Temperament
The French Bulldog is a pleasant, easy care companion. A very playful and affectionate dog. Sweet and absolutely hilarious; they have a very comical personality and love to clown around. It is bright and easygoing. Curious and alert. The Frenchie gets along fairly well with strangers and other animals, but he is often bonds strongly to one person. They play well with other dogs; some males may be dog aggressive, while others get along with other dogs just fine. This breed needs companionship and will not thrive without it. The Frenchie cannot be owned and ignored. They are fairly willful, but can be trained if the owner is patient. They respond to patient, consistent training that DOES NOT include hitting or harsh jerking. They are clean, and companionable, enthusiastic and sometimes do not know when to quite, but they are not yappy and loud. This breed does best with older considerate children. Frenchies are easy going to show. This breed may drool and slobber; however a good percentage of them do not. This little dog is also a ruthless hunter of mice!

Height, Weight
Height: 12 inches (30cm.) There are two weight classes of French Bulldog: 19-22 (9-10kg.) pounds and 22-28 pounds (10-13kg.). Over 28 pounds is a disqualification.

Health Problems
Prone to eye and respiratory problems. If too overweight, the French Bulldog may have trouble breathing, because of a swollen abdomen. They may wheeze, snore and be gassy. It is said breed can not swim because of his physique, so be very careful around swimming pools, however some French Bulldog owners have reported that their dogs can indeed swim. Sometimes bitches must deliver by Cesarean section because of the puppies' large heads. Potential purchasers should be aware that these are high maintenance dogs and you can expect your vet bills can be big.

Living Conditions
Frenchies are sensitive to temperature extremes. Overheating this dog may cause heat stroke. They prefer cooler climates. This breed is good for apartment life. They can be fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard.

Exercise
This flat-nosed breed should not be exercised in hot weather. They love to run and play and can play for hours if you let them. Some have higher energy levels than others.

Life Expectancy
About 10-12 years.

Grooming
Very little grooming is needed. Regular brushings will do. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin
The French Bulldog was originally developed in England as a miniature version of the English Bulldog. In the 1860's, French dog breeders imported some of these very small Bulldogs from Great Britain and bred them with French Terriers. Streetwalkers in France greatly admired the imports and this led to the name French Bulldog. When the breed was eventually brought back to England for exhibition, the English made a big uproar about the name French Bulldog, since the Bulldog was originally an English Breed and because the Bulldog was a traditional symbol of English culture.

Group
Mastiff, AKC Non-Sporting

Recognition
CKC, FCI, AKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

History
French Bulldogs were bred to be a woman's companion and they live up to that heritage. In the late 1800s, English Bulldogs were often bred in a Toy variety, many were not much over ten pounds! They had a variety of earsets - rose, bat and prick. With the Industrial Revolution, many lace workers immigrated to France, taking the little bulldogs with them. There they crossed the dogs with Pugs, terriers and other small breeds, creating the early French Bulldog. Frenchies became the darling of society and were often seen on the arms of prostitutes as they walked the boulevards of France. As is often the case, fashion traveled upwards and the wealthy soon clamoured to have this charming little dog. Many were exported to the United States, where the bat ear was "set" by American enthusiasts. In 1897, the first French Bulldog Club of America specialty show was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Frenchies were all the rage! As many know, a French Bulldog was lost on the Titanic and a Frenchie, Ortino, was the beloved pet of one of the daughters of the Russian Royal family. His remains were found where the entire family was executed.