I adopted a Frenchie puppy about ten days ago. He’s nearly 4 months old. And he is incredibly quiet. He doesn’t bark, except for when we went to bed (and even then, that’s stopped now). He doesn’t yelp. He doesn’t pant. He doesn’t wag his tail. In the morning, he shows he's happy to see me by jumping up, but that’s the most obvious show of enthusiasm all day, along with when he’s being fed (he gets a bit restless then, but it’s still very restrained).
The rest of the time, he just trots along behind me and watches me closely.
When we go for a walk, he follows me, but he doesn’t show any excitement yet when it’s time to head out, for example. He’s aware of his surroundings but never gets worked up.
Basically, he’s very different from other dogs I’ve known. Much less excitable, I’d say.
Is this just the breed? Should I be worried? Or should I take it as a good sign?
Thanks in advance for your advice,
Translated from French
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When my dog Pince (an Australian Shepherd) was a puppy, he was really calm until he was about 5 months old. After that, his breed traits really kicked in and now he’s very lively and athletic. Some dogs are just calmer than others, and I don’t think it’s anything to worry about as long as he’s healthy. Plus, French Bulldogs are often quite calm dogs anyway. How old were the others? When they’re tiny, puppies are always more energetic and curious, then they settle into their own personalities.
You mention that he’s different from the dogs you’ve known up until now.
Maybe you also adopted your previous puppies at a younger age?
We often see puppies adopted between 2 and 3 months old who are much more hyper than older pups, simply because they’re less confident or mature.
Growth is also a factor, just like with Mel’s Dogue de Bordeaux. Obviously, a puppy putting all its resources into growing bones and muscle won't have a huge amount of energy for much else (and will likely have more energy once that growth spurt slows down a bit).
Lastly, don't assume that a dog who gets over-excited is necessarily a happy dog; on the flip side, just because a dog is calm doesn't mean they aren't enjoying life! :-)
In my opinion, what you're describing is the behaviour of a confident and attentive puppy who feels safe and secure with their owner.
As long as there aren't any underlying health issues, it's actually a very good sign.
I think it’s a mix of the breed and their personality.
As long as the vet has ruled out any health issues, that’s the main thing.
Do make sure you work on their sense of smell, as it doesn’t always come naturally to bulldogs; try setting up some scent trails with treats at the end. Either way, you’ll definitely find ways to build a great bond with a dog that’s so calm and focused—I’m sure plenty of owners are quite jealous!
It’s not necessarily a good or a bad sign, it’s just his personality—as long as it’s not due to an underlying health issue, of course.
It can be quite disconcerting having a puppy that's very (even too) calm. Mine was exactly the same and wasn't very expressive at all. It does make you wonder, but that’s just his temperament.
Mine stayed really quiet and well-behaved until he was about 6 months old. Once he’d filled out and got a bit stronger, he started getting the zoomies every evening! 😅
Yours might change or he might just stay chilled out. He hasn’t been with you for very long, so he might still just be a bit shy.
10 days in and at 4 months old, maybe he’s just more of an observer than other pups or dogs...
Is he eating well? If he’s in good health and his stools are fine, perhaps the way he's adapting to the change just matches his temperament?
And how do you engage with him in the morning? With encouraging words and a bit of a fuss? Do you get down to his level?
I have a Labrador who was two months old when she arrived, and the morning greetings used to be incredibly short—she was a total raptor with the nipping. Now she’s 7 months, nearly 8, and she’s explosive... ^^ but lovely, even adorable.
