Ever since, Ed O’Neill’s character Jay Pritchett decided to adopt a French Bulldog on the hit comedy series Modern Family, it seems like just about everywhere you go someone is walking around with one these cute little buggers!
But that doesn’t…
Necessarily mean that a “Frenchie” is going to be right for you! This is why in this article, we wanted to take a moment and discuss what if might be like to own a French Bulldog so that if you are ever fortunate to be able to adopt one (or afford to adopt one), you won’t be disappointed six months later that you did.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
French Bull Dog Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: England
Original Purpose: Companion Dog
Height: 19-22 inches
Weight: 22-28 pounds
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Group: AKC Non-Sporting
French Bulldogs – Their History and Origin
OK, most times when a dog breed has a “certain” country’s name in its “official” title, it’s usually a pretty good clue that that dog is from that country.
But…
In the case of the “French” Bulldog, this simply isn’t the case. You see, the “French” Bulldog isn’t actually from France. Instead, this little guy is from Nottingham, England. France is only his “adopted” country where they are referred to as “bouldogge Francais.”
And who…
Can really blame the French for wanting to make this little guy their own. After all, they’re SUPER cute and a great companion animal, so it only makes sense that France would want to adopt these little critters.
But…
Truth is, these guys originally came from England, where they were originally very popular among “lacewokers” for their ability to hunt and kill rats. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately depending on how you look at it, the “lacemaking” industry gradually stated to die out as “machines” were able to replace humans in the lacemaking industry making these “toy” bulldogs no longer necessary.
Right around this time…
The “French” Bulldog began to find a new home in France, were these little guys started to become appreciated for their looks and their personality rather than just their uncanny ability to “kill a rat”.
And by the…
Late 1800’s these little guys started moving up in the world as the social elite of France began to take notice of them and began “promoting” the classic “bat like” ear trait that we all know and love in today’s “modern” French Bulldog (much to the “distaste” of English “toy” bulldog breeders).
Around this same time…
This new and “improved” French Bulldog with his bat like ears were imported to the United States where he became a hit. So much so that an American “French Bulldog” Club was quickly formed in 1898 which certainly played a role in the having the American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognize the breed in 1898 as well.
French Bull Dog Appearance
The French bulldog has a very distinct appearance and while some may say that they look a little bit like an English bulldog or a Boston Terrier, the truth is, once you know what a French Bulldog looks like, you’re never going to mistake him or her for a different type of breed.
Now this could be because…
These little guys almost always look like they’re smiling at your or it could be because every time you look at them you need to keep yourself from smiling back, either way, once you meet one, you’ll never be able to forget what they look like.
What’s really strange…
About these little guys is that while they are small, only 22 to 28 pounds in weight and reaches up to 19 to 22 inches in height for some reason, they just seem bigger than they actually are.
Perhaps…
It’s their “quite confidence” that makes them “seem” larger than they really are, we’re not quite sure. What we can tell you is it isn’t because of their fur, because these guys don’t have a ton of it.
In fact…
Regardless of what “color” our Frenchie is, he will definitely have a short soft coat, with loose and wrinkled skin on his head and shoulders. You’ll just have to decide for yourself which color you prefer because according to the AKC breed standard, it is perfectly acceptable for him to be:
- All white,
- Brindle,
- Fawn,
- Tan,
- Brindle and white
And yes, we know that we’re leaving a bunch of colors out of this list, but that’s simply because the AKC has some REALLY strict guidelines here.
But…
If you ask us here at IndulgeYourPet, any “color” Frenchie is just fine with us, but you might think different. If so, be sure to check with the American Kennel Club website before purchasing your French Bulldog if this is something that you are concerned about.
Grooming the French Bull Dog
The Frenchie does shed when there is a change in season, but not all that much. You’ll just want to be sure to keep an eye on his ears, skin and face because these guys have a tendency to develop ear and eye infections on occasion. Also, brush his teeth every so often – that will ensure that you don’t end up spending too much on his dental care later.
French Bulldog Temperament
When it comes to owning a French Bulldog, you pretty much have to go out of your way to make him or her upset. In fact, we’d venture a guess that if you do have an upset Frenchie on your hands, it’s probably your fault.
This is because…
All these guys really want to do is play and be your “buddy”. And while it is true that they tend to be a bit “stubborn” at times, and aren’t always the easiest dog breed to train, this is just because, they don’t want to listen to you, they’d rather play and try and entertain you!
And this…
Desire to “entertain” isn’t just limited to you his owner, Frenchie’s also like to entertain other pets in the household with is why we’ll frequently recommend this breed to those who already have another dog or cat in their home.
Heck…
They’re even really good with kids as well. But if you have children aged 3 or less, then it’s better not to bring this toy bulldog home, unless you’re sure that your kid is well trained!
You see…
Small children “tend” to think of these little guys as “toys”. Toys that can be sat on, pulled, pinched or just “roughed” up by an overzealous child.
Interestingly enough…
Despite their size, French bull dogs can make very good watch dogs. Now they’re probably not going to provide a ton of personal protection, unless the “stranger” if afraid of being “licked” to death, but most of the time, just having a dog on alert barking away is enough to chase off any unwelcome visitors.
So, now you’re probably…
Wondering why a French Bulldog wouldn’t make a great pet to own? And to be honest with you, we really can’t think of that many reasons why he wouldn’t accept of course unless you’re looking for a SUPER active dog.
Or perhaps…
A dog that you can take with you on a “job” or along a mountain trail. If that’s case, you’re probably not going to want to adopt a French Bulldog because while these guys will enjoy a nice leisurely walk, they’re just not build for speed or stamina!
Which brings us…
To the last topic that we want to discuss today with regards to the French Bulldog breed which is the “health” of the breed. Because as a general rule, these guys just aren’t known to be the healthiest breed in the world.
French Bulldog Health Concerns.
Some of the common medical issues you’ll want to be on the “lookout” for when choosing to adopt French Bulldog will generally focus around the size and shape of their heads.
You see…
French Bulldogs are born with enormous heads. An enormous head that can bring about a lot of health issues including:
- A soft palate,
- Eye problems
And breathing problems (brachycephalic).
And when we say…
“Big head” we mean BIG HEAD. Like so big, that these little guys can’t be born via “natural birth” and will have to be delivered via caesarian delivery. And it’s important to know that these guys WON’T be able to swim because they just can’t keep their GIANT heads above water!
It should also be…
Noted that not all of the French Bulldogs health issues are related to the size of his or her head. You see, these guys may also suffer from
And entropian!
So…
Needless to say, if you are thinking about purchasing a French Bulldog puppy or better yet adopting a French Bulldog rescue dog, you ought to take a moment and see what it might cost you to also purchase a pet insurance policy on him or her.
This way…
If anything does happy to your little “cutie” you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of his or her medical bills.
For more information about who we currently “feel” is offering the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry right now, we would strongly encourage you to check out our Top 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
i hate it. i have a frenchi at home and she is purfect.