Best known for their distinctive, large bat-like ears and wrinkly face, French Bulldogs are small dogs with compact, muscular bodies and short legs. This dog breed is marked by a large and square head, with heavy wrinkles rolled over a short nose. The dog sports an easy-to-care short and smooth coat in different colors, including white, fawn, cream, and shades of brindle.
Otherwise referred to as Frenchies, French Bulldogs fall under the non-sporting dog breeds that make good companion dogs. These are loving dogs who thrive on attention. They bond strongly with their families and love to spend quality time with them.
Frenchies have playful, gentle, quirky, and affectionate temperaments, making them great playmates for children. This highly adaptable dog breed adjusts itself to any home setting. It’s thus a perfect companion for singles, couples, or families with kids. Additionally, this tiny dog has low barking tendencies and moderate energy levels, making it ideal for apartment living.
In terms of physical requirements, short daily walks or outdoor play sessions are sufficient for keeping a Frenchie active and in top condition. Being a brachycephalic dog breed, Frenchies are prone to overheating. You should thus limit your dog’s walks to early morning or late evening.
While Frenchies are smart and easy to train, they have independent minds and can sometimes be stubborn. Consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement work best for French Bulldogs. Turning the training into a game will also boost your dog’s cooperation.
Standing between 11-12 inches in height and weighing up to 27 lbs, French Bulldogs are small dog breeds. They have an expected life span of 10-12 years and a litter size of 2-4 puppies.
History of the French Bulldog?
The origin of the French Bulldog dates back to the ancient world in England. They’re descendants of the British bulldogs, which were used for bull-baiting. This practice involved a bull and a dog wrestling until the bull ended up on its side.
However, bull-baiting was banned in the early 1800s, leaving the bulldogs with no work. Breeders then cross-bred these bulldogs with pugs and terriers to create much smaller versions of the bulldogs.
Later, these little bulldogs entered France during the industrial revolution with lace makers from Nottingham who crossed the channel and settled in Normandy. The lace workers brought them along as ratters and companion dogs. The dogs quickly gained popularity, and the breeders in England began sending more and more to France.
Soon the charm and fame of these tiny bulldogs spread throughout America and Europe. This extremely stylish dog breed was a reserve of the royal and privileged classes during this time, making it a status symbol.
At the end of the 19th century, this dog was considered the pet of upper-class society. Due to their fame and social standing, these dogs started being recognized as a distinct breed and were given a new name: Bouledogue francais.
However, despite its popularity, the English breeders did not accept this new bulldog breed as it didn’t meet their bulldog breed standards. Following this, the more affluent owners of these miniature bulldogs established their French Bulldog club and held their first inaugural show in 1902.
Recognition
Ultimately, the English Kennel Club recognized this dog breed in 1903 under its original French name. Later, the breed organization changed the name to the French Bulldog in 1912. The American Kennel Club had recognized this dog breed as a non-sporting dog in 1898, way before the UCK did.
With a total population of around 70,000, as recorded by the ACK, French Bulldogs are among the most popular dogs among households.
French Bulldog Breed Traits and Characteristics
Standing between 11-12 inches in height and weighing 25-27 lbs, the French Bulldog is classified as a small dog breed. This dog is grouped as a companion and non-sporting dog.
| French Bulldog Features | Breeds characteristics |
| Temperament | French Bulldogs are loving, dependable, and loyal. They make great companions and thrive on attention. They like to bond closely with their families. They are playful, joyful, quirky, good-spirited, affectionate, social, and naturally charming. Frenchies get along well with everyone, children included. They are also friendly to other dogs or animals. However, they can be quite possessive and territorial. Proper socialization is thus essential if you want to enjoy this dog’s companionship. |
| Adaptability level | The French Bulldog is highly adaptable. The dog adapts happily to life with singles, couples, or families with children. Given their minute size, Frenchies do not need a lot of room and do very well in apartments or small spaces. However, they are susceptible to heat exhaustion and thus need air-conditioned environments. This dog breed easily adapts itself to its owner’s lifestyle. |
| Sensitivity level | The French Bulldog is a highly sensitive dog. Just like other dogs, Frenchies don’t respond well to criticism. They are likely to mope around the house the whole day if scolded. They respond better to positive reinforcement and encouragement. |
| Affection level | French Bulldogs are highly affectionate with their families. This dog breed loves and can protect its family members at any length. It has a strong desire for human company and is happiest spending time with them. They constantly crave their families’ attention. As a result of this attachment, this dog breed can’t cope with loneliness and are thus prone to separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. |
| Friendliness | Frenchies are extremely friendly with their family and everyone, including children. They like being with them at all times. However, they are wary of strangers and visitors and bark to alert their owners upon seeing new faces. They also get along well with other dogs and animals. |
| kid-friendly | The French Bulldog dog is gentle and a very great kid. Its charming, affectionate, and playful nature makes it a wonderful companion for kids. However, children should not be left unsupervised with dogs. |
| Pet-friendly | The Boerboel dog does well with other dogs or pets if properly socialized. They also tend to relate well with other pets if they are introduced to them early. However, they can be aggressive if their owner directs their attention to the other pets. |
| Exercise needs | French Bulldogs are not high-energy dogs and, thus, do not require lots of exercises. In terms of physical exercise, short daily works or outdoor play sessions are sufficient to keep them stimulated. However, keep the daily walks to early mornings or late evenings as Frenchies tend to overheat easily. Frenchies also enjoy canine sports like obedience, agility, and rally. |
| Playfulness | French Bulldogs are extremely playful and fun-loving dogs. This trait makes them ideal companions for kids. |
| Energy Level | Frenchies have moderate energy levels and thus have low exercise requirements. |
Trainability | Frenchies are intelligent and thus easy to train. However, they have an independent streak and can be stubborn, making training a challenge. You will need to be patient and consistent to get results. Using the proper motivation (such as food) and making a game of the training process can ensure optimal cooperation. Like any other dog breed, positive reinforcement and reward-based methods work best for Boerboels. These dogs don’t respond well to harsh and punitive techniques. |
Intelligence | Frenchies are smart and intelligent. However, they have a stubborn streak, making training them challenging. But these dogs can learn fast with patience, consistency, and positive rewards. |
Tendency to bark | French Bulldogs dogs have low barking tendencies. They only bark to alert their owners of a stranger’s presence or when they perceive a threat to their families. This makes them an ideal choice for apartment living. They are also good watchdogs. |
Amount of shedding | The French Bulldog dog has a short, smooth coat that sheds minimally. It’s easy to maintain as it requires weekly brushing to keep loose hairs at bay. These dogs only need occasional baths, usually not more than once every two months. |
What Are the French Bulldog’s Physical Traits?
Weighing between 25-27 lbs and measuring 11 to 12 inches in height, Frenchies are small dogs with compact, muscular bodies. This dog has distinctive bat-like ears, a wrinkly face, stocky legs, a muscled chest, a strong neck, and a short, thick tail. It also has a large square face with an extremely short muzzle, and small dark and expressive eyes placed just above it.
A French Bulldog boasts a sleek, smooth, and short coat that comes in different colors like white, black, fawn, or brindle. This dog breed has a life span of 10-12 years.
| French Bulldog Dog Feature | Breeds characteristics |
| Size | The French Bulldog is classified as a small breed dog. |
| Height | Male: up to 12 inches. Female: up to 11 inches |
| weight | Males: 25-27 lbs Females: 25-27 lbs |
| Coat type | Short, smooth, and flat sheds minimally. |
| Coat color | Frenchies come in white, brown, red, fawn, or brindle color |
| Markings | Some have black masks, black markings, brindle markings, white markings, or piebalds. |
| Strength and agility | French Bulldogs have incredible strength and agility, especially in their younger years. However, this may go down as they age. |
| Muscle structure | Frenchies are muscular, powerful, and Balanced |
| Ears | Upright, rounded, bat-like ears |
| Eyes | Round, small, and dark |
| Nose | Black |
| Tail | Short and low |
| Head | Large, square |
What Are the Social Traits of French Bulldogs?
The French Bulldog is generally a very social dog breed. This dog is extremely affectionate and loving to all its family members, including children, and expects to be loved back with the same intensity. It loves spending time with its family and thrives on attention. Frenchies can’t handle being left alone for a long period as they are prone to separation anxiety.
Frenchies also get along well with other people and pets. However, it is wary of strangers and barks to alert its owners of their presence. While these dogs are friendly to other dogs, they are quite protective and can become aggressive if their owner gives more attention to these other dogs or pets.
| French Bulldog Feature | Breeds characteristics |
Relationship with family | Frenchies are incredibly affectionate and loyal to their families. These dogs enjoy their family’s company more than anything else. They relate well with all members of the family, children included. These dogs will protect their families to death if need be. |
Relationship with strangers | French Bulldogs are wary of strangers and may bark on seeing new faces to alert the owners. They, however, become friendly toward them after some time. |
Relationship with other dogs | French Bulldogs get along well with other dogs. They can, however, become aggressive toward other dogs if the owners give them more attention. Proper socialization is thus essential for these dogs. |
| Relationship with children | French Bulldogs have a charming and playful spirit making them excellent companions for children of all ages. They are gentle and thus trustworthy around children. However, the interaction should always be supervised. |
What Are the Personality Traits of French Bulldogs?
Frenchies are fiercely loyal and loving companions who thrive on constant interaction with their families. They love spending time with their human family and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods.
This dog breed is friendly with everyone, including children and elderly people. It also gets along well with other people, dogs, and pets. However, it’s quite protective and can get aggressive if the owner directs more attention to these other dogs.
While Frenchies are friendly with everyone, they are also wary of strangers and will bark to notify the owners on seeing any unfamiliar faces.
The following table summarizes the personality traits of a French Bulldog dog:
| French Bulldog Dog Feature | Breeds characteristics |
Trainability level | Frenchies are easy to train as long as you make the training fun and seem like a game. However, these dogs also have an independent streak and can be stubborn, making training challenging. Firmness, consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement work best for Frenchies |
Barking level | Frenchies have low barking levels. However, you can expect occasional barks from these dogs, especially on seeing strangers. The low barking tendencies make them suitable for apartment living. It also makes them good watchdogs. |
Energy level | These dogs have low energy levels and thrive in homes with small spaces and apartments. They do not need long hours of exercise to stay fit. Short daily walks are sufficient for keeping these dogs active. |
| Mental needs | French Bulldogs are smart dogs with moderate mental needs. They thus require moderate mental stimulation to keep pace with their energy. Puzzle games and other challenging games are a great way of keeping them mentally stimulated. |
| Temperament | Frenchies are intelligent, charming, loving, affectionate, and loyal dogs. When properly trained, these dogs are very friendly to humans, including children. They also get along well with other dogs and pets when socialized early. |
| Adaptability level | French Bulldogs are highly adaptable. They can adjust to different living situations, making them great companions in any setting. A Frenchie will perfectly fit whether you live in an apartment or a house with a large yard. However, these dogs can’t tolerate very hot environments as they are prone to overheating. As such, they need an air-conditioned environment. |
| Playfulness level | French Bulldogs are highly charming and playful, making them excellent companions to children of all ages. Their playfulness and gentle temperament make them good playmates for children. |
| Protectiveness level | Frenchies can be quite territorial and protective. They will bark to alert you of a stranger’s presence. They can also get aggressive if they sense a threat to their family. This trait makes them good watchdogs but not guard dogs. |
| Danger level | Frenchies have low danger levels. Besides their small size, these dogs are unlikely to attack. Although they are wary of strangers initially, they easily get friendly after some time. |
| Attack-level | Frenchies hardly get aggressive. As such, they are unlikely to attack unless they perceive a threat to their family or when they are really provoked. |
| Aggressiveness | French Bulldogs are not aggressive. Although they will bark to alert you of strangers’ presence, that’s all they do. |
| Smartness-level | Frenchies are highly smart, making them easy to train. |
| Compassion-level | Frenchies are highly compassionate to their families, including young children and the elderly. This compassion also extends to strangers and other dogs. |
What is the average lifespan of a French Bulldog?
Generally, how long a dog can live depends on how well taken care of it is. Factors like the type and quality of diet, health condition, and general maintenance level play critical roles in determining the lifespan of a dog.
Dogs can live well past their average lifespan if properly taken care of and with the right diet plus adequate exercise. A dog that’s properly maintained and well taken care of can live a long, healthy, and happy life.
Even though French Bulldogs dogs are prone to various health issues, they have a life expectancy of between 9-12 years on average.
However, you can prolong your French Bulldog’s life by feeding it a proper diet, regular medical checkups, sufficient exercise, and a peaceful living environment.
What Is the Average Maintenance Cost for a French Bulldog?
Bringing home a new pup comes with financial responsibilities that you should consider. Besides acquisition costs, other essential costs associated with Frenchies include food costs and vet and medical costs. Generally, the costs will be higher in the first year, after which they will decrease.
The French Bulldog is not a high-maintenance breed. In terms of grooming, this breed will not cost you much. The dog has a short, smooth coat with low shedding levels. You’ll only need to brush it weekly to keep loose hairs at bay. You should only wash your Frenchie when it gets smelly, as its coat has natural oils to keep it clean.
Frenchies are prone to infections and sores like other dogs with brachycephalic faces. It’s thus important to wipe out your dog’s wrinkles, folds, and eyes to keep them dry and clean. Keep an eye on your dog’s ears and clean them if they appear gunky. You should also brush your Frenchie’s teeth regularly to prevent decay.
Additionally, you should trim your dog’s nails regularly to prevent them from growing too long and causing discomfort. How often you trim your Frenchie’s nails depends on how fast they grow. However, if you hear the nails on the floor, it’s time for a trim.
These are the average costs per year you should expect with a Frenchie:
- Buying or adopting a Frenchie: $50-$10,000
- Vet care( routine/ preventive care): $400-$600
- Food: $180-$330
- Grooming: $20-$120
- Training: $300-$600
What is the best diet for French bulldogs?
The right diet is essential for the optimal health and proper functioning of the French Bulldog. Frenchies should be fed high-quality dog food appropriate to their age ( puppy, adult, or senior) and have all the nutrients the breed needs for optimal health.
Look out for dog food specially formulated for small-breed dogs, as this will ensure they get all the nutrients they need to remain strong and healthy. The food should be completely balanced and high in protein to support its growth, energy requirements, and muscle tone. It should also be easily digestible and loaded with all essential vitamins and other nutrients.
Since Frenchies have a low-exercise tolerance, they are prone to obesity which risks damaging their physical structure and makes them prone to various health issues. You should thus keep an eye on your Frenchie’s calorie intake to help it maintain a healthy weight.
Avoid feeding table scraps to your French Bulldog or give them sparingly as these contain high amounts of fat, which can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Limit treats to special occasions only.
Veterinarians recommend feeding 1-1.5 cups of high-quality kibble as this is nutritionally balanced and easy to feed.
The food your French Bulldog should eat depends on size, age, health condition, and weight. A dog’s nutritional needs vary depending on its life stage. A puppy’s nutritional needs are thus different from those of adult dogs. Similarly, an active Frenchie will need more food than a couch potato dog. The dog food’s brand and nutrient profile also play a critical role.
Generally, French Bulldogs dog need 25-30 calories per pound of body weight daily. They should be fed two to three small meals daily. Puppy food is recommended for Frenchies up to 1 year old. Frenchies are aged 1-8 should be put on adult food formulas, while a senior diet is recommended for those over 8 years of age.
The following is a French Bulldog feeding guide:
- French Bulldog puppies: Puppies grow fast and thus need adequate food to support their growth. They should be fed puppy food specifically formulated for small-breed dogs. Ensure you feed your puppy small amounts of food split into 2-3 meals daily. It’s also best to feed your Frenchie according to a schedule rather than leaving them to feed throughout the day to avoid overfeeding.
- Adult dogs should eat between 1-1.5 cups of food formulated for small-breed adult dogs daily, spread into two meals.
- Senior dogs: Aging dogs should be given a formulation for small breed seniors that will adequately cater to their needs.
Food cost for a French Bulldog
A Frenchie dog’s size, age, and health condition are important in determining its daily food consumption costs. In addition, the daily food cost will also depend on the brand choice and variety.
This table shows the annual food costs for a French Bulldog:
| Average Annual cost | Average Daily Cost | |
| Adult Dog | $180 – $300 | .90c |
| Puppy | $200 – $330 | .80c |
| Treats | $150 – $450 | .99c |
What Are the Common Health Problems of French Bulldogs?
French Bulldogs have an expected life span of 9-12 years. This dog breed is prone to several health issues and problems, including.
Brachycephalic Air Syndrome:
Being flat-faced dogs, Frenchies are prone to a condition called brachycephalic air syndrome. This results from various abnormalities that affect the dog’s respiratory system, including a narrow windpipe ( trachea), narrow nasal openings, and a long, soft palate in the mouth. These abnormalities result in breathing difficulties, especially during hot and humid weather. You should thus avoid subjecting your French Bulldog to extreme temperatures or too much vigorous exercise as these put them at risk of overheating.
Skin infections:
Frenchies are prone to bacterial infections leading to pyoderma due to their skin folds. This is a condition in which the skin has pus caused by bacterial infections in the warm, moist areas of the skin, like the body and facial folds. Frenchies also have very sensitive skin, making them prone to allergies and other autoimmune skin problems.
Eye problems:
French Bulldogs have flat faces, which makes their eyes prominently stand on the faces. This exposes the eyes to infections making Frenchies prone to eye conditions like cataracts, corneal ulcers, cherry eye, and pink eye. Corneal ulcers result from eye injuries and can become a serious problem if not promptly addressed. Cherry eye is a condition where the eye tissue sticks out of the eye socket.
Ear infections:
Frenchies have large bat ears with a wide-open entryway and narrow ear canal, making it easy for germs and debris to get in, causing infections. You’ll thus need to regularly look out for signs of infection, including discharge, redness, and scratching at the years, and seek your vet’s help as soon as you notice any of these. You should also devise a careful cleaning routine for your Frenchie’s ears.
Hip dysplasia:
This degenerative condition occurs when the thighbone doesn’t fit properly into the hip joint. This causes it to deteriorate with time resulting in debilitating pain, dysfunction, or incapacitation. It also causes muscular atrophy, immobility, and lameness. The affected dog may require surgery if its movement is affected or in extreme pain.
Patellar luxation:
This knee issue is common in small-breed energetic dogs. The kneecap keeps sliding in and out of its original place resulting in arthritis and abnormal walking styles.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
Occurs when a disc in the spine ruptures or gets displaced from its original position. This inhibits nerve transmissions along the spinal cord resulting in severe pain or partial paralysis. Physical jolts, growing age, or improper diet can cause this disease.
What Are the Nutritional Needs of a French Bulldog?
Like other dog breeds, French Bulldog dogs require a balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients for proper growth and functioning. The food for Frenchies should have the following nutrients;
- Proteins: Frenchies require natural animal protein, which is useful for providing amino acids. These are essential for the building and maintenance of healthy muscles and tissues. Proteins are also important sources of energy for dogs.
- Fat: Animal proteins contain healthy fats, which serve as additional energy sources for the French Bulldog. These are also helpful for the dog’s metabolism. However, excess fat intake can lead to unhealthy weight gain and obesity.
- Carbohydrates: These are important energy sources, even though they are not required nutrients. Providing sufficient carbs to Frenchies will offer energy and enhance the body’s protein absorption, allowing it to create lean muscles. However, these should be given in moderation as they contribute to obesity.
- Minerals: The diet for French Bulldogs should include a healthy balance of all necessary minerals. These dogs require potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, folate, and selenium, among others. These minerals are important for a variety of bodily activities. They aid in the health of a dog’s kidney, heart, liver, and bones.
- Micronutrients: Frenchies need taurine, chondroitin, and glucosamine for joint and heart health.
- DHA: These Omega-3 fatty acids components can help promote eye and cognitive health in French Bulldogs. It can help slow down cognitive decline in aging Frenchies. This component can also help enhance coat and skin health and treat chronic diseases.
Where to Buy or Adopt French Bulldog?
Frenchies make wonderful family companions. Given their popularity, Frenchies are in high demand and expensive to acquire. Their prices range between $500-$10000 depending on the age and health of the dog. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club ( UKC) can give you important insights on where to buy a genuine French Bulldog.
While looking to buy or adopt a French Bulldog, it’s important to exercise caution and go for breeders with a good reputation and avoid puppy mills. This will ensure that you acquire a dog free from any potential health issues in the future.
Once you’ve identified a breeder, you should make a point of meeting the breeder in person. This will allow you to assess the puppies’ living conditions and health status. Check out the cleanliness of the environment where the puppies are raised.
While at it, request to meet both puppy parents to understand their temperament. This will give you insights into how the puppy will turn out as an adult dog. You can also ask as many questions as possible to help you understand your dog and its needs.
Any good dog breeder will have all the documentation necessary, plus proof of successful healthy puppies with him.
Before purchasing a Bulldog, ensure you are fully aware of the dog’s energy, training, and space needs. This large dog requires a lot of space to run around; hence it may not be suitable if you live in an apartment.
Rescue Clubs for French Bulldogs?
Rescue clubs are organizations that are dedicated to helping dogs find homes. They identify abandoned, neglected, mistreated, stray, unwanted, and lost dogs and help them find new homes.
Adopting a dog from rescue clubs is very rewarding as you will be satisfied knowing you are offering a needy dog a home. Besides, it’s cheaper as they offer great discounts for adopting a dog. The best way to get these rescue clubs is by reaching out to registered kennel clubs like United Kennel Club (UKC), Austrian Kennel Club (AKC), and the Federation Cynologique Internationale( FCI) to direct you to rescue centers.
You can also check out the following:
- French Bulldog Club of America
- French Bulldog Rescue Network
- Phoenix French Bulldog Rescue
- French Bulldog Saviours Rescue
How to Name a French Bulldog?
Although naming a Frenchie may not seem difficult, it’s not as straightforward as many new or prospective dog owners may imagine. Besides the name, the way and manner in which it’s pronounced are crucial in provoking a response from the dog. It is thus crucial to be keen while selecting a name for your beloved Frenchie.
The tone and syllables form building blocks for naming a French Bulldog dog. Names may have specific inspirations and meanings to humans, but only the tone matters to dogs. The following are some important guidelines that you can follow in naming your dog:
- Frenchies respond better to two-syllable names that are neither too short to be confused with single-syllable command words such as come, sit, or stay nor too long to be perplexing.
- Dogs, French Bulldogs included, respond better to names that are called in a sing-songy manner.
- Generally, dogs are likely to be more responsive to high-pitched, happy sounds when calling them but prefer soothing, quiet sounds when anxious or nervous.
- Go for a name that sounds different in everyday situations than when calling your dog.
- You can try calling out several names you like and observe your Frenchie’s reaction to see if he likes it. Be creative by using a different tone for each syllable.
- Try several names and if a name is too long or too short, add or delete bits until you come up with a perfect one-of-a-kind sound that your dog will recognize from afar. Don’t rush anything; just be patient.
Male Frenchies
These are the most popular names and their meaning for Male Frenchies:
- Louis: Renowned warrior
- Hugo: Intellectual
- Frances: Free
- Milo: Soldier
- Leo: Brave
- Bruno: Armor
Female Frenchies
The most common names for female Frenchies include:
- Zara: Blooming flower
- Ruby: Precious
- Lily: Flower
- Luna: Moon
- Pearl: Precious
Similar Dog Breeds to French Bulldogs?
The following dogs are similar to Bulldogs in various aspects. This may be regarding energy level, temperament, intelligence, physical traits, or playfulness.
- Pugs: Just like Frenchies, Pugs are small dogs weighing 14-18 pounds with a height of 11-12 inches. They have a playful, affectionate, and charming temperament similar to French Bulldogs. Additionally, both Pugs and Frenchies come in short, smooth, and glossy coats which are easy to maintain. Both dogs also have moderate exercise needs and are intolerant to hot weather.
- English Bulldogs: Like Frenchies, English Bulldogs are a brachycephalic dog breed marked by a flat face with deep folds of loose skin on the forehead, an extremely short muzzle, and a large head. They have a stocky body build comparable to that of a French Bulldog. English Bulldogs’ temperament is known to be gentle, sweet, friendly, and affectionate. They are also good with kids and enjoy human attention, making them great family dogs. Like Frenchies, this breed has a short, smooth coat in various colors, including white, red, brindle, and fawn.
- Boston Terriers are friendly, intelligent, and charming dogs with similar physical characteristics to Frenchies. Both are non-sporting dog breeds with moderate energy levels. Boston Terriers are marked by short squishy faces and glossy coats that combine black, seal, brindle, and white markings, just like Frenchies.
