French Bulldog Lifespan

How long do French Bulldogs live?

The AKC gives a French Bulldog life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Large UK studies find less. A 2024 study of 584,734 dogs found a median of 9.8 years for Frenchies, among the shortest of 155 breeds. Their flat face is a key reason. Flat faced breeds lived shorter lives than breeds with medium length faces.

French Bulldog lifespan in three studies

The low numbers do not mean most Frenchies die at 4. The breed boomed in the UK very fast. The 2018 VetCompass study found that Frenchies went from 0.02 percent of puppies born in 2003 to 1.46 percent in 2013. The median age of the dogs in that study was only 1.3 years. When most dogs are young, the deaths you see are early deaths. The authors said the numbers would likely shift as these dogs aged.

The 2022 life tables still ranked the French Bulldog last of 18 breeds at birth. The 2024 McMillan study used a method built to handle dogs still alive, and it still found a median of just 9.8 years. That study also gave Frenchies a hazard ratio of 2.2, placing them among the breeds most at risk of early death.

The flat face problem

Flat faced dogs are called brachycephalic. In the McMillan study, flat faced pure breeds had a median lifespan of 11.2 years. Breeds with medium length faces had 12.8. Medium sized flat faced breeds did worst of all, with a median of 9.4 years.

The 2018 study found upper airway problems in 12.7 percent of Frenchies in a single year. If your Frenchie breathes loudly or tires fast, ask your vet to check its airway.

Most common French Bulldog health problems

• Ear infections (otitis externa): 14.0 percent
• Diarrhea: 7.5 percent
• Conjunctivitis (eye infection): 3.2 percent
• Overlong nails: 3.1 percent
• Skin fold dermatitis: 3.0 percent

By group, skin problems led at 17.9 percent, followed by gut, ear, upper airway and eye problems. Of deaths with a known cause, brain disorders (11.9 percent) and spinal cord disorders (9.5 percent) were the most common.

French Bulldog age in human years

The AKC says Frenchies weigh under 28 pounds. Some weigh under 20 and fit our small class. We start this page in the medium class on purpose. Frenchies have a shorter median lifespan than typical small dogs, and the medium chart ages a little faster. You can switch to small in the tool if you prefer.

Senior age for a Frenchie

A French Bulldog is a senior from about 7.5 to 9 years old, using the AKC range and the AVMA rule of the last 25 percent of life. Given the shorter lifespan found in UK data, starting senior checks near 7 is a reasonable plan to discuss with your vet.

Ways to protect your Frenchie

• Keep it cool. Walk in the cooler parts of the day in warm weather, bring water and rest often.
• Keep it lean. The AVMA links obesity with breathing trouble, arthritis and other disease.
• Clean skin folds. Wipe and dry the folds on the face often, since skin fold infection was a top five problem.
• Check ears weekly. Ear infection was the single most common problem found.

Compare

• Dachshund lifespan
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• Dog years chart

French Bulldog FAQ

References

1. McMillan K.M. et al. (2024). Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports
2. Teng K.T. et al. (2022). Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Scientific Reports
3. O'Neill D.G. et al. (2018). Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology
4. Caring for senior cats and dogs, American Veterinary Medical Association
5. How to Calculate Dog Years to Human Years, American Kennel Club
6. French Bulldog breed page, American Kennel Club