French Bulldog Separation Anxiety – Reasons And Remedies

Last Updated/Info Checked on October 16, 2023 by Scott

French Bulldogs were initially bred to be ratters. But over time, they’ve found their jobs dwindle to being companion dogs.

The families that I see owning dogs from this breed go to lengths about their friendly behavior, loving nature, and overall fewer needs.

However, they do complain about one thing – the anxious French Bulldog having separation anxiety. Leaving them alone for a full day in the apartment causes them great discomfort.

The signs of anxiety in these dogs aren’t good to witness. But it’s not in the paws of the dogs.

French Bulldogs develop separation anxiety because of being companion dogs. They are supposed to stay super close to their owners. Therefore, leaving them all alone in your house for a long period of time is not a good idea. 

So, you’ve got to do something about it. 

Here are all the reasons and remedies for this debilitating condition.

But first, let’s see what separation anxiety looks like.

Also read: 21 Loving Dog Breeds with Separation Anxiety

French Bulldog Anxiety Symptoms

• You’ll see it urinate and poop out of context and anytime.
• Eating what they excrete. That’s probably the most disturbing and explanatory of all. 
• Whining, barking, howling, and all kinds of sounds you didn’t hear before. 
• Increased mouthiness. Beware sofas. 
• Trying to escape everything – you, your house, everything. 
• Running around the house mad. 

Do French Bulldogs Have Separation Anxiety? 4 Reasons They Have

You cannot blame a dog for its nature. Well, Frenchies have their intolerance for loneliness engraved in their genes. That’s the reason we all cannot escape, let alone the dog. 

Topping the list of reasons with that, let’s explore the rest. 

1. They Are Sensitive Dogs

Sensitivity: ⅗

Although they do well in apartments and as I said most of them are owned by apartment dwellers, they are still quite sensitive to the surrounding stimuli. They could be anything from unruly sounds to disturbing neighbors. 

The point is that they seldom bear being poked by their surroundings in their daily routines. Leave such a dog alone and you’ve created a perfect recipe for disaster. 

When you’re around, it may have some comfort against all the stimuli. But when you’re not home, it will lose its mind for sure.

See also: Why is my French Bulldog so hyper? 

2. Clingy

Friendliness: 5/5

I should have talked about their clinginess earlier. These dogs are known to jump straight to their owner’s lap the moment they sit somewhere. 

During their training sessions, they’d do the same to me. That alludes to the fact that they get closer to whoever counts as their family or long-term visitor.

With frequent visitors and other family members, they may not develop separation anxiety, with owners, they do. 

It’s almost as if they have a favorite person that they do not want to see away from their eyes. 

Related: Are French Bulldogs good with other dogs?

3. Cannot Tolerate Extreme Weather

Extreme weather tolerance: ⅕ 

The fact that they lie on the border of companion dogs and toy dogs makes them super vulnerable to extreme weather. They can’t tolerate hot or cold weather. For apartment dwellers, that may be a headache because it not only means high bills but also their capacity to cling to their owners. 

So, the next time your dog comes near you to snuggle, you may wanna check the temp. 

4. They Aren’t Very Outgoing

Outgoing: ⅖

Some dogs have an insatiable wanderlust while others are just meh! They tend to stay home more often and do not like going out for recreation – of course, potty doesn’t count here. 

You could call them introverted dogs minus the need to stay alone. They want to stay inside but not alone, which is why separation anxiety is a major setback. 

4 Remedies For French Bulldog Separation Anxiety

How do you stop separation anxiety in a French Bulldog? How do you stop it from crying? Going through a routine that tones down the excitement of you leaving the house or coming back may help with reducing the dog’s anxiety. You could also try other tips explained below. 

1. Invest In A Remote Camera

Remote cameras available in the market connect you with your house virtually through your phone. Buy one of those and install it around your house. 

I’d prefer that the camera you install should also have a microphone outlet of some kind. That will let you talk to your dog when it’s alone. 

Although it will take some time before you both get used to it, once you do, the dog won’t feel alone all the time. 

2. French Bulldog Separation Anxiety Training

Positive reinforcement associates good behavior with a good reward. Treats work like a charm in that aspect. So, whenever you’re leaving your house, feed the dog treats so that it gets busy. 

The idea is to keep it distracted as you leave. It’s almost like dealing with children. You distract them right when you’re leaving and by the time they’re finished with the distraction, they forget you’ve left at all. 

As compared to them, even if the dog doesn’t forget, the intensity of the separation isn’t too much to cause anxiety. 

3. Don’t Make A Show Of Your Exit

Donning your shoes, overcoat, or anything that could signal that you’re leaving could put your dog through anxiety. Experts say that when you leave your French Bulldog alone, they may think that you’re not going to come back ever again!

So, no matter how much of a drama queen you are like me, don’t go overboard with making a show of your exit. Instead, distract the dog and take your things out of the door before wearing them. 

I do this with my labradoodle and it works great. I’m not saying that both of these breeds are alike. It’s just separation anxiety is also individualistic – meaning, any dog could be prone to it. 

4. Invest In Anxiety-Relieving Toys

Stores both online and offline have stress and anxiety managing toys. For example, there are anti-anxiety vests, headgear, chewable toys, and so on. 

I’ve also used chewable balls that have a cavity in them to be filled by food. I’ll put plenty of peanut butter for my dog and let him chew it to the finish line while I’m off doing my business outside. 

By the time he would have finished the peanut butter, I would have been back home. Even if I wouldn’t be, he’d have forgotten much about the pain of not seeing me. 

How Long Can French Bulldogs Be Left Alone?

We vets recommend that you leave the dog alone for no more than 4 hours. This is a tolerable time period for the little breed. Anything beyond it requires careful consideration, not to mention consistent training as I mentioned above.

French Bulldog Separation Anxiety – Conclusion

Can a French Bulldog be left alone? As you read, this breed is known to be clingy, affectionate to the point of absurdity, and entirely dependent on the owner for everything ranging from food to warmth. In a breed such as this, separation anxiety is inevitable.

You’ve read about its symptoms, reasons, and remedies. Try not to leave your dog alone too much and seek professional help if the symptoms are not winding down. 

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