As a dog owner, no doubt you want the very best for your canine companion.
Yet, in some cases, dog behaviors sometimes mystify their human companions, making it hard to know what to do to help them.
One of those concerning actions may be frequent whining, crying, or even screaming from your French Bulldog.
Do you want to know why they cry or scream, if it means something serious is occurring, and how you can help them stop? Keep reading.
5 Reasons Why Frenchies Cry A Lot
French Bulldogs are well-known for their crying, which may sound more like an overemphasized whine or whimper.
Although this is the case, each dog will have their own unique reasons for crying.
In the following section, you will learn a few of the most common reasons French Bulldogs resort to crying.
Separation Anxiety
Historically, French Bulldogs were bred to be lap dogs or close companions.
For this reason, your French Bulldog may be particularly reliant on you as their primary caretaker and playmate.
If you leave your house for long periods of time or do not pay a great amount of attention to them, they may cry to receive the attention.
While many breeds of dogs may take up such behavior, a French Bulldog may be more persistent or consistent with crying, whining, or acting out since it is in their nature to be close to their human companions.
Emotional or Physical Stress
French Bulldogs are known for becoming more emotionally stressed or anxious than other breeds.
It may be due to their small size or their reliance on their owners for needs and protection.
Moreover, their tolerance for both emotional and physical stress is relatively low.
This is because they have short faces and small bodies, so they cannot breathe or process heat as well as other dog breeds.
To display their stress, they may cry or become agitated and aggressive.
Pain
If you notice that your French Bulldog only cries in certain circumstances or on a consistent basis, they may be in pain.
For instance, if you notice your dog tends to cry while walking or playing, they may have leg or foot pain.
Likewise, if they cry for long periods or consistently, they may have chronic pain.
Needs or Wants
Dogs communicate in many different ways, and crying may be one mode of communication your French Bulldog uses to get your attention.
They may be hungry or thirsty, bored, or need to go outside to use the bathroom.
Typically, French Bulldogs learn associations incredibly well, so they may cry to get your attention and indicate what they need.
For instance, they may head to the door if they need to relieve themselves.
Allergies
Similar to many dog owners, you may not be aware that dogs can be sensitive to foods and environmental triggers.
The effects vary from mild to severe, ranging from slight discomfort to severe pain.
So, it is important to be aware of your French Bulldog’s potential allergies.
If you notice that your dog cries after eating or in peak allergen season, it could signify allergies.
Apart from crying, they may constantly itch, vomit, pass gas, or have diarrhea.
Do French Bulldogs Cry Tears?
You may be curious if French Bulldogs have the same crying mechanisms as humans.
However, they do not cry by releasing teardrops from their eyes.
Rather, the tears drain through their nasal cavity.
If you do see teardrops forming or falling from their eyes, this is actually a sign of a blocked tear duct, an eye infection or damage to the eye, or allergies.
In the event that this lasts more than a day, or you see signs of damage or infection, you should bring your French Bulldog to a veterinarian to get them checked out and treated.
Do French Bulldogs Scream?
Apart from crying, your French Bulldog may express themselves in other concerning ways, such as through screaming.
Their screams may sound like a child or adult shouting.
As a French Bulldog is a brachycephalic breed, or a dog with a short or compressed face, they cannot breathe as well as other breeds.
When they experience heightened stress, they can make odd noises that you may not experience with other types of dogs, such as screaming.
Why Do French Bulldogs Cry in Their Crate?
You may notice your French Bulldog will cry more often if you place them in their crate.
You may find this confusing, as often a crate is a familiar, comfortable, and safe space for a dog when they are tired or when you need to keep them contained.
The main reason may be that your French Bulldog does not want to be separated from you.
Furthermore, they may understand that if you place them in the crate, it means you are leaving them alone for a long period of time.
For this reason, they may cry or act out.
If you have recently purchased your French Bulldog from a shelter, they have negative associations with the crate.
They may cry due to fear of the crate itself.
Conversely, they may just have separation anxiety.
How Can I Stop My French Bulldog Crying?
If your French Bulldog is crying regularly, it is important to bring them to a veterinarian to receive a professional opinion.
The vet can verify that they are not in any physical pain or suffering from any dangerous health conditions.
If they have ruled out a health concern, you may wish to try one or a few of the following methods.
Learn Their Associations
If your French Bulldog is crying because they have an unmet need or want, it may be helpful to learn their associations and patterns.
For instance, if you bring them outdoors to relieve themselves, they may be crying near the door because they need to go to the bathroom.
Create a Comforting Space
Whether you are trying to make a dog’s crate more comforting or designing a space specifically for your dog, make sure you place the area in close proximity to you or other family members.
When they feel close to people, they will be less stressed or anxious.
You can also make the space comfy and cozy by adding soft blankets, pillows, toys, and even an article of clothing that smells like you.
Spend Quality Time with Your Dog
Since French Bulldogs are uniquely close to their owners, you can meet a large portion of their needs simply by spending a significant amount of quality time with your dog.
You may have the most success by keeping a consistent schedule with playtime.
Ignore Non-Essential Cries
Your French Bulldog may learn that every time they cry, they receive attention; this may lead to them crying more often.
Since this is the case, you may wish to respond only to essential cries.
Naturally, you may need to spend time learning which cries are essential and which ones are pleas for attention.