Oh Frenchies! If there’s one breed of dog that always looks like it’s smiling, it’s the French bulldog! Bred to be the mini version of bulldogs, these cutie lapdogs are great companions for people with busy lives. They are a super popular breed, and for good reason! But there are a few things about Frenchies that we bet you didn’t know! Here are 12 fun facts about French bulldogs that make them the awesome pups that they are.
1. They were made for lovin’ you, baby
These little cuties are ultra-affectionate, super-friendly, and want nothing more than to please you and make you happy. They were quite literally bred to be a small, lap-warming-sized version of a bulldog. They make great companions and are good family dogs, too.
2. They have a lot of emotions
These sensitive little muffins do not take criticism well. If you own or interact with one of these little guys, and it does something bad, don’t scold it! This will just hurt its softy-soft feelings and it will likely mope about the house in a melancholic haze of regret and guilt. Frenchies do much better with positive reinforcement, as they always want to please you. So when they do the behavior you want, rewarding them with praise, pets, and love is infinitely more effective than yelling or speaking harshly to them when they are bad.
3. There’s no place like home, and no dog like a Frenchie
In the Wizard of Oz movie, and in other books, Toto was shown as a Cairn terrier, but, R.A. Neill, who drew the pictures for the books “The Road to Oz”, and “The Emerald City,” drew Toto as a French bulldog! He was even featured prominently on the book spine with an adorable blue bow.
4. Not unlike the Wicked Witch of the West, they don’t do well with water
These little lovelies tend to be front-heavy, and since they are a brachycephalic breed, meaning that they have an adorable smushy-face, they can have difficulty breathing. This is a danger combo when water is involved, so when boating, visiting the lake or ocean or when near a pool, make sure you keep a close eye on them and always bring a life jacket!
5. Unlike the Wicked Witch of the West, they aren’t good flyers
For the same reason that they aren’t strong swimmers, Frenchies are also not great on planes. It’s that cute smushy-face causing breathing problems again! Smushy-face dogs have trouble self-regulating their body temperature, as panting is how dogs cool themselves down, and the stress of flying coupled with temperature change can even cause their airways to collapse. Some flights have even banned these babies from flying because of it, so make sure you check before trying to fly with one, and make sure you research how to minimize the potential for danger before the flight.
6. But they are good at frog impressions
These adorable weirdos have earned themselves the nickname “Frog Dogs,” due to the strange way they will lay on their tummies and splay their legs back behind them like a frog. So strange, and yet so cute!
7. They walk the walk and talk the talk
These little dudes are not super into barking, but they love a good chat! They utilize everything from growls, howls, yips, yawns, and “gargles” to communicate their innermost thoughts, feelings, and deep dark secrets. They even love singing along with you if you’re feeling up to a duet in the car.
8. Their hearts will go on
Unfortunately, there was a French bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe registered as a passenger on the Titanic! Word is that the dog was insured for $750, which was an awful lot of money in 1912. There was even a Frenchie in the Titanic movie to honor the little fella.
Sources: 1. Hungry Tiger Press 2. Kosher Society 3. She Knows 4. Ostap-Bender Kennel 5. Mom.me 6. Mental Floss 7. Dog Guide 8. Pet Insurance 9. Walter Ledermuller
