The French Bulldog Shop
French Bulldog Breed Summary
Easy-Going, Playful, Intelligent and Assertive
Mystery and speculation taint the history of this little dog. But it's most likely that they originated from miniature Bulldogs, a cross between a British Bulldog and a Terrier, and were then brought to France by lace workers from the UK looking for employment, during the Industrial Revolution, in the 1800s. The Lace workers were breed buffs and used these dogs to warm their laps whilst they worked. The British didn't like the French Bulldogs as they thought they were too small to be of use, but the French loved them, and they soon became fashion symbols of the rich and famous! It took a while for the British to get on board with the idea of the breed, but eventually they fell in favor and are now one of the most popular breeds here!
Kennel Club Group | Non-Sporting |
Lifespan | 11-14 years |
Height (at the withers) | Males and Females 11in - 13in |
Weight | Males and Females 20lb - 28lb |
Coat | Smooth, Single Layered |
Color | Brindle, Fawn, Pied |
Eye color | Brown |
Common health issues | Hip Dysplasia; Brachycephalic Syndrome; Hemivertebrae; Patellar Luxation; Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD); Von Willebrand's Disease; Cleft Palate; Elongated Soft Palate |
Other Names | Frenchie, Bouledogue Francais |
French Bulldogs love to be around their 'hooman' families, due to their long history of being companion dogs. They are very easy-going and love to spend their days between playing in the garden and relaxing on the sofa. Additionally, they are fairly easy to train, so long as you try to make this as fun and game-like as possible. However, if these guys get bored, they can quickly develop stubborn, little attitudes and there will be no moving them! Because they love to be around people, they shouldn't be left on their own for long periods of time, as this can lead to separation anxiety and a very sad little dog (whine…). But with the correct owner, who can give them all the love and care they deserve, they will make both a brilliant and humorous pet, who will give you years of laughter and love.
The little dogs became popular in the French countryside where lace makers settled. Over a span of decades, the toy Bulldogs were crossed with other breeds, perhaps terriers and Pugs, and, along the way, developed their now-famous bat ears. They were given the name Bouledogue Français.
Paris eventually discovered the delightful new breed, and thus began the Frenchie's reputation as city dog par excellence. The breed came to be associated with Paris café life, and with the bon vivants and fancy ladies who sought nocturnal pleasures in Parisian dancehalls. Edgar Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec depicted the Frenchie in paintings of the Paris demimonde.
By the end of the 19th century, the Frenchie's popularity had spread across Europe and to America. The breed was tougher sell in England. The Bulldog was a national symbol, and it rankled many Englishmen that their age-old rivals, the French, would dare adapt it to their purposes.
American devotees of the early 1900s contributed to the breed by insisting that the bat ear, as opposed to the “rose ear,” was the correct Frenchie type. It is by this distinctive feature that the Frenchie is instantly recognizable the world over.