10 interesting facts about French bulldogs
French bulldogs are known worldwide for being very friendly, loving and calm at home.
In general, they get along very well with children due to their docile and playful nature. Sleeping and playing are activities that consume the vast majority of these animals’ time.
Below, we’ve compiled 10 interesting facts about French bulldogs. Check them out!
1. Despite the name, they do not come from France
Despite its name, the French bulldog is of English origin, originating from the city of Nottingham.
When English artisans lost their jobs in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, many fled to France, where their artistic skills remained in demand.
They brought their dogs with them, and the pets’ popularity in France quickly surpassed its popularity in England. From then on, France was the breed’s adopted homeland.
2. Bulldogs’ ears come in two shapes
French bulldogs are known for their “bat” ears. Early in the breed’s history, however, many of these dogs were found with “rose” ears, that is, folded like the ears of an English bulldog.
American breeders decided early on that ‘bat’ ears should be considered the standard because they are more distinctive.
Since then, rose-shaped ears on a French Bulldog have been a disqualifying characteristic according to the American Kennel Club breed standard.
3. They have a strict weight limit
A French bulldog cannot weigh more than 13 kilos.
Well, you can, but exceeding that margin is grounds for automatic disqualification for a ‘show’ dog, one that competes professionally, according to the AKC breed standard.
French Bulldog owners who aren’t interested in showing their dogs can still use this weight limit as a guide, because Frenchies love to eat and tend to become obese easily.
4. French bulldogs were, lo and behold, the favorite pets of French call girls.
One of the most crucial influences on the French Bulldog’s growth in popularity was its preference for the Parisian “belles de nuit” (call girls) of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In fact, they were the first to call the dogs “Bouledogues Francais,” or French bulldogs. The name quickly caught on with other French bohemians, writers, and artists and spread from there.
In 1898, the luxurious Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York rented a ballroom for the French Bulldog Club of America event, a special exhibition of the breed.
The event received significant press coverage, and French bulldogs immediately exploded in popularity among Americans. This popularity peaked in 1913, when 100 Frenchies competed in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, one of the most prestigious in the world.
6. The darlings of the Romanov family
The Romanovs had a huge family of pets, but chief among them may have been Ortino, Tatiana Romanov’s beloved French bulldog.
Tatiana gave Ortino control of the house and let him sleep in her bed, despite his loud snoring (typical of the breed). Ortino was still alive when Tatiana and the rest of the Romanov family were executed during the Russian Revolution.
Ortino’s final fate remains unknown.
7. There were even bulldogs on the Titanic
Robert W. Daniel brought his French bulldog with him aboard the RMS Titanic for an ill-fated cruise.
Not just any dog: 2-year-old Gamin de Pycombe was a famous champion show dog who cost Daniel the equivalent of what would be over $20,000 today.
Daniel survived the disaster and lived until 1940. Gamin de Pycombe was not so lucky.
8. The most awarded dogs in the world
Dogs of this breed have won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s special award in the ‘Large Breed’ category for eight consecutive years. In total, they have won 18 awards since the 1950s.
9. They’ve appeared on the ‘big screen’ more times than we can count.
Hollywood seems to be aware of the irresistible appeal of French bulldogs.
The breed can be found in many films and TV shows from the last decade and beyond. The list includes “From Hell” (2001), “Bringing Down the House” (2003), “Secondhand Lions” (2003), and “Deadline” (2010).
A French bulldog even played Gamin de Pycombe in James Cameron’s mega-popular film “Titanic.”
10. Bulldogs are currently the 11th most popular breed in the US.
While it never exactly faded into obscurity, the French bulldog lost some traction among North Americans in the years after its peak about a century ago.
However, the breed is in the midst of a surprising resurgence in popularity.
It’s currently the 11th most popular breed in the United States, according to AKC statistics. They’ve moved up 40 spots in the rankings since 2003.
