Feisty, friendly, and fun-sized: The French Bulldog

By Lauren Rey

The French Bulldog

French Bulldog – Fast Facts

Smart, sociable, and a little bit snorty, French Bulldogs, also lovingly referred to as Frenchies, have become one of the most popular dog breeds in recent years. Their fun personalities and charming looks have won them a ton of fanfare, especially among city-dwellers where their compact size, lower exercise needs, and quiet nature make them perfect apartment pets. Frenchies can commonly be seen on sidewalk cafes and strolling city streets with their owners.

While French Bulldogs are undoubtedly an adorable and fun breed with their signature “smushed” noses, “bat” ears, and inquisitive snorts and grunts, their cuteness comes with a cost. Frenchies are one of the most expensive dog breeds, both to buy and own. They can be prone to a host of health conditions and need special care. Here’s an in-depth look at owning this one-of-a-kind breed.

History of the French Bulldog

The origins of the French Bulldog began during the Industrial Revolution when lacemakers from England emigrated to Northern France. They brought along small breeds of English Bulldogs. Over time, it is believed these bulldogs were bred with various other dogs, likely pugs and terriers, and became known as the Bouledogue Francais. The Bouledogue Francais became popular throughout France, especially in Paris where they were viewed as trendy café companions and lapdogs for Parisian ladies. By the late 19th century, the Bouledogue Francais was brought to North America and became just as popular as it was overseas.

Today, the French Bulldog is more popular than ever, but its popularity comes at a price. Breeding French Bulldogs for profit has become a big business in recent years, leading to significant health problems within the breed. Frenchies have become one of the most widely and indiscriminately bred dog breeds. Veterinarians and breed clubs continue to work to bring more public awareness to proper genetic testing and breeding practices to avoid some of the rising poor health outcomes being seen in this breed.

French Bulldog traits and characteristics

There are several unique attributes that help define the French Bulldog breed. Here’s what you can expect from a purebred Frenchie.

French Bulldog size and appearance

French Bulldogs are small to medium-sized dogs that typically weigh 16 to 28 pounds and stand between 11 and 13 inches tall. They have compact, muscular bodies with short legs and smooth coats. Hallmarks of the French Bulldog breed include their signature “smushed” nose, tall “bat-like” ears, and wrinkled forehead.

Coat colors have become a hot topic in the Frenchie world. There are only a handful of French Bulldog colors considered acceptable by governing bodies of breed standards. These are mostly shades of white, cream, fawn, and brindle or piebald patterns. With the rise of “exotic” and “rare” French Bulldog puppies being marketed, colors such as blue, lilac, or merle, are frequently being seen but they are not considered breed standard. Experts and advocates of the breed warn that these colors can be linked to increased genetic health problems.

Key traits of a French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are friendly, social, and spirited dogs. They love affection and are always happy to be by their owner’s side. Their friendly and social temperament means they typically get along well with most children and other pets. Frenchies can also have a bit of a stubborn streak at times and will gladly take to being the boss if you let them, but overall, they are sweet-natured, fun-loving dogs.

Frenchies are also clever, alert, and curious. They’ll typically investigate new sights, sounds, and smells. While they can be quite vigilant, Frenchies are not known to be particularly vocal. They may let out some barks and whines to let you know someone’s at the door, but they don’t tend to bark excessively. You’ll likely hear more grunts and grumbles out of your Frenchie than barks or howls.

French Bulldog health and lifespan

Due to some of their characteristics, French Bulldogs, unfortunately, tend to have a higher predisposition to health problems and a lower lifespan than other similar-sized dogs. The expected lifespan for a healthy French Bulldog is 10 to 12 years. One recent study from the Journal of Canine Medicine and Genetics indicated that “French Bulldogs have significantly higher odds of being diagnosed with 20 common disorders compared to other dog breeds.”

Health conditions French Bulldogs can be prone to include:

While not every French Bulldog will be impacted by one of these health conditions, pet insurance is highly recommended for this breed. Consider covering your Frenchie with pet insurance to help you get peace of mind.

Living with a French Bulldog

With their compact size, quiet nature, and friendly personalities, French Bulldogs can be suited to many different types of homes as long as they have attentive owners. Frenchies love to be by their owner’s side and are quite adaptable. They’re just as happy to accompany you on a walk, at a café, or curled up on the couch. Being such a social breed, some Frenchies can develop separation anxiety so leaving them alone for long periods can take some training.

Frenchies don’t shed much or need excessive grooming, but some will need extra care to keep their ears and skinfolds clean as they can be prone to developing infections. Special care should also be taken when it comes to heat and exercise. Like many brachycephalic breeds, French Bulldogs have difficulty breathing and cooling down due to their shortened airways. This breed does not fare well with warm weather or vigorous exercise and can quickly develop heat stroke on walks or while playing outside. Frenchie owners need to be extra mindful of the heat and humidity!

Due to their size, easygoing nature, and rise in popularity, French Bulldogs have become the #1 most stolen dog breed in recent years. To help protect your Frenchie, never leave them unattended outside or in public, have them microchipped, and consider adding a 24Petwatch Lifetime Protection Membership for access to lost pet recovery specialists and the largest microchip data registry in North America.

Top things to consider before owning a French Bulldog

Frenchies are great companions but as with all breeds, they’re not ideal for everyone. French Bulldogs can be a costly breed to maintain and challenge for certain lifestyles so it’s important to know what you are getting into before bringing one home. Here are the top things to consider if you’re thinking about owning a French Bulldog:

Overall, Frenchies are friendly, fun-loving dogs but they need an owner who understands and accepts the extra responsibilities of owning this breed.

French Bulldog FAQs

Why are French Bulldogs so expensive?

French Bulldogs are expensive to buy and own for a myriad of reasons. They are costly to breed due to their genetics and anatomical features; they require a lot of extra health screenings and veterinary care. Due to their popularity, demand has surged for these dogs which also leads to higher prices. Owning a Frenchie is also expensive due to their many health conditions. They often need lots of veterinary care and in some cases, specialty care that involves surgeons, neurologists, dermatologists, and other veterinary specialists to treat their common conditions.

Are French Bulldogs good family dogs?

French Bulldogs typically have a friendly, social, and easygoing personality that works well with families. Of course, like all dogs, their individual level of training and socialization will also come into play. Due to their smaller size and predisposition to orthopedic problems, caution should be used when playing with very young children or large rambunctious dogs to avoid accidental injuries.

Are French Bulldogs high maintenance?

Due to the expenses associated with owning this breed and their increased potential for health issues, French Bulldogs are considered a high-maintenance dog breed. They typically need a dedicated and vigilant owner to attend to their special needs. Being mindful of the heat, keeping their skinfolds clean to avoid infection, and frequent veterinary visits to manage health conditions are just a few of the ways Frenchies can be high maintenance.

Can French Bulldogs be left alone for long periods?

While some do better on their own than others, Frenchies are known to get quite attached to their owners and become distressed when they leave. It may take some training to work their way up to longer periods of being left alone. For most small breeds, a good rule of thumb is no more than 4 to 6 hours without at least a potty break. If you have a job that requires long hours away from home, consider a dog walker or dog daycare service for your Frenchie.

Are French Bulldogs hard to train?

French Bulldogs can have a stubborn streak that makes them difficult to train at times, but overall, they are not that much harder to train than your average dog. Frenchie owners will find that a little bit of persistence, a lot of patience, and using positive reinforcement training will pay off.

Ready for a French Bulldog?

French Bulldogs are a lot of fun, but they also require a lot of commitment. Before bringing home a Frenchie, make sure you’re educated on the breed and ready to take on whatever your new feisty, fun-sized, four-legged friend may throw at you!

Writer Bio: Lauren Rey

With 15 years of experience in the veterinary industry, Lauren is well-versed in the world of pet health. She’s a content writer for several online pet publications and loves to help pet parents stay informed. When not researching the latest pet news, you’ll probably find her off on an adventure with her rescue dog Pickles.