French Bulldog Dog Breed

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 a young child, that they are prone to several health conditions and sadly, don’t outlive most other breeds.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 understands their needs for companionship, exercise and a fun-filled lifestyle.

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.

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, calmly and politely (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.

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.

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.