French Bulldog: The Ultimate Breed Guide To The World’s Cutest Pup

Seemingly tough-on-the-outside, but strikingly sweet-on-the-inside, the French Bulldog has been capturing hearts for decades. With those unmistakably cute bat-shaped ears and an undeniably adorable gait, the French Bulldog has continued to gain popularity as the suburban and city-liver’s dog of choice. With a body mass of under 30 pounds, French Bulldogs make wonderful companions if you’re living in tight spaces. And with a short coat, they don’t take much care at all in terms of grooming. Are you considering adding an adorable little French Bulldog to your family? Not sure what to expect? Today, we’re bringing you the ultimate breed guide to what we think just might qualify as the world’s cutest little puppy: The French Bulldog. From the origin of this incredible dog to the care and keeping of them, we’re here to help you make an informed decision about your new little family member. Ready to get started? Let’s go!

The Origins of the French Bulldog

The origin of what we know today as the French Bulldog is a breed that descends directly from the dogs of an ancient Greek Tribe, the Molossians. It was Phoenician traders that caused the dogs to be spread throughout the Ancient World and were eventually bred to create the Mastiff. Originally, the sub-family of the Mastiff, the Bulldog, or Bullenbeisser as it was then referred to, was bred specifically for bull-baiting. However, this sport was outlawed in England in 1835, leaving these bulldogs seemingly without a purpose other than as a companion. To reduce the size of these bulldogs, many of them were bred with terriers or pugs and this breeding eventually created what was referred to as “the toy bulldog” which weighed no more than 20 pounds.

These dogs became increasingly popular in France as lace workers from Nottingham moved to Normandy after being displaced by the Industrial Revolution. Sadly, there aren’t any records of the breed’s shift from its original Bulldog roots. In fact, the pug and terrier breeding may have been what eventually developed traits in our cute little French Bulldog counterparts, such as the breed’s bat-like ears and rounded eyes.

Characteristics of French Bulldogs

If you’re looking for an easy-going, athletic and sociable dog, the French Bulldog is a wonderful dog. Always alert, very, very adaptable to almost any environment and is one of the most irresistible dogs you’ll ever come across. Because they typically don’t grow taller than twelve inches and have a wonderfully smooth and short coat, taking care of a French Bulldog isn’t difficult at all. These dogs are especially popular in small living quarters, such as a condo or an apartment because they don’t tend to bark as much as other dogs and won’t mind not having a backyard to run and play in like other dogs need. Keeping a French Bulldog happy is as simple as giving him a warm but also cool environment in which to live, keeping him well fed and loving on him. They don’t require a lot of attention, and the attention they do require you’ll be glad to give them.

The Many Colors of the French Bulldog

French Bulldogs come in many different colors and shades. Most typically you’ll find them with white, black, tan, fawn, or brindle. No matter the color though, every French Bulldog will come with a cute personality all their own and make you one happy dog owner!

 

Grooming A French Bulldog

As stated before, grooming a French Bulldog is almost unnecessary because of their short coats, but a weekly brushing and a quick ear cleaning will leave your Frenchie feeling pampered, well cared for and loved. And what is more wonderful than a cute, big and round-eyed French Bulldog thanking you with a wag of his tail and that almost grin that’s too adorable for words?

The Temperment of a French Bulldog

French Bulldogs can make some of the most wonderful companions of any dog around. Small, generally quite well behaved and sociable, you’ll be enjoying the company of your little Frenchie in no time at all. However, French Bulldogs are known for “stealing the thunder” a little and love being in the spotlight whenever possible. They can be a mischievous breed and some might even say a little clownish, but there’s nothing more adorable than a French Bulldog thinking of something mischievous to do. Wouldn’t you agree?

Living With a French Bulldog

When it comes to living with a dog, there are certain things you’ll wonder about and we’re going to try to answer all of the questions to make a transition of a new little one into your home as simply as possible.

 

There are a few things about a French Bulldog that you’ll want to bear in mind before rushing into getting your own. Things such as shedding, accommodations and such that if not carefully planned could result in potential disaster. For Instance: As cute and as cuddly as they are, French Bulldogs aren’t the best sleeping companions. Due to the shape of their heads and their short snouts, French Bulldogs often snore, whine and growl in their sleep. This can be really adorable to watch when you’re awake during the day and the dog is getting some shut-eye, but not so fun when it’s 2AM and you can’t sleep over your puppies snoring.

Like it’s other flat-faced puppy friends, the little French Bulldog is extremely sensitive to heat, so if you’re used to keeping the house 75-80 degrees, a French Bulldog is probably not for you.

 

Training Your French Bulldog

When it comes to training a French Bulldog, you might find that it’s a tad more difficult than you first imagined. But this is true of many breeds, so don’t lose your mind over whether or not it’s possible. Yes, French Bulldogs are quite stubborn puppies, but because they’re also so people-oriented and so focused on pleasing their owners, training a French Bulldog is far from impossible. Another good thing about training a Frenchie is that they’re a very clean breed, so when they are officially housebroken, you won’t have to worry about your French Bulldog having very many “accidents” or getting into things they shouldn’t. Whoop whoop for that!

The Care and Keeping of a French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are much like any other breed of dog. Every breed comes with a short list of certain health problems they’re prone to having and need constant care and attention to make sure they’re in good health. For French Bulldogs, this list would include skin and ear issues, respiratory problems, heat and excessive exercise intolerance and spinal diseases.

 

Regular trips to a vet and just keeping an eye out for clues as to if your dog may be having issues or not is a good way to keep your dog in health. A Frenchie needs around 15-20 minutes to walk around outside a day. Excessive exercise and most especially if it’s terribly hot outside is not at all good for a French Bulldog. Their bodies aren’t fit to endure heat for long periods of time. If your dog has to be in the heat for awhile, make sure you offer them plenty of shade and lots of clean, cold water to help them stay cool.

 

Keeping your dog clean and treated regularly for fleas will help your dog’s skin and ears stay healthy. If you see unusual spots or other things on your Frenchie’s skin or in their ears that appears to be concerning, a visit to the vet will often be a quick fix.

 

Remember. Every breed of dog is going to be prone to having certain health issues. It all comes down to what dog best suits your needs and whether or not you’ll be able to care for the health issues that might arise when you’ve adopted a puppy of your own.

Thinking About Getting a French Bulldog?

Are you feeling as if a French Bulldog might be just the puppy for you? We’re so glad you’re considering welcoming this new and fun little member into your family and we’d love to help you find the perfect candidate. So where do you begin?

 

There are two places perfect for anyone looking to purchase or adopt a little French Bulldog. You can choose to find a breeder yourself, or adopt a little Frenchie from a nearby animal shelter.

 

Depending on which of these two routes you decide to embark upon, you’ll have a small list of things you’ll want to do.

 

First, if you’re selecting a puppy from a breeder, make sure to do your research! Ask for references, take a tour of the facility, meet the parents of your new potential pet and create a trusting relationship with the breeder.

 

If you decide you’d like to adopt a French Bulldog from a shelter, you’ll want to tread lightly. Many dogs and puppies coming into animal shelters have been rescued from abusive homes or were abandoned. As a result, they’ll probably have health issues and behavioral problems you’ll have to work through. It will be a long journey, but well worth it in the end. That we can assure you.

 

From a certified breeder, you’ll probably end up paying around $1,400 to $2,000 or more for a purebred, AKC registered puppy. From a shelter, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,000, but it will depend on the healthcare the puppy receives and other factors.

 

The Pros and Cons of The French BullDog

We know that making the decision to welcome a French Bulldog into your home can seem exciting but daunting at the same time, so to help you make a well-informed decision about a future little puppy in your home, here’s some pros and cons about having your own little French Bulldog:

Pros:

  • Easy to Groom!
  • The Don’t Bark Very Much
  • They’re Playful and Fun
  • Great Lap Dogs
  • Great Family Dogs – Great With Kids!

 

Cons:

  • Prone to Health Problems
  • They Don’t Do Well In the Heat
  • Super Stubborn
  • They Constantly Pull At Leashes (some owners look into harnesses to correct this issue)
  • They Snore and Make Other Unpleasant Night-Time Sounds
  • Constantly Chewing on Things

 

Remember, every breed of dog out there is going to have both pros and cons, so don’t let anything scare you out of getting a French Bulldog if it’s truly what you want and you can handle it and care for it properly.

 

Similar Breeds to the French Bulldog

Not convinced a French Bulldog is the puppy for you? Not to worry! There’s lots of other breeds very similar to the Frenchie that you may just stumble across and find in one a truly kindred spirit. A few of these breeds would include the Chow Chow, the Keeshond, the Boston Terrier and the English Mastiff. If you want something small and cute, we’d recommend the Chow Chow or the Boston Terrier. Can’t go wrong with those adorable little bat-ears the Terriers have, and who can resist a ball of fur like the Chow Chow??

 

French Bulldogs – A Last Word

If you settle on a French Bulldog, you’ll never want for attention or a friendly little bundle of love and joy in your lap each night while you watch a movie or read your favorite novel.

While French Bulldogs can bring with them some interesting challenges unique to the breed, there’s no denying that they’re certainly one of the cutest puppies that ever walked the face of the earth.

We hope that this guide has been able to assist you in coming to a decision about whether or not you would like to bring a little Frenchie home to you. We will guarantee that if you do, you’ll be really glad you did. If you need some products, check out frenchiestore.net who are providing health conscious pet products.

 

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