French Bulldog
Considered a companion or “toy” breed, the French bulldog was developed by breeding smaller English bulldogs with rat-catching dogs from France.
Genus, Species & Subspecies – Canis lupus familiaris
Common Names – French Bulldog, “Frenchie”, Bouledogue Français
French bulldogs are known for their playfulness and adaptability. They are intelligent and affectionate, and are desirable “in the house” dogs, since they don’t require a lot of outdoor exercise and are known to keep their barking to a minimum.
They do, however, require lots of attention and companionship from their owners, and can develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods.
They are stubborn, but can be fairly easily trained. They get along well with most other dogs, as well as humans.
Frenchie litters usually consist of two to four pups. Most litters are delivered by way of C-section. Litters over five pups are very rare, and the biggest known litter size of a Frenchie is seven puppies.
French bulldogs, or “Frenchies” for short, are small muscular dogs, with a maximum accepted weight of 28 pounds. Their heads are square-shaped, with large, bat-like ears. Their faces are flat and wrinkly, with dark, almost black eyes.
There are many different colorations of the breed, including fawn (light brown), black, blue (dark grey), cream (white), pied (white with brindle patches), and brindle (black and brown striped).
In the 1800s, breeders began breeding English bulldogs for many different purposes. One such breed was the “toy” bulldog, which was smaller in size. During this time, many English workers who were forced to leave their homes during the Industrial Revolution traveled to France, taking their miniature bulldogs with them.
These dogs became very popular in France, and over time rat terriers and other breeds were cross-bred with the miniature bulldogs in order to further develop desirable traits, including their small size and long, straight ears. However, since there was not dedicated record keeping of these developments, it’s not known how much exactly the French bulldog has diverged from the English variety.
The breed was quite fashionable among “high society” and sought after by artists, writers, and designers. Frenchies are seen in the artwork of Toulouse-Lautrec and Edgar Degas.
In the modern era, the breed has become very popular in many parts of the world. According to the American Kennel Club, the French bulldog became the second most popular breed in the United States in 2022, behind only the Labrador retriever. Their popularity also extends to the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries outside their native France.