A French Bulldog's week bag is a heat-management and skin-care kit wearing a travel bag's clothes. This compact, short-faced companion cannot cool down efficiently, cannot swim safely, and carries folds and ears that need daily attention, so pack for shade, rest, and gentle routines rather than long adventures.
Measured food for a round little frame
Pack the French Bulldog's usual food for seven days plus a spare day, ideally pre-portioned, with feeding times and amounts written on the container. This breed rounds out quickly, and extra weight makes breathing harder, so include the treat limit and a note that snacks from the sitter's own meals are not allowed, however theatrical the begging performance becomes at the table. Keep the food exactly as at home, because French Bulldogs are prone to gassy, sensitive digestion and a week is the wrong time for experiments. Add the usual bowl, and if this dog uses a slow feeder to stop frantic gulping, pack it with a one-line explanation. Note water expectations too: fresh water always available, offered after play and walks, with messy, enthusiastic drinking being entirely normal for this dog.
Harness, cooling mat, and firm heat limits
Pack a well-fitted harness for every French Bulldog walk, never relying on a collar that presses on an already compromised airway, plus a lead, waste bags, and a spare lead in case of accidents. Write the exercise rules in unmistakable language: short, gentle walks in the cool of morning and evening, no running, no ball chasing in warm weather, and home immediately if breathing turns loud, harsh, or panicky. Include a cooling mat for naps and explain where it should go, in the dog's resting spot out of direct sun. Add a clear warning that this breed must never be left in a warm car or a hot room and cannot swim, so garden ponds and pools at the sitter's home need barriers or supervision. Pack a towel for drying after rain and a note to wipe paws, since damp skin is a recurring French Bulldog theme.
Folds, ears, and skin supplies
Pack the soft cloths and gentle supplies you use at home for the French Bulldog's face folds, and write the routine plainly: wipe folds gently, dry them thoroughly, and report redness, odour, or rubbing rather than trying new products. Those large upright ears collect debris and need the outer ear checked and wiped as you normally do, with head shaking or scratching flagged to you the same day. Include the brush for the short coat, which sheds more than visitors expect, and any skin routine the vet has already established for this dog, labelled with your normal steps. Pack washable bedding and a familiar blanket, because this breed drools, sheds, and occasionally produces spectacular digestive smells, and the sitter will be grateful for spares. Note any known skin sensitivities in writing so laundry or cleaning products at the sitter's home are not changed mid-week.
Sleep, company, and the contacts pocket
Pack the French Bulldog's bed and a favourite toy, and explain that this people-loving breed expects company and will follow the sitter from room to room, snoring in doorways. Note sleeping arrangements and whether stairs should be carried or blocked, since jumping down is hard on this dog's back and joints. In the contacts pocket, place the vet's number, an emergency clinic, your own number, and a backup contact, plus a short health summary: what relaxed breathing sounds like for this dog, any known skin or eye history, and normal appetite and energy. Ask for an urgent vet call if breathing sounds strained at rest, the dog cannot cool down, gums look pale, or vomiting repeats. A final check of the bag against KinsLe's Care Pass makes sure the French Bulldog's cooling mat, harness, and fold kit are all travelling together before the stay begins.