French Bulldog

History of the French Bulldog breed

French bulldogs, despite the name, were bred in England. In the XIX century, breeders decided to create a breed of companion dog, which could be easily kept in urban conditions. Artisans, seamstresses, lace makers did not miss the opportunity to get a mischievous pet, which pleased the owners with a light disposition and funny habits. To breed such a dog, breeders selected the smallest English bulldogs, crossed them with terriers, pugs . That's how the modern breed appeared.

In the second half of the XIX century, the demand for manual labor greatly decreased due to the rapid development of manufactories. Many English workers moved to France, taking their beloved dogs. According to another version, the bulldogs were brought here by traders. The good-natured nature, the ability to catch small rodents and unusually large erect ears instantly attracted the attention of the French public to this breed.

In Paris, the first owners, or rather owners, of small bulldogs were courtesans. There are a lot of photo postcards with naked or semi-naked women posing with their pets. Very quickly, the fashion for these dogs spread in high society, as also evidenced by numerous pictures. Since the 80s of the XIX century, a real boom in the popularity of the breed began. At that time, Paris was already the fashion capital of the world, so the whole world soon learned about French bulldogs. In 1890, dogs were brought to the USA, and 7 years later the FBDCA (French Bulldog Club of America) was established.

French bulldogs made their debut to the general public at the English exhibition in 1896, where they won the admiration of many dog breeders. Breeders became interested in breeding these dogs. The popularity of the breed grew rapidly, and in 1913 about a hundred French bulldogs arrived at the Westminster exhibition. Initially, these dogs were called Bouledogue Francais, but at the beginning of the twentieth century the name was changed to French Bulldog. The Kennel Club in 1905 recognized the breed as independent, separating it from the English bulldogs.

In the 20s of the twentieth century, these cute pets came to the territory of Russia, but since puppies were very expensive, only representatives of the nobility and just rich people could afford a French bulldog. One of the most famous fans of the French bulldogs was Fyodor Chaliapin. Over time, the popularity of these dogs declined, but they still managed to take 21st place in the popularity rating among 167 breeds registered by the AKC.

There is a beautiful legend that a French bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe, being a pet of one of the passengers of the Titanic, managed to escape from a shipwreck and even find a new owner. However, this is only half the truth – archival records confirm the presence of a bulldog on board, but he failed to survive. Since the dog was insured, its owner received an impressive compensation – more than 20 thousand dollars. Another representative of the breed that went down in history under sad circumstances was Ortipo, the favorite of Princess Tatiana Nikolaevna (daughter of Nicholas II). The dog died together with the owner during the execution of the royal family.

Video: French Bulldog

Appearance of French bulldogs

The standard for French Bulldogs was developed by the time the exhibitions with their participation began. The main criteria allow you to select the best representatives of the breed: healthy, suitable for show and breeding.

Dimensions

These are small, compact dogs. Adult males weigh about 10-15 kg, females – 8-12 kg. The height at the withers is not officially limited by the standard, but usually it does not exceed 25-35 cm.

Wool

The coat of French bulldogs is smooth, shiny and thin, the cover fits well to the body and has no undercoat, so for walking in frosts, the dog should be insulated.

Torso

The French bulldog has a strong square build. The back and hind legs are muscular and strong.

Front legs

The forelimbs are slightly shorter than the hind ones, which visually makes the dog slightly stooped. Because of this feature, pets like to lie in a funny pose – stretching their hind legs back. The weighted body and short paws do not allow the French bulldog to swim (it can stay on the water vertically and gets tired quickly).

Head

Is wide and square, so the representatives of the breed have a snack. Some puppies are born with an elongated or split soft palate.

Muzzle

There are wrinkles characteristic of the breed on the forehead, turning into symmetrical concentric folds closer to the middle, the muzzle is short. A small nose is flattened and turned up. The forehead has a convex profile, the neck is covered with folds. The eyes are large, round with a friendly expression. Breathing is difficult, accompanied by sounds similar to grunting.

Ears

The hearing organs are large, erect, rounded at the ends.

Color options

Fawn, white, black, brindle, spotted, beige, white-brindle, blue (not recognized by all associations), cream.

French bulldog photo

The character and habits of the French bulldog

Dogs of this breed are great for staying with a family. Wonderful character, playfulness and friendliness – that's what has always made French bulldogs so popular. Pets are very fond of all family members, big and small. At a young age, it is an active and temperamental dog, over time it becomes more sluggish and imposing. The French bulldog craves the owner's constant attention, active games and affection, so it is not recommended to start elderly or overly busy people.

Cheerful character, the ability to do without long walks and ease of care make the pet a good option for inexperienced dog breeders. Such a companion will be happy to entertain family members and guests, brightening up even the most gloomy day. The French bulldog feels the mood well, so if the owner feels bad, he will try to please him or just sit next to him. Despite its compact size, the dog is ready to stand up for himself and his owner in case of a threat from other people or animals.

Dogs of this breed do not like to be alone for a long time. The animal begins to yearn and bully, a constant feeling of loneliness can make it more aggressive, wayward. The French bulldog gets along well with other pets, if they do not force him to defend himself. But on the street, a Frenchman often conflicts with unfamiliar dogs and cats, so much attention should be paid to training, socialization.

Education and training

It is not easy to train French bulldogs, because by nature they are stubborn, they quickly get bored with repetitive actions. Experienced experts advise you to always use treats for encouragement, using short training cycles. Especially stubborn representatives of the breed can be trained by building a training process in the form of a game. It is advisable to take a course of UGS from a professional dog handler.

French bulldogs are sentimental, have a good memory. In order for the puppy to adapt to the new home faster, ask the breeder for a toy or a thing already familiar to the baby. Education should begin from the very first day, despite the tender age of a four-legged friend. Do not succumb to the charm of cute eyes – calmly, but firmly designate your own leadership. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to cope with the dog in the future – adults practically do not change their character throughout their lives. Immediately show the dog the tray (toilet), the place where his bowl is located, the area for games and recreation. The kid can be taught the commands "To me", "Not allowed" and "Fu" pretty quickly. These are the basic orders that will help in communicating with the dog, even if you are not going to train it in any special way.

Until about 8 months old, the puppy will actively test the owner for strength, trying to gain leadership. Strictly stop hooliganism and aggression, but never hit the dog, give up shouting, profanity. An authoritative voice is enough for punishment. If the puppy does everything right, do not forget to praise him, surround the pet with care – this will speed up the learning process, prevent bitterness. Soon the dog will finally come to terms with the main role of a person, becoming a devoted friend.

The worldview and character are fully formed in the French bulldog by the age of 16 weeks. Up to this point, it is important to socialize the pet as best as possible, to train teams, to accustom to hygienic and cosmetic procedures.

Care and maintenance

• Brush your pet 1-2 times a week with a brush for short-haired animals or a special glove. This will help to make a useful massage, remove dead hair, street dust.
• Bathing an animal with a special shampoo is enough several times a year. After water procedures, dry the body well with a towel, you can use a hair dryer if the dog is not afraid of it.
• You need to brush your teeth with a specialized paste about 1 time a week. This procedure can be replaced by buying a French bulldog special bones that help remove plaque and stone.
• Regularly watch your ears – due to their anatomical structure, little sulfur accumulates, but dirt and insects get in easily. Once a week, clean them with a cotton swab or swab. Remember that there should be no liquid in the ears, a sharp unpleasant smell.
• It is enough to trim the claws 1 time a month, smoothing the tips with a nail file. Carry out the procedure carefully so as not to hook the capillaries.
• Watch out for skin folds on the muzzle – food particles and dirt often get there. It is necessary to wipe them once a day with a soft wet cloth, to prevent the formation of diaper rash.
• Light-colored bulldogs have a small amount of discharge from the eyes. This is normal, but it is advisable to clean up all dirt carefully. If there is increased tearfulness, clouding of the eyes, contact the veterinarian immediately – an infection or allergy is possible.
• The French bulldog breed is not demanding to the conditions of physical activity – in a spacious apartment a dog can live practically without walking. This greatly simplifies its maintenance in urban conditions. But the less the pet moves, the more carefully the menu should be compiled.

Power Features

French bulldogs require careful diet selection, as they are prone to gastrointestinal problems, food allergies and obesity. Choose high-quality ready-made dry food only holistic and super premium. Buy a bowl with a vertical height-adjustable stand for your pet, provide access at the level of the dog's chest. This will make drinking and eating more convenient. Change the water every day, remove the remains of the feed immediately.

If you plan natural feeding, stick to the list of recommended foods:

• raw lean meat, cut into pieces;
• boiled sea fish without bones;
• porridge;
• seasonal vegetables and fruits (primarily green);
• chicken eggs;
• fermented milk products (cause diarrhea in some dogs).

Completely exclude fatty meat, river fish, smoked meats, sweets, bakery products, gas-forming products (beans, cabbage) from the dog's diet. Puppies up to 2 months are fed 6 times a day, at 3 months – 5 times a day, at 4-7 months – 4 times, at 8-12 months – 3 times. In a year, you can switch to two meals a day. Control the portion size, as French bulldogs tend to overeat. Do not give very hot or cold food / drink.

Health and diseases of the French bulldog

The life expectancy of dogs of this breed with proper care is 10-13 years. Individuals reach the age of 14 or more years, but this is rare. In general, French bulldogs have quite good health, although there are several common diseases.

• Skin – in the absence of care, dermatitis may develop in the skin folds of the muzzle or between the fingers.
• Dog eyes are prone to conjunctivitis, blepharitis, glaucoma, cataracts. Sometimes there is such an anomaly as the third eyelid.
• Back – many pets suffer from problems with intervertebral discs. This is due to the fact that the breed was bred with the help of the smallest representatives of English bulldogs, which can hardly be called a standard of health.
• Reproductive system – anatomical features complicate natural insemination and childbirth. Most of the puppies appear by Caesarean section.
• Thermoregulation – a flattened muzzle negatively affects heat exchange. Dogs are equally sensitive to heat and frost. Some airlines prohibit these animals from transportation, because they often die in flights.
• Breathing – even in the waking state, French bulldogs emit a slight grunting, at night it can turn into a powerful snore. Obese animals are particularly susceptible to this.
• Allergies – most often pets are susceptible to food reactions.

How to choose a puppy

If you intend to buy a French bulldog puppy, take the time to find a reliable kennel that has been tested by a large number of buyers. The only way you can buy a dog:

• thoroughbred;
• without serious genetic defects;
• vaccinated;
• with a stable psyche (not timid, not aggressive).

Additionally, the new owner receives a puppy card, pedigree and vaccination book. Pay attention to the habits of the future pet. It should be a moderately well-fed puppy, active, brave, playful. Ears, eyes should be clean, hair without bald spots. It is recommended to take a baby from the age of 8, even better 10-12 weeks. Be sure to ask about the character and habits of the parents – many traits are transmitted genetically.

Photos of French bulldog puppies

How much does a French bulldog cost

The price of a French bulldog largely depends on the pedigree. The average cost of a puppy ranges from $200-$700. Pets for the show can be even more expensive. Remember that it is better to overpay for a healthy, well-mannered puppy than to treat the dog for a long time and expensively later, to correct behavior.