Defining Traits of the French Bulldog Dog Breed

Until a few years ago, the French Bulldog dog breed was unknown in Italy, but very much in vogue in many European countries, first and foremost France. Now also in Italy it is in great demand and desired as a companion dog.

The origin of this breed is controversial, in spite of its name, the French Bulldog most probably comes from England; in the second half of the 19th century, during the industrial revolution, many English workers emigrated to France, and in fact it was the lace workers, who came from Nottinghamshire, where Bulldogs were much appreciated, who brought their little friends with them, emigrating, who were then renamed Bouledogues francais and were very successful among the French who immediately adopted them as companion dogs.

The French Bulldog was born from a cross between the English bulldog, the pug and the terrier. They were very small in stature and some had erect ears. These characteristics were not very well liked in England, but in France that is why the Bulldog was so successful.

Even in France it was a favourite of the upper classes and this contributed in no small part to its growing popularity. Towards the end of the 19th century it made its way to the United States, under the nickname Frenchie, where it became popular with the wealthy urban classes and where it would in time become a favourite pet dog of Hollywood stars.

Character of the French Bulldog dog breed

The French Bulldog is the perfect companion dog; it loves its owner disproportionately, of whom it is also very jealous and which it defends with tenacity and strength, thus also proving to be an excellent guard dog. It instinctively recognises who it can trust and who may be a threat to itself or its family, and if necessary it can assert itself with its powerful bite, even though it has a completely non-aggressive nature.

He is a very sweet dog, affectionate, intelligent and very attached to his family. It knows how to make itself well liked by both people and animals, with whom it happily spends time playing. Even though it is a docile and obedient breed, it is still necessary to socialise it from an early age with other dogs and people to prevent it from becoming a shy adult.

The French Bulldog is not a dog that can be left alone for too long, as he can develop separation anxiety quite easily, which would lead him to be destructive in the house or garden. He does not need much exercise, indeed being very lazy like his English Bulldog cousin, he especially loves naps and sleeps preferably next to his master on the sofa or bed.

He is therefore suitable for the elderly and people who do not do much physical activity, even if you have to force him a little and take him outside to get him moving a little. They are also excellent dogs for novice owners, as long as they are aware of the time they need to spend with their pets so that they do not suffer. They are also suitable for families with children as they love to play a lot and have a lot of patience.

Appearance of the French Bulldog dog breed

The French bulldog is a small dog, its weight ranging from 8 kilograms in females to 14 in males. It has a solid and massive physical structure, which has earned it the name of little Hercules. It is a typical small molossoid; the trunk is well defined and muscular, the limbs are short in front and long and muscular behind. It has a thick tail at the base, which tapers at the end.

The head is typically brachycephalic, with folds on the skin. The jaw is broad, wide and square, very powerful. The lower one is more forward than the upper, The face and muzzle are short with a flattened nose and the unmistakable bat-like ears, enlarged at the base and rounded at the tip, giving it a rather funny appearance. The dark, large, rounded, slightly protruding eyes reveal an attentive gaze.

The coat is short and well adhered to the body, shiny and soft; it may be fawn, tigerish, white with tigerish patches and also white with fawn patches.

Health and care of the French Bulldog dog breed

Due to its morphology and genetic issues, it is a very delicate dog that tends to suffer from particular diseases. They are brachycephalic and therefore have breathing problems, due to alterations in the normal passage of air through the airways, and sometimes even to their complete obstruction, which forces them to undergo surgery as puppies so that they can breathe.

This also leads them to be intolerant of exercise, as this causes them great fatigue, as well as a tendency to regurgitation, night apnoea, breathing noises and recurrent otitis.

They suffer a lot from heat and cold, so they should absolutely not be exposed to either. As for the skin, the French Bulldog tends to suffer from dermatitis, especially in the folds on its muzzle, which must be cleaned often.

There may also be some spinal problems due to his slightly rounded back.

He is not a good swimmer, so it is important to monitor him when he is near a body of water, as he has difficulty swimming as his head is very heavy in proportion to the rest of his body and he can easily drown.

As far as his diet is concerned, he is not a dog that tends to be overweight and even if he does little exercise a controlled diet is sufficient.

As for the care of his coat, he needs very little attention; a weekly brush to remove dead hair and a bath when absolutely necessary, as his coat contains natural oils to keep it clean on its own.