French Bulldog

nch Bulldog
Other Names: Frenchies
Dog Group Kennel Club: Non Sporting (AKC) Utility KC (GB) Appearance
The French Bulldog has a slightly smaller, less boxy head and fewer wrinkles than their cousin the British Bulldog, and are easily recognized by their trademark “Bat” ears.
Coat
They have a short, fine and smooth coat. Colours include brindle (which can have white but is mostly brindle), pied (mostly white), and fawn.
Weight: 22 – 28 lbs
Average Life Span: 11 – 13 yrs
Temperament
French Bulldogs are happy, friendly, loyal, affectionate, comical little dogs who love human attention. They can become destructive if left alone for long periods of time. They love to be adored, get along with children and other animals making them ideal family pets. Though small in size, they are far from being fragile compared to other small breeds. French bulldogs make good watch dogs. All bulldogs have short airways so be prepared for some loud snoring.
Training
French Bulldogs are intelligent and can be trained fairly easily. However they can become extremely stubborn, so it is best to start training in early puppy hood. Training should be positive and consistent.
Grooming
Grooming is minimal, a brush once a week with be adequate to keep the coat healthy and free from dead hairs. Nose wrinkles must be checked and cleaned at least 4 times a week to prevent infection. Ears must be cleaned, and nails be trimmed on a regular basis.
Exercise
They do not require long walks, a few shorter ones every day will be enough. Care needs to be taken when walking in hot weather as Frenchies are heat sensitive. See below for details. French Bulldogs love to eat, so their diet should be monitored to keep them from becoming overweight.
French Bulldog Health Issues
Hot weather can be fatal to a bulldog, they don’t even need to be moving about in it to succumb to the heat. Please make sure that any exercise is given early in the morning or late in the evening, don’t be tempted to go for a nice Sunday afternoon stroll when it is very sunny or hot. Also please don’t allow your bulldog to lay out in the sun for long periods, they do not know when they have had enough and it doesn’t take long for their panting to become out of control. Always provide enough fresh water and shade. Click Here for More Information
Hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joint resulting in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the hip socket. This condition can be alleviated by surgery, at some cost to dog and owner. Because dysplastic dogs often produce dysplastic puppies, buyers should ask if both the sire and the dam of the puppy in which they are interested have been rated clear of hip dysplasia. Do not take yes for an answer without seeing a certificate, and ask for a copy to take to your veterinarian.
Sore Wrinkles: Looking after a bulldog involves daily care of the face and the deep folds. Wash their faces on a daily basis with either a soft cloth and water. Be sure to dry the face properly, extra care is needed to the nose roll which in some bulldogs can be very deep.
Entropion is a problem with the eyelid that causes inward rolling. Lashes on the edge of the eyelid irritate the surface of the eyeball and may lead to more serious problems.
Cherry Eye: Where the gland under the third eyelid protrudes and looks rather like a cherry in the corner of the eye. Your vet will need to remove the gland (some prefer to tuck but it’s not recommended). Occasionally removal of the gland causes dry eye but dry eye is a very common bulldog problem anyway regardless of if the dog had cherry eye surgery as a pup. More recently we have heard of vets that refuse to snip, try and find one that will if possible. The risk of dry eye is increased but we see so much dry eye in dogs that haven’t had this surgery that it’s not usually a factor – bulldog tear glands often block even if they still have this gland.
Cataracts cause a loss of the normal transparency of the lens of the eye. The problem can occur in one or both eyes and can lead to blindness.
French Bulldog History
The History of the French Bulldog originates from the 1850s – 1860s in Nottingham, England which was a great centre for British Bulldogs, including the toy or miniature bulldogs.
During the industrial revolution, in the mid nineteenth century the lace workers of Nottingham travelled to France, mainly to Normandy, Paris, and Calais. They took their miniature bulldogs with them because of the dogs’ size, companionship and being good ratters (living conditions were cramped in the apartments and small houses in which workers lived).
In the 1860s the export of miniature or toy bulldogs from England to France was so great that they practically became extinct in England. The miniature bulldogs are thought to have been crossed with terriers and pugs and the French Bulldog evolved. Unfortunately the French neglected to record pedigrees making it impossible to know exact lineage of these animals.