The French Bulldog, or Frenchie, is a small, domestic dog breed. They are extremely loyal dogs that would do anything for their owners.

This absolutely endearing dog is unique in appearance with his unmistakable “bat ears” and distinct bow-legged gait. The Frenchie is a lovable and adaptable dog that would do well in any home as long as there is more than enough love to go around.

The French Bulldog has recently moved up the list of most popular, becoming the dog of choice for many city dwellers.

So whether you have a Frenchie already or are wanting to adopt one, here are all the facts and tips for creating a lasting bond between you and your pup.

Meet The French Bulldog

Weight: French Bulldogs do not usually exceed more than 28 pounds. Females usually average anywhere from 16-22 pounds and Males from 20-28.

Height: 11-12 inches at the shoulder

Life Expectancy: 9-11 years

Fur type: Short, fine hair. Not hypoallergenic.

Color: The coat of a French Bull Dog can come in multiple different colors, including fawn, cream, and various shades of brindle ( a coat patterned with spots, specks, and streaks of markings, both light and dark). French Bulldogs can be any color really, however, it is rare to see a solid black, liver (red-brown color), mouse, and black with white or tan.

Personality

Despite his stoic expression, the French Bulldog is a comical, entertaining, and dependable companion. Frenchies are very friendly dogs and are quite peaceful with other pets. They are charming and clever, but oftentimes can be stubborn and uncooperative, especially when it comes to training. They can become too attached to those they love and can become jealous if they see their owners paying more attention to another dog or animal.

A French Bulldog loves everyone and will seek out a lap from anyone willing to provide it. They are attention hogs and want the spotlight to be on them. Because of their dependence on constant attention, it is not recommended that you leave your Bulldog alone for long periods of time.

They can be taught to socialize and get along with other people and animals. Socialization should be taught at a young age to really emphasize the idea of sharing the spotlight.

Energy Level

French Bulldogs do not need a lot of exercise due to their low energy levels. They require short daily walks and daily play time in the yard but not much more than that. Their favorite game to play is Fetch. Make sure to limit walks and play times to the cool mornings and evenings. This will help avoid heat stroke.

Good With Children

These dogs are sturdy enough to handle the aggressive hugging and heavy-handed petting that often come from children. Their essentially passive attitudes towards crazy running and loud screaming make them especially kid-friendly dogs.

Good With Other Dogs

French bulldogs are usually peaceful with all other pets, including dogs. However, some males may bicker with other males.

To ensure that your Frenchie is peaceful with other animals make sure to allow him to socialize from a young age. Taking him to meet other dogs is a great way to teach him to have friends.

Shedding

The French Bulldog has a short, fine, smooth coat. They don’t shed very much, but twice a year, during the spring and fall, they lose their undercoats. When this happens to use a double-sided pet brush to remove excess hair.

Grooming Needs

Because they have a short, fine coat, grooming is fairly simple. Brush your Frenchie with a rubber hound glove or a soft bristle brush often. Take time to bathe them monthly or as needed to ensure cleanliness of the coat.

Because the French Bulldog has loose and flappy skin it is important to clean his flaps. Cleaning under them a couple time a week will help to eliminate bacteria and infection. To clean them use a soft damp cloth or a pet wipe and remove the dirt and junk from underneath and then dry thoroughly. This is especially important after giving him a bath. If the water is not dried from underneath it can become the perfect petri dish and could potentially harm your furry friend.

Frenchies do not naturally wear down their nails and will need to have their nails trimmed regularly.

As always, it is very important to keep up on your dog’s dental hygiene. The goal should be to brush his teeth for 30 seconds on each side daily. However, this can often time be hard to achieve. Start training your puppy from a young age to enjoy brushing his teeth. If you are adopting an older Frenchie, try taking it one day at a time, until he becomes comfortable with it. Human toothpaste isn’t safe for pets, so please be sure to use a product that is approved for your pet!

Barking Level

The French Bulldog is a quiet dog by nature, but when they sense a problem they will let you know. If you hear your dog barking it is probably because he has noticed something that out of the ordinary. Take heed to his warnings and check them out.

Although it is not typical for a Frenchie to be especially vocal, if you find that your friend barks too much, he can be trained to know the appropriate times to bark and be quiet. Be patient while training, it might not come fast to him.

Trainability/Tips For Training

The French bulldog can be very difficult to train due to his stubborn personality. But sometimes he can be surprisingly sensitive to your commands and will remember what he learned.

French Bulldogs can become especially headstrong if not trained from an early age. They will respond to early training, granted you do it patiently and persistently, always motivating with food.

How To Feed My French Bulldog

French Bulldogs will live their best lives if fed a raw, natural-food diet. This type of a diet is one that contains 99% meat/organs/animal fat. Dogs, like ourselves, are living breathing creatures and feel best when they eat natural healthy foods. And although they don’t appear too much like their wild wolf ancestors, their digestive systems still function nearly the same and require a diet derived from raw food sources. Your Frenchie will love eating Raw food!

A high-quality diet of Raw food will ensure the best health condition for your pup. Because French Bulldogs are prone to obesity, watch their calorie intake and weight. If you chose to give your dog treats, do so in moderation. Give table scraps sparingly and try to avoid giving your furry friend cooked bones or foods that are high in fat.

Feeding Your Puppy

After your Frenchie has been weaned from his mother, they will be ready to start eating puppy food. Start your puppy on 1.5 cups of puppy food per day, spread into 3 meals a day. Follow this regimen until your pup is about 6 months, at this age, they will be ready to start eating a healthy adult diet.

Feeding Your Adult

1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality Raw food a day, divided into two meals is the recommended daily amount for your pal. It is important to maintain a strict routine for your French Bulldog. They will be more comfortable and happy if they are fed regularly at the same time every day.

Remember that every dog is different. So if your dog is showing signs of needing more food, talk to your vet about increasing his diet, he or she will have great ideas on how to do so.

Health Concerns For French Bulldogs

The best way to avoid the risk of a heartbreaking illness is to choose a reputable responsible breeder. A good breeder will help you screen for genetic health conditions, feel free to ask the question about your puppies genealogy, knowing about your French Bulldog’s parentage will help you to pick out a puppy that will last a long time.

Keep in mind that purebred dogs tend to have poorer health, but once again a good breeder will work hard to breed healthy and problem-free puppies.

If you choose to bring an older, rescue Frenchie into your home (which we certainly encourage!) work closely with your veterinarian to screen for any potential health issues.

Some Common health concern for French Bulldogs are as follows:

• Trouble Breathing: Due to some structural deformities in their faces French Bulldogs have trouble breathing. They often snort, wheeze, sniffle, grunt, and snore loudly.
• Heat Stroke: During warm times take extra special care to protect them from heat stroke. Because of the breathing problems they cannot always cool themselves off. They need to live in an air-conditioned home.
• Back Problems:  French Bulldogs sometimes can suffer from an assortment or back, disk, and spinal diseases and disorders. This is probably because they were selectively chosen from the dwarf examples bulldogs.
• Eye Problems: French Bulldogs have a tendency to contract eye issues. They can be affected by Cherry eye (an everted third eyelid), ulcers, and juvenile cataracts. Also in Frenchies that have a lighter colored coat, they can experience tear stains around their eyes. The best way to avoid this is by taking care of your dog’s eyes. Take care to clean the skin folds under the eyes regularly and keep them dry.
• Obesity: French Bulldogs are predisposed to be obese. Take proper care in feeding them to avoid this condition.
• Flatulence: Due to the fact that French Bulldogs gulp air when they eat, they can suffer from gassiness.

Frequently Asked Questions About French Bulldogs

Q. Why are french bulldogs so expensive?

A. Breeding French Bulldogs is a very difficult procedure. Very few Frenchies can breed naturally. This is due to their narrow hips which makes mounting difficult. Most females must be artificially inseminated in order to reproduce. This process is costly and time-consuming. Also because of the relatively large head and shoulder of the puppies in comparison to the mother’s birthing canal, almost all Frenchie puppies are delivered by C-section. So it all comes down to a supply and demand issue. Because there are not a lot of puppies in supply, the cost for them is elevated.

Q. Can French bulldogs swim?

A. Because of the build of the French Bulldog, squat build and heavy head, they cannot swim well and if they end up in water they will drown.

Q. What were French bulldogs bred for?

A. These dogs were bred to be a miniature version of the ever classic bulldog. French Bulldogs have always been dogs of companionship. In the beginning, French Bulldogs were bred to ratters to first English lacemakers and then to French lacemakers.

Q. When will my french bulldog be full grown?

A. French Bulldogs tend to reach their full size between the ages of 9 months and a year. During their second year of life, they tend to “fill in” and bulk up. They are fully mature by the time they are 2.

Q. Are french dog puppies hyper?

A. Every puppy is unique and will have a different personality. Some puppies are naturally hyper and playful while other puppies would prefer to sleep all day. If you adopt a puppy that does have a hyper-active personality, make sure to start training at an early age so he can learn good and bad behavior.

Q. Are french bulldogs aggressive?

A. Because Frenchies are descended from a wild ancestor there is always the risk they could be aggressive, however not anymore than another dog. They are usually sweet, playful, and well behaved dogs.

Q. Will a french bulldog protect its owner?

A. French bulldogs are incredibly attentive, alert, and loyal to their owners. These qualities make them great watchdogs capable of warning and protecting their owners in threatening situations.

Conclusion

So if you are looking for a fiercely loyal dog who will love you until his lasts days, then look no further. Your Frenchie will be your best friend, he will follow you everywhere and be your constant companion. Treat him with love and you’ll be number one in his eyes.