French Bulldog
Big personality, apartment-sized.
The French Bulldog is a small companion breed with bat ears, a flat face and an outsized personality. Quiet and adaptable, it has become the favourite dog of city dwellers.
Great points
- Quiet and great for apartments
- Affectionate and playful clown
- Low exercise needs
- Minimal coat care
Things to consider
- Breathing problems from the flat face
- Overheats easily and cannot swim well
- Can be stubborn to train
- High vet costs and health issues
The story
Bred down from English Bulldogs by Nottingham lace-makers who carried them to France, the Frenchie became a Parisian cafe icon and is now the city-dweller's favourite companion thanks to its clownish charm and quiet nature.
Training
Frenchies are smart but stubborn, and they bore quickly. Keep sessions short, fun and food-motivated, and use gentle, consistent repetition.
Grooming
Coat care is minimal, just an occasional brush. The real job is cleaning and drying the facial folds often to prevent skin infections.
Food & diet
About 1 to 1.5 cups a day. Frenchies gain weight fast and can be gassy, so a measured, quality diet helps both problems.
Exercise
Short, gentle walks only. As a flat-faced breed they overheat easily and are poor swimmers, so skip exertion in heat.
Health to watch
Breathing trouble (BOAS), spinal disc disease, allergies and heat sensitivity are common. Choose a responsible breeder.
Fun fact. French Bulldogs cannot swim well because of their dense build and flat face, so a doggy life jacket is a must near water.
