Fascinating, funny, affectionate, and kind hearted are just a few of the words that can be used to describe French Bulldogs. These dogs are quite adorable and many people throughout the world gravitate to this breed. However, just as with any type of dog that you come across, this breed is not the right choice for every pet owner.
The French Bulldog is quite small with even the largest of the breed weighing in at less than 30 pounds. They are quite cute and the perfect size to cuddle. This makes them a great choice for those who are looking for a good friend and lap dog. If you are thinking about adopting a French Bulldog, there are a few things that you should know about the breed first. Here are 17 things that you should know before you bring your French Bulldog home.
1. Brief History
Bulldogs have always been a cute breed. However, the English bulldog can be quite large. During the 19th century breeders started to breed the English bulldog with smaller dogs to create a miniature version of the breed. The English bulldog was often used to keep rats out of the workrooms where lace was made. Machines started making lace in England, and the laceworkers were out of a job.
Many of them moved south to France and took their dogs with them. The French loved the little bulldogs and the breed soon became popular among the bohemian class, which included many writers and artists. It was also popular among wealthy Americans who visited Paris. The French Bulldog was soon taken to America and was recognized officially as a breed by the American Kennel Club in the year 1898. It is now one of the most popular breeds in the United States.
2. Size
The French Bulldog is quite small in size. These dogs typically do not weigh much more than 28 pounds. The height of the dog at the shoulders is only about eleven to twelve inches. The small size of this dog is one of the reasons that they are quite popular. They are cute, fun loving, and playful pups. While not considered to be a “toy” breed, they are a miniature version of the larger English bulldog.
They are a mix between the large English bulldog and the smaller ratters that were found in France during the late 1800s. They were often used by lacemakers to help keep the rats away from the places that they worked in. These small dogs do not need a whole lot of space, which makes them a good choice for those who live in an apartment or simply do not have a lot of space for a bigger sized dog.
3. Exercise
French Bulldogs do not require a lot of exercise, even though they have a lot of energy, they are great at keeping themselves in shape. They will often jump up and down off of your furniture and will run a circuit throughout your house to keep themselves and you entertained. Like all dogs, they do need to be walked each day.
However, a short 15 minute walk a day is enough to help keep them in shape. These walks and any outside play should be done in the mornings and evenings when it is cooler outside as this breed is quite sensitive to the heat and they can quickly develop heatstroke. If you are looking for a dog to take jogging or hiking with you, this is not the breed for you. These dogs are best for those just looking for some companionship at home.
4. Feeding
When it comes to feeding habits of a French Bulldog, it will vary based on his size, his age, metabolism, and build. His activity level will play a role in how much food he needs as well. Typically, the recommendation is for you to feed your Frenchie a cup or a cup and a half of high quality dry dog food each day. Once in the morning and once in the evening.
However, just like people, dogs will vary and may need more or less food based on their activity levels and personality. It also depends on the type of dog food that you are giving them. The higher quality dog food will provide them with more of the nutrients that they need, which means they may not need as much. It is best to ask your vet for recommendations about the type of food to give your dog as well as the amounts.
5. Coat
The French Bulldog has a coat that is smooth, short, fine, and shiny. The skin of the dog is wrinkled and quite loose. This is especially true around the shoulders and the head. The texture of the coat is extremely soft. There are a number of different colors that a French Bulldog may come in. This includes cream, fawn, and a number of different shades of brindle.
Brindle is a coat that is patterned with streaks and specks of light and dark markings. There are black brindles, and even a striking tiger brindle. There is also a brindle with white markings. The French bulldog can come in almost any color except solid black. If a breeder informs you that the color of a particular puppy is rare and tries to charge you more for it, choose a different breeder as this is simply not true and they are just trying to charge you more for an already expensive dog.
6. Shedding and Grooming
The French Bulldog is quite easy to groom. They only need to be brushed occasionally in order to keep their coats healthy. They do shed as all dogs do, but the shedding of a French Bulldog is quite average. It is important to make sure that you start to groom your French Bulldog when they are young. Teach your pup to stand on the floor or a table to make the entire experience easier on both you and the dog.
When you are grooming your dog make sure that you take time to look for any bare spots, lesions, flaky skin, or any other signs of infection. It is also important to check their ears, their eyes, and their teeth for any bad smells or discharges. Clean their ears with a warm, damp cloth regularly to help keep them healthy. If you notice anything unusual take them to the vet promptly.
7. Bathing your French Bulldog
You should plan on bathing your French Bulldog at least once a month. If they are out in the mud or the rain, you may have to bathe them more often. You need to invest in a high quality dog shampoo to use on your puppy as this will help to keep the natural oils of his coat and skin healthy.
Make sure that you keep the wrinkles around the face area clean and dry to help prevent any bacterial infections that may occur. When you bathe your dog it is important to make sure that you dry them well, especially between the folds in the skin. It is also important to make sure that you keep their nails trimmed and neat. If you are not comfortable trimming their nails yourself, you can take them to a groomer or a vet in order to have this done.
8. Hip Dysplasia
One of the common ailments that French Bulldogs suffer from is hip dysplasia. This is an inheritable condition where the femur is not snugly fit inside the pelvic socket located in the hip joint. This issue may occur without any clinical signs. There are some dogs that show pain or have lameness in one or both of their back legs. When the dog begins to age, arthritis may develop.
An x-ray screening can be completed in order to determine if your dog suffers from this ailment. Any pup that has this issue should not be bred. Make sure that you ask your breeder if either of the parents of the pup had been tested for hip dysplasia. It is important to make sure that the parents are free of any issues. If the parents had this issue it is highly probable that your pup will develop it as well.
