Different breeds of dogs.

FRENCH BULLDOG

by Dennis Fisher.

This article is one of a great many articles written by Dennis Fisher about a very wide variety of subjects concerning different  dogs, such as obedience training, breeding, showing, health matters, training problems and other subjects.  All these articles appear on Dennis Fisher's websites.   Visit  http://www.allaboutgermanshepherddogs.com the site that has been set up specifically for German Shepherd Dog enthusiasts, or http://www.freedogadvice.com  if you interested in a breed   other than German Shepherd Dogs

One would imagine that the French Bulldog, as the name suggests, was originally bred in France.  But this is not so.  The French bulldog in actual fact originated in England. The breed eventually  developed from the breeding of very small English Bulldogs with the object of producing  a miniature variety.

French dog breeders imported some of these miniature Bulldogs into France and mated them to Terriers.  The dog that resulted from this mixture became known as the French bulldog.

The French Bulldog is a fairly small animal, weighing only about 28 lbs. Apart from the marked difference in size, in some ways it is similar to the English Bulldog in appearance.

The head is also very large in relation to the size of the dog, the muzzle deep and the jaw overshot as is the case with the English Bulldog.  The body is also muscular and, much the same as the English Bulldog, it is very much wider at the shoulder  than the hind-quarters, giving a pear-shaped appearance.

A marked difference between the two breeds are the ears.  In the case of the French Bulldog they are in erect, as contrasted with the “rose” ears of the English Bulldog.  The ears are  wide at the base; the eyes large and  prominent

The coat of the French Bulldog is smooth; the color varied. It can be white, brindle, fawn or black.

In temperament the French Bulldog is a lovable,  affectionate animal, lively and alert. Owners of this breed have also reported that that they excellent mice catchers.

Because of it’s small size the French Bulldog can fit easily into any home, or apartment.

It should be noted that this is not a hardy breed and are subject to a number of health problems.  As with short-nosed dogs of this variety there is  a tendency towards respiratory problems. The animals often have trouble breathing. 

The breed also often experiences  problems with  eyes.  This is often due to the folds in the face, so particular care should be taken to wipe the eyes and face regularly.