Breeds 101: The French Bulldog

Somewhat smaller than their more well-known English cousins, the French Bulldog is playful and smart.

The French Bulldog is an underrated breed – and yes, it is classified as a separate breed than the larger traditional (or “English”) Bulldog.

The breed, often shortened to “Frenchie,” typically weighs 28 pounds or less, and stands 11-13 inches at the withers (shoulders), according to the American Kennel Club.

Like their cousins, they have smooth glossy coats and wrinkly skin.

Because of the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835, which outlawed the practice of bull- or bear-baiting, the purpose of the Bulldog was suddenly erased, and so they gradually became a companion breed.

To make them smaller, many bulldogs were crossed with Pugs and various Terriers, until a massively-popular Toy Bulldog breed developed. The Toy Bulldog strain is now extinct.

Around the same time as the Bulldogs were getting smaller, the Industrial Revelution displaced many of the workers in the Nottingham lace industry, and they moved to the northwest part of France, in the Normandy region. They brought their dogs with them, and among them were some Toy Bulldogs.

These Toy Bulldogs caught the attention of the French dog-loving community, and so English Bulldogs considered defective in some way – maybe they were too small, or had ears that were too pointy – were shipped down to France, where they were scooped up by the highly sophisticated artistic crowd of Paris.

The breed was recognized by The Kennel Club of England in 1905 as its own breed, but had been accepted by the AKC some years earlier, in part due to their popularity with the super-rich families like the Rockefellers or the J.P. Morgans.

“The French Bulldog has the appearance of an active, intelligent dog of heavy bone,” according to the AKC Breed Standard, “with an affectionate nature and even disposition.”

Frenchies get very cold easily, and are also prone to heatstroke. They may also suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long, but they get along well with children and other pets.

For dog-show purposes, the AKC classifies them in the Non-Sporting category.

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