Originally brought to Paris by displaced lace workers in the 1800s, the French Bulldog is now just as popular as a companion for owners able to meet their high attention and health demands…
The French Bulldog (nicknamed the “Frenchie”) is a compact non-sporting breed that features a coat of brindle, fawn, white, black-masked fawn or a variety of other combinations, skin wrinkles around the head and shoulders and distinctive bat-like ears. The breed first appeared in the 1800s, and they were first raised for bull-baiting but when this was outlawed in England they were more commonly favored for companionship.
A small number of their most distinctive characteristics comprise of their sweet and playful temperament as well as their love for attention – which essentially make the French Bulldog a familiar selection for anyone with plenty of time to care for a loving companion dog. Here are a number of quick French Bulldog facts:
Trainability & Intelligence:
Friendliness With People:
Compatible With Animals:
Daily Exercise Required:
Grooming Requirements:
Suitable For A Family Pet:
Suitability As A Guard Dog:
Origins Of The French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is known to have come from England where they were originally bred as a smaller version of the English Bulldog with longer ears. During the 1800s lace workers were displaced by the industrial revolution and they took several of these dogs to France where their subsequent popularity gained this small Bulldog breed their official name. The exact breeds used to create the French Bulldog are unknown as records of this weren’t kept, though it is assumed that several terriers and the Pug were involved along with the original Bulldog.
Average Size Of The French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are termed as a small-sized breed. The suggested standard size for the French Bulldog male and female is 11-14 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 20-28 pounds.
Temperament Of The French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is legendary for their sweet, adaptable and well-behaved spirit. They are typically friendly with guests, which along with their small size often means they are unsuitable as a guard dog.
The French Bulldog is also known to be fairly intelligent – placing 58th compared to other dogs based on their capability to be trained obedience instructions. They are also recognized to be great with kids though may be too enthusiastic for smaller children – which means they are somewhat suitable as a family pet. The French Bulldog is usually quite compatible with other animals such as other dogs and pets if they are just as playful as them.
Grooming Requirements Of The French Bulldog
Grooming the French Bulldog is a pretty easy job. They require an occasional amount of brushing each week as well as regular cleaning around the face and full grooming every 8 to 12 weeks. The course of action for completely grooming the French Bulldog can be described as:
- Cut the tips of the nails with a nail clipper and file any rough edges.
- Apply liquid ear cleaner on a cotton ball and swab the ears to remove dirt and wax.
- Bathe the dog in your chosen shampoo, lather with a rubber brush and rinse throughly.
- Dry them off using a towel and finish with a blow dryer or cage dryer.
- Brush the coat with a hound glove to smooth it out and remove dead hair.
- Trim the hair around the edges of the ears with scissors and if desired remove the whiskers and eyebrows.
Living Requirements For The French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is happiest around their family and as an indoor-only dog, so they can be very suitable for living in an apartment so long as they are exercised enough. They can be sensitive to both hot and cold temperatures – so will need air conditioning in summer and extra clothing to keep them warm when venturing outside in winter. French Bulldogs are also not able to swim very well and will require extra care if you have a pool or take them for walks along lakes or beaches.
Health & Life Expectancy Of The French Bulldog
Unlike the majority of small-sized dog breeds, the French Bulldog is commonly shorter-lived having a life expectancy of 9-11 years. The greatest health concerns for French Bulldogs are universally known to be heart problems, eye problems and breathing difficulties. They are also vulnerable to conditions that include obesity, joint diseases, spinal disorders, dry skin, allergies, sensitivity to hot weather and vulnerability to heat stroke – they are generally a high maintenance breed in terms of health.
Exercise Needs For The French Bulldog
The French Bulldog loves endeavors which include a run around the yard or long play sessions inside the home. They possess a moderate quantity of energy and need to be given exercise every day in the shape of average-length walks in cooler parts of the day to prevent excessive weight gain.
Who Should Own The French Bulldog?
The French Bulldog could be the ideal dog breed for a family with older children, retiree or anyone else with a lot of time to care for a companion dog. They are appropriate for anyone who is able to carry out a small amount of grooming and take time to give them early socialization and obedience training to establish leadership as well as take them on moderate walks each day and present a very high sum of love and attention. Though they might be fairly inappropriate as a guard dog or in a more active lifestyle, if you are capable of meeting their demands for health care, a comfortable living environment and a very high amount of companionship then the French Bulldog can be the ultimate breed of dog for you.
Posted by Brent McCoy on December 9, 2011