French Bulldog: Origins, Character, and Adoption

The French bulldog is a small, stocky dog ​​with a friendly, cheerful personality. It's intelligent, somewhat stubborn, and rather lazy. Beware of the frequent respiratory problems caused by the flattened muzzle typical of brachycephalic breeds. Its ancestors are likely the Molossers of Epirus and the Roman Empire, according to the ENCI (Italian National Association of Dogs), but the breed as we know it today originated from a series of crosses made by Parisian breeders in the 1880s.

Appearance

The French bulldog is a small molosser, with a robust and muscular build, a short and broad muzzle, and broad and powerful jaws.

• The height at the withers is between 27 and 35 cm in males and between 24 and 32 cm in females.
• The weight of males is between 9 and 14 kg, the weight of females between 8 and 13 kg.
• The coat is short and dense, shiny and soft. It can be fawn, brindle, or non-brindle, and may or may not have white markings.

The uniform fawn coat can be light or dark, with occasional white markings. In other cases, the fawn coat may have dark transverse streaks and occasional white markings, more or less extensive. There are also coats with extensive white markings.

 

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Origins

The French Bulldog originated from a series of crosses with English bulldogs made in Parisian neighborhoods by some breeders in the 1880s. In particular, with the crisis in the textile industry in the mid-80th century, skilled lace workers were forced to leave the Nottingham region and emigrate to France, accompanied by their dogs, small bulldogs, who immediately became the darlings of Parisian artists. The first club was founded in 800 in Paris, and the first standard was established in 1898, subsequently revised several times over the following years. Its origins can be traced back to the Molossers of Epirus and the Roman Empire.

Character

This is a sociable and lively dog , loves to play, is alert, docile, and patient. It is also very affectionate towards its owners. It is well-suited to apartment living and loves to rest on the soft, warm sofa. Their calm nature, however, hides a very strong and determined personality, which requires good training in the first few months of life.

Colors

There are various ones, and among these the most frequent are:

• Fawn: should be uniform, can vary from light to deep hue
• Bringée: the coat is crossed by a dark transversal streak that recalls the effect of a tiger stripe
• Quail: in this case medium-sized white spots appear

Education and care

They don't require much exercise, but it's a good idea to walk them at least two to three times a day, also to prevent excessive weight gain. Be careful with summer walks, though, as they suffer from the heat and can develop respiratory problems. In fact, like all short-nosed dogs, they require more attention on hot days as they tend to accumulate body heat.

As for feeding, if the puppy needs to have at least 4 meals a day, adult specimens should eat at least twice a day.

Possible diseases

Being a brachycephalic dog with a characteristic flat face, the French bulldog can suffer from respiratory problems and palate problems . It also tends to develop recurrent dermatitis due to skin folds, especially on the muzzle. Another condition not to be underestimated is von Willebrand disease (VWD), a hereditary disorder that slows blood clotting, causing prolonged bleeding. Other conditions that can affect it include megaesophagus and eye problems.

To recap, the French bulldog is prone to the following ailments and diseases:

• Breathing problems due to brachycephaly
• Recurrent dermatitis
• Von Willebrand disease
• Eye problems
• Megaesophagus, a serious disorder that usually manifests itself with partial or total regurgitation of undigested food

How much should he walk?

He doesn't need very long walks, but at least fifteen minutes 2-3 times a day are necessary to keep him healthy, as he tends to be a bit lazy.

How many times should it go out?

What to Know Before Getting a French Bulldog

Before getting a French bulldog, consider that they're somewhat prone to obesity, especially if you indulge their laziness, don't adequately stimulate them with walks and play, and don't pay enough attention to their diet. Also, consider that they don't enjoy being alone at all and need to spend a lot of time with you or your family. Finally, don't underestimate the financial aspect, as they're quite expensive, even in terms of maintenance.

Cost

A tested, pedigreed French bulldog costs on average between €1.300 and €3.000. You also need to consider the costs of maintenance, both for health and nutrition, which are quite high.

Adoption

Read also:

• German Shepherd: character, breed and adoption
• Miniature Bull Terrier: Origin, Character, and Adoption
• Pug: Origins, Character, and How to Adopt It
• Cane Corso: character, qualities and dangerousness
• English Bulldog: Personality, Care, and Adoption