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Breed Characteristics
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French Bulldog
| Other Names | Bouledogue Français |
| Nicknames | Frenchie |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Weight | There are two weight classes of French Bulldog: 19 - 22 lbs. (9 - 10 kg) and 22 - 28 lbs. (10 - 13 kg). |
| Height (at withers) | 12 in. (30 cm) |
| Coat | The medium-fine coat is short and smooth. |
| Colour | Coat colours include brindle, brindle and white, cream, cream and white, fawn, fawn and white, fawn brindle, white, white and brindle, white and fawn, black, black and fawn, black and white, fawn and black, fawn brindle and white and gray and white. It can have a black mask, brindle markings, be piebald, spotted and/or have white markings. |
| Litter Size | 3-5 puppies |
| Life Span | 10 - 12 years |
| Origin & History | The origin of the modern French Bulldog breed descends directly from the dogs of the Molossians, an ancient Greek tribe. The dogs were spread throughout the ancient world by Phoenician traders. British Molossian dogs were developed into the Mastiff. A sub-family of the Mastiff were the Bullenbeisser, a type of dog used for bull-baiting. Blood sports such as bull-baiting were outlawed in England in 1835, leaving these "Bulldogs" unemployed. However, they had been bred for non-sporting reasons since at least 1800, and so their use changed from a sporting breed to a companion breed. To reduce their size, some Bulldogs were crossed with terriers, while others were crossed with pugs. By 1850 the Toy Bulldog had become common in England, and appeared in conformation shows when they began around 1860. These dogs weighed around 16–25 pounds (7.3–11.3 kg), although classes were also available at dog shows for those that weighed under 12 pounds (5.4 kg). At the same time, lace workers from Nottingham, displaced by the industrial revolution, began to settle in Normandy, France. They brought a variety of dogs with them, including miniature Bulldogs. The dogs became popular in France and a trade in imported small Bulldogs was created, with breeders in England sending over Bulldogs that they considered to be too small, or with faults such as ears that stood up. By 1860, there were few miniature Bulldogs left in England, such was their popularity in France and due to the exploits of specialist dog exporters. The small Bulldog type gradually became thought of as a breed, and received a name, the Bouledogue Francais. This Francization of the English name is also a contraction of the words "boule" (ball) and "dogue" (mastiff or molosser). The dogs were highly fashionable and were sought after by society ladies and Parisian prostitutes alike, as well as creatives such as artists, writers and fashion designers. However, records were not kept of the breed's development as it diverged further away from its original Bulldog roots. As it changed, terrier and Pug stock may have been brought in to develop traits such as the breed's long straight ears, and the roundness of their eyes. |
Care Requirements
| Health | French Bulldogs are prone to joint diseases, spinal disorders, heart defects and eye problems. Dams often have to deliver pups by cesarean section, because pups have relatively large heads. They often have respiratory problems. They tend to wheeze and snore and have trouble in hot weather. Prone to heatstroke. An overweight Frenchie may have trouble breathing, because of a swollen abdomen. Do not overfeed this breed. Putting them under anesthesia is risky because of their breathing issues. French Bulldogs are high maintenance and potential owners need to be aware that their vet bills may be high. Take this into consideration before choosing a Frenchie puppy. |
| Grooming | Very little grooming is needed. Regular brushings will do. This breed is an average shedder. |
| Exercise | The French Bulldog needs to be taken on a daily walk, where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Simply running around a large yard is not going to satisfy their migration instinct. Take care in hot weather. They love to run and play and can play for hours if you let them. Some have higher energy levels than others. |
| Other Considerations | Frenchies are good for apartment life. They can be fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. They do not do well in temperature extremes. While no French Bulldogs have been Best in Show at either Crufts or the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, there was one dominant Bulldog during the 1950s at Westminster. Ch. Bouquet Nouvelle Ami won Best of Breed for eight years in a row; the run only ended with the dog's retirement after the 1960 show. The dog's owner, Mrs. Amanda West, went on to win Best of Breed with other French Bulldogs for a further ten years. In 2010, a Canadian French Bulldog named Ch. Robobull Fabelhaft I'm On Fire became the first of his breed to win the Non-Sporting Group and make it through for consideration at the Best in Show round, eventually losing to Scottish Terrier Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot. Jason Schwartzman's French Bulldog made a cameo in his detective comedy Bored to Death in October 2010. In January 2011, media personality Martha Stewart was injured by her French Bulldog, Francesca, when she woke the dog. In that same year, David and Victoria Beckham adopted a French Bulldog puppy named Scarlet as company to their existing Bulldog, Coco. In August, the Tampa Bay Rays gave under-14s an action figure of starting pitcher David Price and his French Bulldog, Astro, as a promotional item when they attended a game against the Seattle Mariners. Other well known owners of French Bulldogs include Hugh Jackman and Jeremy Renner. French Bulldogs have also featured in the 2010 movie Due Date and 2009 movie The Hangover. The only French Bulldog aboard the Titanic went down with the ship. Robert Daniel, a 27-year-old banker, had purchased the dog, named Gamin de Pycombe, for £150 (the equivalent of $17,000 in today’s prices). A surviving passenger was later quoted as having seen a French Bulldog swimming in the ocean after the ship sank. Famed restaurant elBulli (Five-time "Best Restaurant in the World" in S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants, and three-Michelin Star winner) was named after the French Bulldog; the restaurant's name is the Catalan term for the breed. One of the versions of the Nintendo 3DS game Nintendogs + Cats is called "French Bulldog and Friends". Yuko Shimizu, the creator of Hello Kitty, launched her new character, a French Bulldog named Rebecca Bonbon, in July 2011. As part of the design, the dog will adorn clothing, bags and a variety of accessories. On the ABC sitcom Modern Family, Jay and Gloria's dog Stella is a French bulldog. In many volumes of Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware mystery series, Delaware and his girlfriend have owned at different times two French bulldogs, the first "Spike," the current one "Blanche." Some celebrities who own French bulldogs include WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan, Ashlee Simpson, John Legend, Renée Felice Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Patton Oswalt, Curren$y, Hugh Jackman and Lady Gaga. A French Bulldog puppy called Lentil became an Internet celebrity in 2013 after he was born with a severely cleft hard and soft palate, lip and nostril, was tube fed until he could undergo corrective surgery then became an "ambassadog" for children born with similar issues. |
