If you adore dogs and want a furry buddy that you can shower with love, and that will provide you love and companionship in return, a French Bulldog may be a good choice for you. They are adorable, intelligent, and semi-active dogs who love to play and cuddle with their owners. Like other dogs, this breed also needs proper care and maintenance so that they can stay healthy and happy. 

 

Read below to learn more if you are looking for Frenchies for sale. 

History of the French Bulldog 

According to history, lace-makers in 19th Century Nottingham, England selectively bred the early bulldog for a downsized or “toy” bulldog for use as a lap pet. When the Industrial Revolution displaced some of these lace-makers to France, they took some of these fun little dogs with them, and soon the toy bulldogs became very popular in France, hence their name the “French Bulldog”. 

They were particularly popular with ladies-of-the-evening, since these special little dogs were great conversation starters, and also because they were very content to lay quietly on the floor of a room for a few hours while business was being conducted. However, we don’t think this sordid background should be held against them :-).

These unusual and wonderful little dogs also caught the eyes of many wealthy Americans, who were doing the Grand Tour, so much so that many of these tourists brought a dog or two home with them. It was in America that selective breeding was done for the characteristic bat-ears. The first French Bulldog was shown in America at the 1896 Westminster dog show.  Little did they know that 126 later, a Frenchie would win best of show.

After they were brought back to America, they continued to be known as the French Bulldog, even though the original breed was developed in England and much of the selective breeding was done in America.

How Did French Bulldogs Become Popular?

 

Frenchies became popular, because they are such wonderful household companions, and they are so adorable in the process.  Twenty years ago, they didn’t crack the top 20 list of the most popular breeds in the US.  In 2022 they climbed to number 2 on the list behind only the Labrador Retriever, who had held the top spot for about 30 years, up until that time.  In 2023, the Frenchie overtook the Lab as the most popular dog breed in the US, as reported by the AKC.

 

How did this happen?  Well, it is quite simple.  As more and more of these wonderful little dogs went to live in American homes, family, friends and neighbors discovered what fantastic house pets they are.  Sure, they are prone to allergies and breathing issues due to their flat muzzles, but their sweet, calm, and loving nature more than made up for any shortcomings.

 

Whether or not they stay at this high perch remains to be seen.  The concern is that their popularity has brought a lot of backyard breeders, puppy mills, scammers, and other unscrupulous breeders into the market, in an effort to make a quick buck.  If they flood the market with poor quality dogs with health issues, French Bulldogs will lose popularity as quickly as they gained it.  

 

Discriminating buyers can help prevent this from happening by ensuring they are dealing with reputable breeders who put the health, overall quality, and comfort of their French Bulldogs and their puppies above every other consideration.

 

Things to Know About the French Bulldog

 

If you are looking for a full-time outside dog – keep looking. French Bulldogs do not tolerate temperature extremes well and should not be kept outside for extended periods of time during very hot or extremely cold weather. Fortunately, French Bulldogs are great inside dogs that are very content to lay on a doggie cushion and make themselves totally at-home.

 

However, almost all Frenchies love to spend time outside – if they get too warm on very hot days, they have the sense to find some shade or splash around in the kiddy pool (with only 3 or 4 inches of water in it). On extremely cold days, they run around and play or cuddle up to keep warm. But these wonderful dogs should be considered full-time inside dogs.

 

If you are looking for a great companion dog with whom to share your home, that can provide you with more than a decade of dedicated love and affection, you’re considering the right breed. Your Frenchie should never be penned up for long stretches of time.   He or she needs to be part of your life – they will insist on it. They love people and want to be around people as much as possible. Frenchies are not overly demanding of affection (like  Golden Retrievers and a few other breeds), but they want to be stroked and fussed over on a regular basis.

 

Frenchies seem to be happiest when they are near you, such as lying under your desks when you are working, lying in our laps when watching TV, watching you working out, going for walks with you, etc.   If you are not home for significant periods of time for work or other commitments, all is not lost.  Frenchies do great with other pets, whether it be another Frenchie, a chihuahua to a Great Dane, a cat, or just about any other pet.  They just don’t like to be alone for long stretches of time.

 

Interesting French Bulldog Facts

 

• Celebrities like them

 

They are popular among celebrities as well as us common folk. Some prominent French Bulldog owners include Lady Gaga, Reese Witherspoon, Madonna, Hugh Jackman, and Carrie Fisher.

 

• French Bulldogs can’t swim well

 

Swimming is not the Frenchie’s forte. They are bulky, hefty, top-heavy dogs and, combined with their short legs, it is hard for them to keep afloat or make any progress in the water. For short periods of time, they can tilt their faces up to breathe and will attempt to dog paddle, but they will drown if left in deep water for any period of time. Avoid letting this breed near open water, and watch them around rivers, pools, and lakes.

 

•  Frenchies are fairly athletic, but they shouldn’t overdo it

 

Most Frenchies love to run and jump and play, but because it is a dwarf breed, and susceptible to back issues, they should not be allowed to overdo it.  Their good musculature prevents most back issues, even when some vertebrae are somewhat malformed, but if they jar their backs, especially when jumping from heights or climbing too many stairs, back issues can result.

Cost of a French Bulldog

 

When you find Frenchies for sale, if you are dealing with an ethical breeder, expect to pay $3000 or more for standard colored Frenchie, and more for rarer colors in high demand.  The rarer colors and patterns are recessive characteristics, meaning that they must inherit the gene from both mom and dad, and some of these recessive genes are still fairly rare and expensive to obtain.  If you see a Frenchie puppy advertised for much less, be suspicious.  High-quality Frenchies are very expensive to breed and raise, and breeders can’t afford to lose money.  

 

A lot of new breeders have been brought into the market, due to the new popularity of this breed, and many of them can charitably be called backyard breeders, puppy mills, and other unscrupulous breeders.  If you buy a Frenchie from one of these entities, you may get lucky and get a decent dog, but chances are that you won’t, and there will be no one there to help you if you have issues.

 

Most Frenchie buyers are interested in puppies, so that they develop close bonds as they watch them grow and develop, and they can properly train them to avoid unwanted behaviors.  However, reputable breeders generally make their males and females available for adoption once they no longer fit in their breeding programs and are retired.  These are generally wonderful dogs which are basically house trained, spayed or neutered, and somewhat trained.  BlueHaven generally retires its females after an average of 3 litters, when they are generally between 3 and 4 years of age.  These girls are typically placed from $500 to $1000, and they have many good years ahead of them.  Males are generally much older, and they are often placed free of charge to good homes.

French Bulldogs Characteristics

 

• Physical Appearance

 

French Bulldogs are easily recognized as they have very distinctive physical characteristics. Their bat-ears are one of their most stately and easily recognized features.  They have flat, Teddy Bear like faces, which gives them an endearing and somewhat comical appearance. Because of their flat faces, they do not breathe as efficiently as longer nosed breeds.  However, well-bred Frenchies from reputable breeders, who only breed Frenchies that breathe well, have puppies that also generally breathe quietly and well. 

 

Frenchies come in several beautiful standard colors, and also some stunning rare colors, which tend to be somewhat more expensive based on supply and demand.  Before you search Frenchie puppy for sale, you may want to already have a pretty good idea of the color or colors of Frenchies that are of interest to you.  Reputable breeders, like BlueHaven, show examples of the various colors that this majestic dog comes in, because the terminology and the myriad of colors can be quite confusing.

 

• Size and Weight

 

French Bulldogs are small, cute, and fun-loving dogs who grow around 11 to 12 inches tall. Male French Bulldogs typically weigh 18 to 28 pounds, and females are typically a couple of pounds smaller. Because of their compact size, they are a great fit for apartment living and other small living quarters, such as motorhomes.

 

• Lifespan and Health Considerations

 

When searching Frenchies for sale, it’s good to know as much as possible about this breed.  The typical Frenchie will have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, minus any serious diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, etc.  However, many Frenchies have lived to be 15 years old or older.  

 

While French Bulldogs are adored by millions of people the world over, they are susceptible to some health issues, mainly due to their dwarf size and flat faces.  These include cherry eye, entropion, luxating patella, back issues, ear infections, and most commonly, allergies.  However, most of these issues can be surgically repaired or treated without breaking the bank.  But these surgeries are not cheap, and insurance should be considered, so that your beloved Frenchie can get the proper care.  

 

The best way to avoid health issues with your Frenchie is to acquire your puppy from a reputable breeder, like BlueHaven, who only breeds high-quality and healthy males and females, free of any significant health issues.  This is not a guarantee that none of these issues will ever manifest, but it definitely increases your odds that these issues can be avoided.  Some reputable breeders, like BlueHaven, will even help out if one of the before mentioned conditions appears.

Care Tips 

 

One of its numerous pluses of owning a French Bulldog is that they are relatively easy to train, even for first-timers. Just use lots of treats as rewards when your fur baby does what you want.

 

Frenchies, like all high-quality dogs, should be fed nutrient-rich, tasty food.  Kibble is fine, as long as it is high in fats, proteins, fiber, and all of the other necessary ingredients.  A high quality supplement (BlueHaven has had great success with NuVet supplements) will help ensure that nutritional needs are met. Fresh, clean water should always be available.  

 

Some people prefer to feed their Frenchies raw diets that they purchase from various suppliers, or they prepare their Frenchies’ food themselves daily.  This is certainly more work, but as long as the proper nutrients are given, it can work well, and it may be needed if some identified food allergies exist.

 

Some people prefer to feed their Frenchies twice a day, especially when they are being house trained.  The best way to do this is to put out more food than you know they will eat, and then take it away after 15 or 20 minutes.  However, many French Bulldog owners, including BlueHaven, choose to have kibble out at all times so their dogs can eat what and when they want, especially when they are completely housetrained.

 

Your Frenchie should always have several chew toys to gnaw on, which will help keep their teeth clean and strong.  Dental chewies, like Greenies, can also help keep teeth clean and avoid foul breath.

 

Frenchies only need minimal exercise, which can generally be accomplished by short daily walks and normal inside activity.  Outside activities should be scheduled for the cooler parts of the day, as Frenchies do not handle hot weather well due to their flat faces, which do not allow them to breathe as efficiently as most longer nosed breeds.

 

Frenchies also only require minimal maintenance, in large part due to their short, smooth, single layer coats, which only require periodic brushing to maintain a healthy look and feel.  Their ears and the skin folds on their faces and around their tails should be cleaned once a week or so with baby wipes.  Ears should also be flushed out every few weeks and then cleaned out with Q-Tips.

 

That is about it, except for periodic nail clipping on an as needed basis.  However, if the nose and the pads get excessively dry or cracked, a commercial snout soother works wonders.  Toothpaste can also be smeared on their teeth every week or so, but it is most important that they have access to good chew toys (BlueHaven likes Nylabones).

 

Do French Bulldogs Make Good Pets?

 

French Bulldogs are undoubtedly one of the greatest companion pets for many households. They are fun-loving dogs who like playing and socializing with their owners, as well as other pets, if they are in the home. This breed is gregarious and dislikes being alone. Also, they are smart and intelligent dogs and can be trained easily with the proper techniques. 

 

French Bulldogs are even decent watch dogs, even though they are quiet dogs and rarely bark.  They will bark at appropriate times, such as when a stranger comes to the door, or something else out of the ordinary occurs.  

 

They will quickly return to normal, as soon as the perceived threat is dealt with.   They do not require much grooming and have modest activity requirements. They’re low-maintenance, but don’t leave them outdoors in extreme temperatures, especially extreme heat.

 

Conclusion

 

French Bulldogs are breathtakingly gorgeous and excellent fur buddies in every way. Their beautiful colors and patterns, strong and defined bodies, loyalty and affection, and calm and sweet temperaments make them great family pets. While their unique physical characteristics can make them susceptible to some health issues, proper care, including adequate grooming, sufficient exercise, and proper diet, will generally lead to happy and healthy companions. 

 

If you are looking for a Frenchie puppy for sale, visit BlueHaven French Bulldogs. We are ethical and reputable breeders of more than 13 years, and we will do our best to match you with the Frenchie puppy of your dreams.  Visit us today at bluehavenfrenchbulldogs.com.