French Bulldogs are lovable, playful companions that bring so much joy to a home. However, their unique needs mean that finding the right activities is a challenge, especially when outdoor play isn’t an option due to rainy or cold days. Keeping them inside while still ensuring they stay mentally and physically stimulated is crucial for their happiness. In this blog, we will explore five creative, engaging indoor games that keep your French Bulldog entertained while also strengthening your bond.

As one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, these smart, intelligent, and adorable-looking dogs deserve the best care. Whether you’re a pet parent drawn to their charming looks, their easy maintenance, or their suitability for a family setting, it’s important to understand their personality and what keeps them happy. Though small, they are sturdy and affectionate, requiring proper care to remain healthy and happy. This means balancing exercise with quality time spent in a way that is both effective and suited to their duration of energy bursts.

At frenchies planet, we understand the importance of outdoor games, but when the weather doesn’t allow it, indoor activities can be just as fulfilling. Just as BlueHaven recommends balanced diets, regular vet checkups, and proper puppy care, choosing the right types of play for your dog is essential. Whether you are trying to train correctly or just reading up as a prospective owner, these ideas will keep your recognized Frenchie active, engaged, and happy!

Why Exercise Matters for French Bulldogs

For French Bulldogs, staying active is essential for their overall well-being. These small but sturdy dogs stay healthier and happier with regular exercise, which helps them maintain a healthy weight and prevents them from becoming prone to obesity and health issues. Since they are a dwarf breed, their spinal discs can become malformed without enough movement, leading to discomfort and back issues as they age. Keeping their muscles toned and strong supports good posture and mobility, which is crucial for their unique body structure.

Physical and Mental Benefits of Exercise

Engaging in physical activity helps burn off excess energy, which not only keeps their body fit but also contributes to their mental stimulation. A Frenchie that gets adequate exercise is less likely to develop anxiety or stress-related behaviors. Regular playtime prevents boredom and reduces anxiety, keeping their minds active and engaged. It also strengthens your relationship by offering quality time together, reinforcing positive bonding through fun and interactive experiences.

Preventing Obesity and Health Issues

French Bulldogs have a natural tendency to gain weight quickly, making proper diet and regular exercise vital for their overall well-being. Without enough movement, they become prone to obesity, which can lead to severe health issues. Keeping a Frenchie on an active schedule ensures that their muscles stay toned, their posture remains stable, and they avoid unnecessary weight gain. Exercise also helps prevent back issues, particularly as they age, by strengthening their core and improving their mobility.

Avoiding Boredom and Destructive Behavior

When a Frenchie doesn’t get enough physical activity, they often develop destructive habits like excessive chewing, barking, or restlessness. Providing adequate exercise and mental stimulation helps prevent boredom and encourages them to use their minds actively. It also aids in proper training, making it easier to reinforce good behaviors while keeping your dog happy and content. Indoor activities like structured play, puzzle toys, and obstacle courses allow them to burn off energy safely while fostering positive bonding between you and your furry companion.

Problem	Solution	Benefit
Chewing on furniture	Provide chew toys, puzzle feeders	Keeps minds active, reduces anxiety
Excessive barking	Engage in regular exercise, indoor games	Burning off excess energy, prevents stress
Restlessness	Set up an obstacle course or play fetch	Encourages positive bonding, improves mobility
Separation anxiety	Offer mentally stimulating toys & quality playtime	Provides quality time, reinforces proper training
Digging/scratching	Give interactive toys & structured play	Prevents boredom, redirects energy positively

How to Choose the Best Indoor Activities

Consider Your Frenchie’s Age and Energy Levels

When picking age-appropriate exercise for your French Bulldog, consider whether they are in puppy development or need senior dog care. High-energy breeds require interactive play and mental stimulation, while low-energy dogs may enjoy more relaxed indoor play ideas. Puppies benefit from activities that match their exercise needs, while older dogs need joint problem-friendly games.

Understand Their Health Conditions

Due to their brachycephalic breed care requirements, French Bulldogs are prone to respiratory conditions like BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) and orthopedic concerns such as hip dysplasia or canine arthritis. Always follow vet recommendations and consider medical supervision before engaging them in prolonged play. Short, safe indoor games help with energy management, while avoiding overexertion.

Identify Their Personality and Interests

Some French Bulldogs show playful behavior, while others are more independent dogs. Understanding their breed temperament is key—do they prefer toy preferences like Kong toys, puzzle feeders, and treat-dispensing toys, or do they thrive on positive reinforcement training with an indoor agility kit? Adjusting to their behavioral traits keeps them engaged.

Adjust Activities Based on Available Space

If you live in small apartment living, using space-conscious exercise ideas is essential. Confined space solutions such as DIY dog play areas, snuffle mats, and enrichment games provide mental enrichment while keeping activities fun. Limited area activities like nose work or controlled obstacle courses ensure environment adaptability without compromising dog wellness.

Best Activities Based on Needs

Frenchie Type	Recommended Activity	Why It Works
Puppies	Interactive engagement with treat-dispensing toys	Builds focus & mental stimulation
Seniors	Safe indoor games & snuffle mats	Gentle on joint problems
High-Energy	Indoor agility kits & puzzle feeders	Matches breed-specific activity levels
Low-Energy	Limited area activities & DIY dog play areas	Keeps play easy but engaging
Small Spaces	Confined space solutions & enrichment games	Works well for small apartment living

Types of Exercises for French Bulldogs

Indoor Exercises

Interactive Toys & Puzzle Games

Keeping a Frenchie active indoors is essential for their overall well-being, especially since they are prone to burning out quickly. Engaging them in interactive pet activity ensures they stay fit, entertained, and mentally sharp. Using interactive toys and puzzle feeders is a great way to provide both physical and mental stimulation for dogs while preventing boredom. These tools are fantastic for keeping your French Bulldog entertained and mentally stimulated, especially when they need a challenge to figure out how to access their treats or kibble.

Certain puzzle toys and enrichment toys encourage problem-solving skills and cognitive engagement, which enhance their intelligence while preventing destructive behaviors. Whether it’s a treat-dispensing toy, a food puzzle, or an advanced dog puzzle game, these activities help combat boredom, slow down fast eaters, and promote healthier digestion. Below are some engaging games and activities that will turn playtime into a rewarding experience.

Muffin Tin Puzzle Game 

A simple yet engaging DIY dog game, the Muffin tin method enhances cognitive enrichment, problem-solving for pets, and treat-seeking behavior. This homemade dog puzzle requires a muffin tin, dog treats, and plastic cups.

• Place treats in a few compartments of the muffin tin.
• Cover them with plastic cups or dog training accessories.
• Encourage your Frenchie to figure out how to move the cups to get the reward.

This fun pet brain game strengthens decision-making skills while making playtime exciting. The use of treat-based learning encourages positive reinforcement, keeping your pup motivated and eager to play.

Shell Game (Cup Game)

The canine shell game is an excellent way to improve focus training, memory retention, and pattern recognition. This classic dog training game also enhances cognitive challenge and keeps your dog’s brain active.

• Take three training tools (cups) and hide treats under one of them.
• Shuffle them while allowing your dog to track and use sensory tracking to guess the right cup.
• Reward them with dog treats when they choose correctly.

This memory game for dogs encourages attention training, improves decision-making skills, and sharpens cognitive challenge capabilities, making it a fun yet effective way to keep your dog entertained.

DIY Snuffle Mat Games

The canine shell game is an excellent way to improve focus training, memory retention, and pattern recognition. This classic dog training game also enhances cognitive challenge and keeps your dog’s brain active.

• Take three training tools (cups) and hide treats under one of them.
• Shuffle them while allowing your dog to track and use sensory tracking to guess the right cup.
• Reward them with dog treats when they choose correctly.

This memory game for dogs encourages attention training, improves decision-making skills, and sharpens cognitive challenge capabilities, making it a fun yet effective way to keep your dog entertained.

Treasure Hunt with Treats 

A treat scavenger hunt is a great interactive play activity that involves hunting instinct training and sensory tracking. This game enhances cognitive challenge, builds treat-seeking behavior, and keeps dogs engaged in a mental workout.

• Hide dog treats around the house in different locations.
• Encourage your Frenchie to use scent-tracking toys to find them.
• Reward them when they successfully discover a treasure hunt for pets spot.

This foraging activity strengthens olfactory challenge and enrichment training, making it an ideal way to keep your pup busy and mentally sharp.

Summary of Ideal Indoor Activities

Activity	Skills Developed	Why It’s Beneficial
Muffin Tin Puzzle Game	Problem-solving skills, cognitive engagement	Encourages treat-based learning
Shell Game (Cup Game)	Pattern recognition, attention training	Enhances memory retention and focus training
DIY Snuffle Mat Games	Olfactory engagement, foraging play	Supports natural instincts and promotes healthier digestion
Treasure Hunt with Treats	Hunting instinct training, treat-seeking behavior	Boosts sensory tracking and mental stimulation for dogs

Training-Based Games for Mental Stimulation

Red Light, Green Light

This stop-and-go game improves impulse control exercises and strengthens obedience training using verbal command training like “stop” and “go.” Rooted in Pavlovian Conditioning, it enhances response accuracy, self-control for dogs, and cognitive flexibility. Trainers like Cesar Millan and Victoria Stilwell use it for behavior reinforcement and interactive obedience training. Over time, it supports dog training reinforcement and prepares dogs for Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and AKC Rally.

Simon Says (Command Game)

A structured playtime game that sharpens command recognition, behavioral inhibition, and rule-based learning. It challenges dogs to respond accurately to cues, reinforcing self-control for dogs and obedience training. Based on reinforcement learning, it strengthens compliance training, speech command recognition, and interactive play, following the principles of Jean Piaget and American Kennel Club (AKC) standards. Clicker training can enhance cognitive association, ensuring consistent behavior.

Mirror Game (Who’s That Dog?)

This self-recognition in dogs exercise enhances dog confidence-building and visual recognition. Inspired by the Mirror Test, Konrad Lorenz, and The Dog Cognition Lab (Harvard University), it encourages behavioral mirroring, curiosity-driven learning, and cognitive flexibility. By using environmental desensitization, it supports socialization training, sensory stimulation, and dog training reinforcement, helping French Bulldogs build awareness and reduce anxiety.

Physical Indoor Activities

Hide-and-Seek With a Twist 

French Bulldogs love a good game of hide-and-seek, and it’s a great way to burn energy indoors while tapping into their natural instincts. Start by placing your Frenchie in a sit and stay position in a familiar room of the house. Then, find a hidden spot behind furniture or in different rooms while holding an easy-to-find location with toys or treats. Call your dog’s name and wait for your pup to search and find you, rewarding them with a treat and praise. This activity not only engages their instinct but also promotes mental stimulation. As your Frenchie gets better, keep increasing the difficulty by hiding in places they aren’t used to. This reinforces positive behavior while ensuring that Frenchies stay entertained even on days when outdoor exercises are limited. You can also introduce versions of this game by teaching them new commands like “Come here, puppy”, repeating it while holding your palm turned, and moving farther until they can no longer see or hear you.

Tug-of-War

A favourite game among dogs, especially French Bulldogs, is tug-of-war, an interactive indoor activity that lets them engage in physical play while using their natural instincts. Grab a sturdy tug toy, let your Frenchie hold it with their teeth, and gently pull back and forth to encourage controlled muscle use. This physical activity helps build strength, coordination, and jaw control while also providing an energy release for built-up excitement. Playing tug-of-war is a fantastic way to tire out your Frenchie and manage zoomies without requiring a lot of space. Use a soft rope or tug toys that prevent accidental bites and keep the game fun and engaging. If you want to make it even more challenging, attach a tug toy to a tree hook or let your Frenchie play again and again with different toys and games for a change of pace. Since playing this game can sometimes become too aggressive, it’s important to establish rules, like when to start and stop, to ensure it remains enjoyable for a long time. Watch your Frenchie’s body language to identify signs of fatigue or boredom, making sure they enjoy the session without getting too exhausted.

DIY Indoor Obstacle Course

Creating a DIY indoor obstacle course is a fun, engaging way to improve agility and focus while giving your Frenchie a great physical activity that keeps them entertained. Use furniture, toys, or household items to make challenging paths for your pup to navigate. Teach them to jump over cushions, crawl under tables, or weave through cones, which helps burn energy indoors while keeping their mind sharp. This game also promotes mental stimulation, allowing them to engage in problem-solving while strengthening their muscle coordination.

Balance Training (Paw on a Book)

A simple yet effective activity for developing coordination is balance training, where you encourage your Frenchie to place their paw on a book and hold the position. This activity helps improve their stability, teaches patience, and keeps them engaged mentally. Start with a flat, sturdy object and gradually move to more challenging surfaces. This is a fantastic way to reinforce positive behavior, especially when treats are used as rewards.

Safety Tips for Indoor Activities with French Bulldogs

Prevent Overheating by Keeping Sessions Short

When engaging French Bulldogs in play, it’s crucial to be mindful of their tendency to overheating. These playful dogs can become exhausted quickly, especially during active sessions that involve sprinting or burning energy in an obstacle course. To keep them safe, always take breaks and ensure fresh water is available to support proper hydration. If your Frenchie starts to pant heavily, showing warning signs of fatigue, it’s time for rest. Creating an environment that allows them to be entertained without pushing their limits will help them stay joyful and engaging in daily activities without feeling overwhelmed.

Tip	Why It Matters
Take breaks during short sessions	Prevents overheating and supports hydration
Watch for panting or fatigue	Helps detect early warning signs
Keep fresh water available	Essential for drinking and cooling down
Choose fun, engaging activities	Keeps them entertained while ensuring safe movement

Ensure Safe Play with Soft, Non-Slip Flooring

A Frenchie can be easily knocked over when playing indoors, especially if the area has sharp objects or fragile items. Using soft, non-slip flooring is essential to prevent hazards while encouraging free movement. Their natural excitement and quick bursts of energy can make even a simple game of fetch more challenging if the surface isn’t safe. Creating a safe environment where they can play productively without the risk of slipping ensures that fun indoor activities remain joyful and injury-free.

Tip	Why It Matters
Remove sharp objects & fragile items	Prevents injuries from knocked over objects
Use non-slip flooring	Reduces risk of hazards and falls
Ensure the area is clear	Creates a safe, engaging space

Choose Durable and Safe Toys to Prevent Choking Hazards

Providing French Bulldogs with safe, durable toys is a key part of daily activities. Since they are prone to chewing, selecting high-quality toys prevents the risk of hazards like choking. Avoid anything that is too small or could easily break under playful pressure. If a toy is too soft, it might not be challenging enough to keep them entertained, while overly rigid toys might cause discomfort. Ensuring that they have fun, engaging toys tailored to their size and movement will make every session productive and enjoyable.

Tip	Why It Matters
Select durable, safe toys	Prevents choking hazards
Avoid small, fragile toys	Keeps French Bulldogs entertained without risk
Choose toys that encourage movement	Helps burn energy productively

Supervise Playtime, Especially with Interactive Toys

It’s easy for a Frenchie to get carried away when engaging with interactive toys, making supervision essential to avoid accidents. Some toys may cause excitement to spike too quickly, leading to overheating or fatigue if not monitored. Keeping an eye on their routine, watching for warning signs, and stepping in when needed ensures a fun, safe play experience. If they start showing signs of exhaustion or their play becomes too challenging, redirect them to a calmer activity.

Tip	Why It Matters
Monitor for overheating & exhaustion	Ensures they don’t push past limits
Keep interactive toys under supervision	Avoids unexpected hazards
Encourage a routine for play	Helps manage energy levels effectively

Recognizing Your Frenchie’s Limits & Mental Stimulation Needs

Low-Impact Exercises for Short-Nosed Breeds

Keeping your Frenchie active indoors is important for maintaining good health and preventing obesity. Since this breed is known to suffer from health problems, intense workouts should be avoided. Instead, fun exercises that are tailored to their needs can keep them happy and engaged. A great way to do this is by involving them in playing games like hide-and-seek, which not only provides entertainment but also encourages training and mental enrichment. You can also make use of interactive toys that require them to feed on treats by solving small puzzles, ensuring both physical and mental stimulation. Having a regular routine of light indoor movement, like following commands while giving a hand or stepping back, helps them stay active without strain. Especially during the colder months when outdoor play is limited, these activities are possible solutions to keep your furry friend engaged while reducing sudden bursts of energy.

Signs of Overexertion and When to Take a Break

When engaging in fun exercises, watch for wild moments where your Frenchie displays zoomies by running, jumping, and dashing around the house. While this is a common sight and usually normal, excessive activity can lead to overexertion. If your dog starts ignoring commands, showing signs of exhaustion, or refuses to engage, it’s a clear indication they need a break. Encouraging a rest period will help them burn off energy more safely and productively, ensuring they remain active without getting overly tired.

Signs Your Frenchie Needs More Mental Stimulation

Behavior	What It Means	How to Fix It
Excessive Barking or Whining as a Sign of Boredom	Your Frenchie craves attention and wants to be involved	Try new playing games or introduce training challenges
Destructive Behavior Like Chewing Furniture	Lacking entertainment and mental activity	Provide puzzle toys or involve them in hand commands for treats
Restlessness, Pacing, or Zoomies Indoors	Needs to burn off excess energy	Schedule regular interactive play sessions
Ignoring Commands or Appearing Disengaged	Feeling mentally stuck indoors	Rotate toys and channel energy into structured activities

Ensuring your Frenchie receives enough attention, training, and entertainment will keep them from becoming frustrated, helping them stay active, happy, and engaged even when they are indoors.

More Fun Ideas for Keeping Your Frenchie Engaged Indoors

Keeping your Frenchie entertained at home means mixing up activities so they stay engaged and happy. A great way to do this is to rotate toys regularly to maintain interest, giving them something fresh to explore. Using high-value treats to keep them motivated during training sessions or games makes playtime more rewarding. For dogs who love using their noses, indoor nose work & mental games for enrichment can be a great challenge, like hiding treats around the house for them to sniff out. If they enjoy learning, you can increase difficulty levels for more challenge, making tasks slightly harder as they get better.

Ways to Keep Activities Fun and Exciting

Keeping things exciting means finding new ways to play, like a cozy Frenchie movie night for a relaxing bonding experience, where you set up a cuddle spot with blankets and pillows while watching dog-friendly films and shows about animals together. This helps them feel loved and secure while also strengthening your bond. Another way to mix things up is through short but frequent play sessions for stamina management, so they don’t get too tired but stay active.

Rotate Toys Regularly to Maintain Interest

One of the best ways to keep your Frenchie engaged is to change up their toys often. Rotating toys for maximum engagement means switching them out every few days so they feel new again.

Use High-Value Treats to Keep Them Motivated

If your dog loves snacks, using special high-value treats can encourage better participation in training and games. It makes learning more exciting and rewarding.

Increase Difficulty Levels for More Challenge

When your pup masters a game, making it harder keeps their mind sharp. Try new puzzle toys or more complex tricks to challenge them.

Short but Frequent Play Sessions for Stamina Management

Instead of long playtimes that can tire them out, short but frequent sessions help keep their energy balanced without exhaustion.

Creative Indoor Activities

Engage your Frenchie with fun, unique activities like agility courses or indoor fetch. Adding variety makes playtime even more exciting.

Indoor Nose Work & Mental Games for Enrichment

Let your dog use their nose by hiding treats in boxes or playing scent-based games. It keeps them entertained while exercising their mind.

Must-Have Indoor Toys & Accessories for Engagement

Stock up on engaging toys like treat-dispensing puzzles, chew toys, and soft plushies that provide mental stimulation and fun.

Cozy Frenchie Movie Night for a Relaxing Bonding Experience

Set up a warm, relaxing movie night with your Frenchie, where they can cuddle in their spot with blankets and pillows while watching dog-friendly films and shows about animals. It’s a perfect way to spend quiet time together and helps them feel loved and secure.

Rotating Toys for Maximum Engagement

Switching out toys every few days keeps your Frenchie interested and prevents boredom.

Calming Activities for Anxious Frenchies

For dogs that get anxious, try spending quiet time together with gentle petting or massage to help them feel loved and secure.

Conclusion

Providing French Bulldogs with engaging indoor activities is essential for their physical and mental well-being. These playful and affectionate dogs thrive on interactive games, short exercise sessions, and mentally stimulating challenges, ensuring they stay entertained even when outdoor play isn’t possible. Whether it’s rotating toys for maximum engagement, using high-value treats to keep them motivated, or setting up a cozy Frenchie movie night for a relaxing bonding experience, there are countless ways to make indoor time fun and fulfilling.

By incorporating creative indoor activities such as indoor nose work & mental games for enrichment, interactive play, and calming activities for anxious Frenchies, you can ensure your Frenchie remains happy, healthy, and well-stimulated. Recognizing their energy levels, health conditions, and personal interests helps tailor activities to their needs, preventing boredom, anxiety, and destructive behaviors.

Ultimately, a well-balanced routine filled with fun, bonding experiences, and mental challenges will strengthen your bond with your Frenchie, creating a loving, secure environment where they feel safe, entertained, and truly cared for.

FAQs

How much exercise does a French Bulldog need per day?

French Bulldogs need about 30–45 minutes of exercise per day, split between short walks and indoor activities. Since they are a brachycephalic breed, it’s essential to avoid overexertion.

Are French Bulldogs prone to overheating during play?

Yes, Frenchies can easily overheat due to their short snouts. Keep exercise sessions short, provide plenty of water, and ensure they have a cool space to rest.

What are the best indoor games for French Bulldogs?

Some great indoor games include hide-and-seek, tug-of-war, treasure hunts, and interactive puzzle toys. These help engage their minds and prevent boredom.

Can French Bulldogs do agility training?

Yes, but in a controlled, low-impact way. Avoid high jumps or intense drills. A DIY indoor obstacle course with tunnels and ramps is a safer alternative.

What are signs that my Frenchie is bored?

Common signs include excessive barking, destructive behavior (chewing furniture), zoomies, and ignoring commands. If you notice these behaviors, try increasing their mental and physical stimulation.

Are interactive toys safe for French Bulldogs?

Yes, as long as you choose durable, non-toxic, and appropriately sized toys. Always supervise play with small parts to prevent choking.