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If you're a fan of the French Bulldog, then you're not alone, as this fashion-forward breed has truly taken the world by storm. With their endearingly unique facial features, super sweet nature, and love of family life, these popular dogs have become a firm favorite amongst canine lovers across continents and cultures.
Typically, you will find these pups gracing the homes of city folk, having become quite a fashionable breed in popular culture and with young couples. This is most likely because they are highly affectionate, playful, and have bucket loads of charm that is impossible to resist. The other breed they most closely resemble is the bulldog, maintaining their muscular form and facial wrinkles, but are considerably smaller, with trademark bat-like ears and a short snout. These little cuties are super sociable and love nothing more than fuss and playtime with their loved ones.
Here at Potty Buddy HQ, we can’t get enough of the gorgeous French Bulldog breed. Which is why we have put together a profile outlining their history, temperament, care needs, and how you can bring home a Frenchie pup of your very own.
Lifespan
10 - 12 years
Size
Small
Weight
Up to 28lbs
Height
11-13 inches
Colors
White, cream, fawn, brindle, blue, black
Size of home
Frenchies are a small and adaptable breed, often found in cities, who can comfortably make a home in an apartment or smaller house.
Exercise
Bulldogs are great lovers of playtime, so lots of stimulative play and attention, in addition to a daily walk, should keep a Frenchie in top condition. They are also known to excel in agility, obedience, and rally training, however, due to their short snouts they can struggle to breathe, therefore exercise should be closely monitored, and should be discouraged in hot and humid weather.
Grooming
Frenchie coats are short and low-shedding, so they only require a weekly brush to keep them in check and remove any excess hair, and help to distribute their skin oils for health coat maintenance. Due to the excess skin Frenchies tend to have around their face, it is important to regularly clean between the folds and make sure they are kept dry. Their nails should also be kept well-trimmed to avoid discomfort.
French Bulldogs are considered to be a low-maintenance breed; with their affectionate and lovable nature, desirable temperament, and playfulness, as well as their small size, minimal barking, and low-shedding coat, these pups are the ideal dog for families with children or city dwellers.
Even though Frenchies are amusing and love fun and play, the breed is deceptively smart, making excellent watchdogs due to their natural alertness, as well as being particularly receptive to canine sports such as agility, obedience, and rally competitions.
An excellent choice of companion for all ages, this loveable breed thrives through spending time with those they love; they are known to get on very well with children and other animals and are generally agreeable with anyone they meet. They can have a bit of a stubborn streak at times, so be aware that your Frenchie pup may know their mind and not be afraid to show it!
This super cute, piglet-like pup has stolen the hearts of dog owners for many many years. The toy bulldog was popular amongst English lacemakers during the mid-1800s, even earning a loving mascot status of lacemakers in the city of Nottingham. Known as a ‘cottage industry’, lace work was under threat during this time; the Industrial Revolution was at its peak, and so during the 19th Century, the English lacemakers went to live and work in France, bringing with them their toy bulldogs.
The bulldogs were then subsequently bred with other dog breeds, thought to be breeds such as Pugs and terriers, and once they were discovered by people living in Paris, it was the start of their famous city dog reputation. The intervention of American breeders later formed the trademark bat-like ear that Frenchies have today, making them a truly distinctive breed.
Hailing from the toy English Bulldog and later thought to have been breed with such other dogs as Pugs, Frenchies have many of the distinctive features you would find in their parent breeds; a sturdy, muscular frame, a short smooth coat and a unique short snout and facial skin folds.
Frenchies can be distinguished by their bat-like ears and large eyes, giving them an open and alert expression, and they often have a big smile on their face - however they are known to be droolers at times, so watch out!
The breed comes in an array of colors, some being considered more fashionable than others, for example, blue Frenchies, which boast a silvery coat, have become a favorite amongst lovers of the breed as they are the rarest color. In addition to blue, these pups can range from black and white to brindle and fawn, many of which will have coats of multiple colors.
Frenchie dogs are extremely affectionate and agreeable with most animals and people when properly socialized from a young age. They have a natural penchant for play, a dash of the mischievous about them, and tend to be alert and sometimes stubborn or strong-willed.
The breed is very playful and thrives when given lots of stimulative playtime and fussing, making them an excellent choice for families with children. They have been shown to make excellent watchdogs, and are often very protective of their home and all those in it.
These sweet, smart dogs are known to be super adaptable, and are often happy living wherever their loved ones are, whether that is in a city apartment or a larger family home. Friendly and full to the brim with personality, Frenchies both know their mind and are happiest when hanging out with their favorite people.
Frenchie dogs do not require excessive exercise to stay healthy, in fact, their exercise and levels of exertion need to be monitored quite closely. Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds often struggle to breathe, and overexerting themselves can worsen these symptoms, particularly in warmer weather as they are less able to keep themselves cool.
The breed is super playful and loves a good game of fetch in the garden or the local park; daily exercise could be a session of stimulative play or a short walk around the neighborhood.
They are not known to be good swimmers and should not be left on their own in water, as they cannot keep themselves safe. Ironically, the breed tends to love water, and so assisting them with swimming and floatation aids or keeping them in shallow water such as a plastic kids pool allows them to enjoy the water without the risk to their safety - always be sure to supervise them closely.
As much as they love to cuddle us, play with us, and make us laugh, Frenchies are also super smart and can be trained fairly easily, many being fairly receptive to canine sports training. However, Frenchies have a stubborn streak, and if they decide they don’t want to train one day, you might find you have your work cut out getting them to cooperate!
French Bulldogs have a short, smooth coat that requires minimal grooming and is low-shedding. They should be brushed weekly just to remove any excess hair or dirt that may be clinging on, and brushing them also allows for an even distribution of their skin oils which contribute to a healthier coat.
One of the most important care steps when it comes to Frenchies is to remember to keep their facial skin folds clean and dry. Dirt and bacteria can build up inside the folds, leading to skin irritation and even infections if left untreated. Regularly check your Frenchie’s face and eyes for dirt, and clean them regularly even if the dirt isn’t obvious. It is important to dry in between the folds thoroughly after cleaning, as leaving them damp can contribute to greater bacterial build-up.
Like all dogs, this breed’s nails need to be kept appropriately trimmed to avoid discomfort, and their teeth should be regularly checked and professionally cleaned to avoid dental issues.
Frenchies should be able to consume high-quality age and breed-appropriate dog food, and depending on whether your dog struggles with food allergies or intolerances you can consult with your vet to find the right food to suit them. It is worth noting that French Bulldogs can be prone to obesity, so it will be very important to keep an eye on how many calories they are consuming and whether you notice any rapid changes in their weight.
Treats are a great training tool as well as something nice to give your pup to show them you love them, however, these should be given sparingly when it comes to dogs which are more prone to weight issues, and table scraps should be given very few and far between, if at all. Their fat intake should be closely monitored, and excess tidbits such as bones and high-fat foods should be kept to an absolute minimum.
All different dog breeds will be more or less prone to certain health conditions and diseases, so it is important to be aware of issues that may affect the particular breed you want to bring home.
Here are some of the most common conditions which are known to affect French Bulldogs:
Allergies can occur seemingly out of nowhere and can present themselves through a whole range of symptoms, such as skin irritation, itching, sneezing, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal distress, or more shocking symptoms like seizures. If you notice any untoward symptoms in your Frenchie, consult your vet as soon as possible to rule out any underlying causes and diagnose the root of the allergy.
As Frenchies have prominent skin folds on their face, it is easy for dirt and bacteria to build up inside these folds and cause irritation and infection - this condition is often easily treated, however, it is vital to clean your Frenchie’s skin folds regularly and consult a veterinary professional as soon as symptoms occur.
French Bulldogs are considered a Brachycephalic breed, meaning that their heads are shorter than a lot of breeds, their nostrils are more narrow and they have an elongated soft palate, all of which can contribute to respiratory difficulties. Their airways are obstructed, meaning they may make snuffly or snorting sounds, and generally struggle to breathe.
Depending on the severity of the issue, treatment will be given accordingly, which may include surgery to shorten the palate and widen the nostrils to allow for greater ease when breathing.
This is an uncomfortable condition whereby a dog’s kneecap dislocates and shifts sideways out of its natural position.
Several obvious symptoms come hand in hand with a luxating patella, including limping, a hunching of the lower back, and bowleggedness in the hind legs. There will likely be a very obvious change in the way your dog walks, they may seem to be in obvious pain and try to avoid walking and other exercise as much as they can.
Luckily, some treatments can help with Patella Luxation, such as anti-inflammatory medicines, as well as changes to your dog’s routine and restrictions in their movement and daily exercise while they recover.
In some cases, it may be that surgery is the only option to correct the luxating patella, all of which can be discussed with a veterinary professional. If you are ever at all concerned about your dog’s movement or other symptoms, it is always best to seek professional medical intervention and get your pup checked out as soon as possible.
Dysplasia is a condition whereby the ball and socket joints are underdeveloped, causing significant discomfort for your dog, and if this occurs in the hips it can make walking particularly painful.
You will likely notice that your dog becomes lame, they may have an unsteady gait or be resisting movement, as well as a noticeable loss of muscle in their legs and shoulders. The condition can lead to arthritis and further hindrances to your dog’s movement, so intervening as soon as possible is the key to treatment.
Spina Bifida is a defect from birth in which the vertebrae don’t close properly over a dog’s spinal cord, resulting in a spinal cord that is open to exposure or already damaged from birth. Naturally, this will affect the dog’s nerves, meaning they may have issues controlling their legs, bladder, or bowels.
When your Frenchie is a puppy, it is vital to make sure they are given a full routine health check at the vet to diagnose any birth defects so you can be prepared for their care.
This condition occurs when a ruptured spinal disc herniates and pushes up against the spinal cord, which results in a stopping of nerve transmissions which would normally travel along the spinal cord.
This can cause significant pain for your dog and even temporary or permanent paralysis. The condition can be caused my age or trauma, or even just your dog jumping up onto the furniture - as soon as you notice something is wrong, seek professional advice immediately to get your pup the urgent help they need.
A condition also seen in humans and caused by a deficiency in the protein called von Willebrand Factor, the disease affects the clotting ability of a dog’s blood, meaning that they can bleed excessively without it being able to stop naturally.
Symptoms can include bleeding gums, nose bleeds, excessive bleeding if injured, after surgery or during heat, and you may notice they also have blood in their stool. This is a serious condition that can be life-threatening, and while it isn't curable, it can be managed - diagnosis is the first step and then your vet will work out a treatment plan with you.
The Frenchie is a super versatile and adaptable breed - there isn't really a home where they wouldn’t fit! They are particularly suited to families who have children, as they can be sure that they will receive lots of love, fuss and playtime. Alternatively they are known to be fairly fashionable city dogs, and would be just as happy hanging out with their single pet parent in a city apartment.
The breed are small and only require moderate exercise - some stimulative play and a short daily walk - so they can comfortably live in most homes and environments.
If you are thinking about getting a French Bulldog puppy, it is always encouraged to visit a shelter and adopt if you can. There are lots of Frenchies living in shelters who need homes, and going to see them in person will allow you to see the environment they are living in and whether they are happy and healthy. You will be able to check with the owner of the shelter what vaccinations and health checks the dogs have been given, as well as get a feel for which pup’s personality might be the right fit for you and your home.
When buying a Frenchie dog, it is highly recommended that you choose a reputable breeder and go and check the puppies out in person to make sure that everything is as advertised and the pups are in top condition. We would always recommend taking a family member or friend with you to go and look at puppies, whether for support, an extra pair of eyes or to make a family decision about which dog to get.
Each shelter and breeder will likely have varying prices depending on where you get your Frenchie from. Adoption is often cheaper initially, whereas buying straight from a breeder will likely come with a higher price tag from the off.
A purebred French Bulldog tends to cost anywhere between $1500 - $8000, with pups bearing rarer coat colors costing anywhere from $6000 upwards.
It is important to remember that this isn’t just a one off payment, dogs are an investment and will require significant care and maintenance which will also be expensive. Initial health necessities like vaccinations, spaying and microchipping, ongoing vet care, pet insurance, food, bedding, toys, grooming, training classes, as well as any health emergencies that may arise out of the blue will all rack up the costs of owning a Frenchie.
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