History

The French Bulldog, affectionately known as the "Frenchie," has a rich history that traces back to the 19th century. Originally bred in England as a smaller version of the English Bulldog, French Bulldogs found their way to France with lace workers during the Industrial Revolution. The breed was crossed with local ratters and quickly became popular in Parisian society. Soon, they were the darlings of French aristocrats, artists, and anyone with a penchant for pint-sized pooches .

What Frenchies Were Bred For

While today's Frenchies are primarily companions, their ancestors had a more utilitarian role. Initially bred for bull-baiting (thankfully outlawed in the 1800s), and used in pit fighting, these little guys eventually transitioned to ratting. They were excellent at keeping rodents at bay, particularly in the lace-making shops of Nottingham. However, as their popularity grew among the French elite, they became more associated with the lap of luxury rather than the grime of a workshop. But, the drive to predate vermin remains strong in many even today, and they can readily use aggression towards other dogs if they are not carefully socialised firstly by the breeder and then continuing with their new owner. Never forget their roots because genes influence behaviour.

Famous Frenchies

French Bulldogs have made their mark in the world of the rich and famous. Some notable Frenchie owners include:

Lady Gaga: Her beloved Frenchies, Asia, Koji and Gustav, made headlines when they were briefly kidnapped.

Henry Cavill of The Witcher fame is known to love the breed. After his elderly Frenchie, Meat, sadly passed away last year, a puppy called Baggins is a new family member. 

Care of your Frenchie

Health Problems

French Bulldogs come with a large share of health issues. Their cute smooshed faces, known as “brachycephalic” features, can lead to breathing problems and are a result of breeding practices for extreme conformation. They are also prone to:

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

This condition affects many flat-faced breeds, causing breathing difficulties. Symptoms can range from mild snoring to severe respiratory distress, and even the need to surgically open the nostrils. These features can be especially harmful in hot or humid weather, or when exercising. If you are considering a Frenchie, look for ones with longer noses with fewer facial skin folds (known as “ropes”). Some countries have banned the breeding of flat faced dogs for welfare reasons and many vets in the U.K. are suggesting the U.K should follow suit. Not only are some of these health conditions serious for the dogs, but the expense of treatment is also significant leading to a 7,000% relinquishment in the last three years as owners cannot pay the vet bills.

Hip Dysplasia

This is genetic condition affecting the hip joint where the socket is not deep enough to hold the hip ball joint in it. Most French Bulldogs walk with a back end waggle and is considered normal for the breed, but in fact, can relate to joint problems.

Allergies

French Bulldogs frequently suffer from skin allergies, often requiring prescription diets or medications. The blue coloured Frenchies are the most prone to severe skin allergies, but all Frenchies need a lot of careful skin maintenance to ensure the skin folds are kept clean and dry to avoid developing fungal infections and sores. Early intervention with skin disease is essential as it can quickly escalate causing extrenely painful skin.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

Back problems can be common due to shorter legs and screw tails (short, coiled tail). This is a painful condition that may need surgery and is the result of extreme conformation selection.

Heat Sensitivity

Their short snouts and narrow airways make it hard for them to cool down, so they can overheat easily.

Summary French Bulldog Health

In fact, studies have found this breed is prone to over 20 different medical disorders, many of which require expensive surgery. This breed is far more likely to experience anaesthesia complications due to their restricted breathing, making surgery more risky. According to the insurer, Petplan, the average life expectancy of a French Bulldog is now just a heartbreaking 4.5 years 

Behavioural Tendencies

Frenchies are known for their quirky, playful, and sometimes strong personalities. They are are an affectionate breed that loves to snuggle and be close to their humans.

Despite their small size, they are an alert breed and make surprisingly good watchdogs.

They can be sociable but early careful socialisation is vitally important to reduce risks of aggressive behaviour developing in adulthood. With careful breeding and good health these little dogs can be very playful with other dogs and people. Their inter dog play style can be quite robust and very comical to watch as they often dance at 90 degree jumps with little short stacatto movements.

They can have a mind of their own, making training a bit of a challenge. You will only successfully train a Frenchie using positive reinforcement methods and it may take time and a lot of patience.

French Bulldogs can suffer several painful and uncomfortable health conditions that can increase tendency towards aggression. They are also a popular breed that has been over bred and this has led to some extremely poor temperaments as breeders have not been careful enough in their selection of breeding stock.

Trainability 

Speaking of training, French Bulldogs are intelligent but sometimes “un peu obstiné” (a tad obstinate). Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Patience is Key. Frenchies can be independent and a bit persistent, so patience and consistency are essential. This quality is a great quality if you want your dog to do great things, so this is a positive if you are prepared to put in the effort. They respond well to treats, play and praise. Keep training sessions short and fun never using force as this may anger your Frenchie and make them feel the need to defend themselves.

French Bulldogs, in Summary

French Bulldogs can be charming and playful and, are in fact, one of my personal favourites as I love their personalities and boldness. They don’t make a great first time dog as they aren’t the easiest to train. If you truly want this delightful breed then I hope this information helps you to find the best French Bulldog. 

They are very expensive to insure but very much more expensive if you don’t due to a predisposition to so many health conditions. If you don't have the budget for insurance, then you don't have the budget for this breed.  But, whether you're a movie star, a famous singer or someone looking for a loyal companion, a Frenchie can make a truly great and quirky friend. But don’t enter into this decision lightly. You will need to do a lot of research to find a Frenchie without the potential for a plethora of unpleasant health conditions or temparament issues. It will take a long time to find a breeder who is breeding for good health and temperament and you will need a good budget to be prepared to insure your Frenchie. 

I would personally be sad to see the U.K. ban the breeding of this little dog as it would be a great loss. I favour turning this around with the Frenchie breeding community putting their minds to working out how to improve the health of this charming breed.