Dossier
The mini French bulldog is a small copy of its standard ancestors.
- Adult height: no more than 28 cm.
- Weight: up to 8 kg.
- Characteristic color: brindle, white-brindle, fawn, white-fawn (spotted), black and white; blue.
- Coat length: short, thick, hard.
- Life expectancy: 10-12 years.
- Advantages of the breed: cheerful, calm. These dogs have a strong psyche. They also love children and become attached to all family members.
- Breed Difficulties: Can be aggressive towards other dogs and cats. But this indicator depends on temperament and upbringing.
- Average price: $150 – $300; the cost of a puppy with an excellent pedigree can reach $1200.
- Classification: small dogs, decorative, companion dogs.
Appearance and standard
This dog does not have a fixed standard, so purchasing a dwarf French bulldog is a real test and an unequal struggle with scammers. Advertisements for sale often feature weakened animals or mixed breeds that are miniature in size due to abnormal development or the presence of genes from other breeds.
The height of the mini Frenchie is not > 28 cm, and the weight is not > 8 kg. Otherwise, the appearance corresponds to the standard of its larger relative:
- large locator ears, pointed at the ends and maintaining a vertical position, regardless of size;
- massive square head with a short muzzle;
- large bulging eyes and a short flattened nose;
- short but powerful neck;
- well-developed bone structure with a muscular back, toned stomach and wide cylindrical chest;
- visual stoop due to longer hind legs;
- small but thick tail, tapering towards the end;
- glossy short coat, resembling a gloss, spotted, white-fawn or brindle color.
Life expectancy and health
If a standard size French bulldog can live up to 15 years, then with a dwarf size the maximum life expectancy is reduced to 12 years. Please note that calmer female representatives become long-livers.
On average, “Frenchies” live about 10 years, and this short duration is associated with their health. Diseases that occur in the breed are associated with a tendency to obesity and the specific structure of the face and bones. Dogs require obligatory help from the owner during childbirth, therefore, if their health is initially poor, mating is contraindicated.
What is the breed for?
Despite their external resemblance to their standard relatives, mini French bulldogs were originally bred as a small decorative dog. Nowadays they are often started by families with small children. After all, these animals are very affectionate and have good contact with children. Even just watching these little tails play with children brings pleasure and joy. Dwarf bulldogs are excellent psychologists. They perfectly sense the mood of their owners.
History and description of the breed
It is believed that the French bulldog breed was bred in England by crossing English bulldogs, namely, their smaller representatives - toy bulldogs with Alans, Spanish bulldogs, now defunct, as well as pugs and terriers .
The breed resulting from these experiments appealed only to representatives of the working class. During the period of the scientific and technological revolution, many proletarians emigrated to France in search of work and, of course, took their favorites with them.
There, French aristocrats noticed unusual animals, thanks to which the dog became very popular in elite circles.
The breed became widespread in France, where it was first registered and got its name..
The French bulldog is already a decorative breed in itself, but breeders did not stop and were able to produce a smaller copy of it.
The Frenchman's blood contains the dwarfism gene, which allows him to breed mini-bulldogs.
The smallest individuals were selected from the offspring and crossed with each other until they got a representative of the ideal size . This is how the dwarf French bulldog (shown in the photo) appeared.
Description of character
These are calm, incredibly sweet and active dogs. They love to be the center of attention. But be prepared to spend as much time with your pet as possible. It is not advisable to leave a French bulldog at home alone, otherwise your furniture, wallpaper and rugs may be damaged. They can sometimes be very restless , and at times this little furball can simply fall near you and lie next to you the whole evening.
They are generally very easy to raise. The Mini French Bulldog will behave openly with children of any age. These dogs are very friendly and friendly. And the more attention they feel, the better.
How to choose a puppy
Choosing a mini French bulldog puppy is not at all difficult, you just need to take into account the following recommendations:
- Don't hesitate to ask as much as you can about the puppies' parents. You can even ask the breeder to show documents for the dogs.
- Do not adopt a puppy until it is 6-8 weeks old. The best option is to adopt a dog at the age of 10 weeks.
- Pay attention to the wool. It should be shiny and clean.
- Check your eyes and ears carefully (they should be clean).
- It is also important that the body is developed symmetrically (taking into account the characteristics of the breed).
- The puppy's front paws should be large and strong. And the pads are soft, without unnecessary growths.
- The gums of healthy puppies are pink, without signs of oral infections or other diseases.
Care and maintenance
The coat of these babies is short and smooth, so it does not require particularly careful care (unless you plan to participate in dog shows). Brush your pet once a week to rid it of dead hair . A French Bulldog should be bathed when dirty, but not more than once a month. It is also important to maintain ear and eye hygiene. In particular, you need to wipe the folds under the dog’s eyes. It is also recommended to trim the nails once a week.
Often, mini French bulldogs feel great on a mixed diet. That is, the main part of the diet is premium food with all the necessary vitamins and elements. Sometimes feed your pet meat, cottage cheese (especially useful at an early age), as well as chicken eggs.
Brief history of origin
The breed belongs to the Small Molosser group. It is believed that the first miniature bulldogs appeared in England, and only then came to France. Unfortunately, descriptions of the work of the breeders have not been preserved, so the exact history of the development of the breed remains a mystery.
According to the generally accepted version, the ancestors of the animals were the now extinct English toy bulldogs, crossed with Alans, pugs and terriers. Demand for the breed increased in the 1860s. At first, small dogs were adopted by representatives of the working class, but thanks to their unusual appearance, aristocrats also fell in love with them.
In 1880, a club of French bulldog lovers was organized in Paris, and 8 years later they were recognized by the Central Cynological Society of Dog Breed Lovers of France. In pursuit of the fashion of these animals, their mini-species were bred. For this purpose, puppies were selected whose DNA contained the dwarfism gene. Such dogs have not yet received official recognition, so they do not have a separate standard.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the difference between the standard French bulldog and its mini version, these kids have retained the main positive features of their relatives. Among them is incredible devotion to the owner. Wherever you go, this friend will follow you everywhere. In addition, these dogs are playful and intelligent.
Your pet will understand everything you ask of him and will try to please. Having made a mistake and felt disapproval from the owner, the little Frenchman will never repeat it again . He will also, no matter what, try to protect you if he senses danger.
Sometimes French bulldogs have difficulty getting along with other animals, as they are sensitive and want their owner's attention exclusively to them. Due to the structure of the nose, babies may sometimes grunt and snore in their sleep.
The latter fact, by the way, was noted by many breeders of mini French bulldogs. Some people disapprove of this, while others, on the contrary, consider this flaw very cute. We are very interested to know your opinion on this matter.
Description of the French mini bulldog
The FCI catalog classifies the French Bulldog in the ninth group (“Companion and decorative dogs”), the eleventh section (“Small Molossians”) and clearly regulates the standard breed dimensions:
- height at the withers - males 27–35 cm, females 24–32 cm, deviations of 1 cm upward or downward from the indicated limits are allowed;
- weight - males from 9 kg to 14 kg, females from 8 kg to 13 kg, excess weight by 500 g is allowed provided that the breed type is maintained.
Less is more - this proverb does not apply to French bulldogs
All deviations from FCI standard No. 101 are considered breed defects for the French, and a significant reduction in the size of an adult dog is a reason for its disqualification at the exhibition and non-admission to breeding. The descendants of the “miniks” will not have documents confirming their breed.
Differences from the standard French Bulldog
As dog experts sadly joke, fashion rules the breed - on the Internet you can find many offers for the sale of a “miniature French bulldog”: they promise that the weight of an adult dog will not exceed four kilograms, and the height at the withers will be fifteen centimeters, and they even “draw” some then pedigrees! Of course, there is hope that the puppies will grow to normal size, but this would greatly disappoint potential owners who are willing to pay a lot of money for a supposedly unique breed.
If the baby is unlucky and he really turns out to be a mini, then his life will be short and problematic: Frenchies are not generally known for good health, and their smaller copies have a bunch of diseases due to the underdevelopment of the skeleton and internal organs. The desire of the owners to get puppies from their micro-girl can end very sadly, even leading to death - pregnancy and childbirth will become an overwhelming test for such a dog.
Compare two very similar males: on the right is a standard blue Frenchie, and on the left is a miniature, which is already showing the first signs of degeneration of the breed
External differences between the mini and the standard individual appear only in the reduced dimensions. In all other respects, these are the same Molossians, although too small, with the same proportions in the structure of the body and head, the quality and colors of the coat.
Does this breed have a standard?
The very name “French mini bulldog” is nothing more than a marketing ploy by cynology businessmen, and not a very honest one at that. Such a breed does not exist, and Frenchmen who meet the standard are called miniature bulldogs, so there is a banal substitution of concepts. Miniks do not and cannot have their own standard, since they are a breed defect, and their dwarfism is a genetic pathology.
