Before we start, here’s our resident goodest of boys, telling you how to keep a French Bulldog healthy and happy:
Bonjour! I’m Gaston the Frenchie. Wanna keep me fit and healthy? Mind my sensitive tummy with a yummy balanced diet. Lots of l’amour and play means my tail won’t stop wagging.
Remember, I don’t like it hot. I’m a fan of cool, comfortable spaces. Short, fun walks are my jam. Long marathons? Non merci!
🐕 Gaston
Pay attention. His bark is backed by years of French Bulldog wisdom, making him the perfect pup philosopher!
Temperament & Personality
Though its appearance may mislead you, a Frenchie doesn’t actually require extensive exercise. Like any other dog, it enjoys play sessions and walks.
Peculiar and funny at first sight, the Frenchie is a keen observer of the surroundings, always keeping an ‘ear out’ for unfamiliar sounds or people it doesn’t know.
The Frenchie doesn’t bark a lot, so it’s a great apartment dog. However, it compensates by snorting and grunting. It can snore while awake. If you didn’t know this yet, you will. If someone may visit you, from behind the front door, it may seem you have a piglet inside your apartment.
With all the snorting and grunting that make it seem vicious, the Frenchie has a pretty calm temper and is a very sociable dog.
It loves cuddling with you and generally, seeks constant attention and affection. Despite its constant craving for love, the Frenchie is a stubborn creature and if it doesn’t want to do something, it won’t and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Compatibility with Kids & Other Pets
The Frenchie’s high degree of tolerance and patience make it the right dog for a family with kids. It enjoys playing with the little ones, although it may become tired quickly. I’ll tell you later why.
If kids misbehave with it, the Frenchie will respond calmly. It would rather avoid the situation or the youngster than become aggressive.
In any case, keep your eyes wide open, to prevent any accident or injury that may occur during their play sessions.
The Frenchie might become a little jealous when it comes to babies, especially because it will fall in second place for affection. But it’ll remain tolerant, as long you teach your baby how to properly interact with the dog.
Always teach your kids about boundaries regarding animals, how to interact with them, and how to treat them respectfully.
The French Bulldog won’t mind if it lives in a house with one cat or 20 other dogs or cats. It is generally compatible with any dog breeds or with cats. Despite its tolerant attitude, you must introduce them gradually and carefully, taking into account each animal’s personality and behavior.
How do you keep your harmonious household, you ask? Respect and appropriate interactions between French Bulldogs and all family members, whether on two legs or four.
Physical Characteristics
The Frenchie has a ‘squished’ face you can hardly forget. Equipped with a short muzzle, with a flat, wide black nose. Around the snout, its skin creates folds and wrinkles. Its wide, round head is accompanied by its bat-like, rounded straight-up ears that make it resemble an actual bat. It’s one of the few dogs that have eyes so apart.
This distinct facial structure makes it a snorting fellow. They’re typically small but usually fall within the small to medium-range breeds:
| Physical Characteristics | Gender | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | Male | 10.5-14 inches (27–35 cm) |
| Female | 10-12.5 inches (24–32 cm) | |
| Weight | Male | 20-31 pounds (9–14 kg) |
| Female | 17.5-28.5 pounds (8–13 kg) |
Its short and smooth coat comes in colors like fawn, tan, white, or a combination of these, with possible brindle patterns.
As we’ve said, the French Bulldog comes in medium-small size, with a compact torso and wide chest, slender abdomen and short, muscular legs.
It won’t grow bigger than 11 to 13 inches (28-33 cm) at the shoulder. Despite its short legs, it is a strong and agile pup.
Obedience, Trainability & Intelligence
French Bulldogs are stubborn but easy to train little fellas. When it comes to training, an early beginning sets the foundation for future obedience.
You may begin teaching your dog good manners from eight weeks old, because, at this age, it is perfectly capable of understanding basic training cues.
Begin by teaching it to sit, stay, and come. Reward its cooperation and always use positive reinforcement. Avoid punishing your dog, because punishment will stimulate its native stubbornness and lead to aversion and distrust.
Your French Bulldog will be headstrong sometimes; however, using patience and consistency, you will help it overcome this trait. After all, such a small package must come with a great personality.
When starting training, some owners prefer the so-called clicker training. A clicker is a device used with positive reinforcement techniques. A famous similar method was Pavlov’s Experiment.
This method is based on using a small metal cricket that makes a specific noise. This device is used to precisely mark the behavior the trainer wants the dog to perform. Basically, when the dog performs a certain command or trick, the device clicks and the dog receives a treat. The dog will learn very fast that a click equals a treat.
To help your Frenchie behave, it must be introduced gradually to new people, other pets and foreign environments, to help it adapt more easily to unknown situations and to prevent any anxious behaviors.
The French Bulldog is ranked 60th or around this mark (below average I’d say) in most “intelligence” charts. Although it may not be the sharpest tool in the shed and top the charts with its problem-solving abilities, it responds well enough to basic commands and positive reinforcement techniques.
Note: Remember that every dog has its own personality and nature; what works for one dog might not work for another. Use patience, love, and firm guidance to achieve the best results when training your French Bulldog.
Energy Level & Exercise Needs
The Frenchie has a low to moderate energy level, thus being suitable for workaholics and even elderly people.
Many people who live in apartments prefer this breed because it only requires up to one hour of exercise daily. That includes short walks and a few playful activities, because it gets tired really quickly.
When it’s exhausted, it begins gasping for air; this is a common, almost normal feature in brachycephalic dogs.
You must avoid intense activities, that may cause the dog to overheat; during summer, walks must be taken during cooler parts of the day, early in the morning and/or late at night. Playing sessions must be brief and in a cool environment.
When walking your French Bulldog, be sure to use a wide harness that fits the dog perfectly, provides comfort and support and doesn’t press on its trachea, especially if the dog tends to pull the leash.
If the Frenchie plays enough to get tired, behavioral issues like chewing on furniture or aggressiveness will be prevented.
French Bulldog Puppies
If you see a French Bulldog puppy, you’ll recognize it right away. Its round, big wet eyes and big, wide round forehead make it resemble a toy.
A little Frenchie means a great appetite. It loves to eat and WILL eat almost anything. It’s particularly keen on chewing stuff that isn’t actual food. So beware of small objects that might end up in its stomach.
We don’t recommend leaving your puppy home alone for too long, because it might develop separation anxiety or even a destructive behavior, especially when it’s teething.
At some point during this period in which the puppy’s milk teeth get replaced by permanent ones, its ears will start going up. And in most instances, they don’t go up at the same time.
It’s a funny process to observe and it’s one of those things that gets you bonded with your pup. Today, one of its ears might go up, the other one will lay down, and then, the next day, they might switch.
Once they’re up, the cartilage isn’t hard enough and they might resemble airplane wings.
Note: If you choose a breeder (as opposed to adopting; which we always recommend), make sure you buy your puppy from a renowned breeder, that can provide papers for its litter, regarding the puppy’s parents and to prove they’ve been genetically tested for genetic disease.
Lifespan, Health Issues & Nutrition
The Frenchie can live up to 17 years, with an average of 10-12 years. If you want to have a French Bulldog as your companion, be sure to check this breed’s susceptibility to certain health issues.
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome or BAS is one of them because the French Bulldog belongs to the group called “brachycephalic dogs”.
First of all, let me tell you what this means. “Brachi” is the Latin name for short and “cephalic” is the Latin for the head so, this means the Frenchie has a short head. Basically, all the bones in its head are shorter.
This characteristic makes it predisposed to some respiratory conditions such as:
- Stenotic nares, meaning it’s got abnormally narrowed or small nostrils and the air passes them only partially.
- Extended nasopharyngeal turbinates, ridges of bone from inside the nose covered in tissue that humidify inhaled air.
- Elongated soft palate, that partially blocks the entrance to the windpipe at the back of the dog’s throat.
- Laryngeal collapse and hypoplastic trachea, in severe cases.
Recurrent ear infections are another concern, which appear because of the same structure of its skull.
The Frenchie is also prone to intervertebral disc disease, a condition that causes pain, permanent nerve damage, and in severe cases, paralysis.
It can also be sensitive to certain skin problems and allergies to certain foods or environmental allergens.
However, if you make regular visits to the vet, most of its health conditions are manageable.
When it comes to nutrition, the French Bulldog has unique dietary requirements. Due to its size, its diet should be tailored to fit its health and reproductive status.
The key ingredients and nutrients for an intact French Bulldog’s adult diet:
| Key nutrients | |
|---|---|
| Proteins | 18%; essential for muscle maintenance |
| Fats | 5%; provide energy, used for healthy coats and skin |
| Fiber | 37%; aids digestion and prevents hairball buildups |
| Carbohydrates | less than 40%, to avoid obesity |
Neutered adults are prone to obesity and require less protein and carbohydrates. Regardless of its reproductive status, the food should be divided into 2 meals a day.
We recommend using a specific diet specially formulated for French Bulldogs, because it adds up all the key nutrients the dog requires and a correctly standardized diet prevents obesity.
If there are no respiratory problems, these may appear once obesity sets in. It can exacerbate respiratory problems because all the fat that adds up in the abdomen presses all the abdominal organs against the chest and the windpipe.
In addition to standardized dog food, you are always free to add fresh fruit and vegetables to your dog’s diet but, first, ask the vet which ones are good for it and which ones are not.
Grooming Needs
A big plus to this adorable pooch is that it requires minimal grooming. However, a good brushing twice a week using a soft-bristled brush or a mitten (so you won’t hurt its skin) will keep its coat in shape and will minimize shedding.
Bathing should occur every 2-3 months, not earlier, if it’s not necessary. If you bathe your Frenchie too often, its skin will develop a particularly bad odor. That’s because shampoo removes the natural oils from the dog’s coat and afterward, the skin is forced to produce other oils.
This coping mechanism to keep the skin’s pH normal tends to accelerate with every bath. So, the more you wash the dog, the worse it will smell.
The Frenchie’s facial skin folds are a very sensitive spot because it has runny eyes and this area is always moist. Moisture favors the development of fungus or bacterial infections. The folds should be cleaned and dried every few days, to prevent skin conditions.
A very important aspect of grooming is the perianal glands. Frenchie’s short tail, skin sensitivity and underlying allergies are somewhat related to the inflammation of these glands, located just inside the anus.
Research has shown (3rd most affected dog breed, after Chihuahua and Labrador Retriever) that many French Bulldogs develop anal sacculitis (these glands become inflamed and painful) at least once a year. So, these glands have to get cleaned at least monthly, to prevent any disease.
Cleaning the anal glands can be done at home (wearing gloves, you can gently press the glands around the anus to remove the fluid, wiping it clean after) as well as at your favorite vet (recommended).
If you want to do this at home, please bear in mind that most pet owners don’t manage to succeed and end up at the vet anyway (as I’ve noticed over the years, with my patients).
Adoption & Rescue Options
If you consider adding one of these little fellows to your family, adoption and rescue are compassionate options. You can provide a loving home to a dog in need and a big plus is the dog is already house-trained, socialized, and monitored for any health issues.
You can search for rescue organizations dedicated to rescuing and rehoming French Bulldogs or your local shelters:
- https://frenchbulldogrescue.org/
- https://www.facebook.com/FrenchBulldogRescue/
- https://www.snortrescue.org/
We’re sure you can find more organizations or shelters in your area.
These kinds of institutions are keen on offering only dogs that act well and aren’t aggressive for adoption. Dogs are neutered, vaccinated, and usually microchipped as well.
Cost of Ownership
If you consider buying or adopting a Frenchie, you must prepare yourself. In addition to the initial price of the dog, you must add supplies like quality food, a bed, bowls, and toys. Don’t forget pet pads, to teach the little guy where to pee and poo until it’s ready to go outside.
Medical costs will also add up because the puppy needs to be vaccinated, and microchipped, if not provided by the breeder.
Another one-time cost will be the neutering if you don’t want any furry nephews. Some male French Bulldogs might need neutering because they develop a certain aggressiveness or abnormal behavior and they start urinating around the house for no particular reason.
Some say it’s pure vengeance, treatable by castration.
Preparing Your Home
The Frenchie is a great apartment dog. It’s small, doesn’t bark a lot at all, and doesn’t need too much exercise. Before you bring it to your house though, you must know some basic things.
Puppy-proofing is essential. The little fella’ likes to chew on things, so any small object that can be swallowed must disappear. Also, be careful with electric cords, toxic plants, and house cleaners.
The Frenchie doesn’t like it hot. It needs and prefers a constant temperature of 68-69 °F (roughly 20 °C) to feel comfortable and to prevent overheating. If air conditioning isn’t possible at all times, at least leave windows open, for fresh air.
You must provide your dog with fresh water at all times. It drools a lot, so things might get messy.
If you have a backyard where it can play, you must ensure the fence isn’t loose and dangerous substances, like pesticides or fertilizers, are out of its reach.
You must never leave your dog for long hours in the yard, especially in sunny weather. It might overheat and suffer a heat stroke. It’s best if you can set up a dedicated area with shade and make sure enough fresh, clean water is available for the Frenchie to enjoy.
Interesting Facts & Quirks
The Frenchie has an incredibly powerful bite. The force between its jaws can reach between 180-230 PSI (12.5 to 16 bar). That’s some pressure, baby! This is possible because it’s a brachycephalic breed, having a short and powerful jaw.
What happens under this pressure? If you apply this kind of pressure to various normal-life objects, the effects might surprise you, illustrating just how strong a French Bulldog’s bite is.
The average human bite force is about 120-140 PSI (8.5-9.5 bar). Here are some comparisons to help you visualize the strength, using normal every day things:
- Water balloons and plastic bottles burst instantly. Even I can do that!
- Footballs are usually inflated at about 8-12 PSI (0.5-0.8 bar). This means it will explode instantaneously as well.
- Car tires are inflated at about 32-35 PSI (2.2-2.4 bar).
- Cans and tin containers, like aluminum soda cans, can withstand up to about 90 PSI (6.2 bar) before rupturing.
- Glass bottles withstand varying pressures based on their thickness and design, but many would give in to pressures of 180-230 PSI (12.5-16 bar), leading to shattering or fracturing.
- Human bones can withstand great pressure, but the pressure range of 180-230 PSI (12.5-16 bar) applied sharply, as in a bite, would most definitely cause a fracture.
Believe it or not, the Frenchie can’t swim. It’s not because it doesn’t want to, it simply can’t. Because it has such a chunky body, its flotation degree is absolutely 0 and the short legs aren’t helping at all. Also, because its snout is so short, it has to tilt its head out more to stay out of the water, thus it will exhaust quickly.
The Frenchie’s ears come in two shapes. Originally, the French dogs had rose-shaped ears, like their larger English relatives. But American breeders liked the distinct bat ears better, so there you have it.
An interesting and little-known fact is that the Romanovs had a French Bulldog as a family member. His name was Ortino and it was Tatiana Romanov’s beloved dog. She would allow it to sleep in her bed. She took him into exile with her, and no one knows what happened to Ortino after the Russian Revolution.
Another interesting fact is that French bulldogs don’t breed naturally. Because of their slim hips, the male can’t mount the female and breed naturally. They require artificial insemination.
Also, to give birth, they need a cesarean section, because, at birth, the puppy has a wide and round head, that doesn’t allow it to pass through the birth canal. More than 80% of litters are delivered this way.
Usually, a female French Bulldog will give birth to 2-3 puppies. In rare instances, some females might deliver 7 or even 8 puppies.
French Bulldog Dog Names
So, you brought it home and now you’ve gotta call it somehow. What will it be?
Some of the popular names for males include Alfie, for a happy boy, Max, Caesar or Sammy.
If it’s a girl, maybe you like Zoe, which means “life”, or Coco for a stylish dog.
Daisy, if it’s a sunny and cheerful puppy, or Bella, the Italian for “beauty”.
You can try choosing a name that means something to you, but mind how the Frenchie pup will grow into it.
Breed History & Origin
The French Bulldog’s history started in Ancient Greece, with the Molossians. They were a tribe that bred massive dogs for work and war, known as the Molossus breed.
This dog breed had a lot of subfamilies, including the Bullenbeiser, the French Bulldog’s ancestor. Now extinct, it was bred for bull-batting, a bloody sport where dogs were supposed to immobilize a bull by latching its strong jaws onto the bull’s snout.
Three countries influenced the actual French Bulldog: England provided the old, long-legged bulldog; France, where the smaller bulldogs were developed, and America, where the standard for ‘bat ears’ was set.
It’s origin is rooted in England though. It was a favored companion by the local lace makers (artisans who made delicate decorative fabrics with cotton or silk) who brought it from England to France during the early 19th century. It was soon popular and esteemed in the French high society.
The Frenchie, as we know it today, is a result of these miniature bulldogs that interbred with other dogs. By the late 19th century, the Frenchie became famous in America and was officially recognized as a breed in 1898.
