The Frenchie, or officially known as the French Bulldog has become increasingly popular. The Frenchie is bread to look like a large breed dog trapped in a little body. These dogs are stocky, muscular and solid.
These dogs are available in a few different colors, tan as the most common, then you will have the brindle, fawn, or white with brindle patches. Yes there are also other color variations out there, however according to the AKC they are not recognized and may be linked to genetic health problems not common in the breed.
Temperament, this is not a breed of dog that is ok with being left alone for hours at a time. They are a very emotional breed and suffer from separation anxiety if left alone. This anxiety can and will lead to behavioural issues when they may resort to chewing on household items or going to the washroom in the house.
They are considered a good condo dog as they don’t need a lot of exercise, a short daily walk is usually enough. They are also full of personality which has given them the name of a clown dog. This is a breed that doesn’t really bark, if they do it is because they want to draw attention to something or if they are trying to tell you they want something.
This breed is patient and affectionate, Frenchies are great with their owners and kids, they love to be part of the family. They can live well with other dogs, just make sure you take to time to do a proper introduction.
Health, the life span of this breed is mentioned as 8-10 or 12-14 if you have the UK breed. Typically all Frenchies are bred through insemination, because of the way their hips and back legs are the males are unable to mount the female properly to breed. This process is true for almost 80% of all bred Frenchies. Something to ask your breeder; most breeder say that a Frenchie should not be bred until their hips and back have been x-rayed to ensure there are no anomalies. These little guys are prone to back and spin issues so it is very important you do your due diligence with a proper breeder.
Frenchies only have one coat so they easily feel hot in the summer and also get very cold in the winter. In a cold area they may even need a lite sweater on in the house during the winter. In the summer it is common for them to suffer from heat stroke. In the home they are happier with lite air conditioning so they can keep their body temp at a comfortable level. The heat stoke issues with Frenchies is not something to overlook, it can be lethal! it is imperative that you protect your little guy from weather extremes and that they always has access to fresh water and shade.
Tear stains are common in lite colored Frenchies. Cherry eye, is another common concern with their eyes as they develop. Following their regular vet checks as puppies is important, you may also want to consider having insurance for this breed because medical fixes for things like cherry eye and back issues can get very expensive.