Interested in owning a French Bulldog?
Frenchies are undoubtedly one of the most popular dogs among households.
This is largely due to their lively and charming temperament.
But did you know that they are also prone to several health issues?
Come with us as we tell you everything you need to know before owning a French Bulldog.
History of the French Bulldog
Despite their name, Frenchies are English in origin. 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. When bull-baiting was banned in the early 1800s, breeders cross-bred the bulldogs with pugs and terriers to create smaller versions of the Bulldogs.
The toy version of the bulldogs found their way into France when the lace makers from Nottingham crossed the channel and settled in Normandy following the industrial revolution. These curious, bat-eared bulldogs quickly gained popularity as their fame spread throughout France.
The Popularity of the French Bulldog
French Bulldogs have become one of the most popular dog breeds among households today. This is mainly to their lively temperament, which makes them good companions. Frenchies are loving, charming, playful, loyal, kind, and devoted to their owners. It’s this loving personality that attracts many owners to Frenchies.
They are also quite adaptable and adjust themselves to suit the personality of their owners. Frenchies thus do well in all family settings, whether single-person households or families with kids.
Their size is also a significant contributor to their popularity. Most people find their small size convenient as they are ideal for apartment living and small spaces.
30 Things To Know Before Buying a French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are loving and affectionate and make good family companions. Besides their friendliness and lively personality, there are several things you should know about this dog breed. These include:
Frenchies are playful and affectionate:
One characteristic that makes French Bulldogs a preferred choice for many families is their playful and affectionate nature. This makes them great companions for children. However, they should be socialized early enough. This dog breed enjoys playing games like catching, chasing around the house, playful wrestling, and snuggling.
French Bulldogs are also extremely affectionate with their family members. This loving dog enjoys spending time with its family. Generally, Frenchies get along with everyone, including other dogs and pets.
French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed:
Frenchies have flat faces with short muzzles and snouts as a brachycephalic dog breed. The muzzle appears flattened or squashed inwards, and the lower jaw is disproportionately longer than the upper jaw. They have narrow nostrils and smaller airways compared to other dogs.
Due to this unique facial structure, Frenchies are prone to breathing problems and cannot tolerate high temperatures.
Frenchies don’t need a lot of exercises:
Frenchies are prone to obesity. Thus, if you don’t provide sufficient exercise, your dog may pile on too much weight leading to obesity. While Frenchies need daily exercise to help them maintain a healthy weight, huge amounts of intensive exercise are unnecessary. Additionally, Frenchies are prone to inherent breathing problems due to their facial structure.
They are prone to obesity:
Frenchies are prone to unhealthy weight gain and obesity. Thus weight management is very crucial for these dogs as obesity can worsen the symptoms of the brachycephalic airway disease, cause orthopedic problems, and even put them at risk for diseases to which they are not predisposed.
While French Bulldogs are highly playful and have moderate energy levels, if you don’t provide the right environment for exercise, your dog may become obese. It’s also important to be keen on the kind of diet that you give your dog. Prioritize giving your dog a proper diet that can help it maintain a healthy weight.
French Bulldogs love to play:
Frenchies are among the most playful dogs available, making them popular pets in many households. They are great for families with kids as they make perfect playmates. However, you’ll need to socialize your dog early and introduce it to your children immediately after you bring it home. You should also never leave your dog unsupervised while playing with the children. Frenchies are cheeky and mischievous and always enjoy playing with their family members.
French Bulldogs are good companion dogs:
Known as the ultimate companions, Frenchies are an excellent choice if you are looking for companionship. These dogs love spending time with their families. They like to curl up on the sofa with you and follow you everywhere you go, from room to room to the kitchen and even to the toilet. Frenchies make exceptional companions for humans as they always look for opportunities to spend time with their owners. This is one of the reasons why French Bulldogs are so popular.
Frenchies fart a lot:
Frenchies are prone to excessive farting. Due to their sensitive stomachs and flat facial structure, which makes it difficult to eat at the right pace and position, Frenchies are prone to excessive gassiness resulting in stenchy farts. Some foods like highly processed foods, excess carbohydrates, dairy products, highly-fermentable foods such as soy and beans, or low-quality foods contribute to excessive gassiness.
However, you can significantly reduce the amount of farting by giving the right foods and taking steps to slow down your dog’s eating speed.
Frenchies are good with kids:
A Frenchie is a good choice if you are a family with kids. Frenchies are good-natured, gentle, friendly, and highly playful, making them good playmates for children. They are known to form strong bonds with their families and often become strongly attached to the children in their homes. However, they need to be properly socialized as puppies, well-trained, and around children that know how to be gentle.
It’s important always to supervise children during play and teach them how to interact with dogs for the best relationship.
Frenchies are friendly with other dogs:
Generally, French Bulldogs are naturally friendly dogs that relate well even with other dogs. This dog breed is loving, confident, and playful, with minimal tendencies to aggression.
A well-trained and socialized French Bulldog will have no problems interacting and relating well with other dog breeds. However, untrained or unsocialized Frenchie may have behavioral issues and trouble relating with other dogs.
French Bulldogs are smart and easy to train:
Frenchies are a highly intelligent and smart dog breed. Training this dog breed is easy, especially if you make it some sort of a game. Ensure you use positive reinforcement while training a Frenchie and arm yourself with many rewards.
Additionally, French Bulldogs are people-oriented and willing to do anything to please their owners, making them easy to train.
Frenchies are prone to separation anxiety:
While some dogs have no issues being alone for long periods, Frenchies cannot handle solitude. They are natural companion dogs that must always be with their pack. Their extreme devotion to their families also contributes to their inability to be alone for lengthy periods.
Leaving your Frenchie alone for long durations of time risks it becoming stressed and suffering from separation anxiety. This can manifest through undesirable or destructive behaviors such as excessive barking/whining and chewing. Never leave your Frenchie alone for more than 6 hours to avoid this. You can also provide many toys to keep your dog busy and prevent boredom.
French Bulldogs are prone to overheating:
Because of their short noses and muzzles, Frenchies cannot regulate their body temperatures resulting in overheating and breathing problems. It’s thus important to keep your Frenchie cool and avoid hot/humid conditions. Keep your dog in an air-conditioned room and provide clean drinking water during hot weather. You can also use a cooling mat to keep your dog cool. Schedule your Frenchie’s exercise in the early or late evenings when the sun is not too hot.
Frenchies can’t swim:
While taking your dog to a pool may sound like a good way to cool off your Frenchie during hot sunny days, it’s, on the contrary, a bad idea. This is because, unlike other dogs, Frenchies can’t swim. Due to their short muzzles, Frenchies must keep their faces tilted higher to remain out of water. This tilted position makes it difficult for them to float.
Additionally, French Bulldogs have large heads, short legs, heavy torsos, and heavy bones, making staying afloat impossible. It’s thus best to keep your Frenchie out of water.
Frenchies can’t reproduce naturally:
Due to their structure, Frenchies are unable to mate and reproduce naturally. Female Frenchies have slim hips, which makes it hard for male Frenchies to mount them. As such, these dogs can only breed via artificial insemination coupled with a c-section. Attempting to breed these dogs puts the female’s life in danger because the baby might get stuck in the cervix.
This is one of the reasons why Frenchies are among the most expensive breeds.
Frenchies are prone to several health issues:
While French Bulldogs are generally healthy, they are also prone to health problems. Being a brachycephalic breed, Frenchies are predisposed to issues like ear infections, eye problems, and dermatitis. Other issues like hip dysplasia, megaesophagus, Pyoderma, and corneal ulcers are common in Frenchies.
Although this does not necessarily mean that your Frenchie will suffer from these diseases, it’s important to be aware of the probability and prepare as necessary.
French Bulldogs are not barkers:
It’s normal for all dogs to bark now and then. While a Frenchie will bark when it’s excited, bored, or aroused, it’s not known for excessive barking. When Frenchies bark, they are trying to communicate something. It will, for instance, bark to alert its owner of the presence of strangers or unusual happenings in their environment.
Due to their low barking tendencies, these dogs make good watchdogs but not guard dogs. Since they are silent dogs, they make exceptional apartment dogs.
Frenchies are highly sensitive to criticism:
French Bulldogs are a very sensitive breed incapable of handling criticism well. Frenchies are overly sensitive and take criticism to heart, unlike dogs which can take some scolding. Harshly reprimanding this dog can make it sulk and mope around the house all day. You should thus be careful when handling a Frenchie to avoid getting on its nerves. Frenchies do best with encouragement and positive reinforcement methods. Avoid shouting or punishing your dog for any mistakes.
French Bulldogs drool a lot:
Compared to other dogs, Frenchies are known to drool a lot more. This is due to their facial structure. Being a brachycephalic dog breed, Frenchies have shorter snouts and a deformed facial structure that makes them prone to overheating.
While drooling is normal for Frenchies, you should carefully differentiate between normal and excessive. Too much drooling could be an indication of a bigger underlying issue.
Bulldogs originated from England:
Contrary to the popular belief that Frenchies are from France, these dogs originated in Nottingham, England. The American breeders set the standard for what is popularly known as the bat-eared Frenchie, but England provided a strong foundation for the modern Frenchie.
The lace producers in England were interested in the toy version of bulldogs as they would use them as lap dogs to keep them warm while they worked. They moved their dogs to France when the lace industry moved to England. The breeders in France developed toy bulldogs into the French type by cross-breeding them with terriers.
Frenchies have a laid-back personality:
French Bulldogs are cheerful, lively, and charming dogs that love spending time with their owners. Their sweet, kind, and loving nature makes them perfect companions for apartment and city dwellers. Their laid-back personality makes them ideal for small living spaces. In addition, Frenchies are highly adaptable and will adjust themselves to suit the character of their owners. This is why they are excellent companions for any household, from single-person households to those with children.
French Bulldogs are expensive:
Frenchies are among the most expensive dog breeds available. So, if you plan to acquire one, be prepared to part with a huge amount of money. The popularity of these dogs results in high demand for them, consequently pushing the price high. Breeding Frenchies is also a costly affair which significantly contributes to their high prices.
You should thus ensure you get a healthy Frenchy by getting it checked by a vet before making the purchase. Frenchies are prone to genetic problems since they have been crossed several times.
Frenchies are available in various colors:
French Bulldogs are among the dog breeds that come in numerous colors. They come in white, blue, cream, chocolate, lilac, brindle, fawn, black, pied, and merle. Some colors are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), while others are rare and not recognized.
Certain French Bulldog colors, such as white and blue, are linked to some health issues. This makes Frenchies with these colors more predisposed to particular diseases or issues.
Frenchies should be neutered:
Unless you plan on breeding your Frenchie, consider neutering it. Neutering your Frenchie has many health benefits. It will enhance your dog’s chances of living a healthier and longer life by reducing the risk of some cancers and other infections.
Neutering your Frenchie will make it less aggressive and territorial, thus making it a better pet for your family.
A french Bulldog is easy to groom:
Frenchies have a short, fine, smooth coat and don’t make much mess, even when shed. Additionally, these dogs are moderate shedders, and they only shed heavily twice a year. As a result, grooming these dogs is easy as they only need weekly brushing to keep their coat in top condition. Additionally, you’ll need to bathe your dog only once or twice monthly. You can use wet wipes to keep your Frenchie clean in between baths.
Frenchies are high-maintenance dogs:
French Bulldogs are among the high-maintenance dog breeds in the world. This is due to their personality and the possible health issues that result from their facial structure. Frenchies are extremely clingy and attention-seeking. They need to be close to their family members and suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for a long time.
Additionally, these dogs are prone to several health issues and require frequent vet visits, which can rack up costs in terms of veterinary care.
French Bulldogs snore a lot:
Being a brachycephalic breed, Frenchies are more prone to snoring than other dogs. They snore, snort, and make other sounds, such as wheezing and grunting, even when awake.
This is an important factor to consider before purchasing a Frenchie, especially if you don’t like doggy sounds.
Frenchies are among the most popular dog breeds:
French Bulldogs are among the most popular dogs in the world, largely due to their size and versatile personalities. Frenchies are highly social, charming, loyal, and loving dogs that love spending time with their owners. This makes them perfect companion dogs that can adjust themselves to match the personality of their owners. The Frenchies’ small size makes them a preferred choice for households with small spaces.
Frenchies are small dogs:
Frenchies are considered small breed dogs. A fully grown Frenchie stands between 11-13 inches tall and weighs 17-24 pounds for females and 20-28 pounds for males.
French Bulldogs are a talkative breed:
Although Frenchies are not known for barking often, they are among the most expressive dog breeds available. They use a complex mixture of sounds, including yips: yawns, howls, growls, and gargles to communicate. Your Frenchie will always find a way to contribute to family discussions.
Frenchies will keep you company and entertained with their distinctive doggy sounds if you feel lonely or want someone to sing with you.
Frenchies don’t do well on flights:
Because of their pushed-in facial structure, this brachycephalic dog breed is prone to respiratory issues. This, in addition to high stress and uncomfortably warm temperatures, makes it difficult for Frenchies to breathe at heights. Consider getting a pet sitter to keep your dog company if you are going on a trip that involves taking a flight.
What are the do’s and don’ts of French Bulldogs?
Frenchies are a special dog breed that needs special attention to help them live a long and healthy life. These are some of the do’s and don’ts of French Bulldogs:
The do’s
- Do ensure you keep your Frenchie cool at all times to avoid overheating
- Do feed them a balanced diet that’s age appropriate for optimal nutrition.
- Provide sufficient exercises for your Frenchie to help it maintain a healthy weight.
- Ensure you take your Frenchie for regular veterinary checks to ensure they are always healthy.
- Do keep your dog on a leash while outdoors.
The don’ts.
- Don’t leave your Frenchie alone for long durations, as Frenchies are prone to separation anxiety.
- Don’t change your dog’s routine to avoid stressing or upsetting it. Frenchies are more comfortable following the same daily routine for eating, sleeping, walking, and playing.
- Don’t expose your Frenchie to too much heat; they are prone to overheating and breathing problems.
- Don’t scold your Frenchie in case of a mistake, as Frenchies are highly sensitive to criticism.
Is it better to get a male or female French Bulldog?
This depends on personal preference, as both male and female Frenchies make great companions. The only difference is that male Frenchies are considered more mischievous, confident, and bold than their female counterparts. This makes them harder to train than the female Frenchies.
What is the weakness of the French Bulldog?
The main weakness of the French Bulldog is its health issues. As a brachycephalic breed, Frenchies are prone to several genetic health problems. This makes them high-maintenance dogs in terms of vet care.
Is French Bulldogs good for first-time owners?
Yes, French Bulldogs are a good choice for first-time owners. In addition to their pleasant personalities, Frenchies have low exercise needs and are easy to groom. They are also extremely smart dogs which makes them easy to train. A French Bulldog is one of the most adaptable dog breeds out there as it easily adjusts itself to suit the lifestyle of its owners.