The Frenchie.
Playful & social.
Stubborn but smart.
Curious but mischievous.
There are many reasons to love the Frenchie…
But its loving & endlessly entertaining personality just has to be the #1 reason.
The French Bulldog’s Personality
1. Frenchies are stubborn
French Bulldogs are known for having a mind of their own.
They’re strong-minded and truly do what they want.
This can make training difficult
Basic obedience training is essential for any dog.
But training your Frenchie can be a stressful & frustrating experience.
Consistency is the key to a well-behaved & obedient Frenchie…
Despite this, you might find yourself putting in hours and hours of training— just for your Frenchie not to listen to you when you need it most.
They’re highly food motivated
While Frenchies may be stubborn, there’s one cure for sure.
It’s called “treats”.
You bet that your Frenchie will be ready to obey your every command when you’ve got a treat in hand.
But when those treats run out… (and they will!)
You’ll see how stubborn they truly are.
2. But they’re also quite smart
Beware!
Don’t mistake the Frenchie’s stubbornness for stupidity.
You really don’t want to underestimate them.
Believe it or not, French Bulldogs are actually the smartest of all the “bully breeds”.
Keep your Frenchie sharp with these smart toys
This means that Frenchies are smarter than…
- Pugs
- Boxers
- Bull Terriers
- Great Danes
- Boston Terriers
- English Bulldogs
- American Pit Bulls
- American Bulldogs
- Olde English Bulldogges
3. French Bulldogs are playful
Frenchies are always up to play.
Whether that be…
- Playing fetch
- A tug-of-war battle
- Zooming around your apartment
Frenchie Favorite Toys
4. But also huge couch potatoes
When playtime is over, you’ll be sure to find your Frenchie plopped down on the floor or sofa.
If you’re looking for a dog that’ll curl up with you all day and watch some TV, the Frenchie is for you!
Beds for a snoozing Frenchie
5. They’re are not as lazy as you might think
While some Bulldogs can be a bit lazy, the Frenchie is not your ordinary Bulldog.
They’re far from lazy…
Sometimes, they have a bit too much energy.
Meet the Zoomies
Do you know about the Zoomies…?
That sudden burst of energy that seems to possess your Frenchie out of the blue.
Yep, that’s the Zoomies.
Some call it the Zoomies, others call it “the zips” (and your vet say “frenetic random activity periods”)…
And before you could argue over the right name to call this burst of energy…
It’s over.
The Zoomies are over just as quick as your Frenchie moves while they’re happening.
Enjoy it while it lasts (aren’t they so entertaining? lol).
6. French Bulldogs are loyal to their owners
Frenchies were bred to be companion dogs. In the early days of the Frenchie, they served as companions for English lacemakers.
They love nothing more than to be by their owner’s side, no matter where they are or what they’re doing.
7. But also super social
While Frenchies love their owners more than anything in the world, they also love to socialize and meet new friends.
Frenchies love…
- Meeting new people
- Playing with new dogs
- Even meeting completely new animals like cats
If you’re looking for a friendly dog that’ll make friends wherever you go, the Frenchie is your dog!
8. Frenchies are affectionate and sweet as could be
Whether it’s you, your friend, your friend’s dog, or a complete stranger— Frenchies are sweet to everybody they meet.
They have a calm & gentle nature which makes them great family pets.
No wonder they made the AKC’s Top 10 Best Family Dogs.
9. And they won’t hesitate to protect their loved ones (no matter how infeasible)
While the Frenchie might not be big enough to stop an intruder in your house, they won’t hesitate to try.
At their core, they have protective instincts.
You may notice this with…
- Them sticking by your side at all times
- Your Frenchie protecting smaller animals from bigger ones
- Barking at strangers that approach your house (like the mailman)
10. They don’t bark much though
Nobody likes a constantly barking dog.
Especially your neighbor.
While they will bark at things things they deem out of the ordinary, Frenchies really aren’t big barkers…
In fact, they barely bark at all most of the time.
This makes them…
- Great apartment dogs
- A perfect dog that won’t disturb the household peace
- Good to bring in public without being the center of attention (in a not-so-great way)
11. French Bulldogs are highly curious & inquisitive
The Frenchie is endlessly curious.
Always exploring their environment and observing the things going on around them.
They sometimes look at you, wondering what you’re doing… and sometimes you’d think they’re starting to understand what’s going on.
12. But also a bit mischievous
Sometimes the Frenchie’s curiosity gets out of hand…
Investigating turns into instigating.
Usually, they’re well-behaved, but they’ve definitely got their fair share of behavior problems.
A misbehaving Frenchie might…
- Beg for
food - Tug on their leash
- Play too rough with other dogs
13. Frenchies are adaptable & easygoing
For the most part, French Bulldogs are pretty adaptable and easygoing.
They just “go with the flow”.
Whether you’re…
- Exploring new cities
- Meeting new people in new places
- Traveling down the street in the car
- Traveling the world by plane/boat/spaceship
The Frenchie can do it all without much fuss.
As long as they’re by your side, they don’t mind.
Life with a Frenchie is pretty easy
While Frenchies aren’t perfect, they’re relatively low-maintenance.
And life with a Frenchie?
It’s as good as it gets.
I couldn’t ask for a better companion.
Other French Bulldog Traits
1. Frenchies aren’t the greatest at regulating their body temperature
Just when you might’ve been thinking that the Frenchie is pretty much perfect…
Yep.
Frenchies have one (possibly fatal) flaw.
This leads them to overheating
They overheat pretty easily… especially in the summertime!
Keep your Frenchie cool by…
- Limiting their time outside
- Making sure they have plenty of water
- Using something like this pool to cool them down if needed
I use a Foldable Dog Pool just like the one below to keep my Frenchie nice & cool during the hot months of the year. I live in Florida so I’m always keeping a really close eye on my Frenchie to make sure she doesn’t get overheated.
Frenchies get overheated easily— especially in the summertime...
This easy-to-setup foldable pool is the perfect solution to keeping your Frenchie nice & cool on a hot day.
- Easy to set up
- No inflation necessary
- Perfect size for Frenchies
They are also prone to getting too cold
As if it wasn’t enough worrying about your Frenchie getting too hot.
You also have to worry about them getting too cold!
Keep your Frenchie warm by…
- Using a heated bed at night
- Keeping walks shorter than usual
- Using a warm coat like this one from Hurtta
Frenchies aren't known for being the best at regulating their body temperatures— whether this be in extreme heat or cold...
Keep your Frenchie warm on even the coldest winter days with this Hurtta Winter Coat.
Just be sure to measure your Frenchie before purchasing this coat— having the right size is essential! Measuring guide included in product listing.
- Stimulates blood circulation
- Cover the big muscle groups
- Insulating foil liner that keeps heat inside
Keep these in mind
- Pay attention to any signs of heatstroke or hypothermia
- When it’s really hot or cold out, try to limit their time outdoors (try to go outside at morning/night during summer and mid-day during winter)
- If you notice your Frenchie seems too hot or cold, take them indoors immediately… you don’t want to wait for things to get worse before taking action
2. Frenchies also shed quite a bit
All dogs shed. Some a lot, some just a little bit.
But Frenchies?
Pick up a Frenchie that hasn’t been groomed or brushed lately and you’ll see what I mean.
But there are solutions to the shed
Don’t lose hope!
There are plenty of ways to reduce how much your Frenchie sheds
You can try…
- Deshedding shampoos
- Using a brush like the FURminator
- Supplements with Omega Fatty Acids that have some research suggesting that they can reduce shedding (there are also many other benefits of Omegas)
3. Frenchies are definitely prone to some health issues
All dogs have their share of health issues.
But Frenchies are notorious for their long list of health issues.
But finding a well-bred Frenchie can reduce the risk
Don’t let the health problems scare you off from the breed.
Finding a well-bred Frenchie from a reputable breeder can help minimize the risk of them having health issues, especially the ones that are genetic (as some can be tested for or bred out through careful breeding).
4. Frenchies can be clingy
You know how we said Frenchies love to be by your side?
Well, maybe they love being by your side just a bit too much.
They need just as much love and affection themselves as they give to you.
And sometimes even have separation anxiety
Clinginess might even turn into separation anxiety. While the two are similar, separation anxiety is much more severe.