French Bulldog

French Bulldog

Frenchies are fun-loving little dogs that love being with their favourite people. 

Breed at a glance

Weight
8-14 kg
Size
Medium
Shedding
Minimal
Exercise needs
60-90 mins
Grooming needs
Low
Sociable with pets
Low
Life expectancy
10-12 years
Training
Moderately easy

Stop and think before getting a brachycephalic flat-faced dog

Breeds like this have extreme conformation, including exaggerated body features or a flat face and shorter nose (brachycephalic). These characteristics can negatively affect their health and welfare in various ways, and you may face higher insurance and veterinary costs. For these reasons, we wouldn’t recommend buying this type of dog. See here for more information.

If you decide to go ahead, please consider rescuing a dog in need rather than buying a puppy.

What our experts want you to know

French Bulldogs or ‘Frenchies’ are a very desirable little breed. Their popularity has impacted their poor health status through breeders with pound signs in their eyes. Frenchies were originally bred to be companions, making them a loyal and affectionate breed. They’re best suited to a family who love a bit of fun.

Sue Ketland

Dog behaviour and training specialist

Temperament and personality

Frenchies are fun loving, entertaining dogs that adore playing with their toys. Due to their short noses, they do tend to snore. They are, however, much more active than the English Bulldog, but still very much a lapdog. French Bulldogs need two good walks a day where they can run around and enjoy themselves. Companionship is very important to this breed, they don’t like being left alone for long periods of time, their favourite place to be is wherever you are.

Disclaimer

While these breed traits give a general idea of what to expect from a specific type of dog, it's important to remember that every dog is unique. just like people, each dog comes with their own distinct personality, quirks, and characteristics!

Affectionate:
Sociable with people:
Tendency to bark:
Ability to stay home alone:

Your questions answered by experts

Sue Ketland
Dog behaviour and training specialist
Is this breed a good family dog?
Frenchies like to be included in whatever their family are doing. They’re little dogs that fit right into family life and are even tolerant of children, providing free entertainment! 

Family trips to the park would make a Frenchie a very happy dog.It’s worth noting if you do have young child, that they are prone to several health conditions and sadly, don’t outlive most other breeds.
Is this breed affectionate?
Yes, very! French Bulldogs love social interaction and want to be on or near you all the time.

A Frenchie would love it if you worked from home as they could curl up on your lap and keep you company.

Your friends will need to accept the new four-legged-friend in your life too. They’re such a friendly breed and will want to be all over them when they visit.
Is this breed playful?
This little breed is full of fizz, they love nothing more than darting about and playing for hours. They’re great with other dogs too and can share their home with other canine companions. Frenchies are a pleasure to own and it’s great fun watching their vibrant personalities. With them being so playful, they can get into a pickle if their needs aren’t met.
Does this breed bark a lot?
French Bulldogs bark the same amount as your average dog. Like most, they will certainly let you know if someone’s at the door whether they should or shouldn’t be. They’re not known to cause a nuisance with their barking, so long as their needs are met. They can get very excitable on the lead though and are prone to barking when they see other dogs. Consistent training can minimise this though.
Is this breed more likely to have certain behaviour problems or traits?
Frenchies love you so much that they are prone to developing separation anxiety if they’re left home alone for too long. They’ll be able to cope much better if this is introduced slowly and carefully.

Not everyone is able to handle a Frenchie’s need for attention and physical contact, they might be too clingy for their liking. If they don’t get enough physical and mental exercise in their day, you may have some tricky behaviours to contend with, such as, hyperactivity, destructiveness and nuisance barking.

Whilst Frenchies can live happily with other dogs, some (more so the males) can bark and lunge on the lead towards other dogs. Careful social training and introducing your dog to others when they’re young can help with this reaction.
What does this breed need from a home?
French Bulldogs don’t need much indoor space. Your space is their space, and they will be by your side like a shadow. If they do have access to a medium sized garden they can run around when they please while keeping safe. If they’re introduced from an early age, Frenchies can happily live with other dogs and pets. These little guys need a family that understand their needs for companionship, exercise and fun-filled lifestyle.
How much exercise does this breed need?
A fit Frenchie from a responsibly bred litter only needs a good hour of exercise a day. This can be spread out across the day as two 30–40-minute walks. Remember, it’s not just their little legs and bodies that need exercise, they like to work their brains too!

Care must be taken during warm weather as Frenchies are vulnerable to heat exhaustion which can be dangerous.
Is this breed easy to train?
All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Frenchies are smart and enjoy learning new tricks. They don’t always make training easy for you, but if they’re suitably motivated, they can achieve a moderate level of obedience.

Make the most of the time you have with them while they’re young to tackle their training. It’s important to get your dog used to everything they may encounter day-to-day, like other dogs, animals, strangers and road noise.

Home alone training is essential for this breed as they don’t like being away from you.
Grooming needs
Luckily, French Bulldogs do not shed much fur, so they don’t need as much grooming. However, they’re known for their scrunchy, wrinkled faces which need to be cleaned at least once a week, though some may need it daily.
Health Conditions
Due to their poor hereditary health, it’s essential to buy a French Bulldog from a respectable breeder who carries out full health screening of the dogs they breed from.

Unfortunately, Frenchies are prone to several health conditions including breathing problems, skin and ear infections, various eye conditions, hip dysplasia, luxating Patellas (when the kneecap dislocates out of the normal groove), heart problems and dental disease. All this can be very expensive to treat.

Frenchies are also more vulnerable to heat stroke than other breeds because of their short noses, so take extra care in warm weather.

What do I need from you?

Activity needs

All I need is two good walks a day for me to run and play. I also like to use my brain to keep me happy and healthy.

Mental stimulation

Puzzle feeders, toys and basic training sessions are enough to keep me happy and out of mischief. As long as I’m having fun, all will be good with the world.

Training needs

I am not interested in winning any obedience titles, I just want to learn how to please you and need your help to be a good friend.

What will this pet cost you?

You can expect to pay up to £3000 for a French Bulldog from a respected breeder. Add on the set-up costs which can be another several hundred pounds. This includes food, bed, bowls, collar, lead, harness, toys, puppy pen and baby-gates.

With their extensive list of potential health conditions, pet insurance is essential, but this can cost on average twice as much to insure as most other breeds.

Haven't taken the dog quiz yet?

Take our quiz to discover which breed is right for you

Take our quiz

Still need help with your dog and want to speak to someone?

Please call our pet support line on 0300 303 9333 (7 days a week – 8.30am - 4pm)

Helping pets and their people
★ Win £150