The French Bulldog is a small, squat, and compact little dog. This breed is characterized by its heavy head (in proportion to its small body), big expressive eyes, and downturned mouth. While possessed of a wonderful temperament, it is common for these dogs to develop health problems relating to their scrunched up faces. Despite the claims of its name, the French Bulldog is actually believed to be of British origin. It is a descendant of the Toy Bulldog breed that was popular in the 19th century. Later, these dogs were introduced to France and this is how they got their name.
As the dogs were very small, they could be taken on trips around Europe. It is thought that the first Bulldogs in France were taken there by traveling lace makers. It is likely that they were then bred with other squat faced bull baiting dogs – this is how the French Bulldog emerged. The overly large ‘bat like’ ears are a distinct feature of this dog. They add to his comically morose expression. As the mouth is always downturned, this breed has the look of being rather glum, but these dogs tend to be very cheery and affectionate.
They can be bred in one of three colors; brindle, pied, and fawn. The coat is short and easy to maintain. The French Bulldog remains a popular choice for animal lovers, because he is enthusiastic and happy, but not prone to noise.
Training of the French Bulldogs can be a challenge. They are stubborn and rapidly lose interest in repetitive undertakings. Teaching should be undertaken in short sessions, and the usual should be blended up to keep the Frenchie’s interest. Showering a Frenchie with fondness and delicacies when training is the best way to get results from him. Discipline, penalty and yelling will origin this dog to stop listening all together. House training is a long, drawn out method with a French Bulldog. It may take six to eight months to fully train them, and many breeders suggest crating a Frenchies for that time span of time.
French Bulldogs require a couple of 15 minute walks every day to sustain their figure, and a couple of meetings of playing ball to hold them amused. Their size and activity obligations make them good luxury suite canines, but they are just as joyous in a large-scale home or on a farm with allotments of wide open space. Frenchies do not care so much about the dimensions of their home, as they do the dimensions of their proprietors heart. French Bulldogs should not be workout too hard in the summer months, as they have a tendency to heat stroke. Bathing pool proprietors should be attentive – this type can not bathe and dipping into a pool could be life-threatening to a Frenchie.
Origins
As described, the breed first originated during the 19th century when smaller versions of the English Bulldog were taken to France and bred with rougher, more squat dogs. For a long while, the English resented the fact that the new breed was referred to as ‘French,’ but the name stuck and so did their love for the dog.
For a time, the breed was considered very fashionable and a lot French artists, society figures, writers, and designers owned one. However, few early records exist as a document of how the breed continued to change. It is likely that Terrier and Pug stock may have been introduced as a way to develop the long, straight ears and large eyes.
Temperament
The French Bulldog is a cheery, happy, and easy to live with companion. The breed is playful, intelligent, and a little bit cheeky. These dogs do not make much noise, but they are very fond of contact and often have very distinct personalities. They are quite silly and, as a result, get on well with children and other dogs.
These dogs are especially good at being around strangers (people and other pets), so they are a great choice for anybody unwilling to take the risk of investing in a breed that is temperamental around others.On the other hand, the French Bulldog is surprisingly stubborn. It can the difficult to train and requires a lot of patience at first. If an owner does not assert their authority, this tiny little dog is like to become a bit pushy.
The breed is rarely aggressive, but a Frenchie that is owned and not played with or owned and not trained well will develop obstinate characteristics. In other words, if you allow this little dog to push you around, it will not let its size limit its ambitions.
The French Bulldog breed does best with considerate young kids who understand how to brandish correct leadership. This breed may drool and slobber; although a good percentage of them do not. They are furthermore a relentless hunter of mice. Do not permit this sugary little bully to evolve little Dog Syndrome. French Bulldogs doesn’t like to be left alone for the long time span of time. Peoples who work long hours should not commit to a French Bulldog, as they can naturally develop separation anxiety. This usually means unrestrained barking while alone, which can alienate friends in close quarters. Normally the French bulldogs have a great temperament.
Size and Exercise
The average French Bulldog is around 12 inches (30cm) tall. It can be bred in two different weight classes. The first spans from 19-22lbs (9-10kg) and the second from 22-28lbs (10-13kg). As far as breeding rules go, anything over 28lbs is considered poor quality.
As the breed is so small, it requires very little space. It will live happily in a small flat or apartment. It needs only a small area in which to exercise, but it does enjoy fetching and clowning around outside.In hot weather, the breed needs to be kept cool and given plenty of water. For walking to be successful and controlled, the owner must train the dog to heel. If no training is given, the stubborn Frenchie will (over) enthusiastically take the lead.
Health issues and Living Conditions
The French Bulldog is at risk of a number of health problems, due to its large head and scrunched up features. This is why the breed tends to be quite a snuffly, snorting one. These dogs make some strange noises. They wheeze and snore and they can have trouble breathing in hot weather. The breed is prone to joint problems, spinal disorders, eye issues, and heart defects. When breeding, the chance of pups having to be surgically delivered is high, because the dogs have such a large head.All in all, French Bulldogs are quite a high maintenance dog and can carry costly vet requirements. If they become overweight, they are in great danger of death, because their abdomens swell and they struggle to breathe.
This breed should not be left unsupervised around bodies of water, as the vast majority of these dogs cannot swim. Their heads are too heavy and they sink to the bottom – this is an important thing to remember for owners with swimming pools. It is also common for French Bulldogs to suffer with food allergies. For this reason, owners are advised to steer clear of corn based ingredients. Some of these dogs are allergic to chicken, but this should be judged according to the individual.
Life Expectancy
French Bulldogs have a life span of approximately 10-12 years.
Grooming
Due to the compacted air way of the French bulldog, they may evolve an incompetence to effectively regulate temperature. Although a normal canine may suffer to some degree from the heat, to a Frenchie it may be deadly. It is essential that they be secured from warmth extremes at all times, and that they habitually have get access to to fresh water and shadow. As they are a brachycephalic breed, French Bulldogs are ostracized by several financial airlines due to the numbers that have died while in the air. This is because canines with snub noses find it difficult to breathe when they are warm and stressed out; the cargo space in an airplane can increase as high as 30C when waiting on the runway. French bulldogs can furthermore suffer from an assortment of back and spinal infections, most of which are likely associated with the detail that they were selectively chosen from the dwarf demonstrations of the bulldog breed. This condition is also mentioned to as chondrodysplasia. Some breeders seem that only canines that have been x-rayed and checked for spinal anomalies should be propagated.
Caring for French Bulldog Puppies
The puppies of this breed are extremely playful and energetic. They do not bark much, but they love to run around outside and are very mischievous. However, they are also frustratingly stubborn and it can take a long time to housebreak French Bulldog babies. You should expect around 4-6 months of constant training, in order to housebreak a new addition. With patience, the process does pay off, but many owners set themselves back by becoming disheartened and letting training lapse.
Before Taking a French Bulldog Home for the First Time
You should be aware that walking this breed requires a full chest harness. These dogs do not responds well to collars, because they restrict breathing. They do not require a lot of space, so a small bed is more than enough. It is best to always have a trusted veterinarian on hand for advice if you own a French Bulldog. They are prone to health problems, but the faster these issues are identified and dealt with, the more chance the dog has of living a stress and pain free life. Once your puppy has begun to settle in, make sure that he is comfortable by maintaining a calm and friendly atmosphere. This is not a noisy breed. It will bark when scared or as a way to announce visitors, but will otherwise remain quiet. While these dogs are good with strangers, if you choose to adopt a very young animal, you will need to introduce other people and pets in a calm way, so as not to frighten him. However, it should not take long for a Frenchie to feel at home.
Recognition
French Bulldog are recognized by different organizations such as CKC, AKC , UKC, FCI, CKC, KCGB, ANKC, NZKC, NKC, APRI, ACR, CCR,NAPR and DRA.
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