This is Uno and he is a sweetheart.
Thank you Joyce Choo for letting us use this picture.
The French Bulldog is a companion dog, they enjoy lounging on the sofa and snuggling up close to their master. This does not mean they are not fun-loving or active. The French Bulldog is in fact very active and playful. They relish walks, playing with their toys and of course, the occasional titbit. Swimming is however an activity they aren't good at. Due to it's body structure, the Frenchie is not a good swimmer, so falling into the water could end fatally. Weighing under 28 pounds and for the fact that they usually hardly ever bark, the Frenchie is ideal for dog folk who live in a small condo or apartment.
The French Bulldog is one of the brachycephalic breeds. This group includes the Frenchie, Boxer, Bulldog, Pug and Boston Terrier – flat-faced, short-nosed dogs. These dogs have abnormally small openings to the nostrils and relatively long palates, thus making it more difficult for them to breathe. You can thus expect to hear a lot of snorting and snoring. All brachycephalic breeds, because of their small nasal openings, are very susceptible to heat and cold. The Frenchie must not be allowed to do strenous activities in hot weather and neither should they be left alone in the car in the sun. To prevent heat stroke, make sure your Frenchie gets lots of fresh, clean water to drink. Likewise, if you are in a northern climate, the Frenchie must not stay out in the cold for too long. Generally speaking, broad and large nose dogs do not live long, and this applies to the Frenchie.
Some Frenchies have very short screw tails and can be prone to anal gland impaction. The dog has 2 anal glands that are located on either side of the rectum. Because of the screw tail, it is more difficult to clean these glands in the Frenchie than in many other breeds. When you take your dog in for a check-up, have your vet check your dog's anal glands to see if they need to be expressed.
Premature degeneration of the vertebral discs can be a problem in the breed. Symptoms are protruding or stiff neck, lameness in either front or rear legs and loss of bladder control. You must see your vet if the situation arises and treatment will probably be with either drugs or surgery.
Natural births are uncommon due to the Frenchie's large head, large shoulders and small pelvis, and Caesarean sections will almost always be called for. Juvenile cataracts can also be a problem. This is an inherited disorder and you should inquire of your breeder to see if he has this problem in his line. Unfortunately, most pure-bred dogs have certain health defects with which to contend, and the Frenchie is not spared. Never be too shy to ask breeders about these and other problems that may affect the breed.