🐶 Real Review: 4 Puppy Dog Foods I Tried for My French Bulldog Puppy

Choosing the right food for a French Bulldog puppy can be overwhelming—especially with their sensitive digestion, potential allergies, and short snouts that make eating a challenge.

As a first-time Frenchie parent, I’ve tested four different puppy kibbles with my dog Zero, and I’m here to share what worked, what didn’t, and some feeding tips based on real-life experience. I hope this helps other new puppy parents out there!

What Should a French Bulldog Eat? Real Reviews from a Bulldog Parent

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Post:

  • The most common health issues in French Bulldogs
  • What to look for when choosing puppy food for flat-faced breeds
  • Honest reviews of 4 puppy food brands we tested
  • Tips for feeding Frenchie puppies

Let’s get started!

🩺 Common Health Issues in French Bulldogs

Before choosing food, it’s helpful to understand what your Frenchie might struggle with health-wise:

  1. Respiratory Issues (Brachycephalic Syndrome)
    Their flat faces often lead to snoring, breathing problems, and heat sensitivity.
  2. Skin Conditions
    Their wrinkles can trap moisture and bacteria, causing dermatitis or yeast infections.
  3. Allergies (Food & Environmental)
    Frenchies are prone to allergies. Triggers include common proteins (like chicken or beef), dairy, eggs, wheat, and soy.
  4. Digestive Sensitivity
    Diarrhea, constipation, or soft stools are frequent. Choosing highly digestible food is crucial.

💡Allergies (Food & Environmental) & Digestive Sensitivities — At a Glance

✅ Key Factors When Choosing Puppy Food for French Bulldogs

  • Kibble Size & Shape: Smaller, flat kibble is easier to chew for their short snouts.
  • Digestibility: Look for high-quality protein, low to moderate fat, and added probiotics.
  • Allergy Considerations: Monitor for reactions. What works for one Frenchie may not work for another.

⚠️ Common Allergy Triggers to Watch Out For:

  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Dairy
  • Wheat (gluten)
  • Corn & soy
  • Eggs

💬 Tip: Introduce new foods slowly and monitor your dog’s skin, stool, and behavior.

🍚 Hypoallergenic Alternatives (If Your Pup Shows Reactions)

  • Salmon & Sweet Potato – gentle on digestion (but not for Zero—gave him flaky skin!)
  • Duck & Brown Rice – fewer allergy cases compared to chicken
  • Turkey & Potato – lean protein, low allergen potential
  • Lamb & Oats – easy to digest and good for the skin

Again, every dog reacts differently, so trial and error is key.


🐾 Puppy Foods We Tried: Honest Reviews

Here’s a quick look at the four puppy foods we tested with Zero:

⬆️ cute moment of baby Zero 🤣🤣

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🍼 Our First: Leaps and Bounds – Small Breed Puppy (3.2KG)

Pros:

  • Thin, flat kibble—easy to chew and digest
  • Great for first-time feeding
  • Chicken-based

Cons:

  • Limited availability outside select stores in Australia

🐟 Second Pick: Hypro Premium Puppy & Whelping (9KG)

Pros:

  • Australian-made with turkey, lamb, and fish
  • Smelled fresh, and Zero initially liked it

Cons:

  • Poop became soft mid-feeding period (not sure if it was the food or the added puppy milk)
  • Long-term, fish-based foods didn’t agree with Zero’s skin and stool

⬇️ Zero’s Puppy Milk Break! (+Adorable Mukbang Clip)
Here’s the special puppy milk Zero used to love 🩷 scroll down for all the details (and a cute little drink break 🍼)!

🐶 Star Performer: Royal Canin – French Bulldog Puppy (3KG)

Pros:

  • Designed specifically for French Bulldogs
  • Digestible kibble shape for brachycephalic jaws
  • Helped with Zero’s coat and skin—less flaking, more shine

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Slightly greasy formula—watch portion sizes

🐾 Last Pick: Royal Canin – Medium Puppy (4KG)

Pros:

  • Nutrient-rich, good for medium breeds

Cons:

  • Zero lost interest after a few days
  • Needed to add meat, broth, rice to encourage eating

From here, we started mixing cooked chicken, veggie stir-fries, jasmine rice, and broth to make meals more exciting.


🍴 Feeding Tips for French Bulldog Puppies

  • Start with single-protein foods to monitor for allergies
  • Avoid drastic food changes—transition slowly over 7 days
  • Don’t overfeed: Frenchies gain weight quickly
  • Pay attention to poop quality—it tells you a lot about food compatibility
  • Top with boiled veggies or bone broth to increase interest (especially for picky eaters)

🐾 Final Thoughts

Finding the perfect food for your French Bulldog puppy isn’t easy—especially with sensitivities like Zero’s. But with some patience, trial and error, and careful ingredient reading, you’ll eventually find what works best for your pup.

If you’re starting out, I recommend trying Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy first—it’s specifically made for our snub-nosed friends and worked wonders for Zero’s digestion and skin.

Drinking Puppy Milk Zero

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