The French Bulldog can best be described as a compact and tough dog. For many years the French Bulldog has been a popular pet for the family. While known as the French Bulldog it is likely that it descended from the English Bulldog along with a mix of other French and English breeds.
The Bulldog was very popular in France during the late 1800's and this was also around the time the breed was brought to North America. The French Bulldog is known as an excellent family pet and has always been a member of the non-sporting group. In 1898 the breed was first accepted into the American Kennel Club. Their weight when fully grown is typically between seventeen to twenty-eight pounds and their height between eleven to twelve inches at the shoulder. You can determine if this breed is right for you and your household by considering the temperament and needs of the French Bulldog.
The French Bulldog can be either small or medium in their overall size and often has a dwarf mastiff appearance. They typically have broad shoulders, a deep chest, a thick neck and muscles that are well developed. The coat is typically a brindle color or fawn and white. If they are not used as a show dog they can also be bred with a coat color of black, mouse and liver colors.
They typically have a very affectionate and energetic personality. They make excellent family pets because they are easy to form a close and loving bond with. They like to spend as much time as possible near their human companions and are very faithful watchdogs for the family. Since the breed is not considered a sporting dog and typically has low energy they don't have high exercise requirements.
Although a good family pet they do tend to do better with the more mature children since they sometimes won't be very tolerant or understanding of a young child's behavior. The French Bulldog will typically tolerate other pets but only if your introduce them to the French Bulldog when they are still a puppy.
Due to their attentive and intelligent nature the French Bulldog is very easy to train, unlike the English Bulldog. Although many choose to just keep the dog as a family pet without any training.
There are some special health concerns of the French Bulldog that you need to consider. The primary risk is that the French Bulldog can develop breathing problems when they do excessive exercise, high levels of excitement or high environmental temperatures. This is known as Brachycephalic syndrome and is a result of their short nose and overall skull shape. It is possible for these breathing problems to become serious and life threatening.
So you should try not to walk a French Bulldog in hot, humid weather and don't leave them outside in hot weather for extended periods of time. You should contact a veterinarian right away for medical treatment if you notice they are having trouble breathing or act like they can't catch their breath, this way you can treat the condition before it gets too serious.
