The little Frenchies are small but have gigantic personalities and tons of surprises. Here are five lesser-known facts less known about the breed that make it even more alluring.
1. Cherished Coast to Coast
A French Bulldog is every dog’s dream pet; it’s so popular that few exceptions exist where people don’t appreciate this breed. According to the American Kennel Club, Frenchies were ranked sixth in popularity in 2016, but what is surprising is that this fame is distributed among almost every state.
Frenchies rise to the top in places like New York (No. 1), Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami (No. 2). Chicago finds them just as lovely (No. 3), unlike Atlanta and Washington D.C. (No. 4), and equally like Boston, Seattle, Denver, and West Palm Beach (No. 5). This has truly turned the breed into a national favorite-from one end of the coast to the other!
2. Toto, the Almost Frenchie
In the movie The Wizard of Oz, little Toto was remembered as a Cairn Terrier, but in Baum’s original works, he was a French bulldog! R.A. Neill, the illustrator of the Oz series, was said to have owned a Frenchie called Quinn and probably drew upon his dog for inspiration. There is also an old story that a French Bulldog was cast for the movie but was replaced by a more manageable Cairn Terrier because of poor behavior on the set.
3. Not All Dogs Swim
Being a dog, a French Bulldog stops to think before embarking on a swim. Their short noses, coupled with short limbs, allow very minimal flotation and make them a danger when exposed to water. But some have turned their luck around, such as that famous ‘Frenchie’ seen paddling in the ocean after the Titanic sank, according to one survivor. When it comes to water, do, sir, ensure your Frenchie wears a doggy life jacket.
4. Not Exactly French
The French Bulldog, despite its name, does not originate in France. Tracing back its lineage to ancient Greece, where the Molossian dog-Derived from a variety of mastiffs-was bred into what became the Bullenbeisser in Germany and later the English Bulldog. Smaller bulldogs were brought to France by the lace makers during the Industrial Revolution, where they were bred into the affectionate, bat-eared companions we know today as the “Bouledogue Français.”
5. Flight Perils for Flat-Faced Pals
The flat faces of French Bulldogs make them prone to breathing problems-atrachycephaly. The opposite of having even a little protection against air travel is thinly dangerous air. There has been veterinary data showing that brachycephalic breeds might be those most at risk when flying, especially in an airplane’s cargo hold.
In case the Frenchie will make an air journey, early morning or late-night flights when it’s cool should be booked. Losing weight in case your Frenchie is overweight, getting them accustomed to the crate to reduce stress, and, if possible, having them travel in the cabin with you are also precautions that should be taken.
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