French Bulldog

Coat colors and maintenance

Their coat comes in a few colors – the most common ones are brindle, brindle white, cream, fawn, fawn white, and fawn brindle. The rarest of all colors is the Blue French Bulldog which has a blue hue or tint to its coat. The coloration is caused by color pigmentation due to genetics. If there are blue French bulldog puppies for sale because they are so rare, don’t be surprised if you are put on the waiting list before you get one.  

They have a short coat that sheds minimally. Weekly brushing with the rubber brush will be more than enough for these dogs to keep their looks at their best. Brushing is required to remove all the dead hair from the coat. With regular brushing, you are allowing new hair to grow, and also it distributes skin oils throughout the coat, which will keep the coat healthy.

Their most vulnerable things are the facial folds. You need to keep them clean and dry to prevent any bacterial infections. After every bath, you need to take time to carefully dry the skin between the folds. It is not advised to bathe your dog too many times. The rest is basic care. These dogs do not naturally wear their nails down, so they need to have their nails trimmed. Brush his teeth regularly to prevent any gum disease and to secure a fresh breath.

Frenchie exercise

Their lifespan is 10-12 years. They are active, smart, and muscular dogs that are always ready to play but also enjoy relaxing on the sofa all day. They don’t need a lot of exercise or a big yard to run around but will need daily walks to keep them at a healthy weight. They make perfect family pets and they expect you to give them a lot of love and affection. The French bulldog is known to thrive on attention.

Because they have flat faces, they are prone to some serious breathing difficulties, and you should never overtrain them in hot or humid weather. They enjoy participation in canine sports like agility and obedience. These dogs have a low energy level, although there can be some exceptions; either way, you need to keep their weight under control by giving them just enough exercise that they need.

FUN FACT: These dogs are not good swimmers because of their squat built and heavy heads.

Intelligence and socialization

They generally get along well with everyone, including children. Although they adore their owners and are trainable, these dogs have a mind of their own and can be very stubborn so make sure that you train your Frenchie firmly but gently at the same time. French Bulldog is an even-tempered dog that is easy to own – it doesn’t require a lot of food, doesn’t bark a lot, its coat is easy to keep clean, it doesn’t shed a lot, and they work well in small spaces.

But, it is important to say that Frenchies are prone to drool a lot. Their facial wrinkles should be cleaned regularly. Except for being awesome companion dogs, they can also be very territorial and excellent watchdogs that will alert the family if some stranger is approaching. This dog is good for apartment living and doesn’t need a lot of room.

Like any other breed and French Bulldogs need early training and socialization sessions to secure a well-rounded dog later in life, we advise you to start with training while the dog is young. As we already said, they can be stubborn, but with the right approach, you can accomplish anything. The French bulldog dog breed is eager to please, so if the one technique doesn’t work, don’t just give up; you just need to try a different approach.

Food motivation is always a good idea for your dog to cooperate, but with this technique, you need to watch the amount the treats you are giving to your dogs to avoid obesity. In most cases, to interest the dog, you will need to make training seems like a game with a lot of fun and awards.

If you are thinking about getting a Frenchie, keep in mind that this breed does not do well being left alone at home. They are also very sensitive to extreme cold and heat. You need to keep an eye on your Frenchie when it is very hot outside to avoid overexertion. They should be kept in cool, comfortable surroundings.  

FUN FACT: Because of his short face, they will snort, wheeze and grunt loudly. These sounds can be very unpleasant to some people.

Other pets and kids

French bulldog dog breed gets along with kids, and because they are not so tiny, they can live with a toddler in the house. However, you need to teach your kids how to properly play with the dog to avoid any unwanted circumstances. Also, never leave your dog alone when playing with the kids.

If they are socialized right from the start, French Bulldogs can get along well with other dogs and animals. But if you have an overly spoiled dog, be prepared that he could be very jealous of other dogs, especially if you decide to pet him.

Health issues

The downside of this famous breed is that the members of the breed are prone to getting some diseases that everyone planning to get a Frenchie needs to be aware of.

Diseases in question are next:

• a heritable condition called hip dysplasia,
• brachycephalic syndrome (because of obstructed airways, the dog can suffer from noisy breathing to total collapse of the airway),
• allergies (common problems in dogs – three types of allergies: food-based, contact allergies, and inhalant allergies),
• hemivertebrae (vertebrates are shaped like a wedge or a triangle, causing problems like weakness, pain, or even paralysis to a dog),
• intervertebral disc disease occurs when a disc pushes in the spine ruptures and pushes upward into the spinal cord, causing pain and weakness to a dog,
• Von Willebrand's disease is a blood disorder causing nose bleeds,
• bleeding gums,
• prolonged bleeding after surgery or after whelping...

there are more diseases you should look out for. Still, the safest way to get a healthy dog is to get your Frenchie from a responsible breeder who will show you health clearances for the puppy's parents and never from a questionable breeder, puppy mill, or pet store.

FUN FACT: There was a French bulldog aboard the Titanic. His name was Gamin De Pycombe and was even insured for a sum of $750 (at that time, the French bulldog was considered a dog of high society). The director of the movie, James Cameron, decided not to include the dog in his movie because the scenes in which the little bulldog disappears in the ocean would be too disturbing.

FAQ

French Bulldog breeders

If you are decided that this is the right dog breed for you, now is the time to find good and responsible Frenchie breeders. You need to be very careful when searching for a breeder. We suggest that you search for breeders only on the World Dog Finder website or at national dog clubs in your country.

Because Frenchies are very popular, there are also a lot of bad breeders out there. If you end up in a conversation with a breeder who will offer you puppies with a “special” color like chocolate, merle, or anything else that didn’t write down in the breed standard, that should be an alarm for you to walk away.

Many “bad” breeders will do anything to sell their puppies. When contacting a breeder, always be prepared to ask him many questions so that the breeder can help you find your perfect puppy. You should not buy a puppy overnight. You should take your time and search for everything about the breed you are interested in. Frenchie will be your best companion for your whole life.

They will adapt to your lifestyle and will do anything as long it is with you. The most fascinating things about this breed are their wonderful nature, gentle character, and endless loyalty. You will fall in love with these little dogs from the moment you bring them home, and their selfless live will make your life beautiful.

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World Dog Finder team

The French bulldog was first found in the early 1800s. The breed originated in England and was created to be a toy-size version of the Bulldog. When Normandy lace workers went from England to France to find work and better opportunities, they brought this smaller bulldog version with them to keep them company and chase away the rats.

These dogs became very popular in the French countryside, and over a few decades, these toy Bulldogs were crossed with some other breeds, and with that developed the breed as we know it today. They called him Bouledogue Français. These dogs were associated with Paris café life, and many fancy ladies and artists worship these dogs.

In these French farming communities, the popularity of these dogs started to grow rapidly, and was soon loved by the Americans as well. First, Frenchie was seen in the USA at the Westminster Kennel Club show in 1896. The American Kennel Club formally recognized the French bulldog in 1898.

The French bulldog is a mid-sized member of the non-sporting group. A breed was quickly nicknamed “Frenchie”. Today, this breed is widely known as an awesome household companion, suitable for city life. The members of this breed are famous for their “bat” ears that occur naturally and are never cropped or altered. The British were not too happy with the name French that was given to these dogs because they were originally from England, but this name stuck until today.