Why Are My French Bulldog's Ears Down?

Owning a French bulldog is pretty similar to owning a child. When everybody has their own opinions they might make you worry about your Frenchie even if he or she is perfectly healthy.

Although, it is pretty difficult for a French bulldog owner to not panic when their Frenchie’s ears are down. Everywhere you look, you see a Frenchie with erect ears. Their ears make them look unique and just dandy. Then you look at your Frenchie puppy and his or her ears are down. You shouldn't worry about whether or not his or her ears are down, here's why.

It important for you to know that all French bulldogs are born with floppy ears, this is absolutely normal. As they grow, their ears gradually become erect, there really is no exact time for this growth to occur. French bulldogs can get their erect ears anytime from 6 weeks to 18 months. 

There is no hurry. A French bulldog’s ears will become erect after they have gone through the teething process. When the Frenchie puppy is still young, their body uses up all of the calcium for growing teeth. During this period, his or her ears may go up, may go up and down, may go droopy, may go up one a time or may not go up at all. 

The point is that until calcium is evenly distributed in your puppy’s body, those ears are going to whatsoever they please. Here are some answers to questions you may have. 

When should a French Bulldog’s Ears stand up? 

As it has been mentioned, there is no exact time, each puppy is an individual and will develop differently. Some French bulldogs get their erect ears before they are separated from their mother but that is not always the case. Sometimes the ears are erect but droopy at the top. 

It is natural for your Frenchie’s ears to be unstable during the teething weeks. However, you should know that sometimes, a French bulldog’s ears may not become erect. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. 

Their ears being upward or droopy does not in any way affect their personality. As long you clean them regularly and thoroughly, droopy ears have no health-related issues. However, if you really want to give them a little help, there are a few things you can do. 

How do I get my French Bulldog’s Ears To Stand Up? 

Many breeders and owners who catch signs of their Frenchie’s droopy ears may want to take action themselves. The first method is taping and it’s usually done around 7 or 8 weeks old. 

Breeders may do this because it’s harder to convince people to pick the French bulldog puppy with floppy ears but it comes across as a cruel process. There may be other ways to carefully tape a French bulldog’s ears. But if I happened to own a French bulldog puppy with droopy ears, I would never tape them up so taping a French Bulldog ears is not a recommended method by anyone here at the Frenchiestore.

Droopy or floppy ears can give the French bulldog dog a bit of character, a super-cute look and the amusement they bring doubles. It is recommended that you hold on and let nature take its course. 

The other method would be trying to even or up the calcium levels in your Frenchie. Before you administer calcium or try to include it in your Frenchie’s diet, please consult with your vet and your Frenchie breeder. Many times, rich foods like this could upset your puppy’s stomach. 

How Do I know If My French Bulldog Is Pure Bred?

There are a number of ways to figure out whether or not your French Bulldog is a pure breed. They can be easily distinguished from other dogs if you know what to look for. 

Body Structure 

French bulldogs are relatively small. Their height is about 10 – 13 inches and they usually weigh under 28 pounds. 

French bulldogs are known for erect ears with wide bases and rounded tips. The ears rest right on top of the dog’s head and they are not too close together. A purebred French bulldog will almost certainly have bat ears. This is not to say that they might not be delays in the ears becoming erect. 

French bulldogs usually have dark brown, almost black eyes. Although in some cases, a French bulldog could have light brown eyes or even green in some of the rare colors Frenchies. French bulldogs also have a short tail that can either be straight or screwed and they hang low below their backs. 

French bulldogs have a fairly muscular build. With their short, well-rounded bodies, they are usually seen walking actively and unrestrained. 

Coat 

The coat of a French bulldog is usually short and smooth. They have soft, loose skin which may form wrinkles around the head and shoulders of the Frenchie. French bulldogs usually have light color bases that come in white, fawn, cream or any combination of these colors. 

French bulldogs can also have other colors in patterned forms. Some of them include brindle, piebald, black masks, black shading and white markings. The most common of these patterns is the brindle. The brindle pattern could either be sparse or heavily concentrated so that the base color is almost completely hidden.  

Temperament 

French bulldogs are incredibly affectionate, they give a lot of love and this makes them great family pets. French bulldogs are alert and attentive, (well, they hear you, obeying is another matter). But their energy levels range from low to average. 

French bulldogs exercise some enviable levels of patience unlike many dog breeds. Even as puppies, they are calmer than most other dogs. French bulldogs are social and usually welcoming towards strangers. They react well to new things and are fairly adaptable. 

French bulldogs seem to be laid back and easy going. This causes them to appear “wise” and incredible intuitive. When they get excited, they aren’t overly excited.

Lookalikes 

There are a number of dog breeds that have similar appearances to a French bulldog. Sometimes you may even have to do a double take, but if you know what to look for, it is easier to know a French bulldog 

• French Bulldog and English Bulldog: Although the French bulldog and the English bulldog are both bulldogs and naturally have a lot of similarities, there are differences. The English bulldog is bigger and they do not have bat ears. 
• French Bulldog and Boston Terrier: The Boston Terrier bears a striking resemblance to the French bulldog and are commonly confused for one another. But there are a few differences. The Boston Terrier is taller than the French bulldog with about 2 to 4 inches. And though they share similar coat colors and texture, the Boston Terrier can also be seen in seal or black. French bulldogs weigh more. They also have tipped ears instead of a rounder shape than the Frenchie dog.
• French Bulldog and Pugs: The Pug looks quite a lot like the Frenchie but only at first glance. Pugs are smaller than Frenchies, being 10 – 14 inches tall and they have floppy ears rather than erect ears. They have curly tails unlike the short tails of the Frenchie. 
• French Bulldog and Pitbull: American pit bulls have some things in common with a Frenchie but these pit bulls are larger, weighing up to 78 pounds. Both breeds have similar coats though pit bulls can be seen in blue, gray, white, tan, brown, red, yellow or black. 
• French Bulldog and Bull Terrier: The Bull Terrier looks like the French bulldog in the sense that they both have erect ears. However, bull terriers are larger than Frenchies, they weigh as much as 45 pounds – 80 pounds. Bull terriers usually have smooth and dense coats that come in brown white, brindle, black or tricolor.  They also have longer muzzle. 

To find out whether or not your French bulldog is a pure breed, you should consult your vet with any questions or suspicions you may have. To prevent this, always get your Frenchie from reputable breeders. If you still question the DNA of your Frenchie you can always request a test to determine the exact DNA of your French Bulldog.

Erect or floppy ears should not determine the amount of love you give to your Frenchie. Be rest assured, nothing is wrong, they deserve all your love and care. If you’d like to read more on how to sail smoothly through your canine journey, please sign up to our Frenchie Blog.