Author of the article: Dmitry Boyko | Updated: 09/14/2020
Knowing how to choose the right French Bulldog puppy is essential for any potential buyer. The health of your future pet will depend on how competently and seriously you approach this issue, as well as the achievement of the goal that you set for yourself when you decided to purchase a dog of this breed. What exactly should you pay attention to when choosing French bulldog puppies - that’s what we’ll talk about.
Rules and secrets of choice
How to choose a French bulldog puppy? This question often leads new dog breeders to a dead end. The first rule: carefully check the documents that the puppy's owners must provide. Even if you are not purchasing a dog in order to present it at exhibitions in the future, it is advisable to have documentary evidence of the breed on hand. When choosing a pet, evaluate the behavioral characteristics of all the puppies presented to you.
As a rule, some of them behave independently, actively, all the time trying to start a new game and become interested in people. It will be much easier for you to make friends with such pets - this is the first thing. And second: by purchasing one of the most playful cubs, you get a healthy, full-fledged dog that will develop as expected.
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Lifespan and health problems
Unfortunately, nature has given dogs in general, and this breed in particular, not such a long lifespan as we would like. According to statistics, the maximum life expectancy of French bulldogs is 9 - 12 years. Only a small percentage of centenarians live more than 12 years.
In general, French Bulldogs have good physical health. But none of them is immune from diseases such as:
- dermatitis under the folds of the skin, especially in the muzzle area;
- allergies to external irritants or food;
- entropion of the eyelids;
- urinary tract diseases.
Which gender to choose
Many dog breeders, at a certain stage of preparation for purchasing puppies, think about which gender they should prefer. Here you need to be based on the goals that you set for yourself. For example, if you plan to train your dog for exhibitions in the near future, it will be more profitable to work with boys. They are large in size, and this is a huge plus. But an equally important advantage will be the absence of estrus in males. That is, you don’t have to constantly clean your apartment and deal with characteristic odors.
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However, French bulldog boys also have certain behavioral nuances. Males love to mark their territory. In addition, they can show aggression towards their opponent. Another minor point: if there is a dog in your home, the mini French bulldog, if its “neighbor” is in heat, will try to run away, sensing a threat.
For those who prefer much more affectionate individuals, the optimal choice would be a female French bulldog. She is very obedient and amenable to training. But do not forget: from time to time you will have to take more careful care of your dog, since periodic estrus is inevitable. In addition, during this period it is better to monitor your pet more closely to prevent accidental pregnancies.
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Pros and cons of the breed
Advantages of the breed:
- Small size - you can keep a French bulldog even in a small one-room apartment.
- The Protector considers protecting his owner from dangers his priority.
- Doesn’t bark over trifles – the dog may become wary if it hears someone walking near the front door. Otherwise, she is absolutely calm and quickly adapts to daily household noises.
- Born with a short tail - there is no need to dock it.
- Easy to care for the coat - you don’t have to worry about traces of shedding on the carpet and furniture. It is enough to sometimes comb out short hairs using a furminator.
- Finds a common language with small children and loves to play with them.
- Empathy and sense of humor - if a pet sees that the owner is sad and bad, he will try to attract attention and do something funny and awkward to cheer him up.
Cons of the breed:
- It cannot withstand temperature changes - the summer sun can lead to sunstroke, and the winter cold can lead to a cold.
- Prone to fungal skin diseases on the face and under the tail.
- He does not like to clean his ears, and ear cleaning is a mandatory procedure in caring for a French bulldog.
- He snores and passes gas in his sleep due to the anatomical structure of his muzzle and frequent digestive problems.
- Suffers from allergies to some food products. Sometimes you can find out about the disease only after you feed your pet.
- Slobbery – Some French Bulldogs salivate quite profusely, especially before and after eating, as well as during moments of emotional overstimulation.
- Touchy - if the pet is not given a forbidden treat or is scolded, it may demonstratively take offense at the owner.
- Stubborn - prefers to do only what he considers interesting or beneficial for himself. The trainer needs to be patient.
- He does not measure his capabilities - when he sees a new large dog in his yard, the Frenchman will immediately rush to sort things out with it and win back ownership, which is fraught with serious injuries for the pet.
We look at behavior
French bulldog puppies will certainly become members of your family. They are playful, active and willing to communicate with children. But in the process of choosing a future pet, be sure to pay attention to the habits of the puppies. Your task is to acquire a truly active and healthy dog, so that in the future you will not have to worry about its physical condition. Of course, no one has canceled diseases and infections, but the fact that a puppy is sick is usually noticeable in the early stages. It is recommended that you also evaluate this moment.
French Bulldog puppies are a good choice for a family with children.
The dog is very good-natured by nature; it will love to play with the little members of your family. However, do not forget to keep an eye on your pet while playing with children. The thing is that kids may not calculate their strength and even harm the puppy. He will not show much aggression in response, but he may growl at his offender.
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Character traits
The French Bulldog is a loyal, devoted and affectionate companion who is ready to accept and love every member of the family, including small children and cats.
The distinctive character traits of representatives of this breed are as follows::
- Calm and balanced – dogs of this breed do not have sudden emotional outbursts of agitation or aggression.
- Curiosity and contact - the French are not afraid of strangers, and if they show sympathy for them, they reciprocate and allow themselves to be stroked.
- The ability to adapt to circumstances - a bulldog will gladly join in active games with children, or calmly lie on the lap of a pensioner. If the owner is away from home for a long time, he will find something to do to his liking or sleep in his bed.
- Empathy - he very subtly senses the owner’s mood and does not pester him with games when he is not in a good mood, or, on the contrary, he will try to console and draw attention to himself when he sees that his owner is sad.
- Selflessness - if a French bulldog sees that its owner is in danger, he will immediately rush to protect him.
- Willfulness and stubbornness are rather negative character traits that appear when the owner neglects to raise the dog in puppyhood.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
“The French Bulldog is a wonderful companion for the whole family. He knows how to get along with both children and elderly people. Despite their natural stubbornness, they are highly trainable. The bulldog loves to run and frolic, but you shouldn’t overload the dog too much - due to his small nostrils, he has heavy and labored breathing, which has a bad effect on his well-being.”
Appearance and physical condition
When a puppy of a breed called French Bulldog reaches the age of 2 months or 3 months, he can be safely taken from his mother. During this period, your pet is already able to go to the toilet in a specially designated place. In addition, the dog has certain basic skills. Another interesting fact: by this time the pet’s character is formed, so it can be given to a new family. The change of environment will be tolerated by the puppy painlessly.
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To wisely choose a puppy of two or three months, you need to pay attention to certain external parameters. Among the most significant:
- the dog's coat should be shiny, clean and smooth;
- body features must correspond to age and breed;
- Inspection of the auricle is a must. If there are no suspicious discharge or accumulations in the ear, and there is no characteristic odor, you can safely purchase a puppy;
- strong limbs without visible pathologies is another important nuance;
- When examining a potential pet, pay attention to the puppy’s nose – it should be wet and cold;
- It is also desirable that there are no cracks in the dog’s claws;
- Skin condition is definitely an important consideration. Under no circumstances should a rash or irritation appear on the dog’s skin;
- It’s also worth assessing the puppy’s eyes: if there is purulent discharge in the corners, this is a bad sign.
A French Bulldog puppy will certainly please your family members. The main thing is to approach the choice of a healthy pet with all seriousness.
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What questions to ask the breeder
You can verify the authenticity of the breed by assessing the merits and awards of the parents. To do this, you should talk to the breeder before purchasing a puppy. Find out which specific club the small dog’s parent is a member of and whether he or she participates in exhibitions. View the awards he has. All these points are very important in the process of choosing a healthy and developmentally promising puppy.
Don't forget to check with the breeder about any health problems your pet's parents had. You can’t do without them, so if you are told that there were no difficulties in raising a dog, most likely this statement is not true. You can make sure that your pet is in good health by checking the relevant document.
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Where to buy and how much does a puppy cost?
The cost of a French bulldog puppy is not the most affordable. This fact is due to the popularity of the breed on the world market. As for where it is better to make a purchase, many beginners start scouring newspaper advertisements, which is why they make their first serious mistake. The thing is that when buying a puppy from your own hands, you get the most economical option (a dog will cost you about $120), you cannot be one hundred percent sure of the qualities of the breed. Therefore, it is best to contact nurseries.
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History and description of the breed
Despite the fact that in 1904 the World Canine Federation established that it was the French who were the first to develop this breed, heated debates still rage between the kennel clubs of these countries.
Old English Bulldogs had a more powerful body and long legs, which is why they were often used in dog fights.
Until 1802, these cruel betting games were very popular among the British, however, after the passage of a law prohibiting such barbaric entertainment, their views changed radically.
The government called on citizens to protect and increase domestic dog breeds.
Soon, owning a bulldog became generally good form - first among the aristocracy, and then among ordinary citizens.
After 100 years, not a trace remains of the old habit of enjoying the bloody spectacle of dog fighting. In England there were more than a hundred kennel clubs responsible for breeding this breed. Bulldogs were at the peak of their popularity.
In 1903, the country was shocked by the news about the amazing pets of Reginald Edward Stubbs, who looked like miniature copies of bulldogs and had large erect ears, shaped like a tulip petal.
The Frenchman Alf Georg, who lived with him in the same area, learned about this and decided to buy puppies from him and bring them home.
For many years, the French bulldog was a very rare and incredibly expensive breed in France..
He was perceived rather as an exotic animal - several dogs were even exhibited at the Paris Zoo.
The French version is more prosaic and claims that French bulldogs are the result of crossing an English bulldog with a Spanish one. The Spanish had a large and stocky build and erect ears.
They, like the English ones, were used in battles, only with larger opponents - bulls. These small snub-nosed dogs very quickly gained popularity, first with the Spaniards (as they were often depicted on souvenirs dedicated to bullfighting), and then with the French.
In 1895, England was shocked by the industrial revolution, and skilled workers began to move en masse with their families to France, not forgetting to take their pets with them.
It was then that the crossing of two breeds and breeds began and, as a result, a new one was created - the French bulldog.
