dent in a chew with your fingernail. Antlers, hooves and bones can break teeth, so if a chew doesn’t give at all, choose a softer one.

Throw out any toy that’s breaking into pieces or has chunks missing.

It also helps to know the signs that something swallowed is stuck: vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain, loss of appetite, straining to poop and lethargy. Time matters with a blockage, so call your vet promptly if you suspect one (VCA).

Everyday toys for French Bulldogs

Chews, plush toys, rope toys and balls suit most dogs. Which ones work best depends on your Frenchie’s size and how hard they chew.

A textured nylon chew

The Arm & Hammer Nubbies T-Bone mixes nylon with rubbery nubs and a peanut butter flavor, and it’s sold for strong chewers. The maker says its baking soda helps freshen breath. If dental benefits are the reason you’re buying a chew, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal, which only goes to products shown to control plaque or tartar. Give any hard chew the thumbnail test before handing it over.

A plush toy with a surprise inside

Lots of Frenchies like carrying a soft toy around the house. BarkBox’s Consuela the Cactus is a two-in-one plush: once your dog tears through the outside, there’s a smaller toy inside, plus a squeaker and crinkle material. It’s made to be torn apart, so stay nearby and pick up loose stuffing as you go.

A squeaky plush taco

The ZippyPaws NomNomz Taco is exactly what it sounds like, a soft, squeaky taco, and a fun extra for Taco Tuesday. Like any squeaker, it’s best saved for times you can keep an eye on play.

A rope toy for tug

Rope toys have no stuffing and give your dog a different texture to grab. This cotton rope and ball set works for fetch and tug-of-war, and the listing says it’s machine-washable. Use it for games you play together rather than solo chewing, since swallowed strands can seriously injure the intestines, and replace it as soon as it starts to fray, as Whole Dog Journal recommends.

A flavored chew toy

The Benebone Wishbone has real chicken flavor, but it’s nylon, not food. Benebone’s nylon chews aren’t edible and should always be supervised. Replace one when more than a sugar cube’s worth is gone, or after about a month of use either way. The small is listed for dogs under 30 pounds, but Benebone suggests the largest size your dog can handle.

A tough rubber chew toy

Some Frenchies chew harder than their size would suggest. This textured rubber toy is made for strong chewers. For a longer challenge, spread a little peanut butter into the grooves and freeze it. Check the label first: some peanut butters contain xylitol, which can be life-threatening for dogs.

A stuffing-free crinkle toy

If you’re tired of finding stuffing all over the house, SPOT’s Skinneeez Crinklers have none, just a crinkly layer and a squeaker. The maker pitches them at moderate chewers, for tugging and tossing.

A bouncy ball for fetch

A ball is still one of the easiest ways to play. The Chuckit! Ultra Ball is bouncy rubber, and the medium is 2.5 inches across and listed for dogs from 20 to 60 pounds. Your dog should be able to carry the ball, but it shouldn’t fit completely in their mouth. Keep fetch short, and stop when your Frenchie starts breathing hard.

Toys for mental stimulation

Food puzzles and treat dispensers make your dog work a little for their food. They’re handy when you’re busy, and on days that are too hot for much exercise.

A spinning treat puzzle

The Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado is a level 2 (intermediate) puzzle with three spinning tiers, 12 compartments for treats or kibble and three bone-shaped covers to make it harder. Outward Hound says to supervise closely and not to let your dog chew the game or its pieces, so don’t leave them alone with it.

A treat-dispensing ball

Starmark’s Treat Dispensing Chew Ball lets treats or kibble fall out as your dog pushes it around. Starmark sizes the medium for dogs under 15 pounds and the medium/large for 15 to 40 pounds, so most adult Frenchies need the medium/large linked here.

A treat tumbler

If you’d rather not have a ball rolling across the floor, the Milk-Bone Active Treat Tumbler only releases biscuits when your dog moves it the right way. The medium linked here is listed for dogs from 25 to 49 pounds, and the small for dogs up to 24 pounds. The listing says it isn’t suitable for puppies under 6 months and is meant for supervised play.

A KONG to stuff and freeze

The KONG Extreme is made from KONG’s toughest rubber, with an unpredictable bounce and a hollow center for food. The medium linked here is listed for dogs from 15 to 35 pounds, and the largest ring should be bigger than the back of your dog’s mouth (KONG sizing guide). A frozen, stuffed KONG can keep a dog busy while you run errands or have people over.

I’ve made most of the KONG fillings I’ve come across for Charlie, my Frenchie. He was happy with all of them except anything with carrots, though your dog may feel differently.

Toys for French Bulldog puppies

Puppies chew to explore and to ease teething, a phase that typically ends by about six months of age, according to the ASPCA. A young Frenchie may need smaller toys at first. Size up as they grow, and take away anything small enough to swallow.

Small squeaky balls

These 2.4-inch latex balls are soft, bouncy and squeaky, which suits a young puppy. Once your Frenchie grows, switch to a ball that can’t fit completely in their mouth, and throw out any ball that’s been chewed into pieces.

A puppy flying disc

The KONG Puppy Flyer is made from soft teething rubber and sized for small puppies, so it’s gentle on a young mouth. Play indoors or when it’s cool out, because Frenchies overheat quickly.

Bully sticks

Bully sticks are a popular long-lasting chew, and the ones linked here are 6-inch sticks from Nature Gnaws. They carry more calories than many owners realize. Research summarized by Tufts Petfoodology found 9 to 22 calories per inch, about 100 calories in a 6-inch stick, and some sticks were contaminated with bacteria including MRSA and E. coli.

So count bully sticks as part of your puppy’s daily food, and wash your hands after handling them. Tufts advises very young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system to avoid handling them at all. When the stick gets down to a small piece, take it away before your puppy can swallow it.

DIY French Bulldog toys

Homemade toys can save money, as long as they’re safe.

T-shirt tug toy

Cut two long strips from an old T-shirt, lay them on top of each other and tie a knot in the middle. Use it for tug games together, then put it away. Swallowed fabric can block a dog’s digestive tract, so don’t leave your dog alone with it, and throw it out once it starts to shred.

Frozen apple pupsicles

Remove the stem, core and seeds from an apple, as PetMD recommends. Purée the flesh with a little water and freeze it in dog paw and bone shaped silicone trays.

If you use applesauce instead, pick one with no added sugar, spices or artificial sweeteners, and never one with xylitol. Treats like these should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories.

Homemade toys to avoid

Plastic water bottles aren’t safe for dogs to chew. A swallowed cap or fragment can cause a life-threatening blockage, and broken plastic can cut a dog’s mouth. If your dog loves the crinkling sound, a toy with crinkle material inside gives them the same noise.

Skip old socks and clothing too. Cornell lists socks and pieces of clothing among the things dogs swallow that get stuck in the digestive tract.

More ways to play with your French Bulldog

For games, training ideas and more ways to spend time together, see our guide to playing with your French Bulldog.