French Bulldog
| French Bulldog | ||||||||||||||
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| Frenchie | ||||||||||||||
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| France | ||||||||||||||
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| FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC |
The French Bulldog is a dog breed that first emerged in France in the mid- to late 19th century.
Appearance
French Bulldogs average 22 to 25 pounds (10 to 12 kg) and are considered out-of-breed if they are over 28 pounds (13 kg). Their physical appearance is characterized by naturally occurring 'bat ears' that are pointy and stick straight up. Their tails are naturally short, not cropped. Otherwise, their body shape is similar to that of an English Bulldog.
There are several color variations allowed by the AKC that are disallowed in Europe, including the cream color. French Bulldogs have their own variations in the amount of brindle, darkness of their coat, and amount of white areas.
Temperament
The French Bulldog is a gentle breed that typically has a happy-go-lucky attitude. Like many other companion dog breeds they have high energy and prefer interaction with humans to interaction with other dogs. They do well around other dogs and small children, though they should be monitored closely during their initial encounters; they tend to shy away from teasing or rough play. They tend to not bark a lot and are of small size; these qualities may make them a good candidate for apartment living.
Health
European French Bulldogs typically are born naturally, while North American French Bulldogs are born by Caesarean section.
Due to the nature of their short windpipe, they tend to have breathing difficulties, and can easily suffer problems in hot weather as a result. For the same reason, veterinarians consider them difficult to intubate for surgery. Otherwise, they are generally considered a healthier breed than the English Bulldog, with a lower occurrence of problems such as hip dysplasia. Like their larger cousin the English Bulldog, French Bulldogs are prone to gastro-intestinal problems such as gas. The facial wrinkles often trap dirt, tears, and mucous, and can become irritated and infected.
Life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.
History
The breed emerged as English Bulldogs were bred with Toy Bulldogs by the artisan community in Paris, after Toy Bulldogs were marginalized by British kennel clubs as weakening the English Bulldog breed. Toy Bulldogs were popular amongst the artisan and gay communities in Britain. The breeding of the minuscule Toy Bulldog (averaging 8 pounds (3.5 kg)) and the English Bulldog (which can vary in size, but is usually around 50 pounds (23 kg)) produced the medium-sized French Bulldog.
Books
- McDonald,Joan. The Book of the Bulldog, Neptune, NJ:TFH Publications, ISBN
0866220275
- Jenkins, Robert. The Story of the Real Bulldog Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications, ISBN 0793804914
