How Fast Can A French Bulldog Run?


French Bulldogs certainly have a lot of energy for such little dogs. You’ll see them chasing the cat, running in circles, and they always seem ready to tackle you when you get home. So, how fast can a French Bulldog run?

It will depend on your dog, but most French Bulldogs will fall into a top-speed range of 14 to 17 miles per hour. There will be exceptions, of course, but unless your dog is a rare speedster or hyperactive, then that range is probably what your dog is going to fall into.

In today’s article, we’re going to discuss French Bulldogs and running, so that you’ll get a better idea of what they are capable of and what you need to watch for. We’ll cover the fastest Frenchie, whether or not taking them jogging is a good idea and more. Read on for important information about French Bulldogs and their running habits!

What is the record for world’s fastest Bulldog?

While not logged with the Guinness Book of World record, the ‘Official World Record’ organization’s record holder for fastest French Bulldog goes to ‘Winston Bolt’. While most French Bulldogs have a top speed of 17 miles per hour, this little guy has a logged top speed of 27 miles per hour.

This is extremely rare, of course, so it’s highly unlikely that your dog is going to be moving at such speeds. So, how fast can a French Bulldog run — on average? While some can run a little faster, most will average 14 to 15 miles per hour. This is certainly less than Winston’s record, but you should still keep a close eye on your sandwich!

How fast can french bulldogs run

How long can a French Bulldog run for?

French Bulldogs fall a bit more under the category of ‘sprinters’, rather than endurance runners. A big part of this is because of the shape of their heads. French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, which simply means that they have flatter heads than other breeds, but it’s important when it comes to athletic feats.

For instance, due to the shape of their heads, these dogs aren’t really designed for swimming – it’s harder to keep their noses up and out of the water. With exercise, however, the bigger problem is the Frenchie’s narrow nostrils. If you take a close look at your dog’s nose, you’ll notice they are quite tiny.

This is why you hear your French Bulldog often making ‘snuffling’ sounds and when they get overworked, they have trouble getting enough air, and this, in turn, makes it harder for them to properly cool their bodies. As such, your dog really shouldn’t be running for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time without a break.

This is something that your dog will not be aware of, so it’s going to be vital that you keep track of your little one’s exertions because French Bulldogs have so much fun running that they will often run until their breathing and the overheating of their body forces them to stop. This means it’s important to learn their limits.

How much should my Frenchie be running every day?

To determine how much running your Frenchie really needs to be doing, you’ll need to know their daily recommended amount of exercise to set a minimum target that you can build on. French Bulldogs need approximately 1 hour a day of exercise – at the minimum.

If you want your dog to be more active, then it’s fine, but you need to build them up to it very slowly and the running sessions still need to be only 10 to 15 minutes at a time. This is very important, because your dog could theoretically run for a much longer time – but those thin nostrils will not support it.

That said, if you add about 10 minutes to their exercise time weekly, you can work up to longer periods of activity, but you should never modify the 10 to 15 minutes running limitation. Doing so puts your dog at risk for overexertion, during which they cannot breathe efficiently and could come to harm as a result.

As long as you watch their running times and make your dog take a break, then they will have time to cool down adequately, lower their heart rate, and they’ll be able to play more if they like and it will be safe. Just keep a close eye on your dog and bring accessories to help them cool down.

Why do French Bulldogs run around in circles?

One behavior that you’re going to notice with your French Bulldog is that the energetic little guys and gals like to run in circles, seeming chasing an invisible friend. This is called ‘the zoomies’ by many owners and this behavior is completely normal.

It can be a little frustrating, however, as your Frenchie often doesn’t have the dexterity to dodge things in the house, and this can result in ‘zoomie’ sessions where a lot of things are getting knocked over and you’re having to walk carefully not to trip over your running dog.

The good news is that this behavior is quite manageable – you’ll just need to direct their energies outside. Most cases of the ‘zoomies’ are simply your dog trying to get rid of excess energy, so when you see this behavior, it just means that they will need a little more outside time.

Make sure that your dog is getting 1 hour of exercise a day at minimum by setting walking sessions to 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Even better, consider taking them to a local dog park or to visit a friendly neighbor’s dog from time to time. Your dog will be happy, well-socialized, and better-behaved at home.

Can I take my French Bulldog jogging with me?

We’ve mentioned that you need to careful about overexerting your French Bulldog. So, how fast can a French Bulldog run if you want to take them jogging? Well, in this case, you won’t have any worries. A human runs, on average, between 10 and 13 miles per hour.

Your French Bulldog, however, can run from 14 to 17 miles per hour, so they are already faster than you. The speed won’t be the problem here, but rather the duration.

You’ll want to wear a watch or bring a time with you if you’re taking your dog jogging with you so that every 10 or 15 minutes the both of you can take a break. Many Frenchie owners do indeed take their dogs jogging with them and you can too, as long as you follow this simple rule.

Bring along some water and a portable bowl for cooling off during breaks and if it’s very warm outside, it’s good to have a towel as well, as you can dampen this and put it on your dog to help them to cool down. As long as sessions are short and sweet like this, then you can definitely jog together.

Can my French Bulldog go hiking with me?

French Bulldogs enjoy hiking, but you really have to keep it short. Your dog definitely has the energy for it, but their short legs and their tendencies to overheat when exercise is making breathing difficult mean that you need to limit their exertions.

An adult French Bulldog can walk for approximately 3 miles a day. If you spend time slowly extending this range, then that’s fine, but you’ll also want to invest in a backpack that is large enough to carry your gear, while also providing enough space to give your Frenchie a ‘ride’ from time to time.

That way, you can let them walk for 10 to 15 minutes at a time with you and then either stop for a break, or stop to let your French Bulldog ride in the pack while you do the walking.

If you keep track of the mileage so that your dog doesn’t go much over the 3-mile recommendation, and you are willing to take frequent breaks to ensure that your dog is cool and comfortable, then you and your dog can definitely enjoy hiking together. It just takes a little compromise!

The French Bulldog finish line

Today we’ve answered the question ‘How fast can a French Bulldog run?’ and while it varies, you can expect average speeds of 14 to 17 miles per hour. Remember that your dog is more of a sprinter than an endurance runner, and while you can build them up for more exercise you’ll need to practice moderation.

French Bulldogs will run themselves into an overheating and wheezing state if you aren’t careful, so the most important things will be watching them closely and carrying items to help them to cool down. If you won’t be hiking or jogging with your dog, then just make sure they get an hour a day of exercise.

This will help to keep the ‘zoomies’ at a minimum and also go a long way towards making sure you have a happy and healthy French Bulldog!

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Dan James

Dan James is the founder and editor of FrenchBulldogio, a canine enthusiast who writes about what he's learned on the way of being a French Bulldog owner and sharing his advice, tips, and research.

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