Michael Bryan

Written by Michael Bryan

Modified & Updated: 30 Dec 2023

Sherman Smith

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

french bulldog facts

French Bulldogs, also called Frenchies, are one of the most irresistible dog breeds in the most world, due to their affectionate, playful, and energetic personality. Indeed, people love their cute faces and bat-like ears! If you’re planning to get one as a pet, out of all the French Bulldog facts in the world, this will be one you will love to hear—they are one of the most popular pet dogs in the world! This is because they can live comfortably in big houses or small apartments. Plus, you don’t need to worry about them having enough exercise, a daily walk and potty trips outside will suffice.

However, if you don’t like it when your pets get too clingy, be wary because they sometimes get jealous of their owners especially when their owners pay attention to other dogs. If at all possible, do not leave your dog alone for long periods of time. If the dog is alone during the day, make sure you spend a lot of quality time with him in the evenings.

Frenchies are very trainable, but sometimes stubborn and do not cooperate, hence giving them rewards and positive reinforcement are important. Moreover, if you have little children, constantly keep an eye on the interaction between the dog and the kids. While French Bulldogs are generally friendly with youngsters, interactions should be supervised to avoid any inadvertent damage.

Ready to bring one home? You can do so through a breeder or a shelter or a rescue organization. Although this is not absolute, you are more likely to find puppies from a breeder and older dogs from a rescue group. To know more about these adorable dogs, check out our comprehensive list of 40 French Bulldog facts!

  1. In United Kingdom, the French Bulldog is the second most popular registered dog.
  2. French Bulldog was the third most popular dog in Australia in 2017.
  3. French Bulldog’s maximum weight standard is 28 pounds or 12.70 kilograms.
  4. A French Bulldog is around 11 to 12 inches tall or 27 to 30 centimeters tall.
  5. The lifespan of a French Bulldog is between 10 to 14 years.
  1. French Bulldog is a breed of domestic dog, bred as companion dogs.
  2. The French bulldog is a famous pet.
  3. Originally, French Bulldogs have rose-shaped ears.
  4. French Bulldog is famous for having “bat’s ears.”
  5. It is also popular as a flat-faced breed, dogs, rabbits, or cats with short, squashed noses.
  6. “Clown dog” and “Frog dog” are other names of the French Bulldog.
  7. A French Bulldog has loose and soft skin, that forms wrinkles on the shoulder and head.
  8. French Bulldogs have stocky bodies.
  9. The standard colors of French Bulldog are white, brindle (brownish color), fawn (yellowish-brown), and white.
  10. A French Bulldog’s head is large and square.
  1. A French Bulldog seldom bark, yet they are still excellent watchdogs because of their high level of alertness.
  2. French Bulldogs produced different sounds like yawning, tipping, and gargling.
  3. A French Bulldog was one of the dogs that boarded the British luxury passenger ship, Titanic.
  4. They love to eat meat especially lamb, salmon, beef, and chicken.
  5. Originally, French Bulldogs are called, Bouledogue Francais, or simply Frenchies.
Table of Contents

French Bulldog originated in England.

A French Bulldog is a cross-breed between a Bulldog and a Terrier, a type of dog bred to hunt rodents in England during the 1800s. Did you know that a smaller breed of the bulldog was a favorite companion of lacemakers from Nottingham? But with the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, the lacemakers moved to France and brought their small bulldogs with them. The popularity of the small type bulldogs quickly spread to France and thus the name “French Bulldog,” came about.

French Bulldogs are smart and very trainable.

French Bulldogs are intelligent and easy to train, especially if the training is in the form of a game. They also do well in the training if it is done positively, and if you give the dog a lot of food and rewards.

French Bulldogs can't swim.

Dogs are known for being great swimmers. However, French Bulldogs can’t swim, and they will most likely drown. French Bulldogs have very short muzzles, they need to tilt their head far back so that the water will not get into their noses and to keep their mouths out of the water. Furthermore, having a large head and short legs prevent them from being able to float.

French bulldogs are playful and affectionate.

They are energetic and playful. They’ll never become weary of playing with children, and the other way around. French Bulldogs are also famous for being affectionate and love to spend time on the lap of their owners.

french bulldog. puppy
Source: Jonathan Arellanos on Unsplash

French Bulldogs reproduce through artificial insemination.

It is difficult for a male French Bulldog to mount on a female, due to its body structure. In most cases, French Bulldogs reproduce through artificial insemination. Moreover, female French Bulldogs usually give birth via Cesarean delivery (C-section), as their hips are small. Otherwise, the female’s life would be in danger as the baby might get stuck in the cervix (the opening of the womb).

Some French Bulldogs experience difficulty in breathing while flying.

French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephalic dogs are those affected by the brachycephalic respiratory syndrome. Those who have this may have hypoplastic trachea, everted laryngeal saccules, stenotic nares, and an elongated soft palate. This is due to their flat face which causes several breathing problems!

This feature, combined with stress and warmer temperature, may result in devastating situations. Several breeds like bulldogs and pugs, (a breed that originated in China), have died in flight, which is why many airlines ban having dogs on a flight. French Bulldog facts you need to take note of.

French Bulldogs are vulnerable to Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is an abnormality that obstructs the breathing of dogs. BOAS usually occurs to dogs that have short snouts and flat faces like French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzu, Japanese Chin, Boxer, and Boston terrier. This health problem may result in breathing problems and shortness of breath, eye, and birthing problems.

Blue French Bulldogs have amazing fur color.

The Blue French Bulldogs, just like the usual French Bulldogs, have a stocky body, short muzzle, flat face, and loose skin. The only characteristic that makes them different is their bluish-gray coat and white patches on their belly and chest. The coloration of the Blue French Bulldog is a result of their dilute genes or genes that allow creating lighter colors in animals.

Fluffy French Bulldogs are long-haired bulldogs.

Fluffy French Bulldogs are a long-haired, pure breed of French Bulldogs. They have medium-length, wavy fur which is not common to French Bulldogs. The unusual fur of the Fluffy French Bulldog is due to their recessive genes (a gene that can be masked by a dominant gene) carried by their parents.

Merle French Bulldogs have several different markings on the body.

One of the rarest breeds of French Bulldog is the Merle French Bulldog. The bodies of Merle French Bulldogs have several irregular stripes and patches, which make them easily identifiable. They have different color variations including lilac merle, black merle, and blue merle. Some sources claim that Merle French Bulldog is not a pure breed of French Bulldog, further, American Kennel Club (AKC) does not accept the Merle French Bulldog as a standard breed color.

Merle French Bulldogs
Image from Adobe Stock

A brindle French bulldog is a rare breed.

Brindle French Bulldog is a pure breed of French Bulldog. They have irregular streaks or stripes which are lighter than their bodies’ color. Depending on the stripes, Brindle French Bulldogs may look light or dark-colored. Their unusual color is a result of the three types of K-Locus gene or dominant black gene, which binds other pigments to create different variations.

French Bulldog Brindle
Image from Adobe Stock

A French Bulldog costs around $1,500 to $3,000.

The price of French Bulldogs depends on the type of breed, location, color, and other factors. Typically, a French Bulldog may cost around $1,500 to $3,000. Moreover, the price of French Bulldogs with exceptional breeding history may still increase. However, you can also adopt a French Bulldog which is less pricey, and the adoption price ranges from $350 to $550.

Some celebrities love French Bulldogs.

Several Hollywood celebrities have been fascinated with the charming personality of French Bulldogs. Some of them are; the Australian actor, Hugh Jackman who has an adorable French Bulldog named Dali. There’s also award-winning singer-songwriter Lady Gaga who has 3 French Bulldogs named Asia, Koji, and Gustav.

Lilac French Bulldog has a recognizable pinkish-purple coat.

The Lilac French Bulldog is a rare breed of French Bulldog, and has a noticeable lilac or pinkish-purple coloration. Moreover, a newly born Lilac French Bulldog has a soft, blue, yellowish-brown coat which changes into a pink coat, as they mature. They have reddish-pink noses, sometimes grayish-blue, which proves that they carry blue genes.

The Mini French Bulldog is smaller than the standard French Bulldog.

The Mini French Bulldog, also called Teacup French Bulldog, is not an official breed. It is smaller than the French Bulldog and grows around 11 inches tall or 27.94 cm, while an adult can weigh around 28 pounds. Sadly, the mini French Bulldogs, just like the other French Bulldog breeds, are prone to different illnesses due to their size.

French Bulldogs can have three puppies in one litter.

In most cases, a French Bulldog will have about three puppies in one litter. However, some French Bulldogs can also have five or seven puppies in a litter, but this is very rare or unusual. The small litter size of French Bulldogs could be one reason why they are expensive.

French Bulldogs don't need a lot of exercise.

French bulldogs do need a daily walk to keep them healthy, but do not require a lot of exercises. They can take short walks throughout the day, as French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. Overexercising especially during warm weather may cause breathing problems.

French Bulldogs don't shed very much.

French Bulldogs do not shed very much because they have a fine, short, and smooth coat. However, during fall and winter, they lose their undercoats and the use of double-sided pet brush can help to remove excess hair.

French Bulldogs sleep for around 10 to 13 hours a day.

Adult Frenchies usually sleep for around 10 to 13 hours per day. The rest of their time is spent running around, playing, or just sitting in the living room. As French Bulldogs age, they require more hours of sleep because they tire more quickly.

french bulldog, sleeping
Source: Pixabay

Rescue groups can help people who want to adopt French Bulldogs.

Throughout the USA, there are several Frenchie rescue organizations, and each organization has its adoption and surrender process and fees for their dogs. Contacting a rescue group can be your first step if you are planning to adopt or rehome a French Bulldog. Furthermore, the French Bulldog Rescue Network or FBRN is a group of volunteers who help French Bulldogs find homes. FBRN has regional areas across the United States and Canada, and they foster dogs until they are adopted.

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