How much to feed a French Bulldog per day
An adult, neutered French Bulldog weighing 11 kg needs about 675 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 190 g of dry food or 675 g of wet food. A calm female at 9 kg is at about 510 kcal (140 g of dry food), an active male at 14 kg at around 1,015 kcal (280 g). Because many Frenchies tend not to run around much because of their short airways, the “Calm” row often suits them better than “Active”.
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Adult weight
- Male:
- 9–14 kg
- Female:
- 8–13 kg
According to FCI Standard No. 101; up to 500 g over is tolerated in typical dogs.
Activity type
A compact companion dog with a short muzzle – playful, but quickly out of breath in warm weather and during exertion.
Breed watch points
Breathing, gagging after eating
Calculate how much to feed your French Bulldog
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
190 g
Dry food per day
≈ 675 kcal · 2 meals of 95 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 170–205 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 95 g
- Energy
- 675 kcal (610–745)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 11 kg^0.75 ≈ 423 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 675 kcal per day.
675 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 190 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
French Bulldog feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 kg | |||
| Calm | 510 | 140 | 510 |
| Normal | 580 | 160 | 580 |
| Active | 725 | 200 | 725 |
| 11 kg | |||
| Calm | 590 | 165 | 590 |
| Normal | 675 | 190 | 675 |
| Active | 845 | 235 | 845 |
| 14 kg | |||
| Calm | 710 | 195 | 710 |
| Normal | 810 | 225 | 810 |
| Active | 1,015 | 280 | 1,015 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 11 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 11 kg^0.75 ≈ 423 kcal × factor 1.6 = 675 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 190 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Short muzzle, short breath: what that means for the ration
In an analysis of veterinary records from the UK (VetCompass, 2,781 French Bulldogs), Frenchies had a roughly 31-fold higher risk of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and a 42-fold higher risk of narrowed nostrils compared with other dogs. A dog that struggles to get enough air moves less and uses less energy. So choose the activity level according to how much your dog actually moves, not its temperament.
Excess weight was recorded less often in the French Bulldogs in this study than in other dogs – but the dogs were also only one and a half years old on average. Their average weight was 12.45 kg, in the upper part of the standard's range. In Pugs and English Bulldogs, a higher body condition was linked to more breathing problems in a Cambridge study of 604 brachycephalic dogs. A lean figure is therefore the better starting point for the Frenchie too.
Gagging, burping, regurgitating: digestion is part of the picture
In brachycephalic breeds, airway problems and digestive complaints often occur together – such as gagging, reflux of stomach juices and regurgitation of undigested food. A veterinary review in Veterinary Quarterly (2022) explicitly describes this combination as part of the condition and warns against dismissing such signs as “normal for the breed”.
Skin fold inflammation and ear discharge were eleven and fourteen times more common respectively in the VetCompass study than in other dogs. These are initially grooming issues. However, recurring itching with ear infections can also point to a food intolerance – the only reliable way to find out is an elimination diet supervised by a vet.
- Split the daily amount into two to three smaller meals instead of one large one.
- Let your dog eat slowly, for example with a slow-feeder bowl or a snuffle mat.
- Rest instead of rough play after eating – especially on warm days.
- Change food over seven to ten days, not overnight.
Frenchie puppies: small portions, fixed times
Like other small to medium-sized breeds, French Bulldogs are usually fully grown at around one year. Until then, a puppy needs considerably more energy per kilo than an adult dog, spread over four meals until about three months and three after that.
Small portions are more comfortable anyway given the narrow anatomy. Weigh your puppy regularly and make sure it does not get round – a puppy with a visible waist does not grow any less well.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your French Bulldog
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your French Bulldog – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your French Bulldog
How much food does a French Bulldog need per day?
At 11 kg, neutered and with normal exercise, it is about 675 kcal: roughly 190 g of dry food or 675 g of wet food. Calm dogs are about 12 per cent below that, active ones considerably above. Weigh again after two weeks and adjust the amount.
How heavy does a French Bulldog get?
The FCI standard gives 9 to 14 kg for males and 8 to 13 kg for females. Up to 500 g over is considered acceptable if the dog is otherwise of typical build.
Why does my French Bulldog gag after eating?
In brachycephalic breeds, narrowed airways and digestive problems such as reflux or regurgitating food are often linked. Smaller meals and slow eating help day to day but do not replace an examination – frequent gagging should be checked by a vet.
How often should a French Bulldog eat?
Adult Frenchies often cope better with two to three smaller meals than with one large one. The daily amount stays the same, it is just divided up. Puppies get four meals until about three months and three after that.
How can I tell if my French Bulldog is overweight?
You should be able to feel the ribs with light pressure, and from above you should see a waist behind the ribcage. If both are missing, calculate with the target weight – in the calculator on this page using the goal “Lose weight”.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 101: Französische Bulldogge – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study (O’Neill et al., 2021) – Canine Medicine and Genetics
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: much more than a surgical problem (Mitze et al., 2022) – Veterinary Quarterly
- Conformational risk factors of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in pugs, French bulldogs, and bulldogs (Liu et al., 2017) – PLOS ONE
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
Read on
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