French Bulldog
Whats all the French Bull Dog About?
Meet the French Bulldog (Frenchie)
French Bulldog Training
French Bulldog dogs are known to be super sweet, intelligent, loyal, affectionate little dogs, the Frenchie makes a great addition to your living environment. Surprisingly these little dogs make good watchdogs and are not annoying yappers, instead they will bark appropriately to give warning of the daily post, or other odd visitor. Gentle and understanding towards children is one more positive trait this breed carries. With proper socialization, they can get along well with the other household pets, but not in every case.
There are many stories of Frenchies chasing small rodents and the household cat. Take note that some Frenchie’s slobber or drool, and due to top heaviness, this breed is not a good swimmer, and indeed may not be able to swim at all. Did I leave out snoring? Yep, these little dogs can make it seem as though a full-grown human is snoring away.
It is suggested not to take possession of a Frenchie pup prior to 10 weeks. These pups can be a handful if not allowed proper time with their mother and littermates. During house-training, this breed can be a bit stubborn and take a longer to break them of indoor soiling accidents. Be diligent during this time, get them outside as soon as possible, and clean all accidents as though a CSI squad is coming to check for evidence. Proper clean up keeps puppies and dogs from associating a designated spot with elimination.
French Bulldogs are also known to devour or destroy toys, chews, and other objects. A friend of ours had a Frenchie that performed surgery on many of her toys. Toy innards were often strewn about their family home. Supplying plenty of natural rubber chew-toys will occupy their chewing. Follow the guidelines for establishing that only your Frenchies toys are acceptable for chewing. Because French Bulldog’s tend to play a bit rough, be watchful around small children. Small children should never be left unsupervised around dogs and animals. The standard states a French Bulldog should be active, intelligent, alert, curious, playful, and interested, well behaved, adaptable, comfortable with companions, possess an even disposition, and affectionate nature.
History of the French Bulldog
How did an English, bat eared dog end up labeled French? Let me tell the brief historical journey of the French Bulldog. In mid 1860’s England a toy version of the English Bulldog existed. To reduce their size the toy had come about by crossing Pugs and Terriers with already small Bulldogs. These dogs weighed around sixteen to twenty-five pounds (seven to eleven kilograms).
Out of work, lace workers from Nottingham England began relocating into Normandy in Northern France. These workers brought the toy versioned Bulldog with them. The French adored this little breed and they were imported into France in great quantities. This version of Bulldog was not as popular in England so the French perpetuated the breed. In France they were named the Boule-Dog Francais and originally had either, rose or bat ears. As you might have already guessed, the bat eared version became the French Bulldog that we know today. Another distinctive feature is that the skull of the Frenchie is level between the ears but directly above the eyes is a slight radius that covers the width of the forehead. From the onset, Frenchies were bred to be companion type dogs.
In the late 1800’s, wealthy Americans traveling around France took a liking to this dog breed and brought them back home. At a Westminster show in 1897, an English judge allowed only the rose eared to be exhibited. The Americans who favored the bat eared type wanted both types to be shown, and countered by having their own show exclusively for the bat eared dogs. The people who made this show also made the first French Bulldog Club of America, which happened to be the first French Bulldog club in the world.
East Coast society people took a deep interest in the breed and its popularity took off. After WWI, the popularity began dropping and continued to decline for the next fifty years. The Boston Terrier took part of its coveted spot in popularity. Finally, for a variety of promising reasons in the 1980’s a newly revitalized French Bulldog Club of America helped begin to gain back the breeds lost popularity. Registrations went from one hundred and seventy in 1980 to six hundred and thirty-two by 1990, and in 2006, fifty-five hundred dogs were registered. Furthermore, they have become very popular with celebrities thus helping make a celebrity out of the breed. In two thousand thirteen, the Frenchie rose to the number eleven spot in AKC registrations. Currently in the year 2015, the Frenchie ranks number nine as the most registered popular dog.
French Bulldog Playing
The French Bulldog Club of America was established in 1897 followed by the American Kennel Club recognized the French Bulldog in 1898. In 1902, the French Bulldog Club of England formed and adopted the same standard established by America and other European countries. It wasn’t until 1912 that the UK Kennel Club accepted this breed under the name French Bulldog.
French Bulldog Health
Like humans, some dogs have the potential to develop ailments and diseases. Many of these ailments and diseases vary in type and prevalence, from breed to breed. Consider this fact when picking out your new puppy, and beware of any breeder that makes a claim that the puppies of their particular breed are “100% healthy.” A reputable and honest breeder should know and share any health related issues that the breed you are purchasing or inquiring about might have, or that could potentially surface.
A few health problems to note, some stemming from the down breeding of a larger breed, are as follows, spinal disorders, heart defects, eye problems, joint diseases, respiratory, and heatstroke. They also have difficulty in reproduction and birth with over 80 percent of litters delivered by caesarean section. Consult the CHIC database and your countries Frenchie club for further in depth health information about what is being done to solve these issues.
Prior to acquiring your dog of choice, I recommend reading about canine health related issues and common breed specific ailments. By familiarizing yourself with the signs and symptoms of a potential disease or sickness, you will be empowered to be the first line of defense in support of your dog’s health and wellbeing. By completing routine physical examinations of your dog, frequent fecal inspections, as well as recognizing any gastrointestinal problems, all helps to assure optimal health of your companion. By observing and understanding your dog’s healthy behaviors and regular patterns, you will easily be able to identify when your dog is not feeling well, and to deduce if medical attention is needed.
In your position and role as alpha, you are responsible for providing the best possible care for your dog, assuring his or her wellbeing and comfort. Do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian if you observe your dog displaying peculiar behaviors or showing any signs of discomfort. It is very important to maintain your dog’s scheduled exams, mandatory check up’s and vaccination appointments. Uphold this duty, so that your dog can enjoy the vitality of good health that he or she deserves, and is entitled to.
Long daily walks are recommended for maintaining a healthy dog, regardless of the breed. Walks can be opportunities to practice leash training, socialization, and aid to the over-all mental and physical well being of your dog. French Bulldogs require at least an hour per day of varied types of exercise, whether this is achieved through play and games. Always beware that you should never leave your Frenchie inside a car or heavily exercise him in warm weather. During summer months perform shorter walks that are out of the midday sun and during a cooler time of day. Carry water to hydrate your dog often.
Loneliness and boredom are enemies of the Frenchie. I advise that you always provide your new puppy with plenty of toys to keep boredom at bay and to reduce the chance of potential destructive negative behaviors from overtaking their naturally sweet disposition.
Feeding Your French Bulldog
Age, weight, and activity levels are a few of the factors that can change the food requirements of your Frenchie. Once you have determined the appropriate amount to provide, feed an accurately measured portion, at regular times, to help maintain their optimal weight. If you wish to feed your dog a raw food diet or a mix, please do your research and consult your veterinarian prior to any adjustments to their meals. Be sure to keep plenty of fresh, clean water available for your dog, and it is considered a good hygienic practice to clean your dog’s bowl after each feeding.
Human Foods Safe for French Bulldogs
Human Foods Safe for French Bulldogs
Keep your dog at an optimal weight. An over-weight Frenchie can have difficulty breathing.
Proactive Measures for Puppy Selection
If you want to buy a French Bulldog puppy, be sure to find a reputable French Bulldog breeder who will provide proof of health clearances for both of the puppy’s parents. Health clearances are official documents that prove a dog has been tested for, and cleared of any, or all breed specific conditions, however a clearance does not guarantee against acquired diseases or congenital abnormalities. Remember, even under the best breeding practices and proactive care measures, puppies can still develop diseases.
For the French Bulldog breed, you should expect to see a health clearance from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia, and patella, as well as a clearance from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF), certifying that the eyes are healthy. Optional tests are for thyroid and heart. You can also confirm health clearances by checking the OFA web site. For more information, refer to the club website, breeder, or veterinarian. Consult the CHIC database for other tests and their schedules.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA www.offa.org) maintains an open registry with evaluations of hips, elbows, eyes, thyroid, cardio, and additional canine health issues. They also provide clear definitions of the test categories to help you understand the grading system. PennHIP (www.pennhip.org) is another registry that tests and evaluates dog’s hips.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) conducts large canine research studies on diseases that affect purebred dogs. Their health program is under the direction of the Canine Health Foundation (CHF), and is in partnership with OFA, and additionally does breed testing and provides a centralized canine health database called, the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). The results of these tests are maintained in a registry, and dogs that have completed all of the required exams, including testing of the hips, elbows, and eyes, receive a CHIC number. Along with the breed-testing program, there is the CHIC DNA Repository. CHIC is trying to gather and store breed DNA samples for canine disease research. The goal is to facilitate future research aimed at reducing the incidence of inherited diseases in dogs. You can search the database to find out if a specific dog has information listed about it. More information about CHIC is available here: Canine Info
To be accepted into the CHIC database, breeders must agree to have all test results published. This enables the reader to see both good and bad results of the testing. Obtaining a CHIC number does not imply that the dog received good or passing evaluation scores. The CHIC registration also does not signify as proof of the absence of disease, and all information must be read and evaluated. CHIC allows the information collected to be readily available to anyone with an inquiry.
Care
You are responsible for the welfare of your new puppy or dog. Please treat him or her with respect and love, and this will be reciprocated tenfold. Dogs have been human companions for thousands of years, and they are living beings complete with feelings, emotions and the need for attachment. Before bringing home a new dog or puppy, please determine if you are capable and willing to provide all the needs that your new family member requires.
From the time you bring your French Bulldog pup home, positive training is a great start to introducing your new pack member to your household. You should be aware and sensitive to the fact that dogs have an amazing capacity for memory and recollection of those experiences. With this in mind, please refrain from harsh training tactics that may intimidate your puppy and that potentially can negatively affect personality or demeanor. When you train your new puppy, give him or her the respect they deserve, and utilize all available positive reinforcements. The result of your positive, proactive training methods and behavior modifications will be that your dog’s abilities, traits, and characteristics that are buried within the genetic profile of their specific breed, will shine. I am an advocate for beginning with rewards based clicker training, followed by vocal and physical cues for your young dog to learn to become obedient to commands.
Crate training has positive benefits, and provides a safe place for your dog to nap, or simply to be alone. In addition, crate training at a young age will help your dog accept confinement if he ever needs to be transported, boarded or hospitalized.
Appropriate, early, and ongoing socialization will help you and your Frenchie throughout his or her lifetime. Expose your new puppy or dog to a wide variety of situations, people, and other animals. This helps to prevent shyness, aggressiveness, possessiveness, and many other potential behavioral problems, meanwhile supporting the bond between the two of you. Remember never leave young children unsupervised around dogs or puppies. Also, be aware that situations of aggression may happen no matter how loving, gentle, and well trained a dog may be.
A routine care program is essential for any dog, and should always include basic hygienic practices. For the optimal health of your pet, scheduled care should include the care of the coat, nails and teeth. It is important to get instruction from your veterinarian for the proper cleaning method of the outer and inner ear. Brushing your Frenchie’s smooth coat a couple of times per week, and a bath every few months is usually plenty to keep their coat in good condition. They shed little, but frequent brushing benefits the splendor of their coat, helps control household hair mess, and is an opportunity to practice handling, inspect for ticks, fleas, or rashes. Twice yearly, they will shed their undercoat. During this period, daily brushing will help them and keep the hair mess from forming in the corners of your house.
An additional regular Frenchie service is to clean and keep dry their facial wrinkles tail set indentation. Drying after cleaning is essential to keeping any type of bacterial growth from forming.
Training Your French Bulldog?
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French Bulldog Facts
Country of Origin: England
Other Names: N/A
Nicknames: Frenchie
Group: Companion, Non-Sporting
Purpose: Companion
Size: Small
Height: 12in (30cm)
Weight: Two weight classes 19-22lb (9-10kg) and 22-28 (10-13)
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Colors: Brindle, fawn, tan, tan or white with brindle patches (known as pied)
Coat: A smooth short coat that requires little brushing and bathing. Brush a couple times per week, and do not bathe more than once month unless badly needed.
Shedding: Little daily shedding, twice annual shedding of undercoat.
Apartment: Yes
Temperament: Intelligent, playful, adaptable, loyal, and make good little watchdogs.
Exercise: Low need. A 15-20 minute daily walk is suggested and some additional play. Frenchie’s have varying degrees of energy and activity. Be aware of the temperature when walking your dog so that he or she does not become over heated.
Training: Moderately difficult.
Recognitions: CKC, FCI, AKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR, DRA, NAPR, ACA
French Bulldog Rescue
French Bulldogs are often acquired without any clear understanding of what goes into owning one, and these dogs regularly end up in the care of rescue groups, and are badly in need of adoption or fostering. If you are interested in adopting a Frenchie, a rescue group is a good place to start. I have listed a few below. If you have the facilities and ability please rescue a dog and enjoy the rewarding experience that it offers both of you.
Photos FRench Bulldog Training. CC Free License. Source: https://pixabay.com/en/french-bulldog-frenchie-dog-pet-16697/ French Bulldog playing CC Free License. Source: https://pixabay.com/en/french-bulldog-pet-dog-animal-1144753/