Bulldog or French Bouledogue: the dog beloved by “Beauties of the Night” and crowned heads
Did you know that the French Bulldog was the pet dog of the Belles de nocturne i.e., the ladies of the brothels of 19th century Paris?
Although it is widely believed that its origin is French, there is in truth an open diatribe between England and France over the attribution of paternity of the breed.
Bouledogue or bulldog, French or English?
Between the 1850s and 1880s, small Bulldogs very similar to the English Bulldog (now called Toy Bulldogs) are known to be present in Britain.
But even in France there were small dogs called Terrier Boule or Ratier, prized for their exceptional talent in hunting rats.
Migration from England to France with dogs in tow and crosses between Ratiers and small Toy Bulldogs certainly contributed to the birth of the modern French Bouledogue.
While on English soil Toy Bulldogs were in fact widespread dogs among the less affluent social classes, in France they conquered the drawing rooms of the aristocracy of the time thanks to their small size, mild temperament, and placid temperament.
The French Bouledogue thus soon became the favorite four-legged dog of artists, celebrities and crowned heads: even, it was King Edward VII’s favorite dog.
A French bulldog named Ortype (also known as Ortino) was also the loyal friend of Tatiana Romanov, daughter of the last tsar of Russia Nicholas II Romanov.
From nightlife lover to mattress tester
Unlike other breeds, the French Bulldog has been selected to create the perfect companion dog suitable for apartment living.
Sociable and cheerful, it is notoriously believed to be a lazy and indolent dog but this is false and tendentious news.
In actuality, his hunter nature emerges but in moderation.
Like all brachycephalics, he has breathing problems and physical activity soon tires him out.
That is why he has the need to indulge in long restorative naps on comfortable sofas and mattresses.
The physical limitations of French Bulldogs
With its famous bat ears and short, raised nose, the French Bulldog has a unique physical morphology.
Compact, sturdy and muscular, it can reach a height of between 15 and 35 cm for an ideal weight of between 3 and 10 kg.
It is important that he follows a healthy and balanced diet to avoid overweight and obesity.
Very sensitive to heat stroke, you need to keep him sheltered and monitor him carefully during excessively hot periods.
It is also prone to dermatitis and eye disease.
Frenchie are not easily able to mate because of their unusual physical proportions.
For this reason, most French Bulldogs are born through artificial insemination.
In addition, females also often have problems giving birth, so they usually undergo cesarean delivery.
Narrow hips and pelvis are not conducive to natural expulsion of pups, which, although tiny, also have oversized heads, among other things.
The breed standard and chronic diseases
Dermatitis, respiratory and eye problems are the result of wicked selection that has made Frenchie dogs delicate and expensive to maintain.
It should be added, moreover, that there are also improvised amateur breeders who ignore any selective criteria and let these dogs mate by giving birth to puppies that are extremely sickly or already sick.
To have your French Bulldog checked and for periodic check-ups, contact the veterinary doctors on our staff who are always available to you.
We would also like to remind you that Clinica La Veterinaria is always open h24 every day including holidays and with First Aid service from 8 pm to 8 am.
