How To Conquer Your French Bulldog’s Separation Anxiety, Sound Anxiety or Travel Anxiety

If your french bulldog is experiencing anxiety, life can be miserable both for you and your pup. I myself spent 2 years battling extreme separation anxiety with my dog, and we successfully came out on the other side. In this article I’ll share some of the resources and strategies that worked for us.

There are many forms of anxiety that your french bulldog may be suffering from. Typical causes of anxiety in french bulldog’s might be:

Separation anxiety – Fear of being separated from their owner. This often manifests itself by your french bulldog pacing, drooling, biting, or being destructive while you’re away.
Sound anxiety – Fear of loud noises like thunder, fireworks, or a vacuum cleaner
Travel anxiety – Fear of traveling in a moving vehicle, or fear of intimidating places like your vet’s office or a boarding kennel

Simple Ways to Calm an Anxious French Bulldog

1. Experiment with Hemp Oil for Your French Bulldog’s Anxiety

One of the tools I successfully used in treating my dog’s anxiety was Hemp. While your results may vary, approximately 67% of the dog owners polled here claimed that Hemp was ‘extremely effective’ or ‘somewhat effective’ in helping their dog’s anxiety.

In my experience, Hemp helped my dog calm down enough to respond positively to the other training methods I was using to treat her anxiety. When choosing a Hemp oil, always look for a certificate of analysis showing a pure and safe product. I’d also recommend a product with 0% THC.

If you’d rather not give an hemp oil tincture to your dog, there are also great full spectrum hemp treat options available for dogs on Amazon. 

2. Desensitize Your French Bulldog to The Cause of Their Anxiety

A key strategy for treating your french bulldog’s anxiety is desensitizing them to the trigger of their fear. For example, my dog’s anxiety was triggered anytime I walked out the door to leave the house. For other dogs, the trigger might be you grabbing your keys or putting on your coat.

Begin by doing the trigger activity, but then immediately reversing it. For example, I would grab my keys and walk out the door. Then I’d come back 5 seconds later. I did this literally hundreds of times over a period of a week. Eventually, my dog was desensitized and bored by the behavior.

3. For Sound Anxiety, Trying Isolating Your French Bulldog and Playing Loud Music

Many french bulldog’s that suffer from thunderstorm or fireworks anxiety experience relief in a smaller, more isolated room of the house where music can be played at a loud volume. A word of caution though, if your dog is also experiences separation anxiety leaving them alone in a room during may be counterproductive.

4. Try Using a Compression Wrap (Available in Many Sizes and Will Fit Your French Bulldog)

Many dogs are comforted by the feeling of compression across their body. One popular product many have found success with is the Thundershirt (available on Amazon). The product applies gentle, calming pressure that is very reassuring to many pups. The company claims the product to be helpful for about 80% of the dogs who tried it. It can be used to help calm your French Bulldog during fireworks, thunder, separation, travel, or vet visits, with no training and no medication required.

5. Try an Herbal Supplement for Your French Bulldog with Calming Herbs Like Chamomile, Passion Flower, Ginger Root or Valerian Root

Many calming supplements exist for dogs that are palatable for dogs, easy-to-feed, and can help quickly relieve your French Bulldog’s stress and give a sense of safety and calm. Some supplements contain calming herbs like chamomile, passion flower, ginger root, and valerian root are a great option.

6. Experiment with a Pheromone Diffuser for Your French Bulldog

Canine pheromone diffusers mimic the calming pheromone that a mother dog emits while nursing her puppies. The diffuser can help many dogs feel calmer and more comfortable in stressful situations. The same company that makes the Thundershirt above also makes a product called ThunderEase diffuser, which is also available on Amazon.

7. Try an Anti-Anxiety Supplement Containing L-Tryptophan, L-Theanine or Melatonin

Other popular ingredients in anti-anxiety supplements include the amino acids L-Tryptophan and L-Theanine, both of which offer calming properties and increase the release of “feel good” serotonin in your dog’s body. In addition, some calming products for dogs contain a small amount of melatonin, which can help regulate and improve their sleep.

8. Experiment with Using Your Own Scent & Sound to Calm Your French Bulldog

In my experience, using your own scent and sound to help calm your dog is a powerful strategy in beating anxiety. I stumbled upon this one day with my own dog by accident.

Typically, if I left the home my dog would instantly enter a panic. But one day I needed to take a long phone call, and left my dog outside my bedroom door where I took the call. During the call, she calmly lied next to the door, where she could obviously smell and hear me. It occurred to me that I could possibly mimic this tactic while I wasn’t at home.

I recorded my voice on a CD player and then put it on loop. Then I placed a used t-shirt on the inside of the door where she could easily smell it underneath. To my surprise, I was able to leave the house for a short time. (I monitored her on a video camera). I slowly increased the length of time I left, and always found her calm and sincerely believing that I was just behind the door!

If you’d like to read the full story of how I cured my dog’s extreme separation anxiety, go here.

Another great product to help calm your dog is the Comfort Cuddler Buddy. You can stuff the cozy fleece man with your clothing or pillow case with your scent, and leave with your dog.

Lastly, another popular calming product is the heartbeat puppy toy. Traditionally, these have been used to help calm puppies who recently left their litter. The plush toys come with a warming features as well as a simulated heartbeat. While originally intended for puppies, many dog owners have found they can effectively calm dogs of all ages. This popular model is available on Amazon. 

Effective Anxiety-Calming Methods for Schnauzers

Defeating your french bulldog’s anxiety is possible, but every dog’s journey will look different. I hope the tools and strategies above will be helpful to your journey.

If you’d like to learn more about the Hemp oil and calming chews we use here at iHeartDogs, learn more below.

For best results, you can pair the above Hemp oil with the calming chews below. Between the 2 supplements, they offer 10 active and natural ingredients to help calm your dog without the use of medication.

Top Pet Insurance Plans for French Bulldogs

Frequently Asked Questions About French Bulldog Anxiety

1. Why do French Bulldogs develop anxiety?

French Bulldogs are companion dogs that thrive on human interaction. They can develop anxiety due to separation from their owners, lack of socialization, changes in routine, loud noises, or past trauma. Their affectionate nature makes them more prone to emotional stress.

2. What are the signs of anxiety in French Bulldogs?

Common symptoms of anxiety include excessive barking, whining, destructive chewing, pacing, panting, restlessness, hiding, and in some cases aggression. These behaviors are often their way of expressing stress or discomfort.

3. Can exercise help reduce my French Bulldog’s anxiety?

Yes, regular exercise is one of the best ways to relieve anxiety in French Bulldogs. Short walks, gentle play sessions, and mental stimulation activities can burn off nervous energy and promote relaxation.

4. Are calming supplements safe for French Bulldogs?

High-quality, vet-approved calming supplements such as CBD oil, chamomile, or L-theanine are generally safe for French Bulldogs when used correctly. Always consult your veterinarian before starting supplements to ensure safety and proper dosage.

5. How does routine affect French Bulldog anxiety?

French Bulldogs thrive on consistency. A stable daily routine for feeding, walking, and bedtime helps reduce anxiety by giving your dog a sense of security and predictability.

6. Can training help with my French Bulldog’s anxiety?

Yes, training can help redirect anxious behaviors and build your dog’s confidence. Positive reinforcement training, crate training, and desensitization to triggers like being left alone can reduce anxiety over time.

7. Are French Bulldogs more prone to separation anxiety?

Yes, French Bulldogs are known to be one of the breeds most prone to separation anxiety. Their deep bond with their owners makes them distressed when left alone for extended periods. Providing toys, calming aids, and gradual alone-time training can help.

8. Can music or sound therapy calm my French Bulldog?

Yes, soothing music, white noise, or calming soundtracks can help relax French Bulldogs. These sounds mask triggers like outside noises and create a calming environment, especially when they are home alone.

9. When should I seek professional help for my French Bulldog’s anxiety?

If your French Bulldog’s anxiety leads to severe destructive behavior, aggression, or self-harm, it’s best to consult a veterinarian or a certified dog behaviorist. They can recommend tailored solutions, medical treatment, or specialized training programs.