Your Online Guide To Everything About French Bulldogs
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming - Training - Health
Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale - Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Written by Shawna L. Krautheim and Deborah
Moore
Country
of Origin: France
Height: Up to 22 inches
Weight: Up to 28 pounds
Exercise Needs: Low
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 12-15
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy
Common Misspellings: Frenchbulldogs, Frenchys
Alternate Names: Frenchies, Bouledogues Francais
Creative Spelling and Name Variations For French Bulldog Dogs:
Considered by many to be the rejected “culls”
of English Bulldog breeders, the French Bulldog
is believed to have made his way to France in
the company of the Normandy lace workers during
the mid 1800’s. There, these tulip-eared
miniature bulldogs gained popularity as skilled
ratters, as well as wonderful little companion
animals. It’s not surprising that, considering
the French Bulldog’s endearing little face and
compact frame, interest in the breed quickly
swelled until they became one of the most
sought-after pets in all of France. Of
particular note, the French Bulldog was
extremely popular with the Parisian “Belles De
Nuit,” - the local prostitutes that roamed the
streets of Paris. In fact, many French postcards
depicted the scantily-clad females posing with
their adorable little “Bouledogues Francais.” Of
course, at the time, it was the height of
fashion to be as scandalous as one could be, and
with the notoriety that owning one of these
little dogs suggested, the French Bulldog also
gained popularity amongst the more daring
members of the upper class, as well as the
Parisian “artistic” set. In no time, the
comical-looking little French Bulldog was
practically a household name throughout France.
Believed to be a miniature or “runty” version
of the English Bulldog, the French Bulldog was
originally found in two varieties; the
rose-eared and the bat (or tulip) eared.
Considered to be a genetic defect, breeders
originally attempted to eliminate the bat-ears
and ensure that all French Bulldogs have a rose
ear, basically turning them into miniature
versions of the English Bulldog. Fortunately
however, American fanciers were quick to step
forward and protest this, doing what needed to
be done to preserve this breed with their unique
little bat-ears and domed head. This sets them
apart from many of the pug-nosed breeds and
endears them in the hearts of many.
From nose to tail, the French Bulldog is a
picture of compacted cuteness - with a
powerfully built, miniature body and rounded
head, their prominent ears seem comically large
for their head and their round, dark eyes only
add to this endearing little dog’s appearance.
Weighing less than 28 pounds at adulthood, the
French Bulldog is a fairly low-maintenance pet
and only requires minimal walks in order to keep
him trim and healthy. Dogs that are allowed a
sedentary lifestyle should be watched closely,
as breathing problems, among other things, can
be attributed to obesity.
As if they weren’t already adorable enough,
the French Bulldog seems to come in practically
every color under the rainbow, save for solid
black, mouse, liver, or black and tan. White
with black and black with white are also
considered to be disqualifications in a show
environment, though all of the aforementioned
colors do appear in the French Bulldog color
scheme. Basically put, if you’re looking for a
French Bulldog as a household pet, chances are
you’ll be able to find one to match your heart’s
desire.
The French Bulldog is a very sweet-natured
little dog and is often quite playful,
especially during his younger years. Enjoying
games of tug of war and wrestling, they are a
sturdy little animal and seem to fear nothing.
Additionally, while they are loving and make
wonderful companion animals, the French Bulldog
is wary of strangers and his on-the-guard
attitude makes him a surprisingly good watchdog,
despite his small stature.
While more active than his English Bulldog
cousin, the French Bulldog is also content to
enjoy a life of luxury, with very few laps
around the yard. Periods of play are
usually rowdy but brief and this stout little
fellow does enjoy a good cuddle session whenever
he can get one. For more activity with
your Frenchie, try finding him another playmate
- Frenchies love to romp and wrestle together.
Otherwise, a short walk a couple of times a day,
provided the temperatures are not too extreme,
are good for the French Bulldog.
Care and upkeep of your French Bulldog dog or puppy
is relatively simple - a gentle brushing, once
or twice a week, will suffice and will help to
keep his coat glossy by stimulating the oils in
his coat and helping to free and remove any
dander. To brush your French Bulldog, use a
soft-bristled brush and go with the grain of
hair, brushing in a gentle and flicking motion.
He will love the free back-scratching and look
forward to your time spent together.
A French Bulldog shouldn’t need to be bathed too often
either; once or twice a month is usually a good
bet, provided that you don’t have an individual
who rivals the old Peanuts character “Pig Pen.”
Aside from this, the only other major grooming
needs that a French Bulldog requires are keeping his
nails clipped, his ears clean and, if he will
let you, his teeth brushed. Should
tooth-brushing be an issue, however, there are a
variety of toys and treats now available, which
help to reduce tartar build up and tooth decay.
The French Bulldog puppy is a very endearing individual but don't expect
miracles when it comes to training. Ever heard the term "bull-headed?"
Perhaps this was coined after one of these adorable little Bulldogs! While
they love to please and enjoy treats, the Frenchie doesn't seem overly inclined
to learn tricks and he's not given to taking orders and commands unless he deems
them to be necessary. Equally as frustrating is that he can be a
mischievous prankster that will fake you into thinking he's going to do the
trick or that he's trying oh so hard but just simply can't pull it off -
anything to get that yummy little treat you're hiding.
In order to train your French Bulldog puppy, you need to bring a lot of patience
and consistency to the plate. Teach him through routines and stick to your
guns - if you let him think he can get a treat for a less than stellar
performance, he'll be happy to play the role of underachiever!
Surprisingly, despite past claims that the
French Bulldogs were actually culls of English
Bulldog stock, the French Bulldog is considered
to be one of the healthiest of all the Bulldog
breeds. They do suffer greatly, however, from an
inability to effectively regulate their body
temperature. French Bulldogs, or Frenchies as
they are affectionately called, are very prone
to heatstroke, so it is imperative that their
owner ensure they always have plenty of access
to shade and fresh, cold water to drink - what
might make your average canine a bit
uncomfortable, could prove lethal to your French
Bulldog, so be careful.
The
French Bulldog is a very beautiful and energetic athlete but, despite all that,
there is no guarantee that he is the right dog for you. Requiring a great amount
of exercise and frequent trips to places where he can stretch his legs, he is
ill-suited for small places like apartments. Despite his sweet face, the
Hungarian Pointer can be a troublemaker in his own right, and will quickly show
his displeasure by chewing on your favorite slippers. For some, however, this is
the ideal dog for them - If you like an energetic and hard-working hunting dog,
you may very well need to try one of these magnificent canines today!
Now that you have decided that the French Bulldog is the right breed
for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible
French Bulldog breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized
puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad
breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first French
Bulldog puppy
you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a
responsible French Bulldog breeder, you may need to pay more and wait
longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it.
Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard
breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional
expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love
with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely
need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication -
or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible,
caring French Bulldog breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a
health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
French Bulldog breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather
than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Hungarian
French Bulldog puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many
sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for
puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear
of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Choosing a name for your French Bulldog puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
French Bulldog. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new French Bulldog
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new French Bulldog puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
French Bulldogs are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
French Bulldog pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become an French Bulldog owner.
The following sites below offer pictures of French Bulldog dogs,
French Bulldog puppy photos, funny French
Bulldog photos and
more. Enjoy!
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the French Bulldog dog breed. We've compiled a list of
French Bulldog information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the French Bulldog dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of an French Bulldog information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the French Bulldog
breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so
that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
- French Bulldog Breed
Standard - Official description of the breed as provided by the American
Kennel Club (AKC).
- The
French Bulldog FAQ - Covers history, health concerns, temperament,
reading resources and home environment.
- French
Bulldog Information Page - French Bulldog origin and history, breed
description and pictures.
- French Bulldog Kingdom - For
health information, with photo album and links.
- French Bulldog Z - Includes
games, movies, trivia, puzzles, articles, shopping and links.
- French Bulldogs UK
- United Kingdom specific French Bulldog informational site. Show results,
message groups and general breed information.
- Frog Dog Central - Breeder
listings, clubs and general information.
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French Bulldog clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the French Bulldog dog breed, help you locate a
responsible French Bulldog breeder, or help you find an Hungarian
Shepherd dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving,
forever home. We've compiled the following list of French Bulldog
clubs and French Bulldog rescues web sites for your convenience:
- French Bulldog Club of
America - Information on the club, the breed, events, rescue, and a list
of specialty winners.
- The French Bulldog
Club of England - Information about the organization, the breed
standard, and UK dog shows.
- The French Bulldog Club of Finland
- Features membership details, a gallery and list of breeders in the
country. [Finnish and English]
- French Bulldog Club
of New South Wales Inc. - Breeders, club information, show results and
advice on being owned by a French Bulldog.
- French Bulldog Fanciers of
Canada - Canadian Kennel Club parent club. Show information, code of
ethics, and rescue details are included.
- Rocky Mountain French Bulldog
Fanciers - Colorado based French Bulldog fanciers group.
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French Bulldog Temperament
