French bulldog Dogs & Puppies for sale from Ethical Breeders

Meet the French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are small, robust canines that stand between 28 and 30cm tall. Females are generally smaller than males, weighing anywhere between 7.3 and 10.8kg. Males weigh 9-12.7kg when fully grown.

Both sexes have compact, well-muscled bodies with large, square heads and heavy wrinkling above their short noses. Their large ears are characteristically bat-like and sit high and wide on the head. French Bulldogs also have large round eyes that are almost always dark in colour. Their back legs are longer than their front legs and their wide chest gives them a very stocky appearance.

French Bulldogs boast a short, silky coat that lies very close to the body. These dogs only have a single-layer coat, so they don’t do well in cold temperatures. This is why you will often see French Bulldogs wearing jackets or fleeces in the winter months. Saying that some brindle varieties can sport a double coat.

The only coat colours accepted by the UK Kennel Club are as follows:

• Brindle: Consisting of a mixture of black and fawn hairs. White markings are allowed under the breed standard, but the brindle colour must dominate.
• Fawn: Clear fawn colouring that can be accompanied by a black mask around the eyes. Cream and red shades are available, but they are less desirable.
• Brindle-Pied: Mostly white with brindle patches.
• Pied: Predominantly white with fawn markings.

French Bulldogs can live 9-12 years if cared for properly and offered a high-quality diet that’s tailored to their needs. However, they are known to suffer from a number of health issues including hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc disease, and cleft palate, due to their unusual bone structure and short legs. As a brachycephalic breed (short-nosed), these dogs can also suffer from breathing problems. Brachycephalic syndrome is common in this breed and is characterised by a narrowing or obstruction of the airways. Dogs with this condition normally snort or snuffle as they breathe. Severe cases may require surgery to widen the nostrils or shorten palates.

The temperament of a French Bulldog

French Bulldogs love to play regular games with the family, which is one of the reasons why they have become so popular as pets. When they are not playing, you will usually find a French Bulldog snoozing on the sofa without a care in the world.

These adorable dogs thrive on human contact and form strong bonds with their family members. For this reason, these dogs do not do well when left alone for long periods. So, they are best suited to families where someone is home for most of the day.

French Bulldogs don’t generally bark a lot, but they will alert you if a visitor is approaching your home. So, they make great little watchdogs. However, they can be a bit challenging to train at times. The key to successfully training a French Bulldog is to make training sessions fun with games, activities, and fuss. These dogs are freethinkers, so if they decide they don’t want to do something, there’s nothing you can do to change their minds! They can also be a bit mischievous at times, so they need an owner with a firm but gentle hand, to prevent them from becoming dominant or territorial.

These dogs don’t require a large amount of room or exercise, so they are suitable for apartment living. Up to one hour of exercise per day is all that’s needed for this breed. However, bear in mind that they can have breathing problems so keep walks short. Multiple short walks a day with long rest breaks in between are ideal.

Best Homes for a French Bulldog

French Bulldogs will do well in a range of home environments. They are particularly popular with city dwellers due to their small size and quiet, calm nature. They love playing with children of all ages and get along well with other animals, including other dogs.

French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone for long periods because they are highly people orientated. So, they are not suitable for people who spend hours out of the house at a time. These dogs need constant attention to be happy, so you need to ensure you have plenty of time to devote to these adorable little canines.