Finally Getting to Know Your Frenchie Well
Do well do you know your Frenchie? Have you ever wondered what French Bulldogs are bred for? Read More on the Blog to know your Frenchie!
Do you know that French Bulldogs or Frenchies are some of the most loved dog breeds? Their small to medium size and easy temperament makes them excellent companions.
But have you ever wondered what were French Bulldogs bred for? Your Frenchie’s amazing history will surprise you.
Descendants of Bullfighters
The “Bulldog” part of your Frenchie’s breed will tell you about his origins. Your French Bulldog came from Mastiffs.
Mastiffs are a large dog bred for sport in ancient Greece. To be more specific, your Frenchie came from ancient Bullenbeissers, which were dogs bred for bull-baiting.
What is bull-baiting, you might ask? Exactly as it sounds. Way back when, dogs and bulls pitted against each other for sport. Out of all the dog breeds, none other were most used than your Frenchie’s ancestors.
Fighting a Different Kind of Enemy
Traders from Phoenicia enabled bulldogs to travel the world. They found their way to England after some time.
Unfortunately, England banned bloody or rough sports such as bullfighting in 1835. Our brave bulldogs were out of a job in a snap.
But not for long. Some breeders from France thought that the bulldogs could be bred to hunt rats. They crossed the bulldog with other local breeds to produce the smaller Frenchies.
This is also how your Frenchie got its name! French Bulldogs didn’t come from France. Local Parisian ratters helped develop the breed we all know and love.
Bonjour, Bulldog
Some breeders crossed the bigger, bulkier bulldogs with other athletic breeds, but lace-makers in Nottingham crossed them with smaller dogs.
They crossed it with terriers, resulting in a working dog that was good in hunting rats.
During the Industrial Revolution, many of the local shops in England shut down.
A lot of the working class migrated to Northern France because they had no other choice. Some of them were the same English lace-makers.
They migrated to France, and of course, they had to take their bulldogs with them.
The smaller Bulldog cross was such a huge hit in France. The Englishmen who brought them didn’t have any use for them anymore.
But, the French fell in love with them and kept them as companions. You could see many a bulldog in the streets of France during those times.
This love for the bulldog gave way to the standardization of many of the bulldog’s features. The earlier French Bulldog had the same compact body, erect ears, and straight legs.
Frenchies haven’t stopped charming the world. Travelling Americans saw them and also fell in love with them.
Modern Specifics
While French ratters helped develop the breed, it was the Americans who fine-tuned it to become the standard we know today.
American tourists brought back the French Bulldogs and began cultivating the breed. It was the Americans who helped produce the “bat ears” that all modern Frenchies have.
Some society women first displayed their bat-eared Frenchies at a local dog show in 1896.
But, the English judge only took note of the former, “rose-eared” Frenchies. Angered, the Americans then founded the French Bull Dog Club of America.
This paved the way to having bat-eared Frenchies being the breed standard as now recognized by the AKC and elsewhere.
Companion Cuddlers
These days, French Bulldogs are more often taken in as companions, and not as ratters or hunting dogs.
Because they’re much smaller than earlier bulldogs, they’re perfect companions even for those living in small apartments.
French Bulldogs are quite laidback, too. They don’t need much exercise, unlike other friskier dog breeds.
Of course, you still need to give your Frenchie daily walks to keep it happy and healthy.
You’ll also need to give your Frenchie the right kind of dog food. It should be nutritious, high in protein, but low in fat.
Take note of this, because since Frenchies don’t need a lot of exercises, overindulgence will make them fat very quickly.
You’ll also have to pay attention to your Frenchie. As a companion dog, your Frenchie is prone to separation anxiety when left alone for long periods.
You’ll see this in whiny Frenchie puppies that are left to sleep in a different room from their owners.
You can keep your French Bulldog happy by keeping it by your side, even when you’re sleeping.
One thing to take note is that Frenchies are prone to breathing problems. It has to do with the shape of their heads, snouts, and palates.
If you hear your Frenchie snuffling or grunting while breathing, it might be time to visit your Vet.
Bred to Hunt, But Perfectly Content to Just be Your Friend
While it’s a good thing to ask what were French Bulldogs bred for, it’s better to appreciate your Frenchie as they are.
It’s amazing to know that your Frenchie came from an amazing line of fighters and hunters, but look at how friendly and playful they are today?
It’s no wonder the whole world has fallen in love with French Bulldogs!
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