Must-Have: The Best Toys for French Bulldogs this Year

Alright, let's talk Frenchie toys, 'cause those little guys are tough on 'em!

So, first things first, I went online, did a bunch of research. Saw all sorts of "indestructible" toys. Yeah, right! My Frenchie, Gus, can destroy a so-called indestructible toy in about 5 minutes flat. It's a talent, really.

Step 1: The Soft Stuff (for a minute, anyway)

Started with some plush toys. You know, the cute ones? Bought a few from a local pet store – a squeaky hedgehog and a little plush bone. Gus LOVED them… for the first five minutes. Then, the squeaker was out, the stuffing was everywhere. Big mess. But he was happy, so… win? Not really. Too much cleaning.

Step 2: The Rubber Experiment

Next, I figured rubber would be tougher. Got a Kong. The classic. Stuffed it with peanut butter. He loved licking it out. That was good. Kept him busy for a while. Then, he started chewing on the Kong itself. Little bits of rubber coming off. Not ideal! Also tried those rubber balls with holes in them. He'd get his tongue stuck. Panic ensued. Had to cut him loose. Nope, not doing that again.

Step 3: Rope Toys – A Brief Respite

Grabbed a few rope toys. The knotted kind. He liked chewing on them. Seemed to hold up okay… for a day or two. Then, they started unraveling. Little strings everywhere. Worried about him swallowing them. Took those away, too.

Step 4: The "Indestructible" Claim Check

Okay, time to get serious. Ordered some of those supposedly "indestructible" toys online. The ones made of super-hard plastic. One was a bone shape, the other a weird-looking alien thing. He chewed on them. A lot. They did last longer than the others. But… he’d still manage to chip off tiny pieces. Plus, they were SO HARD. I was worried about his teeth. They sounded awful when he chewed on them.

Step 5: Supervision is Key (Duh!)

Finally, I realized something obvious: No toy is truly "indestructible" when it comes to a determined French Bulldog. Especially Gus! So, the real answer is supervision. I buy toys that I think he'll enjoy, but I only let him play with them when I'm watching him. If he starts tearing something apart, I take it away. Boo.

What Worked (Sort Of)

• Kong (with supervision): Still use the Kong for peanut butter, but I watch him closely.
• Tough Rubber Toys (with supervision): Those hard plastic ones lasted the longest, but still require supervision.
• Dental Chews: He likes those enzymatic dental chews. They keep him busy and help with his teeth.

What Didn't Work

• Plush Toys: Too messy.
• Rope Toys: Too much unraveling.
• Anything Unsupervised: Disaster waiting to happen.

So, yeah, that’s my Frenchie toy saga. It's an ongoing process, always trying new things. The key is to find things they enjoy and to supervise them. Good luck to all you fellow Frenchie parents out there! It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!