French Bulldog - Appearance & Grooming
Dog Breeds
Introduction
Appearance & Grooming of the French Bulldog Dog Breed: The average French Bulldog stands about 10-14 inches high at the shoulder, and weighs between 20 – 28 pounds. Their short, smooth and brilliant hair is extremely easy to care for, but their open bat like ears should be cleaned regularly.
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Appearance
French Bulldogs are small and sturdy dogs with large, bat-like ears and pug-like noses. Their heads are flat but are not nearly as large as the head of an English Bulldog, and the forehead is rounded. Their soft coat comes in colors of fawn, brindle, white or combinations of brindle or fawn with white. They have soft, loose skin which makes petting a Frenchie an irresistible proposition. They have an underbite, large, round eyes and their tails can be straight or cork-screw. They are square in shape, with the height at the withers being approximately the same length as the withers to the tail. Though they are square, they are a bit pear shaped – wider at the shoulders than at the rear end.
Size and Weight
French Bulldogs are small, standing approximately 12 inches at the shoulder and weighing in between 25-28 pounds. In the show ring, any dog over 28 pounds is automatically disqualified by AKC standards, but other standards are less strict on the weight requirement. Companion Frenchies probably should not weigh much more than 28 pounds in order to maintain good health.
Coat and Color
French Bulldogs sport a short, shiny, smooth coat. They have loose, wrinkled skin at the head and shoulders. Frenchies come in a wide variety of colors including fawn, cream and brindle. The brindle may be black brindle, tiger brindle, or brindle pied, which is brindle and white. In the show ring, all colors are acceptable except solid black, liver, mouse and black with white or tan. None of these colors, however, disqualify a Frenchie from being a champion companion dog.
Grooming Needs
French Bulldogs are easy to groom at home, as they don't require clipping of the coat. Brush weekly to keep the moderately-shedding coat looking shiny and healthy. As a puppy, it is important to handle the Frenchie's feet as often as possible. They don't wear down their toenails naturally, so monthly clippings are a must. If the dog does not like to have his feet handled, this can require trips to the vet's office on a regular basis. They only need to be bathed as needed, and most owners can do this in the kitchen sink or a bathtub, with little fuss from the dog.
Brush the dog's teeth several times a week, as Frenchies can develop ripe halitosis. Regular brushing also keeps teeth and gums healthy and can prevent tooth loss later in life. Clean the dog's ears on a regular basis with a damp, warm cloth. Never stick a cotton swab in the dog's ear canal. If his ears are dry, a dab of baby oil rubbed into the edges will help sooth and heal the skin. This remedy can also be applied (sparingly) to a dry nose.
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Temperament & Personality