French Bulldog: The bat-eared city companion

The French Bulldog is a hugely popular city companion: a pair of large, upright "bat ears" on a round head and a sturdy body make it look both cute and a little stubborn. Sweet-natured and affectionate, it is a favourite in many homes. Let's meet it.

Its body

French Bulldogs descend from small bulldogs that English laceworkers carried to France, where Paris streets and cafés turned them into beloved companions. Its signature feature is the pair of large, upright bat ears. Its face is flat and its nose short, and this "brachycephalic" build makes its breathing less efficient than most dogs' — so it overheats easily, can suffer heatstroke in summer, and is a poor swimmer, needing extra care for safety. Snoring is part of the package, thanks to a long soft palate.

Its personality and care

The French Bulldog is sweet and clingy, happiest beside its human — a classic small companion dog. Caring for one means paying close attention to season and temperature: in summer it relies on air conditioning and cool water to cool down, and walks should avoid the midday heat; exercise should be moderate, never exhausting. The wrinkles on its face also need regular cleaning and drying to avoid skin problems.

A note for grown-ups

You could talk with a child about how a short nose has its troubles too: why does a Frenchie overheat, and why doesn't it like swimming? Because its short nose makes breathing harder. Helping a child understand that different body types have different needs — and to think for the pet — is the most important lesson in keeping one.