THE FRENCH BULLDOG
History
In the mid-1800s, a toy-size Bulldog found favor in some English cities, including Nottingham, then a center for lace making. The toy Bulldog became something of a mascot for Nottingham’s lace makers. This was the height of the Industrial Revolution in England, and such “cottage industries” as lace making were increasingly threatened. Many in the lace trade relocated to northern France, and of course, they brought their toy Bulldogs with them.
The little dogs became popular in the French countryside where lace makers settled. Over a span of decades, the toy Bulldogs were crossed with other breeds, perhaps terriers and Pugs, and, along the way, developed their now-famous bat ears. They were given the name Bouledogue Français.
Paris eventually discovered the delightful new breed, and thus began the Frenchie’s reputation as city dog par excellence. The breed came to be associated with Paris café life, and with the bon vivants and fancy ladies who sought nocturnal pleasures in Parisian dancehalls. Edgar Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec depicted the Frenchie in paintings of the Paris demimonde.
By the end of the 19th century, the Frenchie’s popularity had spread across Europe and to America. The breed was tougher sell in England. The Bulldog was a national symbol, and it rankled many Englishmen that their age-old rivals, the French, would dare adapt it to their purposes.
American devotees of the early 1900s contributed to the breed by insisting that the bat ear, as opposed to the “rose ear,” was the correct Frenchie type. It is by this distinctive feature that the Frenchie is instantly recognizable the world over.
The one-of-a-kind French Bulldog, with his large bat ears and even disposition, is one of the world's most popular small-dog breeds, especially among city dwellers. The Frenchie is playful, alert, adaptable, and completely irresistible. The French Bulldog resembles a Bulldog in miniature, except for the large, erect 'bat ears' that are the breed's trademark feature. The head is large and square, with heavy wrinkles rolled above the extremely short nose. The body beneath the smooth, brilliant coat is compact and muscular. The bright, affectionate Frenchie is a charmer. Dogs of few words, Frenchies don't bark much, but their alertness makes them excellent watchdogs. They happily adapt to life with singles, couples, or families, and do not require a lot of outdoor exercise. They get along well with other animals and enjoy making new friends of the human variety. It is no wonder that city folk from Paris to Peoria swear by this vastly amusing and companionable breed.
TIPS ON BASIC CARE FOR YOUR FRENCH BULLDOG
HOUSE BREAKING
ALL DOGS CAN BE HOUSE BROKEN IF YOU ARE CONSITANT, AS WELL AS PERSISTANT, IN TRAINING THEM. THERE ARE TWO BASIC HOUSEBREAKING TECHNIQUES:
CRATE TRAINING AND PAPER TRAINING. CRATE TRAINING IS PREFERRED BECAUSE IT TEACHES DIRECT HOUSEBREAKING. PAPER TRAINING SHOULD BE AN INTERMEDIATE STEP, UNLESS YOU DELIBERATELY WANT YOUR DOG TO CONTINUE ELIMINATING IN A DESIGNATED PLACE INDOORS.
PAPER TRAINING : COVER THE ENTIRE FLOOR OF A CONFINED SPACE WITH PAPER "PUPPY PAD WORKS AS WELL" WAIT FOR YOUR DOG TO USE THE PAPER , THEN REPLACE THE SOILED PAPER /PAD. ONCE YOUR DOG SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THE PAPER/PAD CONCEPT, BEGIN TO LEAVE A BARE AREA WITHOUT PAPER/PAD. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE ONLY A VERY SMALL AREA COVERED WITH PAPER/PAD.
CRATE TRAINING : WHEN INDOORS, KEEP YOUR DOG IN A CRATE OR UNDER VERY CLOSE SUPERVISON. TAKE TOUR DOG OUT FREQUENTLY, AND GIVE YOUR DOG LOTS OF PRAISE FOR RELIEVING ITSELF. IT WONT BE LONG BEFORE YOUR DOG GETS THE CONCEPT OF ONLY ELIMINATING OUTSIDE!
FEEDING THREE FEEDINGS A DAY ARE USUALLY ADEQUATE FOR YOUNG PUPPIES. AT AROUND FOUR TO SIX MONTHS OLD, TRY CUTTING BACK TO TWO MEAL. MOST DOGS CAN BE FED ONLY ONCE A DAY WHEN THE REACH ADULTHOOD. IF YOU WANT TO DISCOURAGE PICKY HABITS, TRY TO FEED AT REGULAR TIMES IN REGULAR AMOUNTS.
ALWAYS PROVIDE FRESH, CLEAN WATER.
IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP ALL FEEDING AND DRINKING BOWLS CLEANED ON A DAILY.
BATHING AND GROOMING :
IN GENERAL , YOU ONLY NEED TO BATHE YOUR DOG ONCE A MONTH OR WHEN IT IS DIRTY AND SMELLY. BATHING TO OFTEN CAN REMOVE NATURAL OILS, MAKING YOUR DOG'S COAT AND SKIN DRY.
KEEPING YOUR FRENCHIES ROLLS AND EARS CLEAN AND WIPED OUT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BRUSHING YOUR DOGS TEETH ONCE A WEEK IS RECOMMENDED. YOU SHOULD TRIM YOUR DOGS NAILS EVERY 2 TO 4 WEEKS TO PREVENT PAIN WHEN WALKING AND OVERALL OVER GROWTH.
ROUTINE HEALTHCARE:
ESTABLISHING ROUTINE HEALTH CARE FROM AN EARLY AGE CAN PREVENT DISEASES, PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR DOG AND YOUR DOGS QUALITY OF LIFE. PICKING A VETERINARIAN : IT IS EXTREMLY IMPORTANT TO FIND SOMEONE YOU TRUST. IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE VETERINARIANS IN YOUR AREA, TALK TO YOUR BREEEDER , FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR REFERALS.
EXERCISE:
YOUR DOG NEEDS REGULAR EXERCISE TO STAY FIT AND HEALTHY. FRENCHIES CAN BE A LAZY BREED , BUT DAILY WALKS, PLAYING FETCH , SWIMMING , ETC ARE GREAT EXERCISES FOR YOUR DOG.
FOODS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO YOUR DOG:...
WILD CHERRY
ALMOND
APRICOT
BALSAM PEAR
JAPANESE PLUM
YEAST DOUGH
COFFEE GROUNDS
MACADAMIA NUTS
TOMATO AND POTATOE LEAVES AND STEMS
AVOCADOES
ONIONS AND ONION POWDER
GRAPES
RAISINS
CHOCOLATE
PEAR AND PEACH KERNELS
MUSHROOMS
RHUBARB
SPINACH
ALCOHOL
DRUGS
