The French Bulldog often called a “Frenchie” originated from France around the 1800’s. They were initially used in farming communities as work dogs, but were soon discovered to make wonderful family pets.
The most dominating opinion about the origin of the French Bulldog is that in the mid 19th century the Normandy lace workers
traveled from England to France taking smaller variations of Bulldogs with them, as they looked for work. The lace workers settled among the farming communities of northern France, and the little bulldogs started their way to popularity.
Despite their petite size their love of family and loyalty is extremely great. Over the next 50 years “Les Bouledogues Francais” became established as a separate breed. Unfortunately the French neglected to record pedigrees making it impossible to know exact lineage of these animals. It can be surmised that terriers and pugs were contributors in this breed’s development, but to what extent and which specific dogs were used will never be known.
The French Bulldog is an active, muscular built dog, with a smooth coat, and generally of medium or smaller structure. With their pug-like face and their bat like ears, they are simply irresistible. Frenchies are bred primarily as pets and companions. They make good apartment dogs, but also enjoy roaming outside on a lead. With family they tend to behave like a child, demanding a great deal of personal attention and interaction. The Frenchie will weigh anywhere from 22 to 28 lbs and are about 12 inches in height. Their colour variations consist of pied, fawn and brindle. They are a happy-spirited breed, which would be a wonderful addition to any family. Their intelligence and willingness to please make them the “top dog” in any obedience class. Also, their minimal maintenance requirements make them a great companion dog.