December 16, 2011
Posted in Pet Health, Pet Supplies

If you are a low-energy person looking for a snuggle buddy, the French bulldog may be the best breed for you. This "bully breed" was bred to be a lapdog, and its purposes have not strayed far since then. The dog's small, muscular and wide body is similar to its bulldog ancestors, but its alert expression, unrestrained movement and history is not.

While bulldogs were bred as "bait" dogs to fight with each other and larger animals in arenas in 1800s Europe, Frenchies were actually bred to be companions, despite their shared "bullish" traits. These dogs were popular in 19th century Nottingham, England, but many English lace workers brought their canine companions to France with them when they went there to work during the Industrial Revolution. The breed soon became all the rage with upper class society in Paris, and was dubbed the "bouledogue Francais," or French bulldog. Americans visiting France brought the dogs back to them, and it continued to thrive on the laps of the bourgeoisie in America and Europe. By 1913, the Frenchie was among the most popular show dogs in America.

The Frenchie is still a perfect home companion for all members of society. This dog is medium energy with low exercise and grooming needs. It is very friendly toward other dogs and pets and is easy to train. All they need is a short walk on a Flexi Retractable Leash each day and occasional baths with oatmeal shampoo for dogs. However, owners may want to clean the wrinkles that surround their short snouts more frequently.

The short snout of Frenchies also causes some health issues, the news source reports. This breed is known as a brachycephalic dog, which refers to the way its snout is pushed in. Their head is still the same size as a dog that has a long snout, which can result in an elongated or clefted soft palate. Generally this only means that they will be noisy breathers and may snore. They also should not be kept in hot or humid weather because of this issue. Another health concern is stenotic nares, which are essentially narrow nostrils.

Frenchies are playful, entertaining and love to cuddle with their favorite humans. You can get them an Ortho Small Dog Sleeper, but they are more likely to climb up their dog steps and snooze with you on the couch. 

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