The history of the French Bulldog dates back to the late 1800s in England. Here is where lacemakers bred them as companions in the city of Nottingham. English Bulldogs were popular, big, and used for baiting bulls, but they couldn’t be domesticated.
Unfortunately, these large dogs couldn’t work well as house pets. For companionship purposes, the lacemakers in Nottingham created these small dogs to be the toy-sized versions of the English Bulldogs.
In the 1860s, when these workers moved to Paris in search of better opportunities, they didn’t leave their miniature Bulldogs behind. In Paris, they became popular among the middle class getting their current name ‘French Bulldogs’
French Bulldog size and weight
Due to its size, the French Bulldog has for a long time been a companion dog. Although they are small, French Bulldogs have a powerful and muscular body.
This bat-eyed dog has its unique appeal among dog lovers. These appealing physical traits include its big square head, muscular build and short fine coat. The coat can be in different colours like white, black, and fawn.
The average height of a healthy Frenchie is between 11-13 inches, with the males weighing around 28 pounds. Healthy female French Bulldogs weigh less than male Frenchies. Females weigh between 16 to 24 pounds.
Frenchies, like most dogs, have a life expectancy of 10-12 years. With proper diet, care, and grooming, a French Bulldog can live happily for all these years.
Temperament & Personality
French Bulldogs are fun-loving dogs that are happy playing with children or lying on the sofa in your apartment. French Bulldogs do not have high energy levels, so they will not require much exercise to remain healthy.
Daily walks with your Frenchie will help them maintain a healthy weight. Here are other personality traits of a French Bulldog you should be aware of:
- Good with family, young children, and open to strangers
- Extremely playful dogs
- Good with other dogs
- Not very vocal
- Highly adaptable to different environments
They adapt well to home living for single owners and large families. If the French Bulldogs get proper training and socialisation, you don’t have to worry about how they behave because they are friendly pups. Their interaction with other dogs makes it easy to take them to dog parks or playdates.
Can French Bulldogs be left alone?
Are you thinking of leaving your Frenchie home alone? Unfortunately, this might not be a good idea because French Bulldogs do not do well by themselves. Frenchies can be left alone for short periods but not more than 6 hours.
Leaving them alone for such periods can be difficult if your dog has separation anxiety. This period also depends on their age. French Bulldog puppies should be left alone for a maximum of two hours, and adult Frenchies can be left alone for 4-6 hours.
Seniors should not be left alone for too long, especially if they have health issues that require regular attention. If you live in an apartment, French Bulldogs can quickly adapt to indoor life. These dogs love their owners and wouldn’t want you to stay away for too long.
Are French Bulldogs aggressive?
Despite their mean-looking appearance, these dogs are friendly and affectionate most of the time. However, If you don’t socialise with your Frenchie at a young age, they can be aggressive towards other people and strangers by growling.
Although there are multiple reasons why a French Bulldog can be aggressive, like health conditions, most of them are sweet and gentle dogs that you can have around friends and family.
French Bulldogs can be possessive and loyal dogs to their owners. Some Frenchies will not want strangers to get close to their toys or food. They can become aggressive to protect what’s theirs or get your attention.
Monitoring your French Bulldog will help you know if they have possession aggression so pay attention to how they behave around their toys and food.