About Frenchies

What He’s Like

The French Bulldog is a loving, comical, fun, sweet and playful. He loves to roll around on the carpet and snuggle on the couch, and is happiest of all with his owner.

He needs close contact with his family and shouldn’t be left alone or ignored for too long. He’s very social and people-oriented, and need to be involved in what’s happening around him.

He is outgoing and generally well-behaved. He doesn’t need a great deal of exercise, although he does like a walk or a romp in the house or yard.

He’s only a so-so watchdog because he is easygoing and doesn’t bark very much–and because he mainly wants to sit in your lap!

He is an indoor dog, and must not be left outdoors. You must be careful because he is very sensitive to temperature and can easily overheat.

He is good with other pets and dogs, but may be aggressive with other French Bulldogs of the same sex. He’s okay with cats if introduced to them as a puppy.

He rarely snaps or bites or loses his temper, but he can at times be protective. He is not easy to train and can be stubborn.

You should avoid harsh training approaches with him, and always be patient and consistent. He’s good with children, although he might be a little too rough-and-tumble for very young ones.

He snores. He might drool (though not all French Bulldogs do). He is a medium-shedder, and so might not be a good pet if you are worried about dog-hair in the house.

Appearance

The French Bulldog is 11 to 12 inches tall (to shoulders) and weighs 19 to 28 pounds. He has a short, smooth coat. His coat color can be white, tan or brindle, or brindle and white.

Grooming

You only need to brush his coat occasionally, but some owners brush it more frequently to reduce hair in the home (what you brush out doesn’t end up on your couch or carpet).

History

The French Bulldog is descended from earlier, 19th-century English bulldogs who were bred to be smaller companions and lap dogs for working people.

When these workers migrated to France in the middle of the century, they took their dogs with them, and then mixed them with French terrier breeds.

By the late 1800’s these dogs were known as French Bulldogs, and were soon discovered by American tourists, who took them back home and promoted the breed.

The first French Bulldog Club was formed in America in 1898. The “Frenchie” struggled during the war years of the 20th century, but by the 1940’s, when he was admitted to the AKC, there were one hundred dogs registered, and interest in his breed grew quickly. His AKC popularity was 34th out of 157 breeds in 2007.