French Bulldog

What is a French Bulldog?

The French Bulldog is a small companion breed weighing 9-14kg, built low and wide, with upright "bat" ears, a short muzzle and a smooth coat. They were bred to be lap dogs and they behave like it: they want to be in the room with you, preferably on you.

They are the most popular breed in the UK by advert volume and have been for several years. That popularity is the breed's biggest problem. Demand has pulled in breeders who are not health testing, and the difference between a well-bred Frenchie and a badly-bred one is not cosmetic - it is the difference between a dog that breathes comfortably and one that does not.

History and origins

The breed descends from small bulldogs kept by Nottingham lace workers, who took their dogs with them when the trade moved to Normandy in the 1860s. In France the type was crossed with local terriers and pugs and became a fashionable city dog. The upright ear - a fault to English breeders, who preferred a rose ear - was fixed by American fanciers, and it is now the defining feature. The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1906.

Appearance and size

Compact and muscular, with a broad chest, a short back and a slight roach over the loin. Height 27-34cm at the shoulder. The head is square and large in proportion, with heavy wrinkles above a short nose and an undershot jaw. Standard colours are brindle, fawn and pied. Colours marketed at a premium - blue, lilac, merle, "isabella" - are not recognised by the Kennel Club and several carry known health risks; merle in particular is associated with deafness and eye defects when two merles are bred together.

Temperament and personality

Cheerful, stubborn and comic. They form intense attachments and are more sensitive to household tension than their build suggests. They rarely bark much but they do talk - grumbles, snorts and sighs are constant. With children they are usually superb, being both patient and sturdy, though their eyes are prominent and vulnerable, so rough handling is a real risk rather than a theoretical one.

Intelligence and trainability

They learn quickly and then decide whether to comply. Short sessions, high-value food and no repetition past the point of boredom. Recall is the weak point: they are not biddable in the way a spaniel is, and a Frenchie that has decided to sit down will sit down. House training tends to be slower than average - plan for four to six months rather than eight weeks.

Children and other pets

Excellent family dogs. They are tolerant, low-speed and not resource-guardy as a rule. Introduce them to cats early and they will usually settle. Same-sex dog pairs can be tense in adulthood, and their play style - shoulder-barging, mouthy - can be misread by more sensitive breeds.

Health problems

This is the section that should drive your choice of breeder.

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is the defining welfare issue. Narrowed nostrils, an over-long soft palate and a narrow windpipe make breathing hard work. Ask for the parents' BOAS grade under the Cambridge/KC scheme - Grade 0 or 1. A breeder who does not know what this is has not done the work.

Also common: intervertebral disc disease and hemivertebrae (the screw tail is a spinal deformity); skin fold dermatitis; allergies; cherry eye and corneal ulcers; patellar luxation; and a high caesarean rate, which is why litters are small and prices are high.

They cannot regulate temperature. A warm day is dangerous, a hot car is fatal, and they sink in water. This is not caution - it is the leading cause of preventable death in the breed.

Daily care routine

Two short walks of 15-20 minutes, early and late in summer. Watch for the point at which the breathing changes from a snuffle to a rasp and stop before it. Keep the weight down: a kilogram over on a 12kg dog is a measurable increase in airway effort. Clean the nose rope and any deep facial folds daily with a damp cloth and dry them properly.

Grooming and coat care

Weekly brush with a rubber mitt is enough for the coat. The work is the folds, the ears and the nails. Bath every six to eight weeks or when needed - over-bathing strips the coat and worsens the skin problems the breed already has.

Exercise needs

Around 45 minutes to an hour a day, split into short walks, with sniffing and problem-solving doing more than distance. Avoid stairs and repeated jumping off furniture while young, and avoid high-impact sport entirely - the spine is not built for it.

Feeding and diet

Two measured meals. They gain weight easily and many have food sensitivities; a limited-ingredient diet is often simpler than chasing allergens. A slow-feeder bowl helps with the air-gulping that comes with a short face. Expect £25-£45 a month on food.

Price

Well-bred, health-tested puppies from KC-registered parents typically sit at £1,200-£2,500. Unregistered or rare-colour dogs are often advertised higher and are usually worth less. Setup - crate, bedding, insurance, first vaccinations, neutering - runs £350-£600, and ongoing costs £70-£140 a month once insurance is included. Frenchie insurance is among the most expensive of any breed and pre-existing exclusions bite hard, so insure from day one.

Buying advice

Ask for: BOAS grades on both parents, a Kennel Club registration you can verify, hip and patella scores, and an eye certificate dated within the last year. See the puppy with its mother. Walk away from anyone offering to meet you halfway, anyone with several breeds available at once, and anyone selling on colour rather than health. A caesarean-heavy breed with small litters cannot produce puppies in volume - if a seller always has some, ask where they come from.