A French Bulldog puppy isn’t tiny for long. It is incredible to watch it increase in size almost on a daily basis. Of course, the day will come when your Frenchie reaches its adult size and it’s natural to wonder when that will be.
A French Bulldog usually stops growing at 2 years of age. However, it will reach its maximum height and length between the ages of 9 and 15 months. Any increase in size from this point can be attributed to the development of muscle.
French Bulldog Age vs Weight Table
So, let’s look at some numbers. Sometimes it’s just easier to see absorb this kind of stuff from a table or a graph – so here are both!
| French Bulldog Age (weeks) | Weight (lbs) |
| 1 | 1.2 – 2.2 |
| 4 | 2 – 4.2 |
| 8 | 5 – 6.9 |
| 12 | 6.2 – 9 |
| 16 | 9 – 12 |
| 18 | 12 – 15 |
| 22 | 13 – 16 |
| 26 | 16 – 18 |
| 78 | 17 – 23 |
Now that we have the data, let’s put it into a graph. Of course, no two French Bulldog’s are the same so there can (and will) be some variation here but the below is assuming averages.
There will be very few Bullies that get larger than around 28 lbs and considering their build, this is big enough.
What Factors Affect French Bulldog Growth?
There are so many different things that could affect both the final size of your Frenchie and also their growth rate. For instance, there are genetic factors involved – if their parents aren’t particularly big, there’s a good chance the puppy will end up similar.
Also, whether the puppy fed well during the first few weeks has a big effect on how they grow during the first few weeks and months. As of course does the food that she consumed during those first early weeks.
Her physical and mental condition has a part to play in this also. If she is under stress, for whatever reason during these first few weeks, she won’t eat as much (and may defecate more) – which could have a big impact on her growth.
Those First Days and Weeks
Initially, you’re going to just be sitting along and enjoying the ride as there’s not an awful lot you can do about their size during this time. That responsibility lies squarely with their mother, who up until around 10 weeks will have the main input into their upbringing.
If like most people, the puppies are still at the breeder’s at this point you shouldn’t feel like you can’t ask them questions as to how the relationship is between mother and pup. You’ll most likely be able to bring them home around the 12-week point.
To take them away from their mother before this point would be a shame and can affect the mental state of the pup as it won’t have fully weaned until much before this point. If it has not weaned then let nature do its thing, it won’t take long from this point.
Those First Months
Arguably, the most important part of the pup’s upbringing has drawn to a close now as it leaves its mother and starts its own life.
Now, you’re the most important thing in its life, so don’t let it down! A healthy diet will be required but, like us, there
- Fat – Flaxseed and chicken fat are all a good source of fat, as well as canola oil. The recommendation is about 8% fat for your puppies and about 5% fat for French Bulldog adults.
- Protein – Chicken, fish, lamb
, and beef are of course easy to source and will do your Bully no harm at all. Here, the recommendation is about 22% protein for pups and 18% if they’re fully grown. - Carbs – Your dog’s diet should be ideally quite low in carbs to ensure a healthy blood sugar level.
The best advice I can give is to have variety in their diet. If they don’t like something, don’t force them to eat it as there are plenty of other options. They may, of course, decide they like it in six months time as,
The food that you provide to your Frenchie during her life is a big factor towards her longevity and general health. It’s not everything though. A good amount of exercise and play will give her heart a work-out and also helps to ensure that her weight is kept
How Does the French Bulldog Size Compare to Other Breeds?
We know that the Frenchie is a smaller sized dog, but how does it compare to others? Let’s say that a fully grown French Bulldog is 20 lbs, I know some will be higher and some lower but let’s just look at averages. The Bully has a similar fully-grown mass to these dog breeds:
- Basenjis (22-24 lbs)
- Bedlington Terriers (17-23 lbs)
- Boston Terriers (12-25 lbs)
- Cesky Terriers (14-24 lbs)
- Dandie
Dinmon t Terriers (18-24 lbs) - Pyrenean Shepherds (15-30 lbs)
- Shetland Sheepdogs (15-25 lbs)
Compare this with a St Bernard who can come in at up to 180 lbs, nearly 10 times as much as your little Frenchie! However, they are
Average Lifespan of a French Bulldog
The average lifespan of a French Bulldog is around 10 to 12 years. This is higher than for some breeds and less than others.
For instance, a Bernese Mountain dog and some
The Chihuahua can make it to 17 years but the New Guinea singing dog (no, I hadn’t heard of it either) can last until they are 18 years old. I always get a bit sad when I look at this kind of stuff up.
Why can’t they live as long as us? Then they truly would be a friend for life! Tortoises, that can live to about 150, just aren’t the same.
Summary of Facts
- The French Bulldog will reach maximum size around 9-15 months, however
, they will continue to bulk out after this time. Maturity occurs at about 2 years. - They will have a weight of around 20 lbs at maturity.
- Their growth rate initially depends on how well their mother has reared them, genetics, and environmental factors.
- After the pup has weaned, the growth rate is more fixed however a small amount of variability is caused by how much their owner’s feed and exercise them, fat, protein, and carbs are essential to a French Bulldog’s diet.
- The average lifespan of a French Bulldog is around 10-12 years.
Finally, if you have encountered a different aspect to your Bully from what I’ve detailed here – I’d love to hear from you. I read all the comments that people send and will respond to each individually.
If you’re considering buying a French Bulldog then you might like to check out my article Is the French Bulldog Right for Me which will hopefully help you with your decision!