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Hound Handbook
Breed profile

French Bulldog

Charming and compact, but a flat face brings real health trade-offs.

White and grey pied French Bulldog sitting upright in a sunlit doorway in Paris
A Frenchie at home on a Paris café threshold.Photo: Reinhold Möller Ermell / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
8–14 kg18–31 lb
Height
28–33 cm11–13 in
Lifespan
9–12 yrs
Group
Utility / Non-Sporting
Origin
France
Popularity
#1 US#5 UK · 2025

Known for: Flat-friendlyLow groomingLap dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn, Clownish.

Health problems to know about

Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed. Veterinary organisations in several countries urge buyers to choose dogs with longer muzzles or health-tested parents, because breathing problems are common and can be severe.

  • Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
  • Spinal problems (IVDD, hemivertebrae)
  • Skin fold and ear infections
  • Heat intolerance
  • Most births are by caesarean

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Short walks; avoid exercise in heat. Clean skin folds. Choose a breeder who health-tests breathing (e.g. the UK Respiratory Function Grading Scheme) or adopt.

A good fit for

Apartment dwellers, people home a lot, owners prepared for higher vet bills.

Probably not ideal for

Hot climates without air conditioning, runners and hikers, tight budgets.

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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