Dog blog
What do you need to Know before bringing French bulldog free to good home?
French Bulldogs(or Frenchies) are one of the most popular dog breeds in the US since they are small, affectionate, cute, and intelligent — making exceptional apartment dogs!
In contrast to their name, French Bulldogs have their roots in England. This breed was a smaller, toy-sized version of the Bulldog having an initial purpose of lap warmers for the lacemakers in England. When the industry spread and reached France, the lacemakers moved to France and carried their bulldogs.
That was the moment when this breed got famous as the ‘French Bulldog, and that’s how we know them today!
However, French Bulldogs have got more than their popularity and eluding history. There are some things you need to know before you bring home a French Bulldog so that you don’t end up being surprised or not ready for what you signed up for!
If it’s the French Bulldog that you have on your future pet wish list, this article is so meant for you!
1. French Bulldogs have laid-back, awesome personalities
As mentioned above, French Bulldogs have a history of making good companions with humans and also with other pets or animals. That means you are completely safe to go with a French bulldog if you have a family with kids or even a tiny apartment because these dogs go really well in small places, and they get along well with almost anything and anyone.
A Frenchie appears chunky and glum, but they are more lively, entertaining, and frisky than you can imagine. This is especially true for the little pups, whose favorite sport is ball chasing.
They enjoy the attention, and they know how to reciprocate love and affection. They don’t bark much, but their large, expressive eyes say it all!
💡 What about the English Bulldog- How is it Different?
Concerning the appearance, English Bulldog is a few inches taller than the Frenchie. While Frenchies are all happy and playful animals, the same goes with the English Bulldog, but they are a bit aggressive toward other animals.
The English Bulldog likes to play as well as its French cousin, but he prefers to lay at the feet of a favorite human and save their energy.
Although he is a little too big to be a lap dog, he adores laying his head on your legs in exchange for comfort and love.
2. French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic/short-nosed Dog Breed
Here comes the most adorable thing about the appearance of a French Bulldog – the cutest short nose in canine history! But there are some things you must know about it first.
French Bulldog is a breed with a shorter snout than other dogs. As you’ve probably already noticed, the structures in its face look kind of like ‘pushed in’, and that makes breathing difficult for this little fella.
They breathe easier through the mouth than their nose and may have respiratory issues such as narrowed airways, elongated soft palate, or formations in the voice box that can hinder respiration.
These respiratory difficulties, when paired up with hot weather and physical exertion, might get you in trouble if not cautiously supervised.
When on a leash, avoid using a collar for your Frenchie, and use a harness instead. It helps reduce pressure as compared to what a collar offers. And keep in mind to always monitor your dogs’ physical activity.
This unique airway construction and gene composition actually make them prone to developing respiratory illnesses, in addition to prolific snoring.
You will even find them snorting and wheezing very often. So, if you are a quiet-pet type of person, a French Bulldog may not be ideal for you.
💡 Other Miscellaneous Health Conditions associated with a Frenchie French bulldog free to good home
Apart from the brachycephaly or the brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS) we discussed above, there is something else that you should know:
The Intervertebral Disc Herniation – Intervertebral disc disease or slip disk is quite common in the French Bulldogs. When this happens, the dog will experience severe back pain, mobility problems, low hanging head, and a rounded back.
3. French Bulldogs are Prone to Overheating
Dogs normally regulate their body temperatures by breathing heavily. But in this particular case, French bulldogs come with different respiratory anatomy that features narrow airways and nasal passages and a short mouth.
Therefore, they are unable to withstand heat or humid environments for too long. As a result, this and their breathing particularities may lead to severe problems in hot, humid climates.
So, keeping your Frenchie cool is another responsibility that you sign up for when bringing home a French Bulldog.
But there is something else you must know…
You cannot use a pool to cool down your Frenchie! Although many dogs love swimming, French Bulldogs are bad swimmers! This again owes to their compromised respiratory system. Always remember that a Frenchie is unable to breathe properly while paddling in the water.
French Bulldogs face problems in swimming due to their barrel-shaped, heavy body as well, and that brings the risk of drowning too.
All summed up: you cannot use a pool day to cool our Frenchie down! Get an air-conditioner instead.
4. French Bulldogs are Difficult with their Weight Management
The weight of a male French Bulldog should not exceed 28 pounds, and 24 pounds for a female. It is just a rough number since a Frenchie with a smaller build will be overweight at this number.
Maintaining a normal body weight is probably the most important parameter to take care of when it comes to a dog pet, and it is crucial in the case of the French Bulldogs because they gain weight very quickly.
Therefore, its daily physical activity along with diet patterns need strict supervision. Use a reward & punishment system to give your dog his favorite treats. Otherwise, use foods specially formulated for French Bulldogs.
If you do not take care of this aspect, obesity can exacerbate the symptoms of its brachycephalic disease, and the consequences will be painful for both of you.
💡 How do I know if my Frenchie is getting Overweight?
Height to weight charts can help you a lot. But genetics and breed matter a lot. Since these are small dogs, a range of weights for a certain age and height can be misleading. For that, remember the following:
- Your pup should have an hour-glass shaped body. An oval body is indicative of weight gain.
- You should be able to palpate its ribs. But the ribs should not be visible. Otherwise, it will indicate that your Frenchie is skinny or underweight. If you cannot feel its ribs, you need a new diet plan.
- Your doggo should be able to endure a certain level of physical exertion. If you observe a decline in the endurance of your pup, worry about its weight.
5. Socializing and Playtime is Important
Frenchies are amicable, cooperative, friendly dogs who thrive on your love and attention. At the same time, they are very protective of their owners.
That’s why you must expose them to people and other pets to make them comfortable around them. Take them for a walk to a public park daily. Again, positive training is the key. And you will get a confident, well-rounded pup in no time.
French Bulldogs are recommended to those people and families who find themselves at home most of the time. Because they love their owner more than anything and are super possessive, you will see your Frenchie following you everywhere around the house.
And that’s why when they are left alone for long periods, they suffer from separation anxiety. Separation anxiety makes them do anything to find their owner, even if they hurt themselves in the process. That may, at times, seem to you a behavioral problem.
You can tell when your Frenchie has separation anxiety: they wreak havoc!
6. The Average Lifespan of a French Bulldog
French Bulldogs, on average, can live a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 14 years. But to have an optimum life expectancy, taking care of the health of your Frenchie is very important. You will be doing your dog and yourself a great favor by giving him treats only sparingly so that he does not put on weight.
Monitor its temperature, physical activity, and exertion so that its respiratory problems don’t exacerbate. Give your attention and physical affection. It is probably the best treatment for your Frenchie!
💡When is a French Bulldog Full Grown?
Till six months of age, Frenchie Bulldog grows rapidly. Their growth begins to slow down till it eventually stops altogether when your dog becomes one year of age. So, your Frenchie will get to its full size at 12 or 13 months of age.
After that, it will only grow in its muscular strength, wrinkles, and mass. But height and overall size will remain almost the same. A full-grown Frenchie weighs 11 kg to 13 kg in weight and measures 28 cm to 30.5 cm in height.
Things to Know When Training a French Bulldog
Training your French Bulldog is very important, maybe more than any other dog breed. In brief, because they are very stubborn and strong-headed, French Bulldogs have to be trained at a very early age.
You will be the one paying the price if you don’t set your Frenchie’s boundaries on time. But the good news is, despite their stubborn nature, French Bulldogs are easy to train. If you set up a schedule and be consistent, it won’t take more than a few weeks.
While training a Frenchie, positive behavior is fundamental. Don’t give in to their stubbornness, but do not punish them either! Instead, use rewards such as treats and cuddles for the positive reinforcement of their good behavior.
Things to know when taking a Frenchie for Exercise
Diet patterns and exercise schedules are important for the well-being of a dog. With a Frenchie, since it is prone to obesity, it is even more critical. But it gets tricky when the brachycephaly of French Bulldog comes in.
When taking the little pup for exercise or playtime outdoors, make sure you start with a somewhat quiet place with fewer people and animal pets.
You can let him play alone in your backyard by giving him some toys, or you can play together.
Let your pooch decide your pace when on a walk. Exhausting little Frenchie will bring more harm than good. Be even more cautious in hot weather! Mornings and evenings are the best for outdoor activities with your doggo.
Remember to keep some water with you all the time, and don’t forget to interact with him physically. It is crucial for its mental health.
Are Fluffy French Bulldogs a Thing?
Yes. Fluffy French bulldogs are a thing – one of the most lovable things that have been seen in the doggy world so far.
Fluffy French Bulldogs or the long-haired French Bulldogs carry a rare autosomal recessive gene from one of their parents, and that’s how they get their long hair. The hair makes them look like lions, and hairy and fluffy!
They are different from the purebred ones and are now available at kennels in the US too.
However, if you haven’t seen a fluffy French Bulldog before, here’s a picture that best describes their fluffiness overload:
Our verdict
We don’t blame you if you absolutely fell in love with the French Bulldog breed because you have every reason to do so! If you are ready to welcome a Frenchie in your life, remember that you must take care of his deity, possible respiratory problems, daily training, and other aspects that you cannot overlook.
You can get your much desired French Bulldog either by adopting or buying. If you want to buy, we recommend avoiding pet shops and searching for a responsible breeder in your area.
To locate the right person to give you a healthy puppy, you will need to do some deep research first because many unethical breeders will try to fool you to get your money by selling you sick and unsocialized puppies.
To be sure you make the right choice, check our article on how to find a responsible breeder first.
