French Bulldog Training Profile
Weight: 16 to 28 pounds
Height: 11 to 12 inches
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
French Bulldog Temperament
French Bulldogs, affectionately called Frenchies, are good dogs for all types of residences, including apartments and houses, due to their small size. However, despite their size, they do not have as long of a lifespan as some other small dogs.
Frenchies’ ancestors include the English Bulldog, whose history and upbringing involved bull-baiting and blood sports. When it became illegal to make animals participate in such brutal practices, new uses for the English Bulldog had to be found.
Somewhere along the way, perhaps as a result of cross-breeding with terriers, a toy-size dog appeared in some English villages. This toy English Bulldog was often the pet of Nottingham’s lace makers during the Industrial Revolution.
But people who made crafts by hand were more frequently forced out of their business by the evolving technologies, and many lace makers left for France with their toy English Bulldogs.
The French fell in love with them, as did Americans when they discovered the little dogs while visiting. Eventually, through more cross-breeding, they developed their distinctive bat ears and were officially recognized as French Bulldogs as opposed to toy English Bulldogs.
They are playful, sweet and make great companions. Contrary to the English Bulldog, which was originally bred for fighting, the French Bulldog was bred as a docile friend. Frenchies are sweet and calm and rarely bark except when they’re seeking attention.
Frenchies love spending time with people and will experience separation anxiety if they’re left alone too much. They also get along well children — and are even protective of them — making them a good choice for a family pet.
If they spend time with other animals from a young age, they’ll become very friendly toward them as well.
French Bulldog Training Tips
Training French Bulldogs can take time and patience; while they love to please, they also can be stubborn. It’s helpful to introduce Frenchies to a lot of locations and to many different people early in life. In addition, puppy training classes are a good investment.
Frenchies should always be kept on a leash while on walks. They require at least one walk each day, but be mindful of temperature and humidity, as they are sensitive to heat.
They must be watched at all times when outside to ensure they don’t wander into something they can’t handle, such as water; Frenchies cannot swim without a life vest.
