Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
With their small stature and adoring personalities, French Bulldogs are among the most popular medium to small dog breeds. Frenchies are well known for their happy-go-lucky personalities and cute faces.
Their easy-going nature extends to their food, and they’re not overly picky about what they eat. With their squashed faces, though, they can have issues eating comfortably, and French Bulldog puppies can find eating especially challenging.
Paying attention to what your Frenchie puppy eats will help them grow as healthy as possible. We put together these reviews to help you ensure that your puppy receives the nutrition that they need as they develop.
A Glimpse at Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Spot + Tango Fresh Dog Food
Recipes can be customized
Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
Choose between kibble or wet food
Click to Save 50%
Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Puppy Food
Real beef
Gluten-free
No corn, wheat, or soy
Check Price
Premium Choice
Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food Subscription
Four recipes
Pre-portioned
Real ingredients
Click to Save 50%
- Get Free Shipping!
Wellness CORE Grain-free Small Breed Puppy Recipe
High-protein recipe with deboned turkey
Small kibble size
Includes DHA
Non-GMO
Check Price
Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-free Wet Dog Food
Real chicken
Formulated for small breeds
Contains glucosamine and chondroitin
Check Price
The 9 Best Foods for French Bulldog Puppies
1. Spot + Tango Fresh Dog Food — Best Overall
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Special Diet: Non-GMO, no hormones
Food Type: Kibble or fresh food
Spot + Tango has the overall best food for French Bulldog Puppies. Its recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists and free from artificial additives, GMOs, and hormones for healthier meals for your puppy. Available in both dry or wet food, the meals are delivered to your door to save you a trip to the store.
Along with using real meat and fresh fruit and vegetables in its recipes, Spot + Tango enables you to customize the food that you receive. You can tailor the recipes to the individual requirements of your French Bulldog puppy to ensure that they grow up as healthy as possible. Spot + Tango also adjusts the meals as your puppy grows.
As a subscription-based company, Spot + Tango dog food can’t be bought in stores. You have to subscribe to use its services.
Pros
Choose between kibble or wet food
Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
Recipes can be customized
Delivery service
Real ingredients
Cons
Requires a subscription
The Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Puppy Food is formulated specifically for small and medium dog breeds. If you’re worried about your French Bulldog biting off more than they can chew (literally), this kibble is perfectly sized for small mouths.
Choose between kibble or wet food
Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
Recipes can be customized
Delivery service
Real ingredients
- Choose between kibble or wet food
- Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
- Recipes can be customized
- Delivery service
- Real ingredients
Requires a subscription
- Requires a subscription
Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, gluten-free
Food Type: Dry
Weight: 4,101 and 22 pound bags
Check Price on Chewy
Sold in 4-, 10-, and 22-pound bags, the Texas beef and sweet potato recipe provides high-quality protein to your puppy. Merrick prides itself on avoiding allergens like gluten, grain, corn, wheat, and soy. It also uses DHA to promote brain development and support your puppy’s joints with chondroitin and glucosamine.
Some fussy puppies dislike the flavor and refuse to eat this kibble.
Pros
4-, 10-, or 22-pound bags
Real beef
Grain and gluten-free
No corn, wheat, or soy
Includes chondroitin and glucosamine
Formulated for puppies
Cons
Fussy puppies don’t like the flavor
3. Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food Subscription — Premium Choice
Click Here to Save 50% + Get Free Shipping with Nom Nom!
Special Diet: Easy to digest
Food Type: Fresh food
As the best food for French Bulldog puppies for the money, Nom Nom is a brand with its own delivery service, helping you save on trips to the store. All four of the recipes that it offers — beef, chicken, pork, and turkey — use real ingredients and are carefully crafted by veterinary nutritionists.
4-, 10-, or 22-pound bags
Real beef
Grain and gluten-free
No corn, wheat, or soy
Includes chondroitin and glucosamine
Formulated for puppies
- 4-, 10-, or 22-pound bags
- Real beef
- Grain and gluten-free
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Includes chondroitin and glucosamine
- Formulated for puppies
Fussy puppies don’t like the flavor
- Fussy puppies don’t like the flavor
All the meals are pre-sorted into individualized portioned packages before being delivered to your door, so you don’t have to worry about feeding your Frenchie the right amount at mealtimes.
Nom Nom is a subscription-based service, and purchasing its food requires you to sign up. The company does, however, offer a trial period and samples of its meals. If you have a fussy puppy, you can test how well they enjoy the meals before subscribing.
Pros
Four recipes
Real ingredients
Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
Samples available
Pre-portioned
Delivery service
Cons
Requires a subscription
Formulated with deboned turkey, the Wellness CORE Grain-free Small Breed Puppy Recipe is designed for small dogs. The kibble is small in size so your puppy doesn’t struggle to chew on the pieces. It also doesn’t contain grain, gluten, or GMOs. The DHA and high-protein content help ensure that your puppy develops properly.
Four recipes
Real ingredients
Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
Samples available
Pre-portioned
Delivery service
- Four recipes
- Real ingredients
- Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
- Samples available
- Pre-portioned
- Delivery service
Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, gluten-free, high-protein
Food Type: Dry
Weight: 4 and 12 pound bags
The small bag sizes — 4 and 12 pounds — are handy for single-puppy households and maintaining freshness, but there are no bigger options available for multi-dog families. The triangle shape of this kibble can have sharp corners that are difficult for some dogs to chew and might be too hard for young puppies. Fussy puppies may dislike the flavor.
Pros
4- or 12-pound bags
Deboned turkey
Small kibble size
Includes DHA
Non-GMO
Cons
Triangle-shaped kibble can be difficult to chew
Some puppies dislike the flavor
Too hard for some dogs
4- or 12-pound bags
Deboned turkey
Small kibble size
Includes DHA
Non-GMO
- 4- or 12-pound bags
- Deboned turkey
- Small kibble size
- Includes DHA
- Non-GMO
Triangle-shaped kibble can be difficult to chew
Some puppies dislike the flavor
Too hard for some dogs
- Triangle-shaped kibble can be difficult to chew
- Some puppies dislike the flavor
- Too hard for some dogs
Pre-portioned into meal-size trays, the Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-free Wet Dog Food is formulated with small and toy breeds in mind. The recipe is made with real chicken and has a stew-like texture. The soft consistency also makes it easier for your French Bulldog puppy to eat it.
Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, gluten-free
Food Type: Wet
Weight: 3.5-ounce trays
The 3.5-ounce trays are easy to open and ready-made into perfect-sized meals for your puppy, making meal-prep quick and simple. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids ensure that your puppy’s insides and outsides develop as healthily as possible.
Since this option is wet dog food, it has a stronger smell than dry kibble, and some dog owners find it unpleasant. A few fussy puppies also dislike the smell and refuse to eat it.
Pros
12 trays
Easy to open
Pre-portioned
Contains glucosamine and chondroitin
Real chicken
Formulated for small breed puppies
Cons
Strong, unpleasant odor
Some puppies dislike the smell
This Merrick Grain Free Wet Puppy Food helps with digestion by offering a moisture-rich stew with real meat and vegetables. The ingredients make the formula rich in the protein, minerals, and nutrients that your puppy needs for a balanced diet. Your puppy’s cognitive development will also benefit from the support of the included DHA fatty acids.
12 trays
Easy to open
Pre-portioned
Contains glucosamine and chondroitin
Real chicken
Formulated for small breed puppies
- 12 trays
- Easy to open
- Pre-portioned
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin
- Real chicken
- Formulated for small breed puppies
Strong, unpleasant odor
Some puppies dislike the smell
- Strong, unpleasant odor
- Some puppies dislike the smell
Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, gluten-free
Food Type: Wet
Weight: 12.7 ounces
It’s sold in a pack of 12 for single- or multi-dog homes, and the recipe doesn’t include corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or grain.
While this is recipe uses real beef, some puppy owners have mentioned that there isn’t much meat in the cans that they received, despite the expensiveness of this option. It also has a bitter smell, and small puppies may struggle with the large chunks.
Pros
12 pack
Real beef
Includes DHA
No corn, wheat, or soy
Cons
Expensive
Not many beef chunks
Smells bitter
Some puppies struggle with the big chunks
12 pack
Real beef
Includes DHA
No corn, wheat, or soy
- 12 pack
- Real beef
- Includes DHA
- No corn, wheat, or soy
Expensive
Not many beef chunks
Smells bitter
Some puppies struggle with the big chunks
- Expensive
- Not many beef chunks
- Smells bitter
- Some puppies struggle with the big chunks
- American Journey Puppy Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe
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Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, high-protein
Food Type: Dry
Weight: 4, 12 and 24 pound bags
The American Journey Puppy Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe is filled with fiber-rich ingredients for a healthy digestive system and DHA to support your puppy’s growth. Real deboned lamb provides a high-protein diet. It also has vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables to promote the development of your puppy’s immune health.
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Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, high-protein
Food Type: Dry
Weight: 4, 12 and 24 pound bags
This grain-free recipe is sold in 4-, 12-, and 24-pound bags and doesn’t contain corn, wheat, or soy. For French Bulldogs that are prone to allergies, the lack of allergens helps keep their diet nutritious and balanced. There are also omega fatty acids to protect your dog’s skin and coat health.
A few owners of fussier puppies have mentioned that their dogs disliked the flavor and refused to eat this food.
Pros
4-, 12-, or 24-pound bags
Grain-free
Real lamb
Supports immune health
High-protein
DHA
Fiber-rich ingredients
Cons
Some fussy puppies hate the taste
4-, 12-, or 24-pound bags
Grain-free
Real lamb
Supports immune health
High-protein
DHA
Fiber-rich ingredients
- 4-, 12-, or 24-pound bags
- Grain-free
- Real lamb
- Supports immune health
- High-protein
- DHA
- Fiber-rich ingredients
Some fussy puppies hate the taste
- Some fussy puppies hate the taste
For French Bulldogs with allergies to chicken, the Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe is free from poultry ingredients and made with real salmon. It’s high in protein, prebiotics, and probiotics to promote a healthy digestive system. The nutrients included in the recipe also give your puppy an extra boost to their bone, joint, and muscle development.
Special Diet: Grain-free, chicken-free
Food Type: Dry
Weight: 5, 14,and 28 pound bag
Although this Taste of the Wild recipe avoids grain, corn, wheat, and soy products, it does use canola oil. While the ingredient is approved by the AAFCO, many dog owners dislike using it. This dry food is also one of the more expensive options on this list. Due to the salmon ingredients, your puppy may start to smell unpleasant.
Pros
Made with real salmon
High-protein
No corn, wheat, or soy
Grain-free
Prebiotics and probiotics
Cons
Expensive
Uses canola oil
Can make puppies smell bad
- Blue Buffalo Freedom Puppy Chicken Recipe
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Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, gluten-free
Food Type: Dry
Weight: 4 and 11 pound bags
The Blue Buffalo Freedom Puppy Chicken Recipe is small in size but packed with energy to keep your growing puppy active. Designed for small and toy breed puppies, the kibble is formulated to be easy for small mouths to handle, making it suitable for your French Bulldog puppy.
Made with real salmon
High-protein
No corn, wheat, or soy
Grain-free
Prebiotics and probiotics
- Made with real salmon
- High-protein
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Grain-free
- Prebiotics and probiotics
Expensive
Uses canola oil
Can make puppies smell bad
- Expensive
- Uses canola oil
- Can make puppies smell bad
Special Diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no corn, no soy, gluten-free
Food Type: Dry
Weight: 4 and 11 pound bags
DHA and ARA are both present in this recipe, giving your puppy a boost to their eye and brain development. While the real chicken supplies protein to support growth, the lack of grain and gluten makes it suitable for allergy-suffering pooches.
Despite the two bag sizes available, this Blue Buffalo Freedom recipe is only sold in small bags. These might not be big enough for households with several puppies, which makes this option expensive. The kibble size is also too big for some small dog breeds.
Pros
Formulated for small breeds
Real chicken
DHA and ARA
Grain-free
Gluten-free
Cons
Only available in small bags
Kibble is too big for some puppies
Expensive
Formulated for small breeds
Real chicken
DHA and ARA
Grain-free
Gluten-free
- Formulated for small breeds
- Real chicken
- DHA and ARA
- Grain-free
- Gluten-free
Only available in small bags
Kibble is too big for some puppies
Expensive
- Only available in small bags
- Kibble is too big for some puppies
- Expensive
Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Food for French Bulldog Puppies
There are so many options of food out there that making sure your French Bulldog puppy gets the nutrients that they need can be difficult. It’s not impossible, though, and this guide will help you figure out what to consider when buying food for your puppy.
Breed Size
You can buy food that’s generally suitable for all breed sizes, but a better match for your puppy will be options tailored to their breed size. French Bulldogs are among those dog breeds that are between sizes. While they’re considered too big to fit into the small breed classification, they’re too small to suit the medium breed. That said, they can do well on both diet classifications as long as the food is based on good quality ingredients and formulated for puppies.
Easy to Digest
If you’re familiar with Frenchies, you’ll know that they can be gassy on occasion. Their food can make this gassiness better or worse. Choose food that’s easy to digest to help ease the stress on their digestive system. Look for formulas with whole-food ingredients and fresh, and pay attention to any food allergies that your Frenchie has.
Puppy Formula
Tailoring your puppy’s diet to their age will help you ensure that they receive the nutrients that they need to grow as strong as possible. Good quality food that is formulated specifically for puppies will give your Frenchie the nutrition that they need for healthy growth and development.
Dog food formulated for puppies helps support their development in a way that adult dog food doesn’t. Many puppy-based formulas include fatty acids like DHA and ARA, which are found in a mother dog’s milk, to support a puppy’s cognitive function and eye development.
You should keep your Frenchie on specialized puppy food until they’re between 10 and 12 months old, and then you can start switching them to an adult formula. Remember to change their food gradually to avoid upsetting their stomachs.
Final Thoughts
Keeping French Bulldog puppies as healthy as possible is essential to their development. This list explored the best foods for French Bulldog puppies, from the best overall choice by Spot + Tango to Nom Nom as the best value option. Both of these subscription-based services use fresh ingredients.
While Spot + Tango offers customizable recipes to ensure that the food that you order grows with your puppy, Nom Nom offers a 2-week trial and samples for your puppy to try. Both companies deliver the food to your door to take the stress out of grocery shopping.
If you prefer feeding traditional dry food then we recommend checking out the Merrick Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Puppy Food a perfectly sized kibble for small mouths.
- You may also be interested in: 11 Best Dog Foods for French Bulldogs – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Tienuskin, Shutterstock
