Having enjoyed an explosion in popularity over the past few years, the enduringly popular French Bulldog has stolen the hearts of plenty thanks to its cheeky expression and bat-like ears. Bred to be a companion dog, the Frenchie has won a loyal legion of fans with its cheerful, comical nature and loving disposition.
IS THIS DOG RIGHT FOR YOU?
1. The French Bulldog is a playful, companionable breed which
forms strong attachments to their owners. They make excellent
apartment dogs thanks to their quiet nature.
2. Frenchies typically get along really well with children, other
dogs, and cats if they are socialized properly. While they’re not
a genius breed, they are quick to learn tricks.
3. French Bulldogs are renowned for their affectionate nature,
love of lazing around with their owners, and can also make
excellent Emotional Support Dogs.
HISTORY
The history of the French Bulldog is inextricably linked with the
history of the Industrial Revolution, and the strong relationship
between America and France in the 19th century.
The ancestral English bulldog was a mastiff type dog - strong,
athletic that could be involved in bull-baiting. However, in the
1800s, these Bulldogs were crossbred with other dogs. The now
extinct Toy Bulldog breed was crossed with a terrier, making it a
smaller lapdog or companion dog. Weighing between 12 and 25 lbs,
these small dogs became popular with lace workers in the English
Midlands.
When the Industrial Revolution closed down many of their work
opportunities, the lace-makers emigrated to Normandy in Northern
France, and took their little bulldogs with them. It didn’t take
long for these popular little dogs to make their way to Paris,
where they were quickly adopted. They were so loved by the
citizens of Paris that they became known as Bouledogues Français.
In fact, they were so beloved that Toulouse Lautrec featured the
bulldog Bouboule in several of his works.
As the breed continued in France, they developed some breed
standardizations which are recognizable today: a compact body,
straight legs, and erect ears. Some were bred to have the erect
“bat ears”, while others had “rose” ears similar to those of
today’s English Bulldogs.
Society folk and wealthy Americans traveling in France fell in
love with these endearing little creatures and began bringing
them back to the USA to breed. Society ladies first exhibited
Frenchies in 1896 at the Westminster Dog Show, and even though it
was not yet an approved AKC breed, a Frenchie was the cover star
of the 1897 Westminster catalog.
There has always been some discussion around the correct breeding
and form of a French bulldog, thanks to their early origins. At
the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show the judge only chose winners
with "rose ears", but the ladies would go on to form the French
Bull Dog Club of America, which would define the breed standard
as having the “erect bat ear”.
Throughout the early 20th century, French Bulldogs continued to
be fashionable little friends to those living in high society and
influential families. The J. P. Morgans and the Rockefellers were
Frenchie fans, and dogs could be sold for up to $3000.
By 1906, the French Bulldog had not only been recognized by the
American Kennel Club, but was considered the fifth most popular
dog breed in the U.S. This dipped throughout the 20th century,
and in 2003 the dog was ranked at 54th place. However, they
entered the public consciousness once more thanks to some high
profile celebrity fans. Today the dog is consistently in the top
five most popular dog breeds in America.
QUICK FACTS
SIZE
Companion
LIFESPAN
11-14 years
HAIR LENGTH
Short
MALE HEIGHT
12 – 14 inches (28 – 30 centimeters)
MALE WEIGHT
20 – 28 pounds (9 – 13 kilograms)
FEMALE HEIGHT
11 – 13 inches (28 – 30 centimeters).
FEMALE WEIGHT
18 – 26 pounds (8 – 12 kilograms)
LITTER SIZE
2-4 puppies with an average of 3 - French bulldogs typically need
a Cesarian section for a safe birth
APPEARANCE
French bulldogs are renowned for their curious, expressive faces
and their distinctive bat ears. Unlike their cousins, the English
bulldog, they make free, bouncy movements and can have excellent
jumping abilities. They are often muscular little dogs, although
they can quickly put on weight which can cause health issues.
They have short tails which can often be mistaken for “docked”,
although this is just a feature of the breed. Frenchies have
soft, loose skin around the head and shoulders, which gives them
their distinctive wrinkles. They require little by way of
grooming, although they are a breed who do shed. Their legendary
wrinkles and snouts need regular cleaning, and some are more
disposed to drool.
PERSONALITY
Clownish lap dogs, the Frenchie loves to play and entertain with
the family. It has a tendency to be lazy, and so may need to be
encouraged to go on walks. They enjoy playing outdoors, and if
properly socialized will respond well to other dogs and cats. As
a breed, Frenchies are not suited for outdoor living and should
be carefully monitored in hot and humid weather. They cannot
swim.
French Bulldogs bond very strongly to their owners, and as a
result, do not enjoy being left on their own. They have a
Bulldogs typical stubbornness, which can make them difficult to
house train although they are the smartest of the Bulldog breed
and can often learn tricks.
COLORS
The AKC accepted colors for a French Bulldog are any variations
of brindle, fawn, or pied. Other colors, such as blue, black and
tan, or merle are not accepted as a breed standard.
Behavior of a Bulldog
The Bulldog is a
medium-sized dog with a powerful body and a strong will. Although
bulldogs look intimidating, they are known for their gentle
temperament. Bulldogs make excellent family pets and can be great
with children. Much of a bulldog's behavior is dictated
by the dog's body. The shortened muzzle of this breed makes
breathing difficult, interfering with the bulldog's ability to
exercise. Consequently, the breed is low-energy, and a bulldog
will quickly become lethargic and sick after too much exercise.
These dogs can be excellent companions, but are not good choices
for people with highly active lifestyles.
Energy
Bulldogs are a low-energy breed because of their relatively
weak respiratory system. However, bulldogs still need
exercise and will thrive when given one or two 10-minute
walks each day. Owners should not take their dogs on walks in
temperatures above 80 degrees. Bulldogs also tend to have
short bursts of impressive energy, and may charge at
visitors, chase balls and ram into furniture. This behavior
is less likely to occur when the dog has lots of attention
and stimulation.
Personality
Bulldogs are tenacious and a bit domineering. They may obsess
over objects they can't reach, such as hidden food, and may
use their strong bodies to plow into things that interest
them. Because of their domineering nature, they require
strong leadership and early training. Without proper
training, the breed may become stubborn and destructive.
However, bulldogs are notoriously gentle and are unlikely to
exhibit aggressive behavior.
Intelligence
Bulldogs are frequently ranked among the dumbest dogs,
according to the book "Bulldogs for Dummies." However, this
ranking may be undeserved and may be because bulldogs are
stubborn and difficult to train. They can learn to do things
that interest them and frequently devise novel
solutions to problems. For example, a bulldog who wants to be
on the other side of a fence might just plow through the
fence. This breed typically requires more practice at
learning basic
commands because they are easily distracted, but
with proper training bulldogs can learn an impressive array
of skills.
Behavior Problems
Bulldogs are highly food-motivated and may guard their food,
even when they've been trained to do otherwise. Consequently,
bulldogs should not be fed around children or other dogs.
Most of the bulldog's other behavior problems are actually a
result of health issues.
Lethargy is common among bulldogs when they are too hot or
have had too much exercise. Drooling, snorting and loud
breathing are also hallmarks of this breed. According to
"Bulldogs for Dummies," bulldogs can become anxious and
restless, and typically will chew on inappropriate objects
well past puppyhood. They may also dig excessively.
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