French bulldogs are not the most active dogs in the planet. In fact on a scale of 1 to 10 one 10 being most active and one being list active, your Frenchie ranks one with no regrets. Frenchies are content to just lie down and do nothing. This is one of the reasons why Frenchies are susceptible to obesity.

Designing a good exercise regimen for your French bulldog is necessary to keep your Frenchie fit and healthy. The physical character of French bulldogs makes them intolerant to most exercises and very susceptible to heat. Thus exercises for French bulldogs should be mild and not be physically exerting on the Frenchies.

The best time to exercise these dogs is early in the morning and later at night when it is cool. This will minimize the risk of the dog succumbing to heat. Exercise should not be done for long periods of time, these dogs only require mild exercise. This means that exercise session be only for a short while.

This dog has hard time breathing because of its compromised air passages. Therefore, any exercise that will increase the demand for oxygen should not be overdone since this dog will have a hard time getting enough air to meet the demand. Watch the Frenchie during exercise, any signs of exhaustion will act as a cue to stop the exercise.

A form of exercise that is well tolerated by this breed is walking. The walking should not be for long distances and should be done when it is cool outside In order to keep the Frenchie comfortable, walk at a reasonable pace. Never try to entice the dog to chase after you, this is dangerous since the air passages may become occluded resulting in sufficient supply of oxygen. This will cause the dog to collapse and may lead to other complex conditions.

Never ever leave a French dog unattained near a pool of water. These dogs are not good swimmers and will have hard time staying afloat in water. If you want a dog that you can teach how to swim, then this is not the breed for you.

While exercise is important, it should not be too serious an affair such that the bulldog is anxious and reluctant to go. Make exercise fun for your dog by including some fun activities. You can use this time to teach the dog a new trick such as 'play dead.' You may also hide things on the path you use for walking and let your bulldog find them. These activities will be a lot of fun for you and the dog and their accomplishment will give the dog a boost of confidence and stimulate him mentally.

French dogs are intelligent dogs that will appreciate a good challenge every once in a while. Meal time should not come before exercise. When the dog is full, he will be more reluctant to go out and exercise and may prefer to play or take a nap.

Always have the dog on a leash when taking him out for exercise.