We know that there may not be anything cuter than a french bulldog puppy with those big, bat ears. If you are thinking about getting a french bulldog as a pet, you may have a few questions rolling around in your brain like are french bulldogs friendly, do they make good family dogs or if they even like to be left alone?
In this post we will be covering these question plus many more about french bulldogs and their characteristics!
Did you know that French bulldogs, also commonly known as ‘Frenchies’ have become the United States most popular dog breeds in 2022 (according to the American Kennel Club), knocking labrador retrievers out of their place after being America’s dog for 31 years! This flat-faced breed has grown in popularity and there is no wonder as to why!
Characteristics About French Bulldogs
Here are a few of the basic characteristics of the french bulldog breed.
- Size: French bulldogs are a small breed of dog usually weighing 16-28 pounds (7-13 kg) full grown
- Lifespan: French bulldogs can typically live for 10 – 12 years
- Temperament: French bulldogs are known for their easygoing and laidback personalities. This is one of the many reasons that they are good with kids and other pets.
- Exercise Needs: Their exercise needs are really low, so a short walk along with some playful activities should be sufficient for them as they don’t require much exercise to be happy.
- Grooming: Since french bulldogs have short hair, they require very little grooming. Just regular brushing will keep their coat in good shape.
- Health: French Bulldogs are prone to certain health problems since they have brachycephalic syndrome (which basically means flat nosed / faced.) They can experience breathing difficulties, dental problems, and overheating in hot weather. Regular veterinary care is recommended.
French Bulldog Personality
French bulldogs are known for their affectionate and easygoing personalities. A few other words that would describe this little dogs personality would be
- Playful
- Alert
- Lively
- Patient
- Bright
- Lively
- Keen
They usually don’t seem to bark a lot unless they really get excited or have a real reason to so they are generally quiet dogs. They are really even tempered and love all the attention that they can get.
Socialization
It is no lie that french bulldogs love to socialize. This is one of the many traits that make them wonderful companion dogs.
They thrive with attention and generally don’t like being left alone. It is always a good idea to think about getting another frenchie from the same litter to keep them happy.
When having company over, you can bet that your frenchie will be right in the middle of it and not somewhere hiding. They love being the center of attention.
Are French Bulldogs Friendly?
Yes, french bulldogs are known for their friendly and loving personalities. They typically get along very well with other pets and even children. They have a very affectionate nature.
Short walks and some playtime will keep them happy so they are a good choice of pet even for people who live in small apartments.
French Bulldog Health
There are a few things to keep in mind with a french bulldogs health before you bring home a new pet. Since they are one of the brachycephalic breeds of dogs, meaning that they have short snouts (a really flat face), they are prone to certain health issues easier than other dogs.
“Brachycephalic” is a term that actually means “short head.” This term is used to describe flat-faced breeds of dogs like french bulldogs, english bulldogs, pugs and pekingese.
Some of the most common health concerns that will come up in the french bulldog breed are
1. Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
Along with the flat faces, these breeds typically have narrow nostrils and a smaller windpipe, which can make them sometimes have a harder time breathing which results in brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome and cause respiratory problems.
Many of the french bulldogs issues can be surgically corrected, but that always comes with a certain risk. Make sure to consult with your vet if you have any concerns about this with you frenchie.
2. Heatstroke
Did you know that dogs don’t sweat like humans do? They actually pant to cool themselves down. When a dog pants, moisture is evaporated from the mouth and upper respiratory tract, which helps them to stay cool.
If the dog’s airway is blocked due to boas, this can cause issues and their panting won’t be as effective and it is harder for their bodies to cool down. This makes them prone to heat strokes.
This is one of the reasons they are strictly a house dog and should be outside when the weather is hot and humid.
3. Sensitive Skin
French bulldogs are prone to skin infections because the skin and tails folds that they have. It creates a warm and moist environment where bacteria likes to gather and breed.
This is why regularly cleaning and bathing your frenchie, especially these problem areas is so important to avoid skin infections.
French bulldogs are also known for having allergies which can present themselves is specific skin conditions and issues with the paws, belly, skin folds, and ears being most affected.
Common signs of allergies include:
- Itchiness: which can include licking, chewing, and scratching excessively at the paws or body
- Redness of the skin
- Rashes
- Hot spots
- Hair loss
- Red bumps
- Acne
If your frenchie has allergy issues, they will usually present themself at a young age of 1 -3 years. There are lots of treatment options for them once the root cause is narrowed down.
4. Ear Infections
We all know that those bat-like ears are just the cutest! But, did you know that frenchies are prone to ear infections? There are 2 main reasons for this being one, the shape of their ear canals and two, due to allergies.
5. Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a commonly inherited joint issue that can occur in french bulldogs that results in a loose hip joint. This can typically leads to arthritis and degenerative joint disease, which can in turn cause chronic pain for your dog.
French Bulldog Q & A?
Can French Bulldogs get aggressive?
French bulldogs are not naturally aggressive by nature. They are usually very laidback and easygoing dogs that love attention and socialization.
Are French Bulldogs a good family dog?
Due to their laidback and easygoing personalities, french bulldogs make great pets for families with even young children. Their small size makes them easier to take care of too.
Do French Bulldogs pick a person?
They are sometimes known by their clingy behavior and will often pick one person that they are protective over. If they do pick a person, they will follow them around and want to be as close as possibly to them at all times.
Do French bulldogs like to sleep with you?
Frenchies make wonderful companions and if you are ok with it, then most likely you frenchie will be more than happy to cuddle up and sleep with you. I mean, who doesn’t want to wake up to that adorable wrinkly face next to you in the bed every morning?!
Do French bulldogs like to be left alone?
No, french bulldogs do not like to be left alone. In fact, if they are left alone too much, it can cause them to have separation anxiety.
Are french bulldogs good with other pets?
Yes, french bulldogs are typically great with other pets. These small dogs not only love human contact, but also enjoy playing with other dogs. And, sometimes, under the right circumstances, they even get along great with cats.
Do french bulldogs require much grooming?
Thankfully, due to the frenchies short coat of hair, they require very little grooming. However, it is usually recommended to maintain a weekly brushing schedule to keep their coat in tip top shape.
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