French Bulldog

French bulldogs, despite the name, were bred in England. In the XIX century, breeders decided to create a breed of companion dog, which could be easily kept in urban conditions. Artisans, seamstresses, lace makers did not miss the opportunity to get a mischievous pet, which pleased the owners with a light disposition and funny habits. To breed such a dog, breeders selected the smallest English bulldogs, crossed them with terriers, pugs. That's how the modern breed appeared.

In the second half of the XIX century, the demand for manual labor greatly decreased due to the rapid development of manufactories. Many English workers moved to France, taking their beloved dogs. According to another version, the bulldogs were brought here by traders. The good-natured nature, the ability to catch small rodents and unusually large erect ears instantly attracted the attention of the French public to this breed.

In Paris, the first owners, or rather owners, of small bulldogs were courtesans. There are a lot of photo postcards with naked or semi-naked women posing with their pets. Very quickly, the fashion for these dogs spread in high society, as also evidenced by numerous pictures. Since the 80s of the XIX century, a real boom in the popularity of the breed began. At that time, Paris was already the fashion capital of the world, so the whole world soon learned about French bulldogs. In 1890, dogs were brought to the USA, and 7 years later the FBDCA (French Bulldog Club of America) was established.

French bulldogs made their debut to the general public at the English exhibition in 1896, where they won the admiration of many dog breeders. Breeders became interested in breeding these dogs. The popularity of the breed grew rapidly, and in 1913 about a hundred French bulldogs arrived at the Westminster exhibition. Initially, these dogs were called Bouledogue Francais, but at the beginning of the twentieth century the name was changed to French Bulldog. The Kennel Club in 1905 recognized the breed as independent, separating it from the English bulldogs.

In the 20s of the twentieth century, these cute pets came to the territory of Russia, but since puppies were very expensive, only representatives of the nobility and just rich people could afford a French bulldog. One of the most famous fans of the French bulldogs was Fyodor Chaliapin. Over time, the popularity of these dogs declined, but they still managed to take 21st place in the popularity rating among 167 breeds registered by the AKC.

There is a beautiful legend that a French bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe, being a pet of one of the passengers of the Titanic, managed to escape from a shipwreck and even find a new owner. However, this is only half the truth - archival records confirm the presence of a bulldog on board, but he failed to survive. Since the dog was insured, its owner received an impressive compensation - more than 20 thousand dollars. Another representative of the breed that went down in history under sad circumstances was Ortipo, the favorite of Princess Tatiana Nikolaevna (daughter of Nicholas II). The dog died together with the owner during the execution of the royal family.

Dogs of this breed are great for staying with a family. Wonderful character, playfulness and friendliness - that's what has always made French bulldogs so popular. Pets are very fond of all family members, big and small. At a young age, it is an active and temperamental dog, over time it becomes more sluggish and imposing. The French bulldog craves the owner's constant attention, active games and affection, so it is not recommended to start elderly or overly busy people.

Cheerful character, the ability to do without long walks and ease of care make the pet a good option for inexperienced dog breeders. Such a companion will be happy to entertain family members and guests, brightening up even the most gloomy day. The French bulldog feels the mood well, so if the owner feels bad, he will try to please him or just sit next to him. Despite its compact size, the dog is ready to stand up for himself and his owner in case of a threat from other people or animals.

Dogs of this breed do not like to be alone for a long time. The animal begins to yearn and bully, a constant feeling of loneliness can make it more aggressive, wayward. The French bulldog gets along well with other pets, if they do not force him to defend himself. But on the street, a Frenchman often conflicts with unfamiliar dogs and cats, so much attention should be paid to training, socialization.

It is not easy to train French bulldogs, because by nature they are stubborn, they quickly get bored with repetitive actions. Experienced experts advise you to always use treats for encouragement, using short training cycles. Especially stubborn representatives of the breed can be trained by building a training process in the form of a game. It is advisable to take a course of UGS from a professional dog handler.

French bulldogs are sentimental, have a good memory. In order for the puppy to adapt to the new home faster, ask the breeder for a toy or a thing already familiar to the baby. Education should begin from the very first day, despite the tender age of a four-legged friend. Do not succumb to the charm of cute eyes – calmly, but firmly designate your own leadership. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to cope with the dog in the future – adults practically do not change their character throughout their lives. Immediately show the dog the tray (toilet), the place where his bowl is located, the area for games and recreation. The kid can be taught the commands "To me", "Not allowed" and "Fu" pretty quickly. These are the basic orders that will help in communicating with the dog, even if you are not going to train it in any special way.

Up to about 8 months, the puppy will actively test the owner for strength, trying to gain leadership. Strictly stop hooliganism and aggression, but never hit the dog, give up shouting, profanity. An authoritative voice is enough for punishment. If the puppy does everything right, do not forget to praise him, surround the pet with care – this will speed up the learning process, prevent bitterness. Soon the dog will finally come to terms with the main role of a person, becoming a devoted friend.

The outlook and character are fully formed in the French bulldog by the age of 16 weeks. Up to this point, it is important to socialize the pet as best as possible, to train teams, to accustom to hygienic and cosmetic procedures.