French Bulldog Overview
History
The French bulldog is a breed of domestic dog, originated in 19th-century Nottingham, England. And not in France, as many believe.
The breed is the result of a cross between Toy Bulldogs imported from England, and local Terriers from Paris, France.
Lace makers decided to create a smaller, miniature, lap version of the English Bulldog, which was referred to as a “Toy” bulldog. In the 1860s, as the industrial revolution drove artisans to France, they took their dogs with them. Toy bulldogs became popular in France and were given the name “French Bulldog.” The British were not happy with the name “French” given to a dog originally from England.
The U.S. saw its first French bulldog at the Westminster Kennel Club show in 1896.
Pros
- Adapts well to small apartments or flats.
- An ideal breed for first-time owners.
- This is a friendly breed with a lot of love to give.
- Sleeps a lot, loves to play and have fun.
- They are a great choice for older people.
- They don’t need lots of exercise.
- Usually polite with everyone, including other pets.
- Loyal breed and relatively easy to train.
- One of the most affectionate breeds on the planet.
- Not an aggressive dog
- Frenchies don’t tend to bark lots.
Cons
- They can be stubborn.
- Their flatulence
- They like to dig.
- They are big droolers.
- They don’t handle heat well.
- Some French Bulldogs shed a lot.
- They are prone to separation anxiety and cannot be left alone for long periods of time without training.
- It can be a task to house train them.
- They get overweight quickly.
Interesting facts
- They love to “talk.”
- Lady Gaga has 3 French Bulldogs named Asia, Koji, and Gustav.
- French Bulldogs are also called Frenchies.
- A French Bulldog was a passenger on the Titanic in 1912 and was insured for $750, which was a lot of money at the time.
Appearance
The French Bulldog has a sturdy, muscular and stocky build. They have a broad chest and back and short, sturdy legs. The head of the French Bulldog is firm and square, with large eyes and a short nose. Their ears are erect, and they resemble “bat ears.”
Their coat is short, fine and smooth. The colors found in French Bulldogs are brindle, fawn, fur, blue, brown, merle, lilac and a combination of black & tan.
The French Bulldog grows on average between 25 cm and 35 cm tall, with a weight between 8 kg and 14 kg.
They have an average lifespan of 11 – 13 years if they remain in good health.
Grooming
Frenchies do not need much grooming to look good and neat.
Their coats only need to be brushed during the shedding period to remove the loose hair from their bodies.
You should not wash a French Bulldog too much, only a few times a year is enough. However, it is important to clean their facial folds regularly to keep them dry and infection-free.
You only need to trim their nails when necessary.
Does a Frenchie shed a lot?
Because of their short coat and small size, shedding is not a big problem. The shedding usually occurs in spring and fall.
It is better to brush their coat regularly during the shedding period to reduce shedding.
Is a French Bulldog gassy?
French Bulldogs are known to have a sensitive stomach and eat very quickly. These two things can cause them to become quite gassy.
Be vigilant about keeping their diet up to par as new foods upset the balance, and watch for signs of a food allergy.
Cost
On average, a French Bulldog puppy costs between 1250 and 2500 euros.
The price range can vary based on the dog’s quality, appearance, pedigree, location and the quality of the breeder.
Exercise & trainability
Frenchies do not need much daily exercise to stay fit and healthy.
A regular walk or letting them run free in a park, garden or open area is fine for French Bulldog puppies. It is better not to walk them on hot, humid days because of their short noses, which make breathing difficult and can easily lead to heat stroke.
They remain very pleasant and attentive during training sessions.
This is a people-loving breed, and these dogs gladly listen and obey their owner’s commands and instructions.
Their feelings can be hurt if their owner decides to use overly harsh training methods to teach them new things. If you scold a Frenchie, he may take it very seriously and start grieving in the house. French Bulldogs respond better to positive reinforcement and encouragement.
So it is important to remain patient and calm with French Bulldog puppies during training sessions.
An adult French Bulldog usually sleeps about 10 to 13 hours a day.
Intelligence
Frenchies are reasonably intelligent canines that possess fine thinking skills and decent problem-solving abilities. They can also learn the new things which are taught to them fairly quickly.
According to “The Intelligence of Dogs” by Stanley Coren, the French Bulldog is ranked 58.
Can they swim?
French Bulldogs cannot swim without a life Jacket on. Frenchies love to play, but you need to be very careful near water as they are unable to swim unaided.
They can drown very easily, so please be careful near water.
Do they bark much?
French Bulldogs don’t bark much, but they do like to “talk.” They are known to make many different sounds, including yips, snores, gurgles or yawns.
They only bark when they need something from their family members or want to alert their owners.
Other than that, these dogs remain pretty quiet most of the time.
What climate is best for French Bulldogs?
Their tolerance for heat and high temperatures is quite poor. These dogs do not fare well in areas where the climate is known to be hot and humid.
Their tolerance for cold temperatures is also not so good. They need proper grooming when the weather outside gets cold and harsh.
Their friendliness
Frenchies are fairly affectionate and friendly with small children, yet it is better to socialize these dogs well with many children from an early age.
Frenchies are not considered very dog-friendly dogs, as they remain somewhat reserved with other dogs and are not known to make new canine friends easily. If the French Bulldog puppy is properly trained and introduced to many different dogs, she will be friendly and cordial with other dogs.
Some French Bulldogs have a bad habit of chasing small animals, such as cats. Therefore, proper training and early socialization is the best way to socialize a Frenchie.
They are very extroverted dogs who love to meet new people and make new friends. When they meet someone new, they are known for their loving greeting.
Their adaptability
Frenchies are wonderful apartment dogs and adjust really well to the apartment lifestyle. They can do just fine without any yard or a garden, as their exercise needs are fairly minimal. They are happy to stay inside their homes for most of the time.
If a first-time or a novice owner is fine with the training needs of these canines, then Frenchies can be a fantastic option for an inexperienced or first-time dog owner.
These pooches require close contact with humans and if they are left alone for long periods of time, then they become extremely disheartened, frustrated and demotivated as they are prone to separation anxiety. It can develop a few destructive traits like excessive barking, destroying the house furniture etc. But by teaching your French Bulldog puppy to stay alone from an early age and through proper parenting, your French Bulldog will be able to stay perfectly alone for several hours.
Is a Frenchie a good guard dog?
Rather than being a good guard dog, Frenchies are well-known for being decent watchdogs. These canines are quite territorial in nature, which means not only these pooches will defend you. But they will also defend your home and property against any kind of threat or harm.
They are pretty decent at alerting their owners in case of an intruder or a burglar.
Do they drool much?
Drool will be part of your world if you have a French Bulldog. These canines are known to mostly drool before and after their meals. And during that time, they can drool a lot, but apart from it, their drooling potential is fairly average, just like most other canine breeds.
If you’re concerned about excessive drool, consult your veterinarian to make sure it’s normal.
Health issues
Frenchies can suffer from various health concerns that may be problematic. Due to their short faces, their breathing is less efficient than a long-nosed dog.
It’s essential to take your Frenchie to the vet regularly for checkups and vaccines.