Do all Bulldogs get big
How Big Do French Bulldogs Get (Size, Weight, and Length)?
Part of what makes French Bulldogs a great companion in an apartment or city life is their size. Frenchies arent a big breed, which makes them easy to bring around with you.
While they are small, its easy for them to get quite chunky. So to make sure your Frenchie is in good shape, you need to know their healthy ranges in weight and size.
Is a French Bulldog a Small, Medium, or Large Dog?
French Bulldogs are a small- to medium-sized breed. They are a toy version of Bulldogs, bred from this breed with Terriers.
Their compactness appeals to many dog lovers, making them easy to carry around. Their size can vary due to their age, gender, and genetics.
Male French Bulldogs are larger than their female counterparts. And the size of their parents will also give you a clue about their size as adults.
What Is the Average Size of a French Bulldog?
On average, a fully-grown Frenchie will stand at a height between 11 to 12 inches tall (28 to 31 cm, paw to shoulder). They will weigh around 16 to 28 pounds (7.3 to 12.7 kg).
Frenchies will reach their adult size at approximately 9 to 15 months of age. During this period, their growth will start to slow down.
The sizes mentioned are for the standard French Bulldog. Within the breed, there is also a classification for sizes which you can read more about below.
What Are the Sizes of French Bulldogs?
Other than standard Frenchies, there are also mini, micro, or teacup Frenchies. These terms are interchangeably used for Frenchies that are smaller than the standard.Because of this, some sources will tell you varying information about the sizes for each. Some will say that all three are different, while others will say that they are distinct.
But in general, mini, micro, or teacup Frenchies are smaller than a standard Frenchie as adults. This is considering both height and weight. They fit into the palm of your hand!
Mini Frenchies will weigh anywhere between 14 to 22 pounds (6.4 to 10.0 kg). While teacup Frenchies can be around 9 to 14 pounds (4.1 to 6.4 kg).But these smaller versions of the French Bulldog are not accepted by the AKC. The main reason is that their features vary slightly from the standard Frenchie.
The ancestors of the Frenchies were muscular and powerful dogs who have a distinct look. Todays standard Frenchie retains all these features except for their muzzle.
Mini Frenchies look different from their ancestors. They have smaller cheeks and a rounder head shape. This is because they are often crossbred with other smaller dog breeds to achieve their size.
Why Is My French Bulldog So Small?
If your Frenchie is on the smaller side, it may be because they are the runt of the litter (if theyre a puppy) or theyre malnourished. Having a runt puppy isnt a bad thing, but they do need extra care to grow into healthy adults. But a malnourished Frenchie may need medical attention.
Runt Frenchie pups are easy to spot: theyre usually the smallest of the litter. Because theyre small, its easy for the other puppies to overpower them when it comes to feeding.
It is hard for runts to latch on to their mothers during feeding or even get close to them. This is a risk for them to get dehydrated or suffer from hypothermia.
The critical period for runts is the first few weeks up until 8 weeks of age. Many runts die during this critical period because of the reasons above. Most runts who surpass this period grow up to be healthy adults.
As mentioned, runt Frenchies can be perfectly healthy with extra love and attention. Heres how to care for them:
- Visit Your Vet: You need to come up with a health plan made for your runt puppy. This would need the help of your vet.
- Make Sure Theyre Fed: Latching on to their mother is tough because theyre weaker than the rest of the puppies. You can place them near the mothers teat. Sometimes, bottle feeding them may help.
- Keep Them Warm: To decrease the risk of hypothermia, consider getting them a heat pad or lap to keep them warm.
But what if your Frenchie wasnt the runt of the litter? Theyre just on the skinny side. When a Frenchie is underweight, their rib cage will be visible and they may be lethargic.
Here are possible reasons why your Frenchie is underweight:
- Growth Spurt: At about 9 months, Frenchies will grow in height faster than their weight. If your Frenchie is going through this phase, this does not pose a concern. As long as theres no change in behavior and appetite.
- Unhealthy Diet: This can make your Frenchie malnourished. Other than that, an improper diet can also cause their hair to fall. This results in bald patches in their fur.
- Flatulence: Frenchies can also develop gas problems with certain types of food. And this can be worse if your Frenchie is the type to eat fast. This condition is painful for your Frenchie, causing them to lose their appetite.
- Worms: If your Frenchie has worms, they will also vomit, have a bloated tummy, and a behavior change. You can examine their poop for whitish or yellowish worms. If you see one, take them to the vet to get dewormed.
Why Is My French Bulldog So Big?
Frenchies are a chubby breed who love to eat food, which is why theyre prone to get overweight. The reason why Frenchies get big is mostly because of this. But sometimes it can be because of their genetics or because theyre pregnant.
The first thing to do is to rule out the latter two possibilities.
Some Frenchies are stockier and bigger than the average. This is due to their breeding lineage, which is why its important to meet your Frenchies parents.
Big Frenchies due to genetics dont pose a concern as long as theyre not overweight. Make sure to visit your vet to make sure that theyre healthy.
But if thats not the case and if you have a female Frenchie, they may be pregnant. It may be hard to spot this without a vet, but here are some signs:
- Inactivity: Expecting Frenchies may not be as active as she was before.
- Appetite Change: She may eat less or more and sometimes, even vomit their food. A pregnant Frenchie may experience both depending on the stage of her pregnancy.
- Larger Nipples: Along with an increase in size, her nipples may also turn darker.
- Changed Behavior: She can either be extra cuddly or become antisocial. Sometimes she cant tolerate your attention very well.
- Nesting: During the last stage of her pregnancy, Frenchies will try to make a nest. This might be at the expense of your furniture as she will shred on anything to prepare for her pups.
- Larger Abdomen: You can also notice a larger tummy in as early as 2 weeks.
- Weight Gain: They may also get chubbier during pregnancy, which is normal.
So if your Frenchie isnt a genetic anomaly or pregnant, then their big figure is due to being overweight.
How Quickly Do French Bulldogs Grow?
French Bulldogs have rapid growth in their first year and will be full-grown at around 9 to 15 months of age. But take note that being a full-grown puppy doesnt mean that theyre considered adults. All this means is that theyve reached their peak physical size.
Before the 2-year mark, they might still grow, slowly filling in and bulking up. They will be adult dogs only after reaching the age of 2 years old, where they will no longer grow.
When Do French Bulldogs Stop Growing?
After 2 years, they will not grow anymore. After getting their maximum size at about 9 months old, they might continue to grow until 2 years of age.
Before turning 2 years old, theyll add more bulk and get heavier. This growth is not as evident as in the first year of their development, though.
How Long Is a French Bulldog?
French Bulldogs have an overall body length of 18.0 to 21.5 inches (46 to 55 cm). Their standing height is about 15.5 to 18.5 inches (39 to 47 cm). While their withers height is anywhere between 11 to 13 inches (28 to 33 cm).
How to Measure French Bulldog Length?
When measuring your Frenchies length, you have to start at their withers until the base of his stub. Here are the steps to get their length measurement:
- Step 1: Take your soft measuring tape and place it at the back of their necks, between their shoulder blades.
- Step 2: Extend the measuring tape to the base of their tail.
- Step 3: Take note of the measurement, thats your Frenchies length!
If you dont have a soft measuring tape with you, then that shouldnt be an issue. You can take a shoelace or a leash, mark the length down, and place it beside a builders tape.
How Much Do French Bulldogs Weigh?
The healthy weight for an adult male French Bulldog is anywhere between 20 to 28 pounds (12 to 13 kg). Females are lighter with an average weight of 16 to 24 pounds (7 to 11 kg). But for teacup or mini Frenchies, they weigh even less at 9 to 12 pounds (4 to 6 kg).
Its easy for Frenchies to go over the healthy weight range because they love to eat. Extra weight on Frenchies isnt a good thing, it puts them at risk for developing health issues. So its recommended to keep track of their weight
How Much Should a Male French Bulldog Weigh?
Male Frenchies weigh about 20 to 28 pounds (9 to 13 kg) as adults. Compared to female Frenchies, they also look stockier.
This is because they have larger heads and physical frames than female Frenchies. Other than that, their muscles are bigger and more visible.
Sometimes, Frenchies can be all muscle with the right diet. Since muscle is heavier than fat, this will contribute to their weight.
What Size Is a French Bulldog Puppy?
French Bulldog puppies are small, weighing less than a pound at birth. They will start to grow at a rapid pace until 6 months of age when this slows down.
This rate of growth will depend on their health, diet, exercise, and genetics. Puppyhood is the critical period for a Frenchies development. So as they age, its important to keep track of their growth.
You can use the height growth guideline below to keep track of their development:
- 3 Months Old: 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm)
- 6 Months Old: 7 to 9 inches (18 to 23 cm)
- 9 Months Old: 10 to 11 inches (25 to 28 cm)
- 1 Year Old: 11 to 13 inches (29 to 33 cm)
Their puppyhood ends at 2 years of age, where the growing and bulking up stops. But even as adults, your loving companion will still be as playful as when they were puppies.
At certain ages, you can already predict the full-grown size of your French Bulldog. Here are two methods for doing this:
- Four-Fold Method: At 8 weeks old, your Frenchie is already a quarter of their adult weight. You can multiply their 8-week age by 4 to get an estimate of their adult weight.
- Double Up Method: At 4 months old, your Frenchies weight is half their adult weight. Doubling their weight at 4 months old should give you an approximate of their adult weight.
How Much Should a French Bulldog Puppy Weigh?
French Bulldogs weigh about 1 pound in the first week and will get heavier almost every week. They will continue to grow fast during the succeeding weeks until they reach their full-grown size.
With this, keeping track of their weight will help you know if theyre in the healthy weight range. Below is a guide for the ideal weight for a Frenchie puppy:
- 1 Week Old: 1.2 to 2.2 pounds
- 2 Weeks Old: 1.4 to 1.75 pounds
- 4 Weeks Old: 2 to 4.2 pounds
- 6 Weeks Old: 4.2 to 4.9 pounds
- 8 Weeks Old: 5 to 6.9 pounds
- 3 Months Old: 6.9 to 9 pounds
- 4 Months Old: 9 to 12 pounds
- 4.5 Months Old: 12 to 15 pounds
- 5.5 Months Old: 15 to 16 pounds
- 6.5 Months Old: 16 to 18 pounds
- 12 Months Old: 19.8 to 28 pounds
- 19.5 Months Old: 17 to 23 pounds
Note: 1 lb ~ 1/2 kg
Take note that these ranges are only estimates, so weight charts may vary. Your Frenchie can be lighter or heavier due to different growth rates as well. So its better to check with your vet to see if your pup is growing healthy.
While its important to keep track of their weight, you dont have to go to the vet each week to check. You can do this with a weighing scale at home.
You can have your Frenchie stand on a weighing scale to do this. Or if they wont stay still, weigh yourself first and do it again while carrying them.Take note of these two measurements and calculate the difference. That is your puppys weight.
How Much Do French Bulldogs Weigh at Birth?
At birth, Frenchies weigh a little under a pound at approximately 0.50 to 0.63 pounds. During the first 24 hours of their lives, they may lose some body weight.
This isnt a cause for concern unless they lose 10% of their birth weight. But at 3 days old, they start to get heavier compared to their birth weight. This is a sign that they are already starting to grow.
How Much Does an 8-Week-Old French Bulldog Weigh?
At 8 weeks old, Frenchie puppies weigh around 5 to 7 pounds (2 to 3 kilograms). During this time, you can already give yourself a picture of your Frenchies adult weight. Using the Four-Fold formula, you can multiply their weight by 4, since their weight during this period is one-fourth of their adult weight.
How Much Should My French Bulldog Weigh at 3 Months?
A 3-month-old French Bulldog weighs approximately 7 to 9 pounds (3 to 4 kilograms). Your Frenchie can be lighter or heavier depending on their gender.
Its important to know that weight charts vary. Also, your Frenchie may be completely healthy but do not fit in the range for their age. Its always best to check with your vet.
Male puppies with a weight of 10 to 14 pounds and female puppies with a weight of 8 to 12 pounds can be healthy too (4.56.3 kg and 3.65.4 kg, respectively).
How Much Should a 4-Month-Old French Bulldog Weigh?
When your Frenchie is 4 months old, they should be around 9 to 12 pounds (4.1 to 5.4 kilograms). Any weight around 12 to 16 pounds for males and 10 to 15 pounds for females is also possible (5.47.3 kg and 4.56.8 kg, respectively).
At this stage, you can also get an estimate of what their adult weight might be using the Double Up formula.
At 4 months of age, your Frenchie is half their adult weight. To calculate their adult weight, you can multiply their 4-month weight by 2.
How Much Should My 5-Month-Old French Bulldog Weigh?
Frenchies who are 5 months of age can weigh between 15 to 16 pounds (6.87.3 kg). For male Frenchies, they can be 15 to 20 pounds and be healthy (6.89.1 kg). For female Frenchies, their weight at 5 months old is roughly 11 to 17 pounds (5.07.7 kg).
How Much Should a 6-Month-Old French Bulldog Weigh?
The average weight for 6-month-old Frenchies is around 16 to 18 pounds (7.38.2 kg). Male puppies can be heavier, weighing around 17 to 22 pounds (7.710.0 kg). While female puppies can weigh around 13 to 20 pounds (5.99.1 kg).
How Much Should a 1-Year-Old French Bulldog Weigh?
A French Bulldog is likely to reach its optimal weight at 1 year old which is about 19.8 to 28.0 pounds (9.112.7 kg). Male Frenchies can weigh anywhere between 20 to 28 pounds (9.112.7 kg). While their lighter female counterparts can weigh anywhere between 17 to 24 pounds (7.710.9 kg).
Do French Bulldogs Get Fat Easily?
French Bulldogs love food, which makes them prone to getting fat. They seem to have an insatiable appetite and do not know when to stop. So when you free-feed your Frenchie, its easy for them to overeat.
To maintain their weight, make sure they get the proper diet and nutrition. An active lifestyle is also a good way for them to shed excess weight. Even their daily walks will do.
Other than that, you should always check for their weight. This is helpful for overweight Frenchies so that they can have a target weight to reach.
How Do I Know if My French Bulldog Is Overweight?
Sometimes it can be hard to spot an overweight Frenchie because they already look chunky. Sometimes, you cant say no to their adorable faces when they want more food. But overindulging them with food is not a good idea.
An overweight Frenchie is at risk of developing long-term health issues. So its best to maintain a healthy weight for them. Heres how to find out if your Frenchie is overweight:
- Check Their Weight: A Frenchie should not exceed 28 pounds (12.7 kg). If they do, theyre overweight.
- Feel for Their Ribs: With the tips of your fingers, apply a slight amount of pressure on their chest. If you cant feel their ribs, theyre overweight.
- Body Definition: Looking at them from above, check for their chest and waist. A healthy Frenchie should have a chest that is wider than their waist. Without this definition, they may be obese.
- Fatigue: Overweight Frenchies get breathless with little activity or exercise. They may also have difficulty doing tasks that they could do before like climbing up the stairs.
- Struggling to Scratch Themselves: Dogs will itch from time to time. So scratching their ears is something any dog should be able to do. An overweight Frenchie may not be able to do this.
- Difficulty Grooming Themselves: Overweight Frenchies will have a hard time grooming themselves too. The added fat reduces their flexibility.
- Undefined Muscles: Frenchies should have the muscular look that their ancestors have. Especially for male Frenchies who have bigger muscles than females. Excess fat hides their muscles, so this is a sign that theyre overweight.
The best thing to do for your overweight Frenchie is to take them to the vet. Your vet will tell you how to help your Frenchie get back to a healthy weight.
Is My French Bulldog Puppy Overweight?
A puppy may be overweight if they have no waist definition. Their chest should be wider than their hips.
You can also feel for their ribs by applying a slight amount of pressure on their chest. If you cant feel their ribs, they may be overweight.
But it is harder to check if a Frenchie puppy is overweight compared to adults. This is because puppyhood is when they will experience rapid growth. And they will grow every day until they are adults.
Any fur parent will get concerned since puppies have a great appetite. But Frenchie puppies need a lot of food for their development.
Underfeeding a puppy will harm their development. They may become malnourished and this can stunt their growth.
So if youre concerned about your puppys chubby appearance, you should talk to your vet. They will help you with your Frenchies feeding portions and how often they should be eating.
But if it is only your Frenchie puppys tummy that is fat, that is a different thing. This may be because theyre bloated, which can lead to Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV). Or they may have a big tummy because of worms.
Both cases need medical attention before your Frenchies condition gets worse. Seek your vet immediately if this is the case.
Why Is My French Bulldog Putting on Weight?
The most common reason why French Bulldogs put on extra weight is overfeeding. When combined with a sedentary lifestyle, they dont get to burn the extra calories that they have. But there are also other possible causes for this and sometimes it can be due to a disease.
Finding out what makes Frenchies put on extra weight is important for their health. Below are some reasons why Frenchies become overweight:
- Overfeeding: Its easy to overindulge your Frenchie with food. You should give them the right amount of portions during mealtime. For Frenchies, they only need about 25 to 30 calories per pound of body weight per day.
- High-Calorie Diet: Like humans, dogs will gain weight if they eat too many calorie-rich foods. Cut down on feeding your Frenchie cookies, sausages, eggs, etc.
- Minimal Exercise: If your Frenchie isnt active, they wont be able to burn the calories they get. Sedentary Frenchies may lose their muscle definition without exercise. This may happen even if they get the right amount of food each day.
- Age: As your Frenchie ages, it will be harder for them to keep up with an active lifestyle. This is why older Frenchies are prone to getting chubby. Also, older Frenchies are more likely to develop diseases that make them gain weight.
- Getting Spayed or Neutered: Frenchies who have their reproductive organs disabled are prone to weight gain.
- Diseases: Some health conditions cause Frenchies to gain weight. This includes hypothyroidism, diabetes, and Cushings disease.
A French Bulldog that is overweight may develop some serious health issues. This includes:
- Hypertension
- Arthritis
- Kidney Disease
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Diabetes
Additionally, chubbier Frenchies are also at risk of developing joint problems. Frenchies have sensitive necks and backs so the excess weight will put pressure on these body parts. This may lead to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).
How Can I Get My French Bulldog to Lose Weight?
If you have a chunky French Bulldog in your hands, a change in diet and exercise will help them. Before anything though, talk to your vet about the best weight-loss plan for your Frenchie. They have a better idea of your Frenchies health.
Your Frenchies weight-loss plan starts at home and you have to make sure to execute your vets health plan. Below are some tips to help you and your Frenchie achieve its target weight.
Diet
The first thing you need to do is check their portions and what theyre eating.
If you give them meal portions that are too big, you will need to cut this. Some vets will recommend a food intake cut of 25 percent. But the best way to figure out how much you need to cut is to ask your vet.
What you put on your Frenchies plate will matter too. Stay away from calorie-rich food like sweets, bacon, and sausages. Avoid having them eat table scraps too.
Your vet may prescribe your Frenchie diet dog food, but that isnt always the case. The best diet for your Frenchie to lose weight is a raw diet.
Weight loss is one of the many benefits of having a raw diet for your buddy. This has more protein than kibbles, which is a crucial part of their diet. Having more protein in their diet will make sure theyre only losing fat and not muscle mass.
Additionally, a raw diet will make your Frenchie feel full for much longer. This will discourage them from asking for more food after a hearty meal.
Some examples of foods to make Frenchies lose weight are:
- Boiled Baby Carrots: These contain a lot of fiber, keeping them feeling full longer.
- Green Beans: This can be an alternative to doggie treats that you currently have. They are also like baby carrots, packed with fiber.
- Tuna
- Muscle Meats
- Livestock Organ Meats
Meal Frequency
Frequent meals throughout the day with smaller portions are beneficial for weight loss. One of the reasons is that they will feel satiated, this stops them from asking for more food.
Another reason is that this keeps their blood sugar at a consistent level throughout the day. This would prevent their bodies from storing excess calories.
Training During Mealtimes
Its no secret that Frenchies are food motivated, so why not use that to your advantage? Treat your Frenchie with food as a reward whenever you are training them. This also makes training sessions fun for them, which is a bonus.
But its also important not to do this for too long or your Frenchie will get bored. Each Frenchie has a sweet spot for training sessions, so start at 5 minutes first.
Also, you should not do this every day. Take some training days off for your Frenchie to rest.
Tracking Calories
Whenever you feed your Frenchie, always make sure that they get the right number of calories for the day. Keeping track of this helps prevent you from overfeeding them.
Exercise
A weight-loss program is not complete without your Frenchie moving its muscles. This can be as simple as taking your Frenchie out for a walk every day for at least 10 minutes.
If your Frenchie can walk for more than that, it would be better. But make sure not to overexert your Frenchie, always listen to their body.
If you cant take them outdoors, play with them indoors using a toy. Using a laser pen is a great alternative to walking them. You can sit on the couch while watching them zoom around the room.
What Should I Feed My Overweight French Bulldog?
If your overweight Frenchie was not prescribed diet dog food, you may want to feed them a raw diet.
A lot of commercial dog food contains additives and preservatives. Some even contain an excess amount of calories, which cause weight gain.
This problem is avoidable with a raw diet, which gives your Frenchie the nutrition that they need. The main ingredients that should be in your Frenchies diet are:
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
- Calcium
- Crude Protein
- Omega 3 and 6
You can add these to your Frenchies diet with different ingredients and supplements.
There are many raw diet recipes for your Frenchie online that you can follow. Take note that a raw diet for your Frenchie should consist of 75 percent meat.
You should provide your Frenchie with a variety of meat to make the most out of their raw diet. The meat choices for raw food include the following:
- Rabbit
- Chicken
- Fish
- Beef
- Pork
- Quail
- Lamb
While a raw diet is best for weight loss, some Frenchies may find it hard to eat at first. Especially when theyre used to eating commercial kibbles.
But dont lose hope, you can introduce raw food into their diet slowly. Start by adding the raw food to their kibbles one by one. The best food to start with is eggs, and you can even add the eggshell.
As your Frenchie gets used to this, add in more ingredients like chicken meat. Do this while reducing the amount of kibbles you put in their bowl.
Gradually incorporate more raw food for the succeeding days. You should be able to reach a point where you can completely cut kibble out of their diet.
How Much Should I Feed My Overweight French Bulldog?
Your vet will be able to tell the amount of food your overweight Frenchie needs in a day. The healthy amount of calories for French Bulldogs is about 25 to 30 calories per body weight for each day. But for Frenchies on a diet, you may need to cut this down.
Its best to consult your vet about this since they know your Frenchies dietary needs better.
Is My French Bulldog Underweight?
One way to tell if your French Bulldog is skinny is by checking their ribs. If theyre very visible, they may be underweight. You can confirm this by weighing them.
A full-grown male Frenchie weighs about 20 to 28 pounds, while a female weighs about 16 to 24 pounds (9.112.7 kg and 7.310.9 kg, respectively). An adult Frenchie that is underweight will fall below these ranges.
Another sign of being underweight is if your Frenchie is lethargic. They may not be as playful as they were or they get tired much quicker.
Sometimes, being isnt a bad thing. If your Frenchies parents were also small, then your Frenchie would be as well.
To gauge if your Frenchies skinniness is a cause for concern, you need to check for the following:
- Eating Habits: If they dont eat enough, then there may be an underlying medical issue.
- Water Intake: Drinking more or less water than usual also implies health issues. Drinking more may be due to diabetes, while drinking less may be due to kidney problems.
- Toilet Issues: Pooping too much or having a runny stool means that they cant digest the food they ate. Sometimes you may see worms in their stool, which is alarming.
- Other Symptoms: An underweight Frenchie may also have wounds, hair loss, or other symptoms.
If your underweight Frenchie has any of these, speak with your vet immediately. The reason for their weight may be one of the following:
- Growth Spurt: Frenchie puppies may grow faster than the speed of their weight gain. This is normal, but its still better to check with your vet to make sure theyre healthy.
- Wrong Diet: You may be feeding your Frenchie food that they have an intolerance to. If their stomachs cant digest the food, that prevents them from gaining weight. That can also cause their hair to fall out.
- Gas Problems: Food that your Frenchie has problems digesting can cause gas issues. This is painful for Frenchies and can make them lose their appetite. They may also present other symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, and bloating.
- Worms or Parasites: Both of these can prevent your Frenchie from putting on weight. If you see whitish or yellowish worms in your Frenchies stool, they have worms. But not all worms are visible, so have your Frenchie examined by your vet.
- Other Health Issues: Sometimes being underweight is caused by a serious health problem. This includes cancer, heart disease, and even anxiety, to name a few.
How Skinny Should My French Bulldog Be?
A healthy French Bulldog should have a somewhat hourglass shape. Their chest should be wider than their waist when youre looking at them from above.
Looking at them from the side, some ribs may be visible. The last couple of ribs can are visible when theyre twisting or turning. Their ribs should also be easily felt when you run your fingers along their chest.
A Frenchie that is underweight will have a visible ribcage, even if they are not moving around. While with an overweight Frenchie, you cant feel their ribs when you put your fingers on their chest.