How to Give Your French Bulldog a Bath (and How Often)

A French Bulldog’s short, smooth coat is easy to keep clean, and most Frenchies don’t need frequent baths. The parts that need more regular attention are their facial folds, ears and nails. Here’s how often to bathe your Frenchie, what to use and how to make bath time go smoothly.

How often should you bathe a French Bulldog?

There’s no set schedule. Bathe your Frenchie when they’re dirty or smelly, or when they’ve rolled in something. Most experts recommend bathing dogs as infrequently as possible to preserve the natural oils in their skin, and how often a dog needs a bath depends on their coat and how much time they spend outdoors (AKC). Some groomers suggest a monthly bath (AKC).

If your vet has diagnosed a skin condition, follow their advice instead. Some allergic dogs benefit from frequent baths with special shampoos, which may help reduce the amount of allergens their skin absorbs (VCA Animal Hospitals).

Between baths, a weekly brush is usually enough to keep a Frenchie’s coat in good shape (PDSA), and a damp cloth takes care of muddy paws or a dirty patch. A waterless shampoo is another option for freshening up a dog who doesn’t need a full bath, though it isn’t a substitute for one.

Choose a dog shampoo

Don’t use your own shampoo on your dog. Human skin is more acidic than dog skin, and a human shampoo can disrupt the protective acid mantle on a dog’s skin. Dog skin is also thinner, with 3 to 5 layers of skin cells compared with 10 to 15 in people (AKC).

A gentle dog shampoo suits most Frenchies. If your dog’s skin tends to be dry, an oatmeal formula such as Wahl’s Dry Skin & Itch Relief shampoo is a common choice.

Another option is this sulfate- and paraben-free oatmeal and aloe shampoo:

Itchy skin that doesn’t settle calls for a vet visit rather than a new shampoo. French Bulldogs are among the breeds at increased risk of atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin disease (Drechsler and colleagues, 2024), and our guide to French Bulldog food allergies covers another common cause of itching.

What you’ll need

Get everything ready before you bring your dog in, so the bath is as short as possible:

• dog shampoo
• a cup or a handheld shower sprayer
• a non-slip mat for the tub or sink
• cotton balls for the ears
• two or three absorbent towels
• a brush made for short coats
• treats

How to give your French Bulldog a bath

A bathtub works well for an adult Frenchie. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet, because there will be a shake or two.

1. Brush first. Brush your dog thoroughly to remove loose hair, dirt and debris before they get wet (AKC). A self-cleaning slicker brush is one option; brush gently.
2. Protect the ears. Place a cotton ball gently in the opening of each ear. A dog’s ear canal is L-shaped, so water that gets down there can be trapped and cause an ear infection (AKC).
3. Check the water. Use warm, not hot, water, and test it on your forearm first.
4. Wet the coat. Wet your dog from the neck back, pouring gently with a cup or using a low-pressure sprayer. Keep water away from their face.
5. Lather. Massage the shampoo into the coat, avoiding the eyes. Wipe their face with a damp cloth instead.
6. Rinse well. Rinse until every trace of shampoo is gone. When you think you’ve rinsed enough, rinse some more.
7. Dry thoroughly. Towel-dry your Frenchie, and let them have a good shake. If you use a hair dryer, don’t use the hottest setting, and hold it at least a foot away so you don’t burn their skin (AKC).
8. Dry the folds. Gently dry the folds on their face and around their tail, where moisture can linger.
9. Finish up. Take out the cotton balls and give your dog a treat.

Clean the skin folds between baths

A Frenchie’s skin folds need more frequent care than the rest of their coat. Folds above the nose and around the tail can trap moisture and dirt, and French Bulldogs are among the breeds prone to skin fold dermatitis, an inflammation or infection in the folds (PDSA). PDSA suggests cleaning them with cotton wool pads soaked in salt water, then drying the skin thoroughly.

Contact your vet if you notice:

• smelly skin
• red, sore skin folds
• yellow or white discharge inside the folds
• your dog scratching or licking at their folds

Why Frenchies get the zoomies after a bath

Plenty of dogs race around the house the moment a bath is over. These bursts of energy are known as zoomies, or frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs). They often happen after a stressful event like a bath, as if the dog is discharging nervous tension, and they’re completely normal (AKC). Just make sure there’s nothing in your Frenchie’s path for them to crash into.

Bathing a French Bulldog puppy

Starting young helps make baths a normal part of your puppy’s routine. Until a puppy is about 3 months old, a warm, damp washcloth is all you really need. After that, you can start using shampoo (AKC). A puppy formula such as Wahl’s Gentle Puppy Shampoo is a gentle place to start.

Follow the same steps as for an adult dog, and check the water temperature carefully, since puppies can be more sensitive to hot and cold. A small puppy can be washed in a sink.

If your French Bulldog hates bath time

Plenty of dogs don’t enjoy baths. A few things can make it easier:

• Stop the slipping. A non-slip mat in the tub helps your dog feel steadier on their feet.
• Go for a walk first. A walk beforehand can take the edge off their energy. Our guide to walking your French Bulldog has tips.
• Keep it short. With everything ready before you start, the bath is over quickly.
• Use treats and praise. Reward your dog throughout, and wrap them in a towel for a cuddle afterward.

Keeping your Frenchie clean and comfortable

A French Bulldog doesn’t need frequent baths. Bathe them when they need it with a dog shampoo, rinse and dry thoroughly, and keep up with weekly brushing and regular fold cleaning. If your Frenchie’s skin stays itchy, red or smelly, see your vet. Our guide to French Bulldog health issues covers the skin problems the breed is prone to.