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Get a quick quoteThe French Bulldog is a very energetic and loyal companion. A small sized, playful dog with a good reputation for playing nice with kids, the French Bulldog has been a favourite of urban dwellers since the mid-1800s, into the early 20thCentury and is now seeing new popularity with the modern Australian family.
The French Bull Dog is of small to medium stature and has a lean and muscular build. The appearance and characteristics of the breed are large heads and short legs. They don’t require a lot of space to keep them occupied and have proven a popular choice for people living in apartments.
Although the breed requires little dedicated exercise, consistent human contact is required and indoor living is a must. A healthy French Bulldog will weigh between 10 – 13kgs. The French Bulldog will generally live for between 12-16 years.
The French Bulldog is a playful, friendly and reliable domestic dog. Small, spirited and affectionate, the French Bulldog is a popular choice for families as they have a good reputation for being gentle with children and aren’t the type to bark without good reason.
Known in the UK affectionately as the pig dog or the Frenchie, the breed is popular for its unique appearance and clownish, good-spirited behaviour.
The French Bulldog doesn’t require any level of dedicated exercise beyond a daily walk to remain healthy, but a great deal of human connection is essential to their wellbeing.
Although very loyal and a dependable companion, the energetic French Bulldog can be a challenge to train. They require patience and a consistency in their management. Socialising them at an early age is also highly recommended.
The French Bulldog is an active dog and a relatively healthy breed overall. There are a few conditions, health issues and problems that affect the breed, however, especially in warmer conditions like an Australian summer. The French Bulldog will often encounter difficulty regulating body temperature and this can result in some complications.
The French Bulldog will often suffer from back or spinal problems over the age of five. This is perhaps due to the dwarf qualities selected by breeders.
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The origin of the French Bulldog goes back to the ancient world. The dogs of Molossian Greeks ended up being spread throughout the ancient world by traders and, once in England, the Molossian dog was developed into the Mastiff.
The Bullenbeisser, a sub-family breed derived from the Mastiff were used in the practice of bull-bating, a sport where specially trained dogs would attack a restrained bull one at a time. This practice was made illegal in England in the early 1800s and the bull dogs had no working use. After some cross breeding with terriers and pugs in in England in the mid-1800s, the Toy Bulldog puppy was born.
These small bulldogs found their way to France during the industrial revolution. They came with lace workers from Nottingham who had crossed the channel to settle in Normandy. The bull dog puppies quickly gained popularity on the continent and dog breeders in England started sending more and more animals to France. It’s from here and the help of French Bulldog breeders that the breed gained the name Bouledogue Francais or the French Bulldog to us in Australia.
Throughout the rest of the 1800s the French Bulldog remained the height of fashion for all tiers of French society. The French Bulldog also proved very popular in the United States of America and made its arrival to England in the 1890s.
The French Bulldog remained in vogue for high society well into the 20th Century with the breed in the top five between 1909-1914. And in 2013 The Kennel Club of America claimed the breed to be the 11th most popular in the United States.
The French Bulldog Club of NSW: http://www.frenchbulldogclubnsw.asn.au/