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27 DETAILED French Bulldog Pros and Cons ( My Experience )

Like other dogs, there are French Bulldog pros and cons.

If you were to ask any French Bulldog owner, they’d probably tell you that all of the positives make it easy to overlook the negatives.

You guessed it…

I’m one of those owners.

Despite the fact that my French Bulldog farts, snores, and keeps me awake all night, I could never tell you there was anything “bad” about her – her love and affection blinded me.

But not everyone owns a French Bulldog, and whether I want to admit it or not, they aren’t all sunshine and roses.

So today I’m going to talk more about both the pros and cons of a French Bulldog to help you learn if they are the right breed for you.

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The Pros:

1. Their personality

French bulldog being affectionate with owner

Frenchies have personalities that are unlike that of almost any other dog. They are extremely intelligent, and their characters are almost human-like.

Frenchies are sweet, affectionate, and cuddly in downtime, but can also be active and wild at other times.

Most Frenchie owners would also classify their pets as humorous, as the French Bulldog is always doing things to make people laugh.

They are loving, outgoing, and do well with all people and animals.

The French Bulldog is also easily adaptable and can adapt and thrive in any environment.

2. Their adorable faces

Frenchie playing peekaboo with tongue sticking out

We can’t deny that French Bulldogs have some of the cutest faces around. With their large Batman-like ears, their big google eyes, and their pushed-in scrunched up faces, it doesn’t get much cuter than the French Bulldog.

3. Companionship

Elderly man with his 2 French Bulldogs

French Bulldogs make excellent companions for anyone. They do well with the elderly, as well as with small children.

Though French Bulldogs are mid-size dogs, they consider themselves to be lap dogs and will be by your side (or on top of you) whenever you allow them to be.

The French Bulldog thrives on human companionship and is a breed that will be loving and affectionate, and by your side at all times.

4. Snuggly

French bulldog sitting and playing on owner's lap and friends laughing

The French Bulldog loves to snuggle. As mentioned above, the French Bulldog will be on your lap whenever you allow them to, but when you are sleeping, they will also be glued to your side.

Though they may stray to the floor when it gets too hot, most times, the Frenchie prefers to be snuggled up in their owner’s chest or their legs.

5. Loyal

Girl kissing a french bulldog in the snow

Though the French Bulldog is friendly and outgoing with everyone, they have a deep love for their owners. They are fiercely loyal and will follow their owners to the ends of the earth.

6. The Zoomies

credits:@chalene77

Frenchies love to make their owners laugh, and one of the ways they do this is by doing the “zoomies”.

The [1]zoomies are behaviors where your French Bulldog has random bursts of energy and run around like a Tasmanian devil until they finally collapse. The zoomies don’t last very long but are super cute and entertaining to watch.

7. They are good with children and dogs

French Bulldog with a young girl in a trolley

If you are looking for a good family-friendly pet,  it doesn’t get much better than the French Bulldog.

Frenchies are very intuitive and adapt their behaviors around small children and the elderly. Because they are so friendly and loving, they also do well with other dogs and household pets.

8. They are very intelligent

Young man showing laptop screen to a cute French bulldog

French Bulldogs are a very smart breed of dog. In fact, they are considered to be most intelligent of all bulldog breeds.

Combine that with the fact that Frenchies will do just about anything to please their owners, and this makes them very quick to learn.

9. Easy to Groom

French bulldog at a groomer salon

French Bulldogs have a short, shiny coat of fur that requires little maintenance. Brushing once a week is enough to keep up with their grooming needs.

10. They are good in apartments

French bulldog standing on the lady's lap and table

Not all dogs make good apartment dogs, but Frenchies are small and adaptable enough to live anywhere – regardless of how small the place is.

11. They are quiet

French bulldog puppy on the lawn

While there are exceptions to every rule, French Bulldogs are generally considered to be a quiet breed of dogs that don’t bark a lot. Some, however, do “talk”, which again, can be very entertaining for their owners.

12. They make surprisingly good guard dogs

An alert french bullodg on leash

Although French Bulldogs are friendly and quiet, they are very attentive and will always alert their owners when a stranger is near. If you’re Frenchie is barking, there is probably a reason for it. With that being said, once the stranger was inside, the Frenchie probably wouldn’t do much more than lick them to death.

13. Minimal exercise requirements

2 french bulldogs running on the lawn

While the French Bulldog is an energetic breed of dog, they don’t require as much exercise as other breeds. About an hour of walking per day is enough to suit their requirements. Also, because they are a brachycephalic breed, they don’t tolerate the heat well and require even less exercise during hotter summer days.

The Cons:

14. They fart – a lot

French Bulldog doing a yoga pose and farting

Frenchies are cute, but they are also very flatulent.

This is because most French Bulldogs have very sensitive stomachs. As such, any change in diet can cause them to become gassy.

This gas can also happen when they eat too quickly, allowing air into the intestines (what goes in must come out).

Luckily, you can usually reduce Frenchie Farting by maintaining a regular diet and providing them with food dishes that help to slow down eating.

15. They snore

snoring french bulldog

As mentioned earlier, French Bulldogs are a Brachycephalic[2] breed of dog. This means that they are a breed with smushed in faces and muzzles.

But while these adorable faces are usually a selling point for the French Bulldog, these characteristics can also make it difficult for the Frenchie to breathe. At night, this can lead to snoring – loud, loud snoring.

16. They are prone to health issues

French bulldog in a veterinary clinic

Unfortunately, breathing isn’t the only health concern that comes along with French Bulldogs.

In addition to respiratory concerns, Frenchies can also suffer from spinal disorders, tail problems, heart diseases, eye diseases, and joint diseases.

If you’re going to buy a Frenchie, you want to make sure you buy from a reputable breeder to reduce the risk.

17. They are high maintenance

Bathing a French Bulldog

Though the Frenchie requires little in the way of grooming, they do require more in the way of upkeep and maintenance.

Frenchies have wrinkles on their faces that need to be cleaned out regularly, as do their ears. And though it’s not always pleasant, they often need their bums wiped too!

18. They shed – a lot

A french bulldog waiting for the hose to turn on.

One of the biggest misconceptions about French Bulldogs is that they don’t shed. This is not true. In fact, Frenchies shed – a lot.

Luckily, they are easy to groom, and a quick brushing can help to keep down on fur loss.

19. They can suffer from separation anxiety

A sad french bulldog lying on the floor

Because French Bulldogs are so dependant on the company of their owner, they can quickly become stressed out when their owners are not around.

Many French Bulldogs suffer from separation anxiety that can lead to incontinence in the house, excessive barking or howling, and destructive acts like chewing or digging. Luckily, most of this can be avoided with proper crate training.

20. They can be Stubborn

a french bulldog made a mess at home

Even though the French Bulldog is extremely intelligent, they can also be very stubborn. In return, training can be difficult at times.

Frenchies are best trained in small bursts where training is meant to look like a game. They don’t deal with negative reinforcement well, and this may lead to more resistance to training.

Positive reinforcement, patience, and consistency are the best ways to train a Frenchie.

21. They can be difficult to housebreak

French bulldog lying on the carpet

Because French Bulldogs have a stubborn streak, they can be difficult to housebreak.

Some Frenchies can take up to 8 months to train, which can be frustrating for owners.

It’s important that anyone purchasing a Frenchie has the patience to deal with housebreaking behaviors, and can remain calm and persistent as they learn.

22. They are clingy

Women with a black french bulldog

If you want an independent breed of dog, the Frenchie is probably not the right choice for you.

Frenchies like to be by their owner’s side 100% of the time, and if they aren’t by your side, they’re likely on your lap.

They need constant love and companionship, and if you are sitting or laying down, they will most likely want to be touching you in some way.

Also, if you like your privacy in the bathroom, the Frenchie is not the breed for you – they follow you everywhere.

23. They are expensive

Funny French bulldog with dollar and dislike sign

French Bulldogs are not cheap to buy or own. A Frenchie from a reputable breeder can cost upwards of seven to eight thousand dollars. This is because raising Frenchie puppies is not cheap for the breeder.

Frenchies cannot mate naturally, so all conception is done artificially. Not only that, but Frenchies cannot have natural births, as it is extremely dangerous for both the mother and the puppies. In return, all French Bulldog puppies are delivered via C-section.

Combine these two pricey procedures with the fact that French Bulldog puppies require round the clock supervision and the price of the French Bulldog skyrockets.

And don’t expect your bills to end after purchasing your Frenchie. Because they are prone to so many health concerns, you will likely be investing in some vet bills down the road too.

24. They have an intolerance to heat

french bulldog shaking in a blue water basin

Because Frenchies have so many respiratory issues, they don’t do well in the heat – so don’t expect to be taking them on any summer hikes or running marathons.

25. They can’t swim

French bulldog at a swimming pool

No one ever claimed that the French Bulldog was a tremendous athlete. Just as Frenchies don’t do well in the heat, they also don’t do well in the water.

Because Frenchies have such pushed in faces, they have a difficult time keeping their nose above water.

This, combined with the fact that they have heavy bodies and short legs, can make it very difficult for the French Bulldog to swim. As many owners will tell you, “they sink like a ton of bricks”.

Of course, you can work with your Frenchie on swimming lessons, and there are lifejackets available for support, but the moral of the story is that Frenchies should never be left alone near water.

26. They are prone to food allergies

French bulldog with an empty plate and cutlery

This falls in line with Frenchie health concerns, but it’s something that every French Bulldog owner needs to be aware of.

French Bulldogs have very sensitive stomachs and are prone to food allergies. Common allergies include chicken, beef, and everything in between.

These allergies can lead to things like vomiting and diarrhea, so anytime you start them on a new food, you’ll want to do so slowly.

What do you think? Can French Bulldogs eat eggs?

27) They drool

frenchie drooling on white background.

Can’t handle a little bit of drool now and again? A Frenchie may not be the best option for you.

Frenchies drool year-round but do more so in the hot summer months in the heat. They get especially drooly after eating or drinking, and often leave water drool around their bowl.

So if you want a Frenchie, prepare to be wiping up the water regularly.

Conclusion:

french bulldog and owner close up photo

To sum up, there are both pros and cons to owning a Frenchie.

As a French Bulldog owner, I can honestly say that though there is an equal number of pros and cons, the benefits of owning a Frenchie definitely outweigh the negatives.

With that being said, they are not for everyone. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons before purchasing any breed of dog so that you don’t end up with a breed that doesn’t fit your lifestyle.

PS –  but did I mention how extremely cute the Frenchies are!?

Check Out this rare Brindle French Bulldog

REFERENCES:

1.^ Zoomies in dogs. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.drjillgoldman.com/blog/127937-zoomies-why-your-dog-gets-hyper-amp-runs-in-circles

2.^ Brachycephalic Dog Airway.svg. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brachycephalic_Dog_Airway.svg

 

About the author: Chalene Johnston graduated with honors from University with a BA in psychology. She is a proud stay-at-home mom to her 2-year-old French Bulldog puppy, Stella! When she is not looking for adventure travel destinations, she loves to write! She writes for a wide variety of topics – with animals being one of her favorites.

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