23 curiosities and facts about the French Bulldog that will leave you open-mouthed!
23 curiosities and facts about the French Bulldog that will leave you open-mouthed!
Written by Silvia
September 8, 2023
The French Bulldog is a small-sized companion dog that is among the most loved in the world.
It has a truly irresistible appearance, with a squashed muzzle that resembles the head of a panda, large bat-like ears, and two round, charming eyes.
And yes, almost everything has been said about this beautiful breed, but there are anecdotes that you probably aren't aware of and would like to know.
We have collected 23 of them, let's see if we can surprise you with some curiosities and facts about the French Bulldog.
French Bulldogs are excellent babysitters, even for other animals!
Not only are French Bulldogs great babysitters for children, but they are also for other animals: a 9-year-old Frenchie named Bugsy became famous for adopting an orangutan cub abandoned by its mother at the Twycross Zoo in England.
No one thought the little one would make it, but thanks to Bugsy, it survived, and the two formed such a strong bond that they remained together over time, even ending up always sleeping together.
They are great talkers
Not only is the French Bulldog very communicative, but it can also make different sounds, including one that resembles a yawn, a particular gurgling, and a kind of snoring.
Some of these strange sounds depend on the conformation of its palate and respiratory tract, and in some cases, they can be a symptom of a health problem.
The French Bulldog cannot swim
Unlike almost all other dog breeds, both small and large, the French Bulldog cannot swim.
Actually, it's not due to laziness or inability, but it's a physiological issue: being a brachycephalic dog with a squashed muzzle and short nostrils, to breathe once in water, the Frenchie must keep its head raised upwards.
This position allows it to survive but unfortunately does not enable it to stay afloat.
If forced to enter the water, it will sink like a stone, and for this reason, it is very important to keep an eye on it when at the beach or entering a pool.
Can Have Long Hair
The classic short-haired Bulldog has a cousin with longer hair: some specimens are indeed born with beautiful, thick, medium-length fur.
This characteristic is due to a recessive gene, it's an event that occurs infrequently, but the puppies are absolutely adorable.
French Bulldogs are Sleepyheads
The French Bulldog is certainly not among the most active dog breeds, in fact, it is considered a real couch lover.
All dogs sleep a lot, but the Frenchie can sleep up to 14 hours a day.
Quite a record, it probably should be hired as a mattress tester.
They Originally Had Rose Ears, Not Bat Ears
Originally, the French Bulldog did not have the distinctive bat ears that make it so unique.
This breed actually had rose ears, which is the classic shape of the English Bulldog.
This was the preference of English breeders, while their counterparts in the United States favored the bat-eared version.
The position of the ears is a major concern for breeders, as it is not possible to know at birth what shape they will have.
In some cases, one ear may rise before the other, sometimes the ear that rises may then fall, and perhaps the second ear rises weeks after the first.
And often, the final position of both ears cannot be determined until the dog has completed the entire stage of teething.
French Bulldogs are Originally from England, Not France
The French Bulldog is not originally from France, as one might believe from the name. In fact, it is an English breed that originated from a cross between the English Bulldog, the Pug, and other Terriers.
But it was the French who perfected its appearance and size to make it the dog we know today.
The name French Bulldog has a different, somewhat strange but interesting origin, which we explain in the next point!
The Frenchie was a Lover of Nightlife
It seems that the Frenchie owes its popularity to the French prostitutes of the late 19th / early 20th century, also called Belles de Nuit, Beauties of the Night.
Apparently, it was the most appreciated breed by the ladies in question, and they were the ones who coined the name Bouledogue Français, or French Bulldog, which spread very quickly.
French Bulldogs Get Offended Easily
This breed is very sensitive to reprimands, does not tolerate loud and harsh tones of voice well, and gets offended very easily.
Therefore, it is better to avoid scolding your French Bulldog but instead try to correct it by encouraging it, always using a gentle and positive method.
If scolded excessively or with a very bad tone, the little dog might become withdrawn and become distrustful of people.
The French Bulldog Should Not Fly
The French Bulldog should not take an airplane: unfortunately, the conformation of its head makes breathing difficult, and flying could be fatal.
If there were no alternatives, the only possibility would be to have it fly in the cabin and reserve a seat with plenty of legroom to allow good air passage.
But it is still better to avoid it, and the cargo hold should also be excluded due to possible extreme temperatures.
It Snores a Lot!
The conformation of the muzzle, short nostrils, and narrow palate make breathing very difficult for the French Bulldog.
For this reason, it often snores, and does so quite loudly, often every time it falls asleep.
There's nothing that can be done about it, but in more severe cases, if the dog's health is compromised, surgery can be an option.
It Was Bred to Be an Excellent Companion Dog
Unlike other small companion dog breeds, the French Bulldog was not selected to be a talented hunter, an aggressive guard dog, or an excellent working dog.
This breed has been refined over the years to create the perfect apartment dog.
Mission accomplished, considering it even avoids going out for exercise if it can!
Loves Yoga, Especially the Frog Position
The French Bulldog has a stocky and square shape, but it shows a certain flexibility: it is in fact famous for frequently lying on its belly, stretching its hind legs as if it were a frog.
It's a really cute and unique pose that makes it even more endearing, and it has also earned it the nickname of 'frog dog'.
French Bulldogs are Born Through Artificial Insemination and Cesarean Section
Unfortunately for this dog, natural reproduction is almost impossible: the French Bulldog has narrow hips, a feature that makes the male's mounting operation extremely difficult.
And the females often suffer from thyroid problems that make the heat period inconsistent.
Breeders are therefore forced to resort to artificial insemination, and this is how almost all litters are planned.
They Have Few Puppies
This breed also has great difficulty in giving birth: the physical conformation and many health problems often make cesarean section necessary.
Litters are generally of 3 puppies, although there have been some recorded with even 7-8 puppies.
But it is a very rare event, and it is because of the scarcity of births that the French Bulldog puppy has such high prices.
Among the Celebrities Who Love Them Are Big Names
The French Bulldog is very loved by celebrities: among its most faithful admirers are Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Hilary Duff, and Martha Stewart.
Joining the club are Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria, Madonna, Snoop Dogg, and Cara Delevingne. But there are many others.
They Should Not Be Curvy
The American Kennel Club, the American dog breeding federation, has set very strict limits regarding the weight of the French Bulldog.
The maximum allowed weight is 12.700 kg, and even a slight excess leads to the disqualification of the dog. So be careful not to let it get overweight!
A Purebred Did Not Survive the Titanic
Passengers on the Titanic, the famous ship that sank after hitting an iceberg, could travel with their dogs.
Among them was a French Bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe, a champion who at the time was paid the equivalent of 20,000 Euros in British pounds.
When the Titanic sank, its owner, a gentleman named Robert Williams Daniel, managed to save himself by getting on lifeboat No. 5, while there was nothing that could be done for the little dog.
Among the survivors were only three dogs, specifically two Pomeranians and a Pekingese, so light that they could be carried in their owners' jackets.
It's an Imperial Dog
The Romanov family, the last family of the Russian Imperial dynasty, had a French Bulldog named Ortino.
The dog was so beloved that it had full freedom in the house, was served and revered, and slept on the bed.
Some sources say that it survived its owners, but in reality, Ortino was executed on July 17, 1918, along with the rest of the family and the other Frenchie, Jemmy.
Probably it ended better for the third dog, a Cavalier King, which was never found and likely managed to escape.
The French Bulldog is the king of farts
Like other Brachycephalic dog breeds, the French Bulldog is also known for its famous farts.
The flatulence of the Frenchie depends on some mistakes in the dog's diet, for example, its intolerance to dairy, fermented foods, those that are too fatty, and an excess of carbohydrates.
If the problem becomes unbearable, one can resort to specific herbal-based products or change the type of kibble.
Toto from The Wizard of Oz was actually a French Bulldog
Even though a Cairn Terrier named Terry was chosen to portray Toto in the film (who at the time was paid more than the flesh-and-blood actors), in the book series the dog was actually a French Bulldog.
The illustrator indeed owned a Frenchie named Quinn and decided to pay tribute to him in this way.
It's also whispered that initially, the part was offered to a French Bulldog but since the breed is not easily trainable, the director preferred to replace it with a Cairn Terrier.
French Bulldogs are great actors
Many specimens have successfully acted in important films, for example, 'From Hell' (2001), and 'Bringing Down the House' (2003).
There are also 'Secondhand Lions' (2003), 'Due Date' (2010), and of course James Cameron's 'Titanic', where Gamin De Pycombe, the French Bulldog who unfortunately could not be saved, was portrayed.
They are not intellectuals
According to Stanley Coren, author of the academic masterpiece 'The Intelligence of Dogs', the French Bulldog ranks at position No. 109.
It's not a great result, but this amusing companion dog makes up for it with great charm and a really sunny disposition.
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