French Bulldog

Introduction

With a small but substantial build, expressive flat face, enduring grin, pointy ears, and quirky and humorous personality, it’s no surprise the French Bulldog has shot up to become the 3rd most popular dog breed, behind only labs and retrievers. Despite drooling, flatulence, shedding, and an often mischievous demeanor, dog owners are flocking to this boisterous breed at a rate faster than breeders can fulfill! The French Bulldog, or Frenchie, developed their charm while enjoying a long lineage as companion dogs. Today, they rival Pugs as the best companion dogs in the world with their affectionate, easygoing personalities. Frenchie’s are remarkably easy dogs to own, they love spending time playing outside, they are often the center of attention at dog parks, but are also just as happy with low-key days spent relaxing on the furniture and looking out the window.

History

The French Bulldog has an interesting history, as the breed is a direct descendant of an ancient Greek tribe called the Molossians. The British Molossians bred Mastiffs, as well as a sub-breed of the Mastiff called the Bullenbeisser, which were used for bullbaiting. However, in 1835 bullbaiting and other blood sports were outlawed in England, which left these dogs out of work, and eventually the breed was repurposed for companionship! To reduce their size, the dogs were bred with terriers. Meanwhile, lace workers began migrating to France and brought with them Toy Bulldogs. Over the years this small Bulldog became a popular breed sought after by upscale ladies, artists, writers, and fashion designers. More recently, terrier stock has been bred into the French Bulldog to help develop their long straight ears.

Appearance

The French Bulldog is a short but muscular breed, they stand around a foot in height but can weigh up to 30 pounds! Frenchies have short, fine, silky-smooth coats with a wide range in color combinations that most commonly include brindle, fawn, cream, or white with brindle patches (known as “pied”). Despite their strong build, Frenchie’s often have quite a bit of extra skin, which can gather and wrinkle (like a Bulldog) in various positions. The head of a French Bulldog is relatively square, their faces are flat with dark eyes, and their ears stand erect similar to a fox. Frenchies are charming dogs, their enduring smile gives them a playful, sometimes mischievous look that is both fun, and irresistibly cute!

Personality

Frenchies are loving companions that flourish with human companionship, they’re charming, highly adaptable, and pretty much just love everyone! They are a breed that relies on human contact and they aren’t afraid to express themselves to make sure they’re getting noticed. A Frenchie will follow you around the house, sit at your feet as you work, wait on the mat in the bathroom as you shower, and most definitely gaze attentively as you eat. The only drawback (albeit minor) is their stubbornness, however motivation comes easy when there is a reward, they are a highly food motivated breed that learns quickly when motivated. Frenchies can also be territorial over their human companions, so it’s important they receive as much socialization at as young an age as possible. Frenchies can also be destructive when it comes to play time, it’s not malicious, just their way of having fun. Start training early and you will reap the rewards as your puppy quickly grows into the perfect companion!

Exercise Requirements

French Bulldogs do not need a great deal of exercise when compared to many other dogs, but that doesn’t mean they are couch potatoes who would rather sleep than get outside. Frenchies love walking and interacting with other dogs at the off-leash park, they are energetic and playful when given the chance. Fortunately, Frenchies don’t need much space to tire themselves out, they seem to have so much fun doing just about any activity. Because of their flat face, this breed is prone to heat exhaustion so it’s important to keep exercise sessions short in the heat of summer, and if possible near a body of water or in the mornings and evenings when temperatures are cooler.​

With Spot, walks are all private and on-leash to ensure your French Bulldog is always receiving the one-on-one attention they deserve. Dog walks are also conveniently available on your schedule, on-demand walkers are available with as little as 90-minutes notice, while a Spot recurring walker will provide consistency and can be booked on a weekly ongoing basis. So whether you need a dog walker every month or every day, Spot is always just a few clicks away.

Training and Care

French Bulldogs are an intelligent breed, which makes training relatively easy… as long as the reward is right and the training environment is fun. There is no reason to consider any training method other than positive reinforcement, a French Bulldog’s relaxed demeanor should carry over into the training session and make the experience engaging and enjoyable. It is worth noting that Frenchies can be stubborn, and although their stubbornness is often as humorous as it is mischievous, it’s important that the dog owner is patient, consistent, and firm. It is important start training as early as possible, the day you bring your puppy home! It’s also a good idea to crate train your Frenchie puppy, as the breed is know to have a more difficult time with house training than most breeds.

Health

French Bulldogs are front-heavy in stature, this combined with their lack of snout makes for a fairly poor swimming ability. Flat faced dogs are also not permitted to fly underneath the cabin on planes, so unless your pup can fit in a soft crate below your feet, don’t expect much long-distance travel with your French Bulldog. Like all flat faces dogs, breathing problems are fairly common in Frenchies, they also don’t do well in extreme heat or humidity. The majority of health concerns stem from a Frenchie’s flat face, they are prone to nasal issues, eye conditions, and tooth problems.

Grooming

Frenchies have short, fine, very smooth fur that requires minimal maintenance. They do shed, but not a great deal with the exception of twice per year when they lose their undercoat. General maintenance recommends weekly brushing and baths as needed. The only other grooming requirements are routine nail trimming, wrinkle and ear cleaning, and tooth brushing. Because of their wrinkly faces, Frenchies do require the skin folds to be wiped clean a few times per week in order to keep away odour and reddening of the fur.

‍