French Bulldogs originally came from Europe. Their eldest ancestors were ancient Greek dogs raised for blood sports. Once such sports were bannedand these ‘Bulldogs’ were unemployed, they were crossed with terriers and pugs decrease their size and morph them into companion dogs. A group of lace makers from Nottingham, who were uprooted by the industrial revolution, settled in Normandy, France. With them they transported many of these ‘miniature bulldogs’. They became prominent in France and were separated into their own breed in the late 1800’s. French Bulldogs were highly fashionable and were desired by society ladies and Parisian prostitutes alike as well as artists, writers, and fashion designers.
French Bulldogs are small, muscular and compact dogs. They have large, block heads and bat like ears. They can be white, brindle, fawn, or a mixture of brindle and white. Their fur is short and fine and they need only basic grooming, however their eyes and the folds on their face should be kept clean and dry to avoid infection. They typically weight between 25-28 lbs and do not need much exercise beyond a daily walk but they can rapidly become obese if overfed. These dogs usually live 10-12 years.
Because they have flat faces, their airways are constricted. They cannot live as outdoor dogs and shouldn't be outdoors for an extended amount of time when it is very hot or cold because they cannot adequately adjust their temperature. They can suffer from a variety of back and spinal diseases. They are prone to luxating patellas either as a result of injury or congenital deformities. They are also prone to eye issues such as cherry eye, glaucoma, corneal ulcers and cataracts. French Bulldogs typically require a cesarean to give birth because of the puppies’ large heads. Because of their extremely heavy chests, French Bulldogs have a lot of trouble swimming and can easily drown.
Like most companion dogs, Frenchies require close contact with humans. They are very easy going and clownish. They get along well with children and other pets but don’t like very rough play. They usually only bark out of necessity and because of their friendly nature, they don’t make very good watch dogs. They are well suited to apartment life and are content to stay indoors.
Fun Facts
1. Most French Bulldogs snore due to their flat faces.
2. French Bulldogs have earned the nickname “Frog Dogs” due to the way they lay with their back legs splayed out behind them.
3. The French Bulldog was originally called the "Boule-dogue Francais"
4. The French Bulldog was very popular with Parisian prostitutes and were nicknamed “The Prostitutes' Dog”. Postcards of prostitutes with their French Bulldogs were prevalent in France, some of which still exist today
5. Martha Stewart, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman, and David and Victoria Beckham are just a few of many proud celebrity Frenchie parents.
No comments:
Post a Comment