What to know when adopting a French Bulldog

so you're interested in adopting a French Bulldog

We're so thrilled you've come to Church of Pug and we couldn't be more excited to connect you with the french bulldog of your dreams.

That being said, to make sure we're all set up for success, it's important to ensure you understand the breed, know what's required for care, and expectations are in line with reality. Many rescue dogs come with baggage, whether emotional or physical. Rescue dogs aren't for everyone, and they are certainly not a way to get an inexpensive Frenchie.

What you need to know about the French Bulldog personality

Most French Bulldogs make wonderful companion dogs. There's a reason why they're the #1 breed in the USA today. French Bulldogs like to play, nap, snuggle and be involved in what you are doing. Like all breeds, individual dogs within the French Bulldog breed vary in their activity levels, their gregariousness, and their intelligence, but by and large, French Bulldogs are very lovable, clownish happy dogs.

However, due to their cleverness and strength of character, problems may arise. It's super important to remember these little cuties are bulldogs after all and were originally bred for "bull-baiting". We discourage you from googling that any further but it's important to note that these beloved pups do have some aggressive origins. Many french bulldogs end up in the care of Church of Pug due to behavioral issues, object guarding, aggression towards other animals, jealous or possessive behavior. Much of this behavior will evaporate when the French Bulldog in question is not allowed to run the household.

We don't share all of this to scare you. We just want to be honest, transparent, and share what we've learned along the way.

Acclimating a French Bulldog into the Home

Acclimating a frenchie into your home should be no different than any other rescue dog. Remember, while you might be excited, they're likely terrified, sad, lonely, and even confused. When introducing your new rescue frenchie:

Give them space! Allow them time to adjust to their new environment in a quiet, comfortable room with their bed, food, and water. Limit their exposure to other people and pets. Give them time before overwhelming them with sweaters or grooming.

Introduce them slowly! If you have other dogs, introduce them on neutral ground, like a park, so they can get used to each other away from your home. Keep them at a safe distance from each other. Don't assume they'll be BFFs right away and be ready to experience emotions from both dogs!

Be patient! Aggressive behavior is usually a reaction to fear or discomfort.

Teach people how to approach your dog! Remind kids and others how to approach your new frenchie. This is all new to them.

Reward good behavior! Reward your dog with treats when they go to the bathroom. Even potty trained pups can have accidents during times of transition.

Caring for French Bulldogs

Most of Church of Pug funds are spent ensuring the dogs go in good health and good condition. To the best of our knowledge and ability, we always share any known medical conditions. That being said, Frenchies are notorious for allergies which can often manifest themselves with skin and ear issues. While we do our best to work on this in rescue, be aware this can definitely be a work in progress. They can have a delicate tummy and be a bit of a pickier eater. It's important to care for Frenchies so they don't jump or fall as you want to protect their little bodies from IVDD.

We HIGHLY recommend investing in good insurance for your French Bulldog.

two-french-bulldogs-central-park-149263573-2000-0401ecd2511c44f1a17fbbe8fff9fe8d

Frenchies require minimal grooming, but they do require regular care. While French bulldogs do not shed much, their short coat still needs to be brushed weekly. Their nails need regular trims, facial folds must be kept clean and dry, their ears should be cleaned regularly, and they need to have an occasional bath. Some Frenchies will need their tail fold cleaned regularly as well.

All of this being said, Frenchies can be EXTREMELY temperamental when being groomed. It's important to go slow when beginning to care for your rescue Frenchie. Don't expect them not to snap or try and bite you when you first begin cleaning their ears of tail fold. Also, don't mistake these snaps or bites as aggressiveness. They might just not like it, haven't ever experienced these sort of touches before, or maybe they're still learning they can trust you.

Making sure you're aware of the French Bulldog medical needs...

If you're concerned about the cost, it probably isn't the right breed for you.

That being said, let's chat about what frenchies might require...

Eyes & Ears: Scratches, ulcers, cherry eye and ear infections are common.
Skin & Allergy Issues: Also contributes to the ear issues.
Orthopedic & Neurological: IVDD.
Respiratory: Can't breathe.

Moral of the story: GET INSURANCE! A simple slip during play has landed more than one paralyzed & incontinent frenchies in rescue because the family couldn't afford a time-sensitive $20,000 surgery (yes, the sooner a pup gets this surgery the more likely it will be successful so we're talking within 72 hours).

Doesn't Church of Pug provide all things medical prior to adoption?

We do our best to get dogs into tip top shape prior to adoption. However, we also have to focus on life-threatening conditions. Skin and ears might always be a work in progress.

When it comes to airways, nearly every dog that comes into the care of Church of Pug could benefit from BOAS surgery. That being said, Church of Pug only can afford to do this surgery when it's truly life threatening. As such, we only provide this surgery in very rare instances when the dog is experiencing loss of consciousness or lung malformations.

Will my French Bulldogget along with...

People & Kids: Many Frenchies are great with kids. That being said, some can can end up in our care because of bites to humans. It's a case-by-case thing but Frenchies are temperamental, stubborn pups and will rule the roost if you let them.

Other Dogs: French Bulldogs’ sociability varies, so be sure to carefully read the bio of the dog which interests you, to see whether or not the dog would be a good choice for your home. We'll be honest - we see more "one and only" French Bulldogs than just about any other breed we rescue. There can be a great deal of same-sex aggression among French Bulldogs, especially among the females. Some French Bulldogs are very dominant, and should not be placed with other dogs.

Cats: Some French Bulldogs have a high prey-drive, which means that they enjoy chasing, catching and killing smaller or weaker animals, including cats. Some French Bulldogs enjoy the company of cats, and some ignore cats. If you have cats, be sure the dog you are considering has lived safely with cats, or is responding well to foster cats in its foster home.

Chickens or other Live-Stock: Some French Bulldogs have a high prey-drive, which means that they enjoy chasing, catching and killing smaller or weaker animals, including chickens and other types of live stock or small animals. There's a good chance the dog will want to go after the chickens, etc. Just count on no.

Do French Bulldogs Bite?

Most well socialized French Bulldogs do not bite under ordinary circumstances. Sadly, not all our rescues have been well socialized. Dogs with a history of aggression towards other animals, but are good with people, are placed in single pet homes. Dogs who have bitten people are carefully evaluated, both by their foster homes and by professional behaviorists or skilled dog trainers.

It's important to protect all pups so they don't bite a human in the first place, which means giving them space and not forcing them to do things they don't want to do right away. Often times, a frenchie will be adopted out without a human bite record but then, due to some unfortunate circumstance, end up biting a human in the new adoptive home and then be returned to us with a bite record. We don't want to see that happen and so that's why we spend extra time making sure you know to give them space, go slow with introductions, and reinforce good behaviors/manage the quirks in advance.