French Bulldog – A Popular Dog Breed.

Breed History

Many will find this surprising, but French Bulldogs were developed in Great Britain, not in the homeland of croissants and the Eiffel Tower. There’s no exact date, but by the mid-1830s, the English working class of ‘businesspeople’ – haberdashers, tailors, and potters – began actively buying these funny little dogs, easy to care for and capable of living in a harsh, almost Spartan living condition. The ancestors of the new breed were pug-nosed pugs and regular bulldogs.

During the active industrialization of London by the 1850s (around the 1840s), the number of factories rapidly decreased, and all “cottage industries” crossed the English Channel in search of a better life, settling in Normandy. France, with its love for beautiful clothes, warmly welcomed the immigrants, especially noting the interesting little dogs that the British gentlemen and ladies brought with them from the foggy Albion, unable to abandon their favorites.

In an ironic twist of fate, one of the first major breeders of the new breed turned out to be brothels. French courtesans, known for their flamboyance, snapped up thousands of bulldogs in just a few years and even posed with them for parlor paintings and photographs. By the end of the century, the fashion for eccentric dogs reached Paris, where, according to the official version, American breeders learned about them and managed to lobby for the official breed registration in 1905.

In Russia, French Bulldogs appeared at the end of the Silver Age of literature with its courtly clubs, elite parties, and fashion for cabaret. Despite the revolutionary upheavals, affluent Muscovites and St. Petersburg residents began buying puppies of the new breed for a king’s ransom. Art critics say that the golden voice of Russian opera, Fyodor Shalyapin, was a mad fan of such dogs. He was one of the few who could afford them.

Today, French Bulldogs don’t surprise anyone, they have long ceased to be considered an elite aristocratic dog – both young girls and elderly couples, who wanted to brighten up life in the big city, are keeping them. According to the American Kennel Club’s statistics, among 167 urban breeds, the French rank 21st, which speaks of the demand for these snorting phlegmatics on both sides of the Atlantic.

Breed Characteristics

French Bulldogs have strict club standards, which is why the cost of purebred puppies with impeccable pedigree can be quite high.

Appearance

• FCI register – group 9, section 11 (small companion dogs).
• Height at the withers – up to 35 cm (around 13.8 inches).
• Weight – up to 14 kg (around 30.9 lbs).
• Fur color – predominantly solid fawn, pale. White ones with black spots on the face and sides, black, and dark-brindle are also found.
• Tail – naturally short, only docked according to veterinarian’s indications if there’s a threat to health and life.

A typical French Bulldog is a short, smooth-coated dog with straight legs and a muscular, proportionate body. It has a broad chest, a round head with a flat face and nose, pronounced eyebrows often looming over its large eyes. Its gaze is extremely open and thoughtful. The jaws are powerfully bulldog-like, with lower teeth arranged in a curved arc, which visually “pushes” them forward.

Health and diseases

A properly nourished and cared-for French Bulldog rarely gets sick, but diagnosing certain diseases becomes complicated due to the natural calmness of these dogs. They can tolerate discomfort for months, so regular veterinary check-ups are crucial.

Doctors often report the following issues:

• Dermatitis in the skin folds around the mouth – you should regularly clean the face after walks; it may also be a sign of food allergy.
• Inherited eye problems, up to glaucoma.
• Spinal disc wear. The most common cause is excess weight. You should not overfeed your dogs, and carefully measure their food.
• Body thermoregulation disorders due to specific breathing and short coat.

Important! You should examine French Bulldog puppies at the vet’s office monthly, and adult males and females at least once every 5-6 months.

Training and discipline

Frankly speaking, training a French Bulldog isn’t the most rewarding endeavor. Their natural phlegmatism will constantly resonate in their expressive puzzled look – “Why all this?”, but once the training has begun, it’s important to remember the following:

1. Train your dog to go for walks outside as early as possible. A common mistake with little Frenchies is allowing them to use the litter box almost until they’re six months old. Optimal attempts for outdoor walks can begin as early as three months.
2. Carefully monitor the puppy’s behavior. If it needs more attention – provide it, don’t leave your friend alone for long. If, however, the bulldog from an early age prefers proud solitude – don’t try to retrain it, this can be very stressful.
3. Attach a short leash for the first walks. Naive curiosity and the desire to bite unfamiliar objects can lead to serious consequences. For grown, well-behaved bulldogs, a leash often isn’t needed at all – they’re always nearby.
4. Don’t overdo it with treats for correctly executed commands, even if they’re complex. Frenchies are highly intelligent and will quickly learn to do anything, knowing about the tasty tidbit in the owner’s pocket.
5. They love to fetch a stick or ball, but don’t forget about the specific structure of their jaw. Too large a toy can provoke dental problems in the future and even displace an already non-standard bite.
6. Prolonged apathy is as harmful to bulldogs as excessive physical loads. Combine active walks with healthy rest and sleep, wake up the dog only when necessary, a sudden “alarm” can lead to cardiovascular ailments.

Recommended care

Despite the stated unpretentiousness of the breed, you should regularly care for a French Bulldog, emphasizing a few important details:

1. After a walk, it’s enough to wash the paws and wipe the body with a latex glove for short-haired dogs to shake off the street dust.
2. Special shampoos for bulldogs are used no more than once a month – not all representatives like to bathe.
3. Vaccines against distemper and other lethal diseases should be administered before the age of six months. Keep a vaccination card and check the injection schedule with the vet.
4. Trim the dog’s claws every 2 months, carefully filing the edges.
5. Eye discharge is common for light-colored dogs, but if it’s increased – buy special drops prescribed by the vet.
6. The main ear problem isn’t wax, but small insects that can get in during a walk. Check the ears with a flashlight after every return home.

Recommended Foods

Feeding a French Bulldog should be based on its individual characteristics. Veterinarians recommend alternating dry and wet food:

• Super-premium class food for bulldogs and holistic food.
• Wet food.

Main Points

• A French Bulldog is the ideal representation of a moderately calm companion dog capable of living in a city apartment.
• They easily accept family members, children, and guests, curiously examining unfamiliar people, but never imposing for affection.
• Healthy laziness and phlegmatism are the breed’s calling card. The main thing is not to neglect the absence of physical activity.
• Training French Bulldogs is not easy, but they are teachable due to their natural intelligence.
• The first walks outside should be on a short leash, primarily for the safety of the pet itself.
• Carefully select the food – allergies and gastrointestinal issues occur frequently and are due to incorrect feeding.