French Bulldog - Owners & Breeders Presentation

French Bulldog - Owners & Breeders Presentation

Author WDF Staff | Last updated: Jun 09 2023

09.12.2020.


Before getting a French Bulldog, the smartest thing you can do is find out as much information as you possibly can. It’s a good thing you came here because everyone can tell you what these dogs look like and how big or small they can get, but nobody tells you the specific ins and outs you’d need to know before you make a Frenchie your new baby. Let’s start with the basics.

What kind of a pet is a French Bulldog?

The adorable little Frenchie is a great pet for anyone who doesn’t have the time to actively exercise their dog every day. Owning a breed like the Border Collie can be a bit tiring, and most of us can’t dedicate our whole day to making sure our dog spends the crazy amount of energy they have.

French Bulldogs don’t need anything like that; don’t get me wrong, they are playful and will definitely enjoy going to the park, but they don’t need to run a 10K marathon every day just to behave. If you are fully employed, a busy professional, a student, a single puppy parent, or you just prefer having a chill lifestyle, the Frenchie will fit perfectly in your life.

Make sure they have a nice place they can lay or sleep in, like the comfy FurHaven Dog Bed.

french bulldog characteristics

All dogs need daily walks, good food, and some degree of grooming, but French Bulldogs are pretty easy to handle as a pet. That’s probably why they are so popular all across the US. Still, having doubts about them? Maybe this list will help.

Pros of owning a Frenchie

If you treat them right, French Bulldogs are chill, loving, and well-behaved pets. Here is the list of the best things you can expect from owning a Frenchie;

  •  Shedding is not a big problem - Most of us hate doing chores, and vacuuming dog hair is probably one of the most irritating things you must do as a dog owner. Luckily, Frenchies are not huge “shedders,” so vacuuming and cleaning aren’t a huge issue.
  • They come in cool colors - Color is undoubtedly important for any breed, and French Bulldogs come in different colors and patterns. You can even get a small dog with tiger stripes! They come in over 50 colors and color combinations, so you can easily pick your favorite.
  • They rarely bark - Frenchies are not that big on barking. They are not the most vocal dogs out there, and they will probably not bore you with constant barking and whining. They can express their feelings through grunting, which will make you laugh; we guarantee it.

Cons of owning a French Bulldog

It’s not all fun and games; like with any other breed, owning a French Bulldog can have some negative sides. These are the ones we experienced;

  • Pricey - Unfortunately, like everything in high demand, the price of the French Bulldog skyrocketed in the past few years. Frenchies became extremely popular, and breeders started pumping their prices. It can be expensive just to get one of these dogs.
  • Health complications - It’s the same problem as I mentioned in the first point. Popular dogs are in high demand, and people with no clue about dog breeding start producing and selling puppies with little to no regard for their health. It is a breed with a short muzzle, making it prone to different complications and diseases.
  • They drool (a lot) - If this is not something that bothers you, then you’re good, but I was surprised at how much they actually drool. It is their way of cooling down, and they can drool before and after a meal, drinking, and running.

If you want to learn about the health issues Frenchies are prone to, check here.

Before you buy a French Bulldog, it would be a good idea to hear what people who dedicated their lives to breeding these dogs say about them. So we contacted a French Bulldog breeder and asked them some questions about Frenchies.

french bulldog in woods

French Bulldog from a breeder’s perspective

I thought it would be pretty interesting to hear a breeder talk about a breed they are breeding, and I can honestly say I was right. If you, like me, have ever wondered what determines a dog’s price or why is one breed more expensive than the other, this might answer all your questions;

Breeding any dog breed is not an easy task, especially if you want to produce healthy dogs. It would be my honest recommendation that you do not go into dog breeding if you are in it to make money. Breeding should have a purpose, a goal you are striving for which will determine what dogs you choose for breeding and what you could expect from the new litter.” - the breeder, who wanted to remain anonymous, explained their stance about dog breeding.

They also added,

I started breeding dogs when I was about 30 years old, and until then, I was a French Bulldog owner. I personally owned dogs that were health tested and were exceptionally healthy, so I assumed most dogs are like that. It was only when I started talking to other breeders that I learned how difficult of a process it is to pick good breeding dogs.” - they were pretty surprised to learn how thoroughly they had to study the pedigree.

What is the most important thing to think about when breeding a Frenchie?

The most important thing to keep in mind and to achieve is their health. Being a brachycephalic breed (short muzzle and a flat face) makes them prone to breathing issues and heat intolerance, so it is vital to get breeding dogs with impeccable health tests.”

Is that the only important thing when breeding a Frenchie?

Of course not. Frenchies are known as a companion breed, so the second most important thing a good breeder will look at is the character of the dogs they are breeding. The dogs should be friendly, loving, and show no trace of aggression whatsoever.”

We never got to the theme of actual mating problems. Still, I later found out that the most secure way for Frenchies to mate is artificial insemination, not the traditional way. Plus, female Frenchies are relatively small, so the safest way to deliver puppies is to have a C-section. All these things cost money, so if you wonder why Frenchies are expensive, this is the answer.

frenchie laying

French Bulldog from an owner’s perspective

Most information we could find online is the same - this breed is some inches tall and weighs so and so pounds. Those parts might be necessary to know, but if you are becoming a future owner, the best thing you can do is see what other Frenchie owners say about them. However, if you are interested in reading the full French Bulldog breed profile, you can click the blue letters and find everything there.

French Bulldog owner review

They are lovable as long as they don’t have nose problems. My dog is pretty active; we don’t have kids, but we do have 2 cats and a Yorkie, and they all get along great. My dog farts sometimes. Most of them are allergic to chicken, so be careful about that.

Jonathan from Bryan, Texas

We also talked to Joseph from Lake Worth, Florida, about his adorable dog Ivy, and he told us a heartbreaking story about how he got his dog. Here is what he said about his dog;

Growing up, we had German Shepherds, and I can honestly say we loved them. They were trained to a professional level, and we didn’t think we would get any breed after that. After our German Shepherd King died, we were asked for a dog-sitting favor, and that’s when we got a Frenchie called Lola.”

Joseph described his first time meeting a French Bulldog.

We immediately fell in love and called an American breeder to see if they have any puppies for sale. She introduced my dad and me to Layla, a lovely female we had the privilege of having in our family for 10 years. Layla died of canine cancer, and shortly after she was diagnosed, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor.” - Joseph told me.
Dad had surgery, but there wasn’t much anyone could do, and at that time, our vet advised us to put Layla down because of pain. After a few months, my father died as well. I was completely heartbroken, but oddly enough, another breeder I contacted had a 2-year-old female called Ivy.
She was already housebroken and trained, so that was exactly what I needed. I work full time, and it would be impossible for me to train a puppy. Ivy is by my side for some time now, and she helped me get through the worst part of my life. She is affectionate, loving, and quiet - the ideal dog.”

Having a Frenchie is an awesome experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves dogs. They are special and will certainly brighten up your day. Being huge dog nerds, we dug a bit deeper, and some of the things we found about Frenchies are pretty cool, so we wanted to share them with you.

french bulldog on sun

French Bulldog fun facts

French Bulldogs are a fascinating breed with their bat-like ears and their happy expressions. Their rise to global popularity is really a fun one, and these are cool and fun facts about French Bulldogs we wanted to share.

1. Popular among French “ladies of the night.

The first burst in their popularity happened when Frenchies captured French commoners’ attention in the 19th century. They became extremely popular among French “ladies of the night” and cabaret shows. At that time, these dogs could be found in restaurants and bars all across Paris.

2. Frenchies are poor swimmers

Because of their compact size and build, French Bulldogs are lousy swimmers. If you live near a body of water, you should really keep a close eye on your Frenchie at all times. There were many drowning accidents involving these dogs.

3. Good friends with orangutans

This might sound a bit odd, but a French Bulldog named Bugsy helped take care of a baby orangutan whose mother abandoned him. Bugsy and Malone became great friends and even slept together in the London Zoo. Bugsy helped caretakers with the orangutan until it became big and old enough to join the rest of his family in the enclosure.

4. FBDCA was started out of spite

There is a lot of things we could do out of spite, but American Frenchie lovers took things to the next level. Frenchies have two shapes of ears, “rose” and “bat,” and American owners and breeders preferred the bat-type ears (they still do), while the British breeders preferred the rose-type ears.

Everything started in 1897 when the Westminster dog show allowed the rose-eared French Bulldog to participate. Rose-eared French Bulldog owners we furious and decided to organize a specialty show in the famous Waldorf-Astoria. It was described as a luscious event that featured half of New York’s elite society. Shortly after that controversial Westminster dog show, the “French Bull Dog Club of America” was founded.

Breed comparison

It is clear just how cool these little dogs are; the more you research them, the cooler they become. There is another breed that is a short, flat-faced breed with a lot of character, and many future owners are looking and trying to decide which breed to go for. The breed in question is - the Boston Terrier.

You can check the full Boston Terrier breed profile here.

French Bulldog vs. Boston Terrier

No, this is not a matter of who would win in a fight, although the French Bulldog is heavier; therefore, their punches would be stronger, but I digress. When it comes to choosing a new dog, it is good to explore different options, and if you are interested in a small pet with “Frenchie ears,” the only other logical option is the Boston Terrier.

You can read more about the comparison of these two breeds here - French Bulldog vs. Boston Terrier - What Are Main Differences?

1. Similarities

Both breeds have upright ears and “bug-eyes,” which might confuse those that are only starting to examine these two breeds. Both breeds have short muzzles that give them a similar expression and make them prone to specific health issues that breed with standard muzzles don’t have. Both the Frenchie and the Boston Terrier have short, smooth coats that are pretty easy to maintain. Both dogs have docked or short tails.

2. Differences

The main difference is their build. Frenchies are a lot bulkier than the Boston Terrier. They have heavier bones and more muscle mass. That also makes French Bulldogs a bit slower while the Boston Terriers remain quick and agile. Frenchies have shorter legs, and the tips of their ears are rounded. Boston Terriers also have round heads.

In the picture below, you can see the main characteristics of both breeds.

french bulldog vs boston terrier

Also, here are some rapid cool information about these two breeds;

  • Puppies are equally cute
  • Both breeds have a cool nicknames; Frenchie and the American Gentleman
  • Bostonians live on average 2 years longer than Frenchies
  • Frenchies are more expensive therefore making them posher
  • Boston Terriers are a lot more active

Getting a healthy Frenchie

Nothing is more important than getting a dog that will be as healthy as possible. Especially when the breed in question is prone to different health problems, you can check the detailed list and descriptions of those problems here; they really put an effort into describing all potential problems and how to spot them.

Just because you come across an ad that says French Bulldog puppies for sale doesn’t mean that it is from a good, responsible breeder, and that is the most important thing to make sure your puppy has the best possible start. Good breeders will never sell their puppies over the yellow pages and other shady channels.

Ask them if their dogs are registered in any reputable kennel clubs, and ask them questions that indicate whether or not they are taking good care of their dogs.

Looking for French Bulldog puppies for sale

If you are looking for a French Bulldog puppy for sale, check out our listings here. Plus, you can be sure we are dealing with registered breeders. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even be able to register on World Dog Finder. If there aren’t any listings, that doesn’t mean you can’t contact our esteemed breeders and get in touch with them. Ask about planned litters; hopefully, they can save a puppy, especially for you. Check out the breeders that might have French Bulldogs puppies for sale here.

FYI, breeders with a blue tick next to the name of their kennel have been vetted by our team, which means they are registered, and are a part of a national kennel club and FCI.

Now you know what it’s like to own a French Bulldog, and if you are interested in getting one, I am sure you will make the best possible choice. Besides, feel free to share a picture of your new Frenchie with us.

Is there anything else I should know about Frenchies?

Frenchies love to chew on things, so getting them a chew toy is important if you don't want them to chew one of your shoes or slippers. Check out this durable, treat-dispensing toy that will last you a long time - KONG Wobbler Dog Toy.

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