Sweet and Sociable

French Bulldogs are sociable, entertaining dogs who tend to like everyone they meet. They can get a bit too attached at times, in fact, so if you spend long hours away from home, it’s recommended you look elsewhere for a new dog.

The French Bulldog temperament tends to be outgoing and affectionate. While some French Bulldogs will simply follow you around everywhere and quietly wait for you to pay attention to them, others can be a bit pushy. You might catch French Bulldogs barking for attention, barking when they want a toy or barking at dinner time. Make sure to ignore inappropriate barking from the start, rather than giving into it and creating an annoying behavior pattern. They also are prone to snoring, which can be cute or annoying, depending on the situation. It’s also important to know that some French Bulldogs are great with cats and other dogs, while others are not.

Care of the French Bulldog

The allure of this breed is partially due to their low care needs. While they still need daily walks and playtime, the French bulldog is on the lower level of time commitment for dogs.

Environmental Needs

The French bulldog is extremely susceptible to heat. Their ultra-short noses make panting difficult, and this dog quickly overheats. This also means that this dog is not well-suited to high levels of activity or swimming. They have a short, smooth coat that does not help much in the winter. Some Frenchies are quite hardy in the cold, while others may benefit from a jacket.

Exercise Needs

The French bulldog is one of the lowest energy dog breeds in its size range. While many similarly-sized terriers and toy breeds really enjoy a good romp, the Frenchie tires easily and overheats quickly. They generally do best with a few short walks, some playtime, and puzzle toys while you’re at work. You should avoid overly strenuous activity with your Frenchie.

Thanks to its heavy front end and ultra-short nose, the Frenchie should not be left unattended near any body of water. They’re notoriously terrible swimmers.

Shedding and Grooming

This breed sheds less than some other short-haired breeds, and require minimal grooming to keep its coat clean. However, like all dogs, they should be brushed and bathed occasionally to rid their coat of dirt and oil. While you’re at it, ensure that your Frenchie’s nails are trimmed and ears are cleaned.

Ideal Home Environment

This breed does well in a wide variety of homes. With proper socialization, the French bulldog does well with children. This dog can also succeed with elderly or busy owners, as well as single owners.

Thanks to their low grooming needs, outgoing personality, and low energy, Frenchies can thrive in many types of home.

Health Concerns

Many of this breed’s health concerns are thanks to its ultra-short nose. These dogs are prone to breathing issues that make it dangerous for them to swim, exercise, or even just exist in hot and humid temperatures.

They are also prone to cherry eye, cataracts, allergies, and other eye issues. Finally, the French bulldog is vulnerable to hip, knee, and heart issues.

Behavior Problems

Early socialization and training of French bulldogs should focus on teaching them to be friendly with strange people and dogs. Teaching your Frenchie that he can earn rewards by behaving well will help reduce the breed’s stubborn tendencies.

That said, Frenchies are not known for being particularly prone to any behavior problem. Picking a puppy from a reputable breeder and bringing your puppy to puppy kindergarten will further stack the deck in your favor.

If you have any concerns about your dog’s behavior, contact a dog behavior consultant. A behavior consultant is far more skilled at dealing with problem behaviors than an average obedience trainer. Avoid trainers who rely heavily on corrections, particularly thanks to the dangers of using training collars on short-nosed breeds.