The Condensed French Bulldog FAQ
As hard as it may to believe, there are still some people who are
blissfully unaware of the many joys - and occasional sorrows - of
French Bulldog ownership. This FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) is
written with them in mind, to give you a brief overview of what French
Bulldogs are like, and to give you an idea of whether or not they
are right for you.
FAQ Contents:
Breed History
While theories abound about the the exact origin of the French
Bulldog, the most prevalent opinion is that around the mid 1800's
Normandy lace workers from England took smaller bulldogs with them
when they sought work in France. In the farming communities north
of France that the lace workers settled in, the little Bulldogs
became very popular as ratters and loyal family companions and their
population began to swell. These little bulldogs were in fact "culls"
of the established Bulldog Breeders in England, who were generally
more than happy to sell these undersized examples of their breed
to fanciers of the "new" breed in England. This was especially
true of the "tulip" eared puppies that cropped up at times
in Bulldog litters.
As the new, smaller Bulldogs gained popularity in France,
they became favorites of the Parisian "Belles De Nuit" -
the street walkers. Breed historians can still sometimes turn up notorious
"French Postcards" bearing images of scantily clad French
prostitutes posing with their little "Bouledogues Francais."
The aura of notoriety that ownership of the little dogs conveyed made
them a fashionable way for the well to do classes to show off how
daring they could be, and they soon became favorites of the "artistic"
set across Europe. Photos dating to around this time show photos of
the Russian Royal family posing along side their French Bulldogs,
and they imported several of the little dogs from France.
It is inarguable that without the influence of dedicated,
turn of the century American fanciers the breed would not be what
it is today. It is they that organized the very first French Bulldog
Club in the world, and it was they who insisted that the "bat" ear
so associated with the breed today was correct. Until that time, French
Bulldogs were shown with either the "bat" or "rose" ear.
As a point of historic interest, a French Bulldog, insured
for the at that time astronomical sum of $750, was on board the ill
fated Titanic. All in all, French Bulldogs truly are an International
Breed, with fanciers of many nations being responsible for the creation
of the loving dogs we know today.
Appearance
Contrary to the opinions of many English Bulldog fanciers, French
Bulldogs are not merely Bulldogs with affected accents and inflated
opinions of themselves.
The most frequent comparison owners hear is that they resemble
either Pugs with their ears cropped, Boston Terriers on steroids
or Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs. None of this is correct, of course.
The only accurate way to describe the appearance of a French Bulldog
is "The most beeeee-ooooo-tiful dog breed of all time".
Feel free to let your dog shed copiously on anyone who disagrees
with this statement. People uttering the sentence "Why he's
so ugly he's almost cute" are merely to be pitied for
their obvious lack of taste and good manners. They probably own
Goldens, which tells you all you need to know.
A smooth coated member of the Non Sporting Group, French
Bulldogs are recognized by the FCI, The Kennel Club of Great Britain,
the AKC and the CKC. While definitely not a rare breed, they are also
not that commonly seen. For example, in April of 1995 27 French Bulldog
litters were registered in all of the USA, as opposed to 2.512 litters
of standard poodles, or 291 litters of Bulldogs. In 1994, French Bulldogs
ranked 81st in popularity. Registrations have been climbing steadily
for the last twenty years, although no one expects them to break in
to the top ten most popular breeds any time soon - not that most fanciers
want them to!
According to the American and Canadian Breed Standard,
the maximum weight for a French Bulldog is 28 Lbs. The Average weight
for a male tends to be 24-28 Lbs, and for a female 19-24 Lbs. This
size makes them a nice, sturdy, smaller sized dog, without the inherent
frailty of so many of the Toy breeds. Their bodies are similar in
type to the Bulldog, with less exaggeration. For example, while their
jaw is also undershot, it is not to the same degree as the bulldog.
Neither are their faces as wrinkled as their cousins the bulldog.
They should in general resemble a sturdy, compact, cobby little dog.
Their ears are of primary importance to the appearance
of the breed, and should always be "Bat." Equally important is that
elusive something known as expression. As a matter of fact, most fanciers
will describe "that face" as being one of their primary reasons for
choosing this breed. With their gently wrinkled brow, clear gaze and
alertly intense gaze, almost no other bred can give as clear an impression
that they not only hear you but can understand everything that you
say - which is not to imply that they intend to listen!
French Bulldogs come in a gorgeous array of colors.
In fact, ALL are allowed in the show ring, with the exception of:
Black (meaning with out a SINGLE white or other colored hair; Black
and tan (Doberman Type Colors); Liver and Mouse. The exact nature
of these last two colors is the subject of some debate among fanciers,
many of whom feel them to be rather ambiguous descriptions at best.
Heavy ticking, such as that seen on many setters, is to be avoided.
In reality, these color distinctions are relevant only in the show
ring. A dog with any of those characteristics could make as equally
wonderful a pet as any of the more common Brindles, Creams, or Pieds.
For a more detailed discussion of the standard for the
French Bulldog, please consult the AKC
Standard.
Home Environment
Frenchies make excellent pets for either apartments or homes, and
they are comfortable as either city dogs or country dwellers (If
asked for their preference, most French Bulldogs state that a Park
Avenue Mansion with round the clock maid and room service is to
be strongly preferred).
Frenchies in any environment have one overwhelming need, and that
is to be in close contact with the person they love. Due to their
inability to tolerate either extreme cold or extreme heat, it is
not a consideration to house a Frenchie outdoors. Regardless of
temperature, a French Bulldog is happiest when with it's owner,
and they enjoy long walks or car drives as much as any breed of
dog you may hope to meet. I personally take my dogs along with me
to work on a regular basis, and find that they are quite a congenial
addition to the office. The do have the rather disconcerting habit
of sitting at the feet of any one who dares to sit in their in "their"
chair and gazing at them unblinkingly until they move. They don't
bark, beg or paw at them, they merely stare. It's a frighteningly
effective tactic to get people to move.
Health Concerns
There are several congenital diseases and conditions that French
Bulldogs are prone to, although they are still considered the healthiest
of the Bull Breeds. Frenchies can suffer from Von Willebrand's Disease
(VWD), a bleeding syndrome similar to to Hemophilia in humans which
can impede their clotting. In conjunction to this, French Bulldogs
may also suffer from thyroid condition. Many breeders follow a program
of testing younger dogs for VWD, and only testing for thyroid at
that time if the VWD factor is low. In this program, the breeder
tests thyroid again just prior to using the dog for breeding. Other
breeders test both VWD and Thyroid at the same time.
As a result of the rather cramped conditions that a
Frenchie's flat face creates, one of the most common defects in French
Bulldogs is elongated soft palate or cleft palate. Puppies affected
with Cleft palate are generally put down at birth, as it is generally
considered to be an almost impossible condition to correct. Elongated
soft palate can manifest as anything from a mild condition causing
labored breathing to severe condition that can cause the affected
dog to pass out from moderate exercise. One of the most disgusting
possibilities in a dog affected with elongated palate is passive regurgitation,
in which the affected dog vomits up food or phlegm after eating or
exercise. It is generally advisable to ask breeders if either parent
has elongated soft palate, or has ever been operated on for the condition.
Another result of the compacted air way of the French
Bulldog is their inability to effectively regulate temperature. While
a regular canine may suffer to some degree from the heat, to a Frenchie
it may be lethal. It is imperative that they be protected from temperature
extremes at all times, and that they always have access to fresh water
and shade.
French Bulldogs can also suffer from an assortment of
back and spinal diseases, most of which are probably related to the
fact that they were selectively chosen from the dwarf examples of
the Bulldog Breed. Some breeders feel that only dogs that have been
X-rayed and checked for spinal anomalies should be bred from, but
this is a difficult position to take sides on. While it is true that
no dog affected with a spinal disease should be bred from , there
is a great deal of variance in the appearance of a French Bulldog's
spine as compared to, for example, a Labrador Retriever. If possible,
such decisions should be left to either a Vet or breeder who has seen
quite a few Bulldog Breed Spinal Xrays, to avoid eliminating dogs
unnecessarily.
You can learn more in-depth details about French Bulldog
health concerns on the Health Definitions pages of this site.
No matter who you buy your French Bulldog from, make
sure to ask what disorders they are testing for, and beware of any
breeder who cavalierly states that "They don't have any of those problems
in *their* lines." Reputable breeders are struggling to produce dogs
that are as healthy as possible, and while these tests are expensive
for the breeder to do, they can help to save the puppy purchaser hundreds
or even thousands of dollars in potential vet bills. Needless to say,
any one who would consider the purchase of a French Bulldog from a
pet store would be further ahead to just sign their life savings over
to their vet. In spite of all this, French Bulldogs are still considered
to be the healthiest of the Bull Breeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Frenchies Noisy?
Actually, some owners tell of having owned Frenchies for as
long as six months without ever having heard them bark. I personally
owned one that barked so infrequently that when she did it actually
sounded rusty! In general, though, most Frenchies as sensible
barkers, doing so only if they feel that there is something worth
really getting excited about. Like cookies.
How Are they With Kids?
Whenever I am asked "How are Frenchies with children?" I like
to reply "How are your children with dogs?" As with most dogs,
Frenchies will play and rough house happily with older children
who have been carefully introduced and taught to respect a dogs
limitations. Smaller children must be carefully taught to never
pick a Frenchie up, as they are a head heavy breed that is easy
to drop. Some fanciers believe that Frenchies may play too vigorously
for the average child under 2 years, but there is always the exception
to the rule. As with your children, it is the way your Frenchie
has been taught that will be the deciding factor.
How Are They With Other Pets?
Well, sometimes not so good. There are undeniably some French
Bulldogs who do not integrate well into multi pet households.
Bitches in particular can be cranky towards each other, particularly
if they are intact (un spayed). Many breeders suggest that if
you have another dog in your household already, and are thinking
of purchasing a Frenchie, to get one of the opposite sex. Early
spay/neuter can also go a long way towards curbing these aggressive
tendencies before they start to manifest themselves. As for cats
and other small pets, a Frenchie raised from early puppyhood can
be taught with consistent training to respect their right to exist,
and to refrain from chasing or harassing them. If you are considering
bringing an older Frenchie into your home, you'd do well to ask
how they get along with other dogs or cats, before making a final
decision.
How Much Do They Cost?
Quite frankly, a lot. French Bulldogs tend to be rather expensive,
for a number of reasons. They are generally able to deliver only
by Cesarean, have very low litter sizes, and usually need to be
artificially inseminated. All of this tends to keep their prices
rather high. Please ensure that if you find one that seems to
be a bargain that it wasn't by virtue of their care being skimped
on.
There has been a recent influx of cheap French Bulldogs imported
from several Eastern European nations and sold in North America
through Puppy Brokers. These puppies - some as young as five or
six weeks old - are brought over far too early, on flights that
are far too long, and have been turning up in rescue in droves,
with a number of rather alarming health and temperament problems.
Not all Eastern European dogs have these issues, but please be
aware of anyone who does not have the mother on the premises,
or who insists on meeting you in a public place to introduce you
to the litter.
Do They Drool?
No! They are French, and as such would never be caught dead
doing anything as uncouth as drooling - they leave that to their
British Bulldog cousins! Gassiness, on the other hand, is a condition
French Bulldog owners learn to live with. Blame it on all that
Pate De Fois Gras they were weaned on.
Is A Frenchie Right For Me?
While French Bulldogs may not have the easily trained disposition
of Border Collies, they are generally quite amenable towards being
trained to basic obedience commands. Quite a few have even competed
successfully in the obedience ring, some going so far as to earn
their U.D. titles.
Owners make a serious mistake when they let the cute face and
compact size of the French Bulldog allow them to overlook the
strong influence of the Bull and Terrier forefathers of this breed.
Obedience training is strongly encouraged from as early an age
as possible, and can go a long way towards ensuring your Frenchie
does not develop any nasty habits. From time to time, one may
encounter Frenchies who consider you - and everything else in
their house - to be their property. While a cute puppy
growlingly refusing to return your slippers may sound cute, such
behavior in adults accounts for one of the most common reasons
Frenchies are turned over to rescue. Again, be prepared to set
firm rules and limits from the minute your new Frenchie comes
home. You'll both be thankful for it , in the long run.
Frenchies, with their gentle natures and love of attention, make
excellent therapy dogs but are not the breed to choose if you
are seeking a vigorous jogging companion or highly athletic dog.
Their joints were not made to take the stress of constant pounding,
and their impaired breathing systems can make heavy activity life
threatening in extreme weather conditions. If there was ever a
couch potato Olympics, on the other hand, I am quite sure that
most of the Gold Medal Winners would be French Bulldogs.
A French Bulldog can be a wonderful companion for someone who
is seeking a dog who craves the company of humans in low key settings.
Cafe life, leisurely walks, naps on the couch, long car rides,
pleasant outings to the park, luxurious suites at the Ritz --
if any of this sounds like your idea of a perfect life,
then a Frenchie just may be the breed for you!
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