French Bulldog Breed Guide

The French Bulldog, often affectionately called the "Frenchie," is a small but sturdy dog breed known for its distinctive bat-like ears, muscular build, and friendly demeanor. Fun and spunky, pet owners around the world love the Frenchie for its willingness to play and ability to serve as both an adventure buddy and cuddly home companion. Read on for an in-depth guide to this lovable breed!

French Bulldog fun facts

• You might hear people refer to the French Bulldog as a “Frog Dog” — this comes from their funny way of laying down with their back legs splayed out straight behind them and their round face, just like a frog!
• The French Bulldog lives an average of 10 to 12 years and stays around 8 to 10 lbs. throughout its lifetime (when at a healthy weight) once fully grown.
• There’s actually no French in the French Bulldog. At least not in its early days, as the breed is originally from England — not France.
• They tend to be very … gassy. Their flat faces, and tendency to eat quickly, allows air into their digestive tract which, like it or not, has to find a way out.
• This breed isn’t generally considered a frequent barker. But Frenchies do like to “talk” and make a variety of unique noises while conversing with their humans. So be prepared for some interesting conversations.
• Originally bred for companionship, French Bulldogs take this role very seriously and make wonderful sidekicks to their human. Known for their goofy and entertaining play style, they also love to snuggle up and relax on your couch, which will ultimately be their couch.
• Breeding French Bulldogs can be difficult, as most French Bulldog puppies need to be delivered by Cesarean section (owing to the broadness of their head and shoulders relative to their smaller body size and the width of the female’s pelvic canal). Most are also conceived via artificial insemination, as opposed to natural mating, again due to body conformation challenges.
• In 2022, French Bulldogs were the most popular dog breed in North America.

History of the French Bulldog

Some believe Frenchies can be traced back to the mastiff-type dogs kept by an ancient Greek tribe called the Molassians — spread throughout the world by Phoenician traders. Many of these large dogs were used in sporting contests against bulls and other animals. When this practice was banned in England in 1835, many of the breeders shifted their focus to create a breed more suitable as a companion dog.

Companion dogs of the time were generally small, so the larger, 1800s English Bulldogs were crossed with Terriers (and possibly the Pug as well) to create a “Toy Bulldog.” Interestingly, this miniature breed became popular with the lace workers of Nottingham, England. Ultimately, the lace workers were pushed out of England by the Industrial Revolution and made their way to France. And that’s how the Frenchie finally made it to France.

The people of France, particularly high society, were rather smitten with these unique, stalky companion dogs. At that time, the floppy, bat-like ears we love in today’s French Bulldogs did not meet The Kennel Club’s breed standard. And English breeders saw an opportunity to export these little guys to France, where these puppies were all the rage. As often happens when breeds are introduced into a new culture, these toy Bulldogs were crossed again with small terriers. The result was the Bouledogue Francais, or French Bulldog — quite the status symbol.

Changes over time

When the new French Bulldog was imported back to England, there was pushback from traditional English breeders. Their concern — English-bred Bulldogs had rose ears folding at the tip, as we see today. They did not want the French and English breeds to mix. Both rose-eared and bat-eared French Bulldogs were entered in shows. But judges primarily chose rose-eared members of the breed as the winners.

In the late 1800s, American travelers started their love affair with the French Bulldog, preferring the large bat ears. This is how they made their way to the United States. And this move from across the pond is what prompted the breed standard we see today. In 1898, American owners of the breed boycotted the Westminster Dog Show. They weren’t happy Frenchies with both kinds of ears were allowed to participate, despite the French Bulldog Club of America requiring a bat ear as the breed standard. In an epic “shade-throwing” move, the club hosted their own swanky dog show at the Waldorf-Astoria, only allowing French Bulldogs with bat ears to participate. From there, the popularity of the breed (with the official bat ears) grew quickly, especially among the East Coast elite.

North American French Bulldog history

After their bat-eared American debut in the late 1800s, Frenchies were quite popular for the next few decades. Their popularity began to wane after World War I, thanks to the rise of the Boston Terrier as the new star of brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds. French Bulldogs also had trouble giving birth to their puppies naturally and didn’t do well during the summer heat.

Sadly, there were only 100 French Bulldogs registered with the AKC in 1940. And only 106 registered twenty years later in 1960. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the Frenchie experienced a jump in popularity that continues today. By 1990 there were 632 registered French Bulldogs and over 5,500 in 2006.

In 2018, the French Bulldog held the spot of 4th most popular dog breed in the United States based on AKC registrations, going on to reach the No. 1 spot in 2022.

Get to know the French Bulldog

The French Bulldog is easy to recognize with its friendly demeanor and unique look. Hallmarks of the breed's appearance include:

• Large, bat-like ears
• Flat-face (brachycephalic) and narrow nostrils
• Stocky and muscular build

Often referred to as the "Frenchie," this fun-loving breed can go from the life of the party to asleep in your favorite chair in no time. They’re playful and entertaining, not to mention extremely affectionate and loyal to their humans.

Similar dog breeds to the Frenchie include:

• English Bulldog
• Boston Terrier
• Pug

French Bulldog behavior and training

French Bulldogs were bred as companion dogs and are experts at it. Their silly and entertaining personalities are endearing. And their eagerness to please makes training fun and successful, as long as their owner is positive, consistent, and patient. They also make great little guard dogs and will alert you when something or someone is afoot.

Frenchies do have some strong opinions, and they aren’t afraid to show it. While some call this “stubborn,” the breed’s lineage includes bulldogs and terriers, bred to be hard-working and able to think independently. It’s all about building solid, positive training habits that begin when they are a puppy and discovering your Frenchie’s particular motivators.

French Bulldogs do best with consistent positive reinforcement training. Many of these pups love working for food, but also find toys and play with their human very rewarding.

Training myths vs. reality

Many people describe French Bulldogs as being a “stubborn” breed and hard to train. It all comes down to knowing what motivates them and using that to your advantage. They are descendants of the bulldog and terrier breeds that were created specifically for working independently and not giving up, so some hard-headedness is to be expected. With positive reinforcement training methods and consistency, a Frenchie is a joy to train and will be an excellent companion.

Frenchies can also be sensitive to harsh scolding or yelling. Punishments, whether verbal or physical, not only damage the relationship between a Frenchie and their owner but also tend not to work in the long run. Often, it creates long-term behavioral issues. By focusing on teaching a Frenchie what to do, rather than on unwanted behaviors, they will be well-behaved, flat-faced rock stars.

Socialization

While Frenchies are known for their outgoing and social nature, proper proactive exposure to new sights, sounds, people, dogs, and other animals as a young puppy is essential for their socialization skills.

French Bulldogs are a frequent breed choice for families with children. They’re outgoing, rugged, and can tolerate the physical handling of young kids. Make sure they have been properly introduced and socialized with children as a young puppy to set them up for success. Young children and dogs should always be supervised, and it’s helpful for a dog to have their own “safe space” where they can go when they need some quiet time.

When it comes to animal buddies in the home, it’s once again, all about socialization. As long as they have been properly socialized and introduced, French Bulldogs can enjoy and benefit from the companionship of other animals. Just remember, they tend to have a high-energy, rough and tumble play style — they might be small, but they play hard! Early socialization during puppyhood helps French Bulldogs learn proper play. And it’s important to always supervise play between a Frenchie and other dogs to keep it fun for everyone.

Mental enrichment and exercise

Mental enrichment is important for Frenchies, not only to keep them entertained but also to help prevent separation anxiety. Stimulate their brains by teaching new tricks, attending obedience classes, joining a dog sport, and providing dog puzzles and interactive toys. These activities are a great way to provide an outlet for all that French Bulldog puppy energy.

French Bulldogs need daily exercise. But due to their flat-faces and breathing difficulties, it’s essential to make sure they don’t overdo it. A little outside playtime or short walks are a great way to keep a Frenchie in good shape. Never exercise them in warmer temperatures or when it’s humid outside, and provide lots of breaks and water. Frenchies should always be monitored for heatstroke symptoms, which include: rapid panting, drooling, bright red tongue or gums, and trouble breathing.

Common behavioral issues

Frenchie puppies are known to take to house training slower than other breeds, though most get the hang of it by 6 to 9 months of age. Because Frenchies love their humans so much, they are prone to separation anxiety if they aren’t taught at a young age that being away from their human is nothing to worry about. Spending some time on this potential problem early on will save you and your Frenchie many anxious days.

Activities for French Bulldogs

French Bulldogs enjoy activities that keep them close to their humans, including:

• Rally Obedience
• Conformation (dog shows)
• Trick Training
• Scent Work

Health and breed care

Due to their flat faces, French Bulldogs are at higher risk of respiratory issues and related health concerns. If a French Bulldog has narrowed nostrils, a component of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), some people will elect to have a surgical procedure done to widen the nostrils (and correct other potential anatomical abnormalities of BOAS) to improve their dog’s ability to breathe and decrease their risks of suffering from heatstroke.

It's important to talk with your veterinarian about your French Bulldog's particular risks related to Brachycephaly and your options. It's also a good idea to protect your pet with dog insurance in order to help with any surprise veterinary costs that can come up during your pup's life.

Grooming maintenance

Frenchies sport a short, smooth coat and come in a variety of colors, from white to cream to brindle (often referred to as tiger stripe) or piebald (a specific dappled coat). You’ll also see fawn-colored Frenchies (a light tan coat with a black mask). And while there are other “specialty” colors for French Bulldogs, such as blue, solid black, black and white, or merle, these are disqualifying colors according to the breed’s AKC standards.

French Bulldogs need weekly brushing, which helps evenly distribute the natural oils in their coat and remove any dirt and shedding fur. Regular bathing is recommended for this breed as well, with special care to keep their face wrinkles clean and dry, to keep the yeast and bacterial populations in check and prevent uncomfortable and recurrent infections. Introduce your Frenchie puppy to the grooming experience from a young age to create a positive association that will make lifelong grooming easy.

Best Brush for French Bulldogs: Bristle brush

French Bulldogs in pop culture

This adorable dog has made more than a few appearances in art and media over the years.

Famous owners of the French Bulldog

• Simone Biles (Gymnast)
• Chrissy Teigan and John Legend (Model/Actress and Musician)
• Carrie Fisher (Actress)
• Jonah Hill (Actor)
• Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (Actor)
• Vernon Davis (Football player)
• Juju Smith-Schuster (Football player)
• Eva Longoria (Actress)
• Martha Stewart (Lifestyle expert)
• Michael Phelps (Swimmer)

Famous French Bulldogs

• Francesca and Sharkey, Martha Stewart’s Frenchies, had their own product line and blog
• Zoe, the San Francisco 49ers official emotional support dog.

French Bulldogs in TV and Movies

• Stella on Modern Family
• Sonny in Due Date
• Mr. Quiggly from the early 2010s Skechers commercial