The Ultimate French Bulldog Guide

There’s a dog breed that has taken the world by storm in recent years and captured the hearts of dog lovers: the French Bulldog! Affectionately known as Frenchies, these adorable pooches may be small but have a big heart and gentle nature, which makes them one of the best companion dogs out there. Where do they come from and what are the typical breed traits? Why are they so expensive and why you should be careful when choosing a French Bulldog breeder? If you’re thinking of adopting a Frenchie, read this comprehensive guide on America’s favorite dog breed.

The History of the French Bulldog

French Bulldogs were first bred as a smaller version of the English Bulldog in the 19th-century England. They were particularly popular among lacemakers in Nottinghamshire, who fell in love with their small size and calm, friendly nature and kept them as companion dogs. After the Industrial Revolution, they moved to France and took their dogs with them. 

Frenchies soon got popular in the circles of French artists, actors, writers in Paris as well as rich Americans visiting the city. In fact, they loved Frenchies so much that they took them to the US, where they finally got recognized by the AKC in 1898. For the full story read our article about the fascinating history of French Bulldogs.

French Bulldog Personality and Other Traits – 7 things to know about a Frenchie

The popularity of this elite breed has been rapidly increasing over the past few years. In 2022, French Bulldogs finally ranked first according to the registration statistics of the American Kennel Club (AKC), making them the most popular dog breed in the US. If you look at the personality and other traits of French Bulldogs, it’s easy to see why.

1 Temperament – French Bulldogs are extremely friendly and stable

French Bulldogs have one of the most stable dog temperaments. Based on tests carried out by the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS), their passing rate is an outstanding 96,2%.

All small dog breeds are friendly, but what sets Frenchies apart is that they quickly adapt to families of various personalities and temperaments. Often described as chilled-out and even-tempered, the French Bulldog is the perfect dog for first pet owners, families with kids, elderly people, people with limited access to an active life, and people working from home. They are great apartment dogs who usually don’t bark.

2 Fun – French Bulldogs have good humor

Being a well-behaved boy or girl doesn’t mean being boring! Expect a great deal of fun from a Frenchie. Their flat face, wrinkles and good humor make French Bulldogs like human friends, who are big on entertainment. They can also be mischievous little rascals, so expect a great deal of laugh with them. If you’ve already seen a Frenchie during zoomies you know what we’re talking about!

3 Intelligence – Frenchies are smart little rascals

The French Bulldog is known to be the smartest of the bully breeds (terrier-like breeds that were historically bred for bull-baiting, such as Boston Terrier, English Bulldog, Pug). They learn fast, and have a good memory, so it’s easy to train them. They also respond well to body language, emotions and can show empathy. Frenchies can be stubborn kids though: as truly free thinkers, they have their own way of doing things.

4 Love – French Bulldogs give you lots of love

As French Bulldogs are lap dogs, it’s in their genes to enjoy the company of their human friends and give lots of love to them. As Frenchies don’t have tails to wag, they use other ways to show their affection. Their human-like eyes are very expressive, and they can give you an irresistible look. They love to cuddle and even give you big, sloppy kisses (although you can train them not to do it.)

5 Activity – Frenchies are as active as you are

One of the many reasons why Frenchies are great is that they are highly adaptable. They love to sleep (as much as 14 hours a day!) so they’ll be happy lounging on the sofa with you. On the other hand, if you live an active life, your Frenchie fur baby will be more than happy to follow you (unless you climb Mount Everest every week).

Available puppies

Available Puppies

Bonnie, the luxurious

More info

Cashmere, the soft

More info

Luca, the lucky

More info

Samuel, the superpup

More info

Rambo, the brave

More info

Eloise, the princess

More info

Rambo, the brave

More info

Vivian, the vibrant

More info

Ginger, the gorgeous

More info

All the available pups

Generally speaking, French Bulldogs don’t require much space and exercise. Daily walks in the nearby park will make your pup happy, the key thing is to give them a chance to be active and incorporate regular playtime into your daily routine.

What you have to bear in mind is that French Bulldogs are more prone to heat exhaustion and don’t do well in extreme heat because of their flat faces. They are not good swimmers either, so always supervise them around swimming pools!

6 Grooming – French Bulldogs are low maintenance

Due to their short coat they need less grooming than some other breeds, and are often considered to be low-maintenance dogs. Weekly brushing and monthly baths should keep them handsome (in normal weather). Their signature wrinkles need extra attention when cleaning to avoid infections.

The short coat doesn’t mean little shedding, on the contrary. They shed all year long, and even more so during the summer. However, this can be kept under control with the right diet. Check out our Ultimate French Bulldog Care Guide.

7 Kids – French Bulldogs and kids are best friends forever

Frenchies are playful, patient and friendly, which make them excellent companions for kids of all ages. As Frenchies are very friendly and well-tempered, they are very tolerant to the high-intensity reactions of the young ones. Due to their small size, they don’t pose any danger to kids, while their stocky body makes them durable and survive the storm of love and affection coming from your little ones.

Becky Smith, earlier president of the French Bulldog Club of America (FBDCA) said that

People with patience, a kind disposition, gentle hands, and a loving spirit are the ideal owner for this darling breed.

Size and Appearance of a French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are probably one of the most distinctive and unique looking dog breeds! You can easily recognize them by their flat, heavily wrinkled faces and large, erect bat ears, which make them absolutely adorable.

On an average, an adult French Bulldog weighs 16-28 pounds, and stands 12 inches tall at the shoulder. They reach their full weight by the time they are 8-12 months old, and full height by the age of nine to fifteen months. They are considered fully grown by the age of 12-14 months, but they might still add more muscles (or fat) after this age.

When it comes to the appearance of male and female Frenchies, we can line out some typical characteristics for both genders. Boys are usually stronger and stockier than girls, they have bigger heads and wider chests. Girl Frenchies tend to be a bit smaller and less muscular. Read more about the differences between boy and girl Frenchies.

Below you can see a breakdown of weight and height by month, but please bear in mind that there might be differences how each dog is growing. From a 3-7-pound little Frenchie baby your boy or girl weighs about 8-14 pounds when you get them at 3 months old, and they grow into a beautiful fully grown French Bulldog as you celebrate their 1st birthday.

How much do male Frenchies weigh?

How much do female Frenchies weigh?

How tall are French Bulldogs?

While male French Bulldogs weigh more than females, there’s no significant difference in height. (Height is measured from the ground to the top of the shoulder of the dog while standing.)

French Bulldog Lifespan – How long they live

Never long enough, that’s for sure! But they do live the longest among the bulldog breeds, approximately 10-12 years according to the AKC (English Bulldogs live for 8-10 years). That is of course hugely affected by various factors like a Frenchie’s genetics, how they are cared for in their first few weeks and the quality of their adult life.

Health risks

French Bulldogs coming from a premium bloodline and following a balanced, healthy lifestyle don’t have serious illnesses. But you have to be aware of some health risks that the breed is prone to.

Food allergies

French Bulldogs are a sensitive breed when it comes to some allergens in their food, the most common being chicken and grains. As a result their skin can become itchy and irritated, and they may also have diarrhea.

Ultimate Guide
to Adopting a Frenchie

First name

Email

How to avoid it: give your Frenchie a super premium food that doesn’t contain chicken or grains. Read our article about the best food for French Bulldogs.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome

The French Bulldog is a brachycephalic breed, which means flat-faced, short-headed, (the reason for looking so cute. This causes them to snort and snore, and in some cases can lead to breathing problems.

How to avoid it: as a Frenchie parent, make sure your pup avoids excessive heat or over-exercising. It’s crucial to keep them on a healthy diet, as obesity will only make things worse. If the labored breathing seriously affects a dog’s quality of life, a nostril and soft palate surgery are usually recommended to help them breathe better.

Eye problems

That adorable, cute flat face again! This shape causes the eyes of French Bulldogs to protrude, making them more prone to infections and injuries. Eye problems of Frenchies might include:

• Dry eye (when insufficient tears are produced)
• Cherry eye (a large, red, almost cherry-like lump)
• Conjunctivitis (pink or red eyes, blinking more than usual)

How to avoid it: it’s essential to clean the eyes of your Frenchy once a week with gauze pads and water to remove dirt. If you spot cherry eye or anything unusual in the eyes, contact your vet.

How to avoid genetic problems in your French Bulldog

By adopting your French Bulldog from a reputable breeder, you massively reduce the likelihood of them having or developing genetic disorders. Such breeders sell pups coming from a premium bloodline and carry out all the necessary testing to make sure you get a healthy and happy boy or girl.

Male vs female French Bulldog – which one is the best for you?

French Bulldogs are friendly, playful dogs regardless of gender. In terms of height and weight, there are no real differences. Their temperament can be different but remember that each dog has their own personality within the genders. Below is a general description about boy and girl Frenchies.

When it’s a boy

• Boys can be more stubborn, energetic, and naughty.
• They also want to show their dominance more when being around other dogs, or pets. They have a tendency to mark everything.
• Males may go crazy around female dogs who are in heat.
• All male dogs (not only Frenchies) have a yellowish-greenish discharge, coming from the sheath. This is normal, and you don’t have to worry about it.

When it’s a girl

• Girls are regarded to be sweeter, well-behaved, and easier to train, therefore they are recommended for first-time puppy parents.
• They come into season twice a year for 10 days each (unless they are spayed), when they have to wear special hygiene pants.
• Girls can be timid around other dogs.

Girls are often recommended for first-time pet owners, and also cost more as they can be bred. Boys are the preferred choice when the pet parent wants a more energetic little rascal.

French Bulldog Colors and Patterns

The French Bulldog is one of the few breeds which comes in an incredible range of colors and patterns. You might fall in love with a baby regardless of the color, but if you want to choose based on the colors, in this section, you can read about

• The standard and rare colors
• Fluffy French Bulldogs
• Misbelieves and the truth about them

Standard French Bulldog Colors

Brindle French Bulldog

The most common French Bulldog color is brindle, which is in fact a pattern and a color. It’s a darker coat color mixed with strands of lighter shades. There are many variations of brindle depending on how prominent it is (seal brindle when the pattern is very light, and tiger brindle when stronger).

Fawn French Bulldog

Another common color, a light tan colored coat, also called as light brown, or caramel. It doesn’t have any patches or spots.

Red French Bulldog

It’s a reddish shade of the brown Frenchie, often with a black mask.

Beige French Bulldog

Very similar to red, but a lighter shade. Beige Frenchies often have black masks.

Pied French Bulldog

It’s a very popular pattern, where the coat is predominantly white with black or other dark patches on different parts of the body.

White French Bulldog

It’s also a common color, a beautiful porcelain white coat, often coming with a black mask. It can be combined with fawn or brindle.

Cream French Bulldog

It’s a solid color of yellowish white without any patches. Their nose, lips and paw pads may be pink or a somewhat darker almost black color.

Non-standard or rare French Bulldog colors

Rare and unique colors and patterns have gained more popularity in recent years. These are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, which won’t be a problem unless you plan on showing your puppy in competitions.

Bear in mind that unique colors are rare and are in high demand, which results in higher prices. It’s essential to buy a rare color Frenchie from an experienced breeder, as it requires special expertise.

Blue French Bulldog 

Blue Frenchies have a coat color ranging from light to dark grey, with a bluish shine. They are among the most wanted in the world, so there’s often a waitlist for them.

Blue fawn French Bulldog

It’s a combination of light fawn and blue colors. They have blue parts around their muzzle and eyes, and their coat has a bluish shine.

Blue Brindle French Bulldog

This pattern is made up of blue and fawn hair. Depending on the mixture of blue and fawn hair, their color can range from very dark to very light.

Blue pied French Bulldog

Their coat color is predominantly white, with patches of blue covering their head and body (the proportion of white and blue can vary.)

Blue merle French Bulldog

Blue merle is one of the rarest colors that exists in a French Bulldog. Blue merle Frenchies have gray coat with bluish spots. 

Blue and tan French Bulldog

They have a solid blue base color with beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows.  

Merle French Bulldog

A very rare pattern, a lighter coat color with darker patches scattered over their bodies.

Black French Bulldog

As the name suggests, it’s a solid black color without any markings. It’s not as common as you would think.

Lilac French Bulldog

They are often mistaken for blue French Bulldogs, but they have a lighter, silverish coat, which gets lighter as they age. They also have light-colored eyes. They are quite rare so there’s often a waiting list for them.

Chocolate French Bulldog

Another rare coat, unsurprisingly a chocolate-like brown color. Their eyes are available in various colors, like emerald, brown, gold, yellow.

Choco and tan French Bulldog

A chocolate base color with red or beige markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows.

Platinum French Bulldog

This color is similar to albino but retains some luster in the coat, and not pure white seen in albino. It’s similar to light cream with a silver shine.

Isabella French Bulldog

Isabella French Bulldogs are considered the rarest in the Frenchie world. Similarly to lilac Frenchies, they are the combination of blue and chocolate but they have a much more unique greyish liver coat color.

Fluffy French Bulldog

It’s not a color but a very rare kind of Frenchie. The only difference from their short-haired cousins is that they have furry, fluffy hair, which makes them extra adorable. They get their fluffiness from a mutation in the fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) gene. Fluffy Frenchies are rare and expensive.

Fluffy Frenchie
101 Ebook

Name

Email

A common misbelief about rare colors and the truth about it

“It’s a common misconception that rare color Frenchies are prone to more illnesses. If the breeding is done professionally, it shouldn’t be the case. In the past 17 years we haven’t seen any cases where a unique colored puppy would have had any health issues, either at our farm, or later, after the adoption.”

Tom Kiss BSc (Hons) Animal Breeding, Co-Founder of Tomkings Puppies

French Bulldog Price – How much do Frenchies cost?

Compared to other dog breeds you might see higher prices for Frenchies: they are actually considered one of the most expensive dog breeds in the world! You might also experience a wide range of prices that breeders charge for a French Bulldog baby. In this section, we share with you all the details about:

• Why French Bulldogs are more expensive
• What influences the price
• TomKings price list
• What’s included in the price
• How to avoid traps

Why French Bulldogs are more expensive than other breeds? – 3 reasons

1. French Bulldogs are expensive to breed: due to the narrow hip of the moms, they have to be artificially inseminated. Because of the big head of the baby (and again, the narrow hip of the mom), Frenchie babies are born by a C-section.
2. Puppy parents coming from a premium, award-winning bloodline are more expensive, (and not all the breeders have access to them).
3. There is a high demand for French Bulldogs, as they are the most popular dog breed of America (according to the American Kennel Club).

Why some breeders charge more

The price of a French Bulldog can range between 3,500 – 12,000 USD. The actual price of the puppy depends on:

• Gender (females cost more because of the breeding ability)
• Age (younger puppies cost more)
• Coat color (unique colors cost more)

You might find that there are price differences among breeders, even if the puppies they sell are similarly cute. But obviously, there’s a lot going on behind the pretty faces that you might not see.

The price differences between the breeders depend on:

• The quality of the food and vitamins the breeder gives to the puppies (which has a crucial impact on their adult life)
• The medical care, examinations, tests, and vaccinations the puppies get (so that they become healthy adults)
• The amount and quality of training, care, and love the puppies get (which has an impact on their mental health and on how well-behaved and happy they will be)
• The amount of time the breeder spends on helping their customers select the best puppy (and giving forever help to the puppy parents even after they adopt the puppy)
• The experience of the breeder and their team (even if anybody can start breeding, it’s a profession which requires experience and knowledge in animal breeding and care)

Q&A with Geri Kiss, Co-founder of TomKings Puppies

Q: What are the risks of buying a cheap French Bulldog for sale?

GK: If you choose a breeder because they are cheaper, you run the risk of buying a puppy who hasn’t got the best quality food, vitamins, health care, and training. If a breeder spends money on raising a physically and mentally healthy dog, it will have to be reflected in the price.

If the price is very low, or you are offered a sale, be cautious, as it could be a scam. You might be dealing with a hobby breeder, or, even worse, a puppy mill, where they breed hundreds of puppies in very poor conditions.

Q: Is TomKings Puppies expensive?

GK: We have over 17 years of experience breeding only French Bulldogs, with an expert team of vets, trainers, nannies, professionally supervised by our co-founder who has a degree in animal breeding.

We invest a lot of money into raising happy and healthy French Bulldogs, and finding loving families for them. We’re not cheap, and still, there’s a high demand for our puppies. Our prices are comparable to those of similar reputable breeders.

It’s also good to check what the price includes, as it might happen that the base price is cheaper at a breeder but the add-ons come on top of it. (See below our price list and what the price includes).

Q: How to buy good quality French Bulldogs cheaper?

GK: If you want to have a French Bulldog, but you can’t afford the price quoted, ask the breeder if they have an older puppy, whose price is a bit lower.

Geri Kiss, Co-founder of TomKings Puppies

How much does a puppy cost?

Find below the TomKings prices and what the price includes as a reference.

What the price includes

Our prices include these services (altogether worth over 1,800 USD):

• Travel cost to international airports
• Payment insurance fee (worth up to 200 USD)
• Up-to-date shots (worth 200 USD)
• Deworming and anti-parasite treatment (worth 150 USD)
• Heart examination (worth 1,000 USD)
• Three vet examinations (worth 250 USD)
• Frenchie Love eBook about adopting and training a healthy and happy French Bulldog (worth 14,95 USD)
• TomKings Frenchie Family Membership (priceless)
• TomKings Frencie Meetups
• Lifetime health guarantee
• Lifetime vet assistance
• Lifetime breeder’s help

French Bulldog Breeders and Adoption

When looking for your furry Frenchie friend, you could be easily overwhelmed by all the information, propositions and (over)statements coming from breeders and the shiny web pages full of cute French Bulldog photos. There’s no question or doubt we haven’t heard over the 17 years of breeding Frenchies, so please find below our expert tips.

In this section, you can read about:

• When is the best time to adopt a Frenchie?
• How to choose the breeder (and is it safe to buy a Frenchie overseas?)
• How to avoid pet scammers?

When is the best time to adopt a French Bulldog?

Answer these three questions to find out if you’re ready to adopt a French Bulldog

It’s always a good time to adopt a cute fur baby, but there are some factors you might want to consider before you contact breeders.

Are you prepared to take care of an extra family member?

Even if a French Bulldog is reasonably low maintenance, a puppy is not a toy, and you must be ready to have an extra family member. It’s crucial to dedicate extra time to training your baby in the initial period. It’s hard to imagine what it will look like to have a dog, – especially if you have never had one – but try to assess how committed you are. And it’s not only you! Is your family prepared to welcome another member?

Is your place appropriate for a dog?

A Frenchie doesn’t need a huge place and you don’t have to worry about making a lot of alterations to your apartment or house. However, you have to create a place for your baby to sleep and play. You have to make sure that the little rascal can’t reach anything toxic or dangerous. (We have guides for that when you get there.)

Can you afford to buy the Frenchie from a reputable breeder?

As mentioned above, buying a physically and mentally healthy puppy is not cheap. And it’s not only the price of the dog, but the extra costs of dog food, clothes, crate or dog basket etc. It’s better to save until you can afford an ethical breeder than risk a cheap puppy, who might not be healthy.

The ultimate checklist when choosing the breeder (and how to avoid puppy mills and scammers)

You must have heard a lot of times to buy your pup from an ethical, reputable breeder, but how to be sure about who is ethical? You might have read a few tips on this, what we share here is based on our 17 years of breeder experience with a strong mission of fighting unethical breeders and practices.

Q: What is the difference between pet scammers and non-ethical breeders (puppy mills)?

A: Pet scammers pretend they are breeders and trick you into sending the price of the puppy, while they have no puppy at all.

Puppy mills breed several dogs in very poor conditions, purely with the aim of making the most profit. Read the below tips to avoid both.

Three misbelieves and the truth about them

#1 Misbelief: If the breeder has 5-star reviews, they are reputable.

The truth: scammers have evolved a lot – unfortunately – and they are able to mimic real breeders, with photos, logos, and 5-star reviews (TomKings Puppies has to fight several such scammers).

What to do: we still recommend checking reviews (videos and written ones) on the website and social media pages, but go a step further. Ask the breeder if you can talk to previous clients. Or if they have a community of previous clients (like our 7K-member TomKings Frenchie Family). Talk to some of these clients, it’s impossible to fake happy clients!

Check the website URLs and email accounts. (At TomKings Puppies we always use our official webpage, social media channels, and email accounts ending with [@]tomkingskennel.com.

#2 Misbelief: Visit the farm if you want to make sure it’s a genuine breeder.

The truth: on a working farm, there are new litters, newborn babies, and we have to follow hygiene protocols to keep the puppies and the mothers safe. It’s not possible to accept unlimited number of visitors as it increases the likelihood of infections.

What to do: ethical breeders invite you to look at the puppies, the mother, the farm via online platforms like Skype or Facetime. This should give you a good idea of how much space the puppies have and how the breeders treat them.

#3 Misbelief: Don’t buy a puppy from overseas.

The truth: the breeder’s trustworthiness doesn’t depend on where they are located. Animal breeding regulation is stricter in Europe, which means better circumstances for the dogs. 

What to do: the most important is to check how reputable the breeder is, and how helpful they are when answering all your questions (see the list below).

The ultimate checklist of a reputable breeder

Use this list when checking out breeders to avoid scammers and puppy farms

– Do they answer your questions in detail, giving specific answers? – Scammers tend to give very general answers and urge you to make a decision.

– How many times do they breed the mother? – A mother can have a max number of 3 litters, otherwise, she becomes overbred, which might cause health problems for her and the puppies.

– How much space is there for the puppies to run and play? – It’s crucial for their well-being and for the muscles to grow.

– What kind of food and vitamins do the puppies get? – Puppies who are fed premium dog food are healthier.

– How often are the puppies seen by the vet? Do they receive vaccinations? – They should be checked by the vets regularly (our puppies have three vet examinations), and all up-to-date vaccinations.

– Does the breeder start potty training while the babies are on the farm? – Dogs whose training starts in the first three months are better behaved.

– How does the breeder talk about the puppies? – Reputable breeders love their puppies and they would like to find out more about your lifestyle as they want to make sure their puppies find a loving family.

– Can the breeder connect you with previous clients? – Reviews are great, but even better if you can talk to real clients.

– For how many years have they been breeding French Bulldogs? – Frenchies have a lot of peculiarities so experience in breeding this specific breed matters.

– Do they offer health guarantees and lifelong support? – Ethical breeders will be accountable and will be there for you even after you adopted the puppy.

Finally, listen to your heart! If something doesn’t feel right, if you are pushed to make a decision or get no real answers, simply leave the breeder.

Geri Kiss, Co-founder of TomKings Puppies

“We had quite a few clients who already had a bad experience with another breeder or a scammer. This is when we started to publish articles and two books, to help future puppy parents choose the right breeder. Our underlying mission is to promote ethical breeding and reputable breeders and to fight scammers and puppy mills. If you have any questions we didn’t answer in this guide, we are happy to help, even if you don’t buy the puppy from us.”

Geri Kiss, Co-founder of TomKings Puppies 

FAQ

The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check out their available French Bulldog puppies, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.