Diet

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Living beings thrive on a balanced diet of fresh, whole foods — and that includes your dog.

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Feeding Philosophy​

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We build every meal around real, whole ingredients rather than processed fillers: fresh meats, vegetables, and fruits your dog's body actually recognizes. Protein is always cooked rather than raw — it digests more easily and carries far less bacterial risk. And because French Bulldogs are especially prone to yeast overgrowth, we keep sugar and carbohydrates low across the board, which is reflected in how small a role grains and fruit play in the ratio below.

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The 60/20/10/10 Balance​

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Consider this ratio a baseline rather than a rigid rule — a simple, actionable starting point you can adjust as your dog's individual needs call for it. Each meal breaks down into four parts, and rotating within each category — especially protein — helps limit sensitivities, reactions, and allergies over time.

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60% Animal Protein

The foundation of every meal. Rotate between:

Beef, chicken, turkey, venison, lamb, bison, duck, quail, rabbit, salmon, and whitefish.

Pork is avoided entirely due to toxicity concerns.

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20% Vegetables & Greens

Peas, carrots, broccoli (steamed), zucchini, squash, pumpkin, green beans, asparagus (snap off the woody ends), spinach, parsley, potato, sweet potato (in moderation), and avocado flesh (never the pit or skin).

 

10% Grains

Rice (brown, white, or wild) and quinoa are both well tolerated. Oats are avoided — they can contribute to the skin irritation and yeast issues French Bulldogs are especially prone to. More on this in our upcoming Foods to Avoid guide.

 

10% Fruit

Fruit is part of the daily diet, not an occasional add-on.

Wild blueberries lead the way here — they're a cornerstone of our healing protocol thanks to their detoxification support, brain-supporting antioxidants, and overall nutrient density. They're the number one superfood fruit we feed our dogs (and one of the best for people, too).

Beyond wild blueberries, apple, banana, watermelon, cultivated blueberries, and small amounts of raspberries and blackberries round out the rotation.

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Treats​

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Treats live outside the daily diet ratio. Our go-tos: frozen beef marrow bones (fillable and reusable), freeze-dried liver or lung, and peanut butter — always checked for xylitol/birch sugar.

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Meals & Logistics​

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Portions: Adult dogs generally do well on 1.5–2 cups per day, adjusted to size and activity level. Puppies need more calories per pound to fuel growth, but have far less stomach capacity — so daily volume starts lower and increases gradually, reaching the full adult range as your puppy approaches adult size (typically 9–12 months).

 

Feeding frequency by age

• 8–12 weeks: 4 meals/day

• 3–6 months: 3 meals/day

• 6–12 months: 2 meals/day, tapering as growth slows

• 12+ months (adult): 2 meals/day; 3 is fine too if long gaps between feedings cause issues

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Growth timeline: French Bulldogs complete most of their skeletal growth within the first year, but continue filling out with muscle and reaching full maturity through roughly 2–3 years of age.

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A Simple Recipe Formula​

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This formula makes a batch — roughly enough to fill a 5-lb bucket (about 9.5 cups total) — that you then portion out daily based on your dog's age and needs from the guidelines above.

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IngredientAmount

Protein base5.5 cups

Vegetables2 cups

Fruit1 cup

Grains1 cup

Total: about 9.5 cups. Mix, then portion into daily servings.

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Kibble Notes​

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Kibble can be a wonderful, convenient option if you aren't up for the work of meal prep. Our current pick is NutraSource — grain-free, low-carb, and available across multiple protein sources. We're continuing to explore additional grain-free, low-carb kibble options as alternatives or rotation partners. Other pre made, fresh food options can be a wonderful middle ground as well.

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Every Dog Is Unique​

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Diet isn't one-size-fits-all. Monitor body condition, energy level, digestion, skin health, and stool quality as you make adjustments — and give changes time before drawing conclusions.

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