How much do French Bulldogs sleep? Most healthy adult dogs sleep somewhere around 10 to 13 hours a day, counting the night plus naps, and a Frenchie in that range is normal. What matters more in this breed is how they sleep: loud snoring, gasping or constant daytime dozing can be signs that your dog is struggling to breathe at night.

How much do French Bulldogs sleep a day?

We found no study that measured sleep hours in French Bulldogs specifically, so the best guide is research on dogs in general. An older study that recorded the brain activity of Beagles around the clock found an average of 12.9 hours of sleep a day.[2] Earlier work summarized in a 2020 paper puts adult dogs (older than about 18 months) at around 10 hours a day: they sleep through most of the night and doze for part of the day.[1]

So if your adult Frenchie sleeps 10 to 13 hours, spread across the night and a few naps, that is in the expected range. Every dog is a little different. What you want to know is your own dog's normal pattern, so you notice if it changes.

How much do French Bulldog puppies sleep?

The best data come from Generation Pup, a UK study that followed puppies from many breeds and asked owners to log their sleep. At 16 weeks old, puppies slept an average of 11.2 hours in 24 hours: about 7 hours at night plus a median of 3.5 hours of daytime naps. By 12 months, total sleep was 10.8 hours, with a little more at night and less during the day.[1]

You will often read that puppies sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. We could not find a reliable source for that number, so do not worry if your puppy sleeps less. What a young Frenchie does need is regular quiet time in a safe spot. Overtired puppies tend to get mouthy and cranky, so build naps into the day the same way you build in meals and potty breaks. For the rest of the routine, see our French Bulldog puppy care guide.

Why does my French Bulldog sleep so much?

Often it is perfectly normal. French Bulldogs are a low-to-moderate energy companion breed, and a bored dog naps more. Heat also makes many Frenchies sluggish. Look closer if your dog is sleeping more than usual and:

  • snores loudly or seems to pause breathing while asleep
  • tires quickly on walks or struggles in warm weather
  • eats less, vomits or seems low and withdrawn
  • wakes up often at night or keeps changing position

A classic study of English Bulldogs, a breed with a similar airway, found they fell asleep during the day in about 12 minutes on average, compared with more than 150 minutes in control dogs, and they had disordered breathing and drops in blood oxygen during sleep.[5] This suggests that a "lazy" bulldog that sleeps all day may be a dog that never gets a good night's rest.

Snoring and sleep apnea: when to worry

The University of Cambridge BOAS Research Group says that "respiratory noises such as snoring and snorting are indicators of airway obstruction," and lists sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep) among the signs of BOAS.[3] The UK Brachycephalic Working Group estimates that brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) affects about half of French Bulldogs, and that noisy breathing at rest in a flat-faced dog is "never normal."[6]

A 2024 study that recorded dogs sleeping at home found about 5.6 times more obstructive breathing events in flat-faced dogs than in dogs with normal-length muzzles. Being overweight, and having moderate or severe BOAS, raised the count further.[4] In an owner survey of 100 Pugs and French Bulldogs referred for airway surgery, 56% had sleep problems, and owners reported that signs got worse above about 66°F (19°C).[7]

What to do:

  • Film your Frenchie sleeping for a few minutes, especially on a warm night, and show the video to your vet.
  • Ask about airway assessment. Treatments, including airway surgery, can help many dogs. Our guide to French Bulldog noisy breathing explains the options.
  • Emergency: blue or gray gums, collapse or a dog fighting to breathe needs a vet right now.[3]

Eyes open, tongue out and other sleep habits

  • Sleeping with eyes open: many Frenchies have large, prominent eyes that the lids do not fully cover, so a sliver of eye can show during sleep. Watch for redness, discharge or squinting, which can mean the surface is drying out or injured.
  • Sleeping with the tongue out: common in short-faced dogs, whose tongues have less room in the mouth. On its own it is not a concern; with loud snoring or effortful breathing, mention it to your vet.
  • Twitching, paddling and little noises: usually just dreaming during deep sleep.
  • Sleeping sitting up or with the chin propped high: if your dog seems to need an unusual position to sleep, film it and ask your vet whether breathing is the reason.

How to help your Frenchie sleep better

  • Keep a healthy weight. Extra weight was one of the strongest risk factors for breathing interruptions during sleep.[4] Our guides on how much a French Bulldog should eat and helping an overweight French Bulldog can help.
  • Keep the bedroom cool. Heat makes breathing harder for flat-faced dogs; see French Bulldog heat safety.
  • Give them their own bed in a quiet spot, and keep walks and meals on a regular schedule.
  • Talk to your vet if your dog snores, gasps or seems exhausted during the day. Better breathing usually means better sleep.

Sources and references

  1. Kinsman R, Owczarczak-Garstecka S, Casey R, Knowles T, Tasker S, Woodward J, et al. Sleep Duration and Behaviours: A Descriptive Analysis of a Cohort of Dogs up to 12 Months of Age. Animals (Basel). 2020;10(7):1172. doi:10.3390/ani10071172.
  2. Boston University, Phylogeny of Sleep Database. Phylogeny of Sleep Database: Beagle Dog (record 280) [Internet]. bu.edu; [date unknown] [cited 2026 Nov 3].
  3. University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine. Recognition & Diagnosis [Internet]. Cambridge BOAS Research Group; [date unknown] [cited 2026 Nov 3].
  4. Niinikoski I, Himanen SL, Tenhunen M, Aromaa M, Lilja-Maula L, Rajamäki MM. Evaluation of risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2024;38(2):1135-1145. doi:10.1111/jvim.17019.
  5. Hendricks JC, Kline LR, Kovalski RJ, O'Brien JA, Morrison AR, Pack AI. The English bulldog: a natural model of sleep-disordered breathing. Journal of Applied Physiology. 1987;63(4):1344-1350. doi:10.1152/jappl.1987.63.4.1344.
  6. UK Brachycephalic Working Group. Noisy breathing in brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs at rest or light exercise is never normal [Internet]. Royal Veterinary College, VetCompass; [date unknown] [cited 2026 Nov 3].
  7. Roedler FS, Pohl S, Oechtering GU. How does severe brachycephaly affect dog's lives? Results of a structured preoperative owner questionnaire. The Veterinary Journal. 2013;198(3):606-610. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.009. Restricted access.