French Bulldog

French Bulldog: BREED BOX Country: France Size: 22-28lb(10-13kg), 12in(30-31cm) Temperament: Well behaved, adaptable Grooming: Little grooming required Recognition: FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC, KC(UK), NZKC, UKC

The small, compact French Bulldog is easy to recognize with its bat-like ears. Frenchies actually owe their origins to the lacemakers of England who bred early Bulldogs down to a toy size so they could be lap dogs. Later the lacemakers relocated to France and took their little dogs with them, where they became immensely popular.

Breed History

According to history the French Bulldog is descended from the English Bulldog, possibly among other dogs. The story goes that lacemakers in Nottingham, England kept toy-sized Bulldogs in the 19th century as lap dogs and bred them to look similar to the French Bulldog we have today. Later, during the Industrial Revolution, these lacemakers found themselves out of work and went to France. They took their little dogs with them and they became very popular among the French. In the mid-19th century the little dogs were crossed with various other breeds and became very popular with Americans on the Grand Tour (taking an extended tour of Europe). Around 1860 these little Bulldogs picked up the name “French Bulldogs,” or Boule-Dog Francais, although the British seemed to laugh at the idea of a French Bulldog.

The breed was so popular in the United States that the first French Bulldog club in the world was in America and the first specialty show for Frenchies was held in 1898 in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. They were recognized by the AKC in 1898. The little dogs became wildly popular and there were 100 of them entered in the Westminster Kennel Club show in 1913, an all-time high.

Appearance

In appearance the French Bulldog is small and compact. They have a very recognizable head and face, with a large, square head (for its body size) and a short muzzle. The ears are bat-like and stand up erect and rounded but wide at the base. The skull is flat between the ears but it is slightly rounded at the forehead.

The coat is moderately fine, short and smooth. The skin should be soft and loose, forming wrinkles around the head and shoulders. Acceptable colors are brindle, fawn, white, and brindle and white/cream. They should not be brown, black, black and tan or mouse gray.

French Bulldogs should have the appearance of an active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy bone. They should have a smooth coat and be compactly built. They have a medium or small structure. Their expression should be alert, curious and interested. Only the dewclaws should be removed — they should not have their ears or tails cropped or docked.

French Bulldogs are supposed to weigh 28 pounds or less.

In The Home

The French Bulldog makes an affectionate, loving companion. They are often clownish at home and love to make their owners laugh. They are active dogs but not a sporty dog. They are very gentle dogs with a happy-go-lucky attitude. They like to be with people.

French Bulldogs make excellent apartment dogs and they have minimal exercise requirements. They do need to have at least a daily walk, however. They are generally very calm dogs and they do not tend to bark very much.

French Bulldogs are usually very good with children, although you may need to supervise them when they play with smaller kids. Although they look like small dogs they are actually very sturdy and can be quite strong. They may play too roughly for very small children.

Although they usually get along well with other pets, since they are bred down from the Bulldog they may have some issues with same-sex aggression toward other dogs. If you are planning to have two French Bulldogs it’s usually a good idea to get a male and a female rather than two males or two females.

As the French Bulldog is a brachycephalic breed (short-nosed), they do have issues with heat and humidity. You must be careful not to allow them to over-exert themselves, especially in hot weather. Do not allow them to stay outside too long when the weather is warm. And, if you ever intend to fly on a plane with your Frenchie, you will need to take some extra precautions. Some airlines will not accept brachycephalic breeds during summer months.

Care

French Bulldogs are relatively easy to groom with their short, smooth coats. If you have a Frenchie you will need to brush him regularly to prevent excess shedding. You will also need to clean his ears regularly and trim his nails regularly.

French Bulldogs, like other dogs, are prone to some health issues, although they are considered among the healthiest of the bulldog breeds. You should talk to a breeder about possible health problems in the breed. Ask about health testing. Health testing can often help prevent problems from being passed along to a dog’s offspring.

Health issues that can occur in some, but not all French Bulldogs include: Von Willebrand’s disease, which is a bleeding disorder; soft or cleft palate; eye problems such as cherry eye, glaucoma, retinal fold dysplasia, corneal ulcers and juvenile cataracts. Be sure to ask a breeder about CERF testing their dogs. CERF testing is a kind of eye testing.

If you have a French Bulldog you will also need to clean the skin folds under your dog’s eyes to avoid infections.

Megaesophagus is also a possible problem among French Bulldogs. This can affect their esophagus and lead to vomiting or worse problems.

Back and spinal problems are also possible.

Of course, some of these problems are very rare, but be sure to talk to a breeder about their dogs to find out if these issues have occurred in their bloodlines.

Where to Find a French Bulldog

It’s always important to get a dog from a good breeder. The AKC parent club for French Bulldogs in the United States is the French Bulldog Club of America. You can contact for information about breeders and for more information about the breed. They also have a French Bulldog rescue network. If you are looking for a rescued French Bulldog they can help you find one.

French Bulldogs are not that common so you may not find one in your local animal shelter. However, it’s always a good idea to check with your local shelter, just in case they do have a dog that you might like. Ask them if they ever get French Bulldogs. They may be able to direct you to someone who has the dogs or to a local rescue.

• Color: Fawn, Pied, Red-Brindle, Black-Brindle
• Life Expectancy: 11-12 years
• Other Names: Bouledogue Francais

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