If you decide to tame an English bulldog. Eared baby - what to feed a French bulldog, characteristics and description of the breed Bulldog weight of an adult dog

To determine how long French bulldogs live, you must first carefully read the standard of this breed. This knowledge will help you understand the pace of a dog’s development: to what age it grows, how much it weighs in a given month of its life, and so on. It is necessary to monitor these parameters, while simultaneously taking into account the anatomical features of the animal’s structure.

The French Bulldog breed standard describes the following parameters:

• head;
• frame;
• limbs and mobility;
• wool cover;
• color;
• dimensions: height, weight;
• character;
• flaws;
• vices.

Head

The skull of a representative of this breed can indicate many hereditary traits. For example, about the structural features of his body and the strength of his bones. French Bulldogs have several skull shapes:

• ordinary - with a noticeable stop (the transition from the forehead to the muzzle) and a bump on the back of the head;
• heavy – large, powerful, rough, with clearly visible muscles;
• light – narrow, with poorly developed muscles;
• proportional - most suitable for the standard.

The shape of the skull will determine the degree to which the dog belongs to the purebred line of the breed. According to the standard, breeding dogs must have an impressive, square-shaped head. The short part around the nose gives it a wide look. A slightly convex forehead should be clearly visible. The bump on the back of the head is almost invisible.

The skin on the dog's head forms folds. From the lip, between the eyes, there is a furrow that should not extend onto the forehead.

The dog's muzzle is short and quite wide. Its length is one part in six in relation to the head.

The French Bulldog's wide and retracted nose has symmetrical nostrils. They should be open and pointing upward.

The dog's cheeks are drooping and rather thick. The lips are also thick, black in color, and their upper part covers both the teeth and tongue.

The dog's round, slightly convex eyes have a dark tint. They should be low enough and not close to each other relative to the beginning of the ears, due to their large size. The eyelids are black.

In dogs of this breed, ears are one of the main components of their attractive appearance. Therefore, they should be small, set high, with a wide base and rounded ends. The vertically erect ears allow full visibility of the auricle.

According to the standard, representatives of this breed have powerful square jaws. The lower part is slightly in front of the upper and has the shape of an arc. It is desirable that this displacement (undershot) not be too noticeable, but the standard does not particularly monitor this point.

The French Bulldog has strong teeth that should not be damaged in any way. The front teeth of the upper jaw are located behind the front teeth of the lower jaw.

Dogs of this breed have a short neck. It is slightly curved. The standard does not allow any excess fat, folds or loose skin in the area. Ideally, the neck should have well-developed muscles and seven vertebrae, because the mobility of the head depends on these parameters.

Frame

In French Bulldogs, the withers are formed by the five thoracic vertebrae and the top of the shoulder blades. They are connected by developed muscles.

The wide, well-developed back of the dog, according to the standard, should not sag or, on the contrary, arch. Otherwise, her vertebrae will not be able to withstand physical stress.

The sacrum should be short but wide enough.

The animal's croup should have a slightly rounded shape with a slight slope.

The width of the chest of a French Bulldog directly depends on the location of the ribs - on their curvature. According to the standard, the ideal chest should be barrel-shaped, deep and well developed.

Sometimes dogs of this breed have an anomaly such as the presence of wedge-shaped vertebrae, mainly in the thoracic region. With this, the vertebrae do not have a regular rectangular shape, but a trapezoid shape. This can lead to problems with the functioning of the spinal cord. This can lead to paralysis of the limbs.

Note: Males must have properly developed testes that are completely contained in the scrotum.

The dog's small tail should be thick at the base, tapering towards the tip. When excited, the tail should be no higher than the line of the back.

It’s worth moving a little away from the basic parameters of the standard and taking a closer look at this topic. Basically, French bulldog puppies are born with a naturally short tail. This can be explained by genetic predisposition.

But representatives of this breed do not always have such a tail. Some puppies are born with a tail longer than standard. In this case, the breeder must immediately decide whether it is necessary to dock (cut off part of) the puppy’s tail, since this operation is performed when the puppy is three to five days old, no later.

When selling a puppy, the breeder is required to indicate whether he has docked his pet's tail. Especially if it is purchased for breeding, the long tail can be inherited. And even in the case of an exhibition career, a long tail can become an obstacle.

Sometimes surgery is necessary for medical reasons. For example, if a French bulldog's tail begins to grow into its body or it fits so tightly to the body that there is no way to care for the area underneath where diaper rash may appear.

Limbs and mobility

The front legs support the entire body of the French Bulldog and are subject to heavy loads. Especially during exercise. Therefore, the limbs should not be close to each other. They should be straight, with well-developed muscles. Developed forearms should be straight and small, shoulder blades and shoulders should be powerful and also small, and elbows should fit snugly to the body.

The dog's compact, slightly rounded paws are slightly turned forward. They have dense pads and tightly spaced toes.

The length of the powerful hind legs is ideally slightly longer than the front legs. They are even and parallel to each other. Powerful thighs should not have round shapes. The hock joints are not particularly angled and are quite close to the ground.

The French Bulldog moves easily and straight, with its limbs moving parallel to its body.

As the dog grows and gains muscle mass, he feels more confident during physical activity.

Coat

French bulldogs are born short-haired, with straight hair that fits tightly to the body. The dog's coat should be shiny and slightly rough to the touch.

Color

To find out to what age these animals grow, you need to track how much the dog weighs during its growth. For convenience, all the necessary data is presented in the French Bulldog weight table by month:

As can be seen from this table, standard dogs grow to the age of ten to eleven months. After this, the animal stops gaining weight and begins to grow in width. First comes the growth of the chest and head, as well as muscle mass. French bulldogs reach their final size by the age of one and a half years.

But not all French bulldogs grow and develop according to these data. There is an unofficial variety of mini bulldogs, whose weight is less than the standard minimum of eight kilograms, and accordingly the height of such individuals can be less than twenty-five centimeters. Such dogs are commonly called dwarf French bulldogs.

The lifespan of standard representatives of the breed varies from ten to twelve years. But mini dogs do not fit the standard parameters due to their lack of height and weight. If an animal weighs less than the standard minimum between the ages of eleven months and two years, it is not developing properly compared to normal French Bulldogs.

As a result, mini bulldogs live less, sometimes not reaching the minimum standard age of ten years. The average life expectancy of mini dogs varies from seven to nine years, or even less.

With poor care, a dog's life can be shortened by several years. In general, such animals have not gained in height and weight due to a tendency to various diseases and mental disorders. That is why they need additional conditions throughout all years of life.

Character

French bulldogs have a multi-faceted character. Mostly they are energetic, but sometimes they are lazy. They have a stable and calm psyche, but sometimes they can show aggression towards other dogs.

Representatives of this breed are friendly, love their owner and his family, and enjoy spending time with children.

Flaws

Any deviation, even a slight one, from the basic parameters of the standard is considered a defect. The seriousness of defects is assessed according to their degree of materiality.

Vices

A French Bulldog may be disqualified if it has the following faults:

• multi-colored eyes;
• the nose is not black;
• lip abnormalities;
• scissor bite;
• visible fangs with the mouth closed;
• incorrect ear placement;
• cropped ears or tail;
• dewclaws;
• non-standard coat color;
• absence of a tail.

Does your dog fit the standard standards?

As a rule, the entire period of development and formation of a dog is divided into several main stages, during each of which the animal acquires certain life experience.

The feeding process is accompanied by characteristic movements of the puppy's paws, as if pushing away the mother's belly, which helps him suck out more milk.

1st stage (initial)

In French Bulldog puppies, the initial development period lasts from the 1st to the 7th week of their life. Before reaching 2 weeks of age, the baby is practically helpless and completely dependent on the mother.

The main needs of a puppy at this age are eating (mother's milk), prolonged sleep and staying in constant warmth. The sucking reflex is given to the dog from birth, which allows the baby to quickly find the mother’s nipple, hold it for a certain time and actively suck milk.

By how energetically a puppy sucks its mother's milk, dog breeders determine its potential vitality, character and degree of activity.

From about the 15th day of life, a bulldog puppy begins to develop visual and auditory perception of the surrounding world. Three-week-old bulldogs can already walk independently, maintain balance, and also consume liquid food as a supplement to mother's milk. At this age, babies still retain a certain dependence on their mother, but do not yet have a social connection with their brothers.

Stage 2 (adaptation)

The puppy adapts to environmental conditions during the first month of life. At this time, the baby is gradually mastering a new world for him. Playing with his mother and other puppies, the little bulldog learns the basics of relationships with his own kind and learns discipline.

In the first weeks of life, the puppy's behavior is based mainly on the innate instincts that he inherited from his mother. Further, the formation of the dog’s character and habits will largely depend on you.

This period is very important for the development of basic conditioned reflexes, because 4-7 week old puppies are very susceptible to all changes in the world around them and they already have a pronounced ability to acquire certain skills.

During the period of adaptation to the environment, it is necessary to carefully observe the behavior of children, noting the most striking manifestations of their character. Adaptation to the external environment is achieved by puppies through auditory, visual, tactile and olfactory contacts with the objects around them.

At this time, the puppy gradually adapts to its mother. The reflex he acquired - to always follow her - will later manifest itself in the owner’s house: the puppy will very quickly get used to following a person. Lethargic, inactive puppies do not adapt well to environmental conditions, and subsequently it will not be easy for them to establish contact with people and relatives.

By the way, sniffing a person is a unique way for a puppy to get to know him. A dog can remember many different people by smell. The number of new acquaintances the puppy makes will determine his future communication abilities.

At the age of 4 to 8 weeks, bulldog babies do not yet experience a sense of fear of strangers, and puppies older than 8 weeks are usually afraid of strangers and hide when meeting them. Therefore, when taking a puppy into the house, the owner must first of all pay attention to his pet’s communication with other people. If this is not done, the dog may grow up either too timid or, on the contrary, too aggressive towards others.

Do not deprive your bulldog of communication with your close friends, relatives, neighbors: remember that your dog’s sociability is the key to its successful upbringing and training.

At 4–6 weeks of age, the puppy is given a nickname, which is chosen at the request of the owner. It may not coincide with the nickname that was assigned to the puppy at the time of its registration in the stud book.

The name of a French bulldog must contain the following vowels - such as A, I, E and Yu. And in no case should the dog's name repeat any human name (Maxim, Sasha, Misha, Olya). As a last resort, names that are rare or not used in our country are acceptable.

Keep in mind that the dog's name should consist of a small number of syllables. The more there are, the longer the bulldog will get used to its name. The nickname must be clearly pronounced, so try to include the following letters: N, L, R, CH, B, V and D. The letters S, W, K, G, P and T are not recommended.

The nickname very quickly becomes an important part of the French Bulldog's personality. That’s why start teaching your puppy to respond to her as quickly as possible. Remember, the longer the name, the more difficult it is for the dog to remember it.

As soon as you bring the puppy home, let him know that he now has his own name to which he should respond. Try to plan the training process so that the dog associates the name with something pleasant, such as food or a walk.

Stage 3 (socialization)

The puppy's socialization stage is the period of its active acquaintance with the outside world. This stage occurs between 8 and 12 weeks of age. At this age, bulldog puppies are very active and curious. Babies treat other living beings with friendly curiosity. They sniff their new acquaintances, and a loud yelp or bark from an animal is just a common reaction to an unfamiliar object.

The puppy is very interested in various sounds: voices coming from a TV or radio, noise arising from the operation of household appliances, telephone calls and other sounds. During this period, your pet gets acquainted with many new phenomena and things: furniture in the apartment, flowers and trees on the street, birds outside the window, perhaps some animals that are in your house (cat, hamster).

French bulldog puppies are very inquisitive

At the age of 8–12 weeks, puppies have increased excitability and an unstable psyche. During this period, they simply need the attentive, sensitive and caring attitude of the owner towards them. We must remember that stressful situations in a puppy can arise not only as a result of overwork, but also, for example, during therapeutic and prophylactic manipulations, vaccination at the veterinarian, etc. Therefore, when going to the veterinary clinic, take some treats with you , to divert your puppy's attention from the procedures that frighten him.

The period of socialization is considered the most suitable for mastering the basics of training. Raising a bulldog begins with the simplest thing - teaching it to be handled. That is, the puppy (and subsequently an adult dog) must allow himself to be calmly picked up, his teeth and ears examined, turned over, placed on the table and on the floor in a stand, and allowed to be done with everything that the owner considers necessary. You should accustom your puppy to such restraint from the first days of his arrival in the house. Believe me: this will make it easier for you to care for him in the future.

At this time, you should also begin teaching your puppy general commands and actively discipline him. At this time, the baby must successfully carry out such commands from the owner as “Place!”, “Walk!” and “Come to me!”, and by the beginning of the 4th month of life, master more complex tasks. Now he can cope with the implementation of those orders and prohibitions of the owner, which are expressed by the commands “Lie down!”, “Sit!”, “Ugh!”, “No!”.

When raising a dog, you need to follow the well-known rule that any extremes are harmful. The owner's boundless love, as well as his excessive severity in communicating with his pet, will not help raise a good dog.

If you handle your bulldog skillfully and patiently, he will become a good and obedient student.

It is very important from the first days of communication with a puppy to let him understand that he must always obey his owner, and try to develop this skill in him even during play. The French Bulldog's charming appearance and good-natured nature often lead to these dogs being overly pampered from childhood. Punishment in this case does not bring much distress to the puppy, and he may become capricious and willful.

Here we must definitely talk about aggressiveness, which can still be present in the behavior of a small puppy and which is often not taken seriously. And this is fundamentally wrong.

The bulldog puppy must be decisively shown from the very beginning that there is subordination in relations with a person. It often happens that the owners only laugh if the puppy growls or tries to bite. Therefore, it may be impossible to distinguish congenital aggressiveness from improper upbringing in an adult dog.

During the period of socialization of your pet, try to accustom him to establishing friendly contacts with other dogs that the owners walk at the same time as you. By enjoying communication with its own kind, the dog grows more balanced, and there are much fewer problems during training.

The French Bulldog is a breed whose breeding and development involved a great deal of work and experience of many people. Take bringing a puppy into your home seriously. Take care of the breed, raise, educate and care for the dog every day, and not from time to time.

It would be useful to remind the puppy’s owner that before the baby reaches 2 months of age, it is inappropriate and even harmful to start training with him, because during training the dog’s psyche is subjected to enormous stress, which can lead to stress.

Stage 4 (dominance)

This stage in the life of puppies occurs around the 12th to 16th week of life, when the struggle for leadership begins between dogs of the same age. The main thing that should happen during this period in the puppy’s psyche is recognition of its owner as a dominant personality, and other family members should also be of higher rank. Otherwise, the dog will pretend to be the leader, and the owner must always remain such.

Practice shows that there are three possible types of relationships between the owner and the dog, which are intensively formed when the puppy reaches 3–4 months of age. In the first case, leadership belongs to the person, in the second - to the bulldog, and in the third, a certain equality of rights is established between them.

At the first opportunity, a growing bulldog will definitely check who is in charge in the family. While playing, he can bite his owner, growl or bark at him. But, each time receiving a worthy rebuff, the puppy begins to recognize the dominant role of the person and learns to obey the owner.

If you want to raise your dog according to all the rules, your personal leadership should be the only acceptable option for you. Therefore, during games and walks, always pay special attention to the dog’s behavior towards you. Contain your pet's curiosity and emotionality, not allowing him to pull you in one direction or the other. Use the “No!” commands. and “Ew!”, lightly slapping the dog on the thigh; Over time, she will learn that it is unacceptable to behave as she pleases with you. A properly trained dog will never bark at its owner, much less bare its teeth and growl at him during play.

Thus, at the dominance stage, a closer psychological contact is established between the dog and its owner. A three-month-old bulldog, when properly raised, fully recognizes the rights of its owner.

During the period of dominance, the puppy already needs systematic training, during which the owner practices the commands “Come to me!”, “Stand!”, “Sit!”, “Lie down!” with him. Physical and mental stress at this age can gradually increase. For a 13-week-old bulldog, you should already purchase a collar and walk him on a leash.

The faster the dog recognizes the leadership of the owner, the more successful the training results will be, and communication with the animal will give you great pleasure.

It is necessary to take into account that by the age of 16 weeks, French bulldogs (especially males) have already completed the formation of their emotional perception of the world around them, and therefore certain skills and attitudes received from you by this time will remain with your dog for life.

5th stage (independence)

This stage of a dog’s psychophysiological development lasts from 4 months to 8 months of age. This is exactly the period when your pet, generally recognizing the leadership of the owner, can allow itself some liberties, trying to demonstrate its independence to the person and thereby showing individuality and realizing the desire for self-affirmation (this is characteristic not only of people, but also of dogs). How can this independence of your bulldog be expressed, which he will not fail to prove to you at the first opportunity?

Most likely, you will be disappointed to watch how your beloved dog, who just yesterday perfectly carried out this or that command, this time seems to not hear it at all and, in defiance, does not at all what is required of it.

In such a situation, you cannot relax and give your pet a chance to become the master of the situation, at least for a while. If you see that your bulldog is being willful, persistently ignoring the tasks received from you, do not follow his lead and persistently demand obedience and complete submission from the dog. Otherwise, your ward will develop an incorrigible habit of doing as he pleases.

Keep in mind that by demonstrating such behavior, the bulldog is trying to win for himself the right to do as he wishes, which, of course, is completely unacceptable for you.

Remember that if you do not pay due attention to the manifestations of its independence, the dog will begin to demonstrate willfulness in any situation, and in the future you will periodically be deprived of the opportunity to manage it and control its behavior.

At the same time, you should not bring down your anger on him and, using brute force, repeat the command in a threatening tone, wanting to achieve its correct execution at all costs. Build your dog's habit of obeying your commands differently: just don't let your bulldog off the leash until you are sure that your pet is perfectly doing everything you want from him.

An owner who indulges the whims and caprices of his dog risks in the future getting an uncontrollable and aggressive animal, loudly barking at every passing car or random passers-by. By showing firmness and persistence in dealing with your ward, you will be able to help him successfully overcome the period of independence and develop the constant habit of strictly following all your commands.

Stage 6 (overcoming fear)

This stage is characterized by the fact that your pet suddenly, without any particular reason, experiences fear of various objects that are already familiar to him and have not previously caused him any negative emotions. At the same time, there is also a fear of new, unfamiliar objects. The owner must help the dog overcome fears of this kind.

This period can last for 1–2 months. It begins, depending on the individual developmental characteristics of the dog, at the age of 6 to 14 months.

You should give the dog the command “Stop!”, then approach the object that causes unreasonable fear in your four-legged friend, and touch the thing that frightens him with your hand. After this, having commanded “Come to me!”, you must wait until your pet also approaches an object that is not at all scary for you (you have already clearly demonstrated this), and makes sure for yourself that this thing does not pose any danger. Behave calmly and confidently, and this condition will immediately be transmitted to your dog.

7th stage (adolescent age)

This stage begins when the bulldog reaches one year of age and continues for 3 years. The dog, as in the period of independence, can make attempts to impose its will on the owner and take a dominant position in the family, as well as among its relatives.

During this period of time, the dog may behave inappropriately even with those to whom it had previously been very friendly and calm. For example, it is capable, completely unexpectedly for its owner, of attacking a fellow tribesman living next door and fighting with him, despite the fact that before both dogs were very friendly with each other and even played together. Friends who come to visit you may also be greeted with a menacing growl or barking right on the threshold, although previously your “Frenchman” treated the same visitors quite friendly.

If the dog is behaving too aggressively and you are unable to control it, you will need the advice of an experienced dog handler: a specialist will help change the situation for the better.

The main thing that is required of the owner during this period is not to lose self-control, perseverance and firmness, but at the same time maintain a good relationship with his stubborn four-legged dog.

Let's assume that some acquaintances come to visit you, to whose visits your pet has long been accustomed, but lately he has clearly not shown them his cordiality. In such a situation, you should not, however, isolate the dog from the people who come to you by locking it in another room. In this case, it is recommended to command the bulldog: “Place!” and give him the opportunity to remain among the arriving guests and feel like a full member of this company. At the same time, warn your friends so that they themselves do not seek to communicate with the dog: let it show its interest in those who come first. In this way, you demonstrate to your pet that you are in complete solidarity with your guests, that you are on their side and they demand respect no less than you do.

The transitional age for a dog is also the period when it reaches puberty. However, this does not mean that the process of physical and mental development of your bulldog has already been completed. Training sessions must remain regular; there is no need to give the dog the opportunity to present its own demands to the owner regarding its rights and responsibilities.

The French bulldog has a number of innate and acquired character traits that are finally formed only by the age of 3 (as a rule, these are instincts associated with the dog’s ability to protect its owner and his property).

Proper feeding is the key to the dog’s health and the development of the correct exterior. From the first days, great importance is attached to raising a puppy, i.e. such an influence that develops and consolidates useful skills and inhibits harmful ones.
The French Bulldog is a muscular dog with strong bones, the harmonious build of which depends on proper feeding, walking, and education.
Developmental indicators are growth rate and weight gain.

At 6 months, females weigh on average 8-9 kg, and males 9-10 kg. The growth rate from 1 to 2 months increases by 2-2.5 times, and from the 2nd to 6th by 3 times.
The maximum height at the withers for adult males is 37 cm. By 2 months, puppies' ears are fully erect, from 3-5 months the change of primary incisors begins, from 4 - canines, by 5 - the prepainters change. By 7-8 months of development, the change of teeth is completely completed. Bite - snack. By 6 months, the growth of tubular bones ends.
From the 7th to the 9th month, the puppies' exploration process predominates, so they should be walked on a leash.
For the correct development of the forelimbs up to 1.5 years, avoid puppies going down stairs and jumping from heights. Playing with a rag is not allowed, especially power games, because this contributes to the extension of the lower jaw and malocclusion.
From the age of 8 months, active games are included in exercise; the dog should run a lot, jump on straight ground, run uphill - which it does without coercion.

STAGES OF PUPPY DEVELOPMENT

A. EMBRYONAL
1. Pre-embryonic - development of the egg before fertilization.
2. Embryonic - 20-25 days - from the moment of fertilization to the formation of the fetus.
3. Fetal - before the puppy is born.

B. POSTEMBRYONAL
1. Newborn- up to 15 days.
The puppy is deaf and blind. There are feeding and sucking reflexes (up to 10-14 days). Nail trimming is carried out on days 4-6.
2. Sucking (milk)- up to 1.5-2 months.
Tactile, visual, and auditory reflexes appear (from 10 to 14 days). By 3 weeks, baby teeth appear. Excitation processes and indicative reflexes predominate. This period (from 3 weeks to 45 days) is characterized by the appearance of primary analyzers.
3. Pre-pubescent (puppies)- up to 2-6 months:
a) up to 3.5 months, primary socialization occurs, i.e. getting to know the world. During this period, the coloring of the iris of the eyes occurs, and behavioral and exterior traits are formed.
b) from 3.5 months, psychological characteristics begin to form. From 3.5 months, the “caution” reflex appears, and orientation reflexes become stronger. An active defensive reaction appears.
By 6 months, the testes descend into the scrotum. You can begin educational training, remembering that inhibitory reflexes are poorly developed.
4. Young animals- from 6 to 12 months. This is the period of puberty. Features of individual development are revealed. From the 7th to the 9th months, “research” processes predominate. It is necessary to pay more attention to the puppy, devote more time to him, and walk him on a leash.
5. Young dogs- from 1 year to 2-2.5 years. The development of the dog ends. This is the period of greatest receptivity to training.

Consider the stages of growth and development of French Bulldog puppies
You can use the example of two wonderful babies

On September 20, 1999, in Seattle, USA, the fawn-spotted female Wanda gave birth to two wonderful girls. Chipa, a fawn-spotted dog, soon moved to another house, where her new owners gave her the name Sassy. And the red-fawn one, with a black Twiga mask, stayed to live with her parents.

1 Week:

We have just been born, and are still blind, deaf and completely helpless.

We've been here for three days now and for some reason I always want to sleep.

Mother! Well, I really want to eat!

2 weeks:

And we already see everything.

3 weeks:

Well, will someone tell us when they will feed us?

4 weeks:

After lunch there is time to think about probability theory.
For example, what is the probability that they will forget and feed you again?

The French Bulldog (French: Bouledogue français) is a breed of dog that is associated with many prejudices. However, for those who are familiar with the long history of these dogs, they are wonderful pets and wonderful companions

The French Bulldog (French: Bouledogue français) is a breed of dog that is associated with many prejudices. However, for those who are familiar with the long history of these dogs, they are wonderful pets and wonderful companions.

History of the breed

The ancestors of the modern French bulldog breed are the ancient Greek breed of Molosser dogs. Phoenician traders in ancient times contributed to the spread of its representatives throughout the world. Subsequently, Molossians reached England, and thanks to them, dogs such as bulldogs appeared. They were used to participate in the bull games that became popular. However, in 1835, these bloody games were banned in England, and bulldogs became "unemployed." Earlier (before 1800) they had already been bred for other purposes, and so the breed was transferred to the category of fighting dogs. Some representatives of the breed were crossed with terriers, resulting in smaller dogs.

By 1850, so-called "toy bulldogs" were so popular that they were included in official exhibitions. In the early 1860s, the requirements for them changed - dogs weighing 3-5 kg ​​were allowed, contrary to the previously existing limits (not lower than 5.4 kg). However, after the industrial revolution, many English entrepreneurs remained unemployed and moved to Normandy (France).

They brought with them many dogs, including English bulldogs. They gradually gained popularity in France, and trade in such animals began there. Soon they began to be united into a separate breed and gave it the name “French Bulldog”. The dogs initially gained great popularity among Parisian courtesans, artists, writers and designers. These bulldogs were then crossed with terriers and pugs, and the puppies were given protruding ears and round eyes.

Characteristics of the French Bulldog breed

Every French Bulldog should be a muscular, broad-boned, smooth-coated dog with a compact to medium-sized build.

Family of French bulldogs. Photo credit: Andres R Photography.

The officially recognized colors of this breed are brindle or fawn. White markings must also be present. Different areas of areas with white wool are acceptable. The marks can be either insignificant or occupy more than half the surface of the body. The FCI divides the French Bulldog breed into two varieties, and both of them are based on these color properties: 1st, the so-called “With minor white markings”, 2nd - “With an average or predominant amount of white”.

The skin of a representative of the breed should be soft and loose, especially in the head and shoulder area, thereby forming folds.

The coat is shiny, thick, short and smooth.

The muzzle should be flat and square-shaped with slightly rounded ends. There is a small depression between the eyes. The cheek muscles of this dog are large. The French Bulldog's nose should be very short, with wide nostrils and a clear line between them. The dog's nose and lips are black (the exception is individuals with a predominant white color - lighter shades are acceptable for them). The lips should be thick and wide, reaching the lower jaw and covering the teeth, which may not be visible when the dog closes his mouth. The representative's eyes should be far from the ears and from each other, be round and have a dark color.

The ears are wide at the base, elongated, with a rounded tip.

Torso and limbs

The front legs of the breed should be short, thick, straight and muscular. The body is short, widening at the shoulders and tapering at the tail. The chest is wide, with large ribs. The hind legs should be muscular and longer than the front legs - so much so that the groin area is located above the shoulders.

The tail is straight, short, not protruding, thick at the base and tapering at the end.

French bulldog - juvenile. Photo credit: Andres R Photography.

Puppies and training

The French Bulldog, like many other breeds, requires constant contact with people. Puppies are very active, adults are calmer. Such a dog practically does not need additional games, but daily physical exercise remains mandatory for him. Owners of brachycephalic dogs (French bulldogs with short muzzles) need to be aware that these dogs cannot live outdoors. Massive bodies and difficulty breathing significantly reduce their ability to regulate their own temperature. Swimming is also a typical problem for the breed. Therefore, during the heat, you should not drag your French bulldog into the bath or to the river, but take other measures.

Care and maintenance of French bulldogs

The coat of such a dog practically does not require any combing. They need to be bathed no more than 4 times a year. Overall, caring for a French Bulldog will be easy for its owner.

The French Bulldog outshines the Labrador. Photo credit: Michiyo Roch.

Psychological portrait of a French bulldog

These dogs are excellent companions. They rarely bark and only do it to get attention or to show that they are sad. The breed is also very patient and good with children. Moreover, a French bulldog can be safely left alone with a child without fear for the life and health of the offspring.

French bulldog in a home interior. Photo by: Raul Garcia.

French Bulldog Dimensions and Weight

Weight: male – 10-15 kg, female – 9-12 kg

Height: male – 30-38 cm, female – 28-35 cm

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The French Bulldog is distinguished by its extraordinary intelligence, charm and unique character. Despite his small stature, this dog looks quite solid and serious.

The French Bulldog has a calm and affectionate character.

There are different versions of the origin of this dog breed.

Let's take a closer look at where and when this breed first appeared.

According to one of them, this breed originated from Spanish bulldogs, which no longer exist in our time. They were short-faced dogs, with their help they guarded and also accompanied cattle. Later they took part in bullfights. These dogs were very similar to today's French bulldogs.

French bulldogs inherited a lot from their ancestors - the Old English bulldogs - so says another, most popular version, whose ancestors were Molossian Great Danes, distinguished by their extraordinary fighting qualities. With the advent of the era of technology, an industrial crisis broke out in England in the 19th century, as machine tools replaced manual work. Therefore, many Englishmen were forced to emigrate to neighboring France. And as a warm memory of their homeland, they took these faithful dogs with them.

French dog breeders carried out great selection work until this dog breed acquired its current appearance.

Features and character of the French bulldog

The description of this breed is the color and character of the pets.

Appearance

As you can see from the photo of the French bulldog, this is a typical small indoor dog. It is characterized by a short muzzle, where a flat nose and a forked wide upper lip are successfully placed, exposing sharp incisors. The dogs are distinguished by short, erect ears, which begin to be rounded closer to the top. A deep furrow ending at the forehead serves as a separator for the brow ridges. The presence of mini tails is the signature difference between these dogs and others. This breed, perhaps, is similar to an ordinary bulldog. In fact, this is as it should be, since our little dog is a smaller copy of his larger brother. The characteristics of the French bulldog have significantly more pros than cons.

Coat type and color

It is distinguished by its hard coat, which has no undercoat and is characterized by great thickness, density, and a specific shine. In addition, it is quite short and smooth.

Color can be:

• uniformly red, with the presence of brindle spots, limited white spotting;
• brindle or fawn, with medium-sized spotting (spots on the palm of the hand or more);
• black and white.

a) brindle color; b) black and white color

In addition, the presence of all shades of fawn is allowed, ranging from bright red to dark “coffee with milk”.

Height and weight

The animal is a small (up to 32-35 cm at the withers), strong, muscular, short-muzzled dog. Females usually weigh from 8 to 12 kg, and males - from 10 to 15 kg.

How to choose a puppy

How long do you think French bulldogs live? So, the life expectancy of a French bulldog is, on average, 10-12 years. Therefore, choosing your little pet is a difficult and responsible matter.

Before choosing a French bulldog puppy, you need to consult with experienced specialists and think carefully, since he will live with you for quite a long period of time.

First you need to decide for what purpose you want to buy a dog that can serve for:

• breeding;
• participation in cynological exhibitions;
• home and soul.

This is also related to the price of the dog. Puppies of the Show and Breeder categories are the most expensive. They will be able to become champions in the future and be used as good breeding material. Puppies in the Pet category belong to the category of companion dogs and will bring great pleasure to your home. They are not bred for breeding. Such puppies are relatively cheaper than their true purebred counterparts. Caring for a French Bulldog puppy does not involve any special features.

If you want to choose a truly purebred dog, then you should visit several kennels. Experienced breeders will provide you with information about the animal’s heredity and who its parents are. It is advisable to examine the puppy’s appearance: its coat should be shiny, its belly should be soft, its skin should be clean, without acne.

Care and maintenance of a bulldog at home

This breed of dog is very suitable for retirees and housewives, since caring for such a dog requires a lot of time.
He is a short-haired dog and is therefore sensitive to cold. In this regard, in winter, if there is severe frost, it is advisable not to take him for a walk. If you walk in winter, then try to get your dog to move more. The dog is very sensitive to drafts, so it is better to avoid them.

Pay special attention to the muzzle. The presence of its wide and flattened shape in summer can lead to overheating of the animal. In such cases, if you are traveling with him on a train, bus, or car, then you need to constantly wet the dog’s face.

The dog does not require combing its coat because it is very short. It is best to bathe a puppy using children's series shampoos. But water procedures should not be frequent, and in winter, bathing should be avoided altogether.

The dog's eyes also require attention. You need to remember that if the cornea begins to become cloudy, this is the result of exposure to the external environment or poor nutrition.

What to feed French bulldogs at home?

Meat or offal (35-70% of the total diet). It is recommended to feed lean pieces of beef, horse meat, rabbit meat, and lamb at the rate of 20 grams per 1 kg of weight. Not everyone knows what to feed French bulldogs at home. So, like all meat-eaters, they need more meat. But not everyone can afford to do this often enough.

1. Cereals (25-30% of the total weight of the diet). Buckwheat, egg, rice and oatmeal porridges are best.
2. Dairy products (25-30% of the total diet). It is not recommended to give milk, but only low-fat yogurt, kefir, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
3. Vegetables (10-20% of the total diet). It is best to add cabbage, pumpkin, peppers, beets, cucumbers, carrots, and zucchini to porridge.
4. Fish. Suitable for both river and sea. Moreover, river fish needs to be frozen or boiled, while sea food can be given raw, frozen or boiled.
5. Fruits. They are most often used during training, as a reward.

a) buckwheat porridge; b) lean meat

How long do French bulldogs live?

Over time, owners of dogs of this breed begin to be interested in the question: how long can their pet live?

Statistics say that on average, most dogs live 10-12 years. There are individuals whose lifespan is more than 15 years!

Although, it is common knowledge that the smaller the dog, the longer it can live. But this rule does not apply to our little French friend. Why?

The fact is that:

• Although the dog is small, he is still a bulldog, and they all don’t live long.
• The presence of a shortened muzzle negatively affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which also shortens life.
• Training and education of French bulldogs

Before training a French bulldog, you need to familiarize yourself with the history of the breed and the characteristics of its pets.

After this, begin the process of education, while observing the basic rules:

1. make it clear to the dog that during the training process he is obliged to follow your commands;
2. training should not be interrupted if the dog begins to show stubbornness;
3. The lesson should last as long as you consider necessary. You should never stop training because your dog no longer wants to exercise;
4. use the so-called “contrast method” of influence, which provides for both reward and punishment;
5. It is prohibited, as punishment, to beat a dog, since a frightened animal can bite, spoil things, and commit other inappropriate acts;
6. If your pet fulfills all your requirements, then you definitely need to reward him.