French Bulldog
Also called frenchie.
Now among the most registered breeds in several countries, and the one where the appearance and the health problems are the same thing. The flat face is the breed's defining feature and the direct cause of its breathing disease.
- Group
- Non-sporting
- Weight
- 8–13 kg
- Coat
- short
- Ears
- erect
- Muzzle
- flat
- Build
- Heavy
- Origin
- France
What it looks like
Compact and heavy for its size with a large square head, a very short flat muzzle, distinctive large rounded 'bat' ears, a short smooth coat and a naturally short screw tail.
The characters that confirm it
- Large rounded bat ears, erect and set high — the character that separates it from a Boston Terrier's pointed ears.
- A very short flat muzzle with heavy wrinkling over the nose.
- A naturally short tail, straight or screwed. It is not docked.
- Compact, heavy, low-slung, with a roached topline.
Temperament
Companionable, low-exercise, and attached to people. Poor tolerance of heat and exertion.
Health
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome is near-universal and follows directly from the face shape — many require surgery to breathe adequately. Spinal malformations from the screw tail, eye ulceration, skin fold infections and heat intolerance are all common. Most cannot mate or whelp without assistance. This is a breed where the standard and the disease are the same specification.
Confused with
Pointed erect ears, a longer muzzle, and a lighter, more athletic build.
Drop ears, a curled tail over the back, and a rounder head.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a French Bulldog?
Large rounded bat ears, erect and set high — the character that separates it from a Boston Terrier's pointed ears. A very short flat muzzle with heavy wrinkling over the nose.
What is a French Bulldog like to live with?
Companionable, low-exercise, and attached to people. Poor tolerance of heat and exertion.
What health problems do French Bulldogs have?
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome is near-universal and follows directly from the face shape — many require surgery to breathe adequately. Spinal malformations from the screw tail, eye ulceration, skin fold infections and heat intolerance are all common. Most cannot mate or whelp without assistance. This is a breed where the standard and the disease are the same specification.