View source for French Bulldog

{{Short description|French breed of dog}}
{{See also|Bulldog}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Globalize|date=November 2021|2=the [[United States]]}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = French Bulldog
| image          = File:2008-07-28 Dog at Frolick Field.jpg
| image_alt      = 
| image_caption  =  
| image2         = 
| image_alt2     = 
| image_caption2 = 
| altname        = Bouledogue Français
| nickname       = 
| stock          = 
| country        = France{{r|fci}}
| weight         = 
| maleweight     = {{cvt|9|–|14|kg}}{{r|fci2}}
| femaleweight   = {{cvt|8|–|13|kg}}{{r|fci2}}
| height         = 
| maleheight     = {{cvt|27|–|35|cm}}{{r|fci2}}
| femaleheight   = {{cvt|24|–|32|cm}}{{r|fci2}}
| coat           = 
| colour         = 
| litter_size    = 
| life_span      = 
| kc_name        = [[Société Centrale Canine]]
| kc_std         = https://www.centrale-canine.fr/le-chien-de-race/bouledogue-francais
| fcistd         = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/101g09-en.pdf
| note           = 
}}

The '''French Bulldog''' ({{langx|fr|Bouledogue Français|italic=yes}}) is a French [[Dog breed|breed]] of [[companion dog]] or [[toy dog]]. It appeared in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century, apparently the result of [[cross-breeding]] of [[Toy Bulldog]]s imported from England and local Parisian [[Ratter (dog)|ratters]].<ref name="Le bouledogue Français, Ses origines">[http://www.cbf-asso.org/txt/bouledogue_origines.htm "Le bouledogue Français, Ses origines"], 'Official breed club created in 1898 (fr)'</ref> It is commonly kept as a pet and is among the most frequently registered dogs in a number of countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The breed is susceptible to various health problems as a consequence of being bred for a distinctive appearance, sporting a [[Brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome|brachycephalic]] face and skin wrinkles.

== History ==

From the beginning of the nineteenth century, [[bulldog]]s were bred in the United Kingdom for purposes other than traditional [[blood sports]] such as bull-baiting, which were banned in 1835.{{r|coile|p=5}} By the middle of the century there were miniature bulldogs, most weighing around {{convert|7|-|11|kg|0|abbr=on}}.{{r|coile|p=6}}

At the same time, [[lace]] workers from [[Nottingham]] who were displaced by the [[Industrial Revolution]] began to settle in [[Normandy]], France.{{r|leighton|p=58}} They brought a variety of dogs with them, including Toy Bulldogs.<ref name="Get to Know the French Bulldog">[http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/french-bulldog/#standard "Get to Know the French Bulldog"], The American Kennel Club, retrieved 28 May 2014.</ref> The dogs became popular in France and a trade in imported small Bulldogs was created, with breeders in England sending over Bulldogs that they considered to be too small, or with faults such as ears that stood up. By 1860, there were few Toy Bulldogs left in England, such was their popularity in France.{{r|coile|p=6}}

The small Bulldog type gradually became thought of as a breed, and received a name, the Bouledogue Francais.{{r|coile|p=6}} This French version of the English name is also a contraction of the words {{lang|fr|boule}} ('ball') and {{lang|fr|dogue}} ('mastiff'). The dogs were highly fashionable and were sought after by society ladies and Parisian prostitutes alike, as well as creators such as artists, writers, and fashion designers.{{r|coile|p=6}} The artists [[Edgar Degas]] and [[Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec]] are thought to have French Bulldogs in their paintings.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/french-bulldog/|title=French Bulldog Dog Breed Information|website=American Kennel Club|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref> However, records were not kept of the breed's development as it diverged further away from its original Bulldog roots. As it changed, terrier stock had been brought in to develop traits such as the breed's long straight ears.{{r|coile|p=6}}

===Depictions in nineteenth-century paintings===
<gallery  mode=packed heights=155px style="text-align:left; font-size:smaller">
File:Toulouse-Lautrec - BOUBOULE, BULL-DOG DE MADAME PALMYRE A LA SOURIS, DOS, 1897, MTL.196.jpg|[[Toulouse-Lautrec]]: {{lang|fr|Bouboule, Bull-dog de madame Palmyre, à la souris}}, 1897
File:At the Stables, Horse and Dog.jpg|{{lang|fr|A l'écurie, cheval et chien}}, [[Edgar Degas]], about 1861
File:Little dog 1888Toulouse-Lautrec.jpeg|Toulouse-Lautrec
File:Little Dog Lying Down, French Bulldog.jpeg|Toulouse-Lautrec
</gallery>

=== Breed clubs and modern recognition ===
Americans had been importing French Bulldogs for a while, but it was not until 1885 that they were brought over in order to set up an American-based breeding program. They were mostly owned by society ladies, who first displayed them at the [[Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]] in 1896.{{r|snr}} In the following year, the judge at the dog show, George Raper, only chose winners with "rose ears"—ears that folded at the tip, as with the standard for Bulldogs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frenchbulldogclub.org/fbdcahistory/|title=History of the FBDCA|website=French Bull Dog Club of America|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref> The ladies formed the French Bull Dog Club of America and created a [[Breed standard (dogs)|breed standard]] which preferred the "erect bat ear" type.{{r|coile|p=7}}In the early 20th century, the breed remained in vogue for high society, with dogs changing hands for up to $3,000 and being owned by members of influential families such as the [[Rockefeller family|Rockefellers]] and the [[J. P. Morgan]]s. The [[American Kennel Club]] recognized the breed quickly after the breed club was formed, and by 1906 the French Bulldog was the fifth most popular dog breed in America.{{r|coile|p=8}} 

This new Bulldog breed arrived for the first time in England in 1893, with English Bulldog breeders in an uproar as the French imports did not meet the new breed standards in place by this time, and they wanted to prevent the English stock from crossbreeding with the French. [[The Kennel Club]] initially recognized them as a subset of the existing Bulldog breed rather than an entirely new breed.{{r|coile|p=6}} Some English breeders in this period bred the French Bulldogs in order to resurrect the Toy Bulldog.{{r|leighton|p=58}} On 10 July 1902, at the house of Frederick W. Cousens, a meeting was held to set up a breed club in order to seek individual recognition for the French breed.{{r|coile|p=7}} The adopted breed standard was the same one which was already in use in America, France, Germany and Austria.{{r|leighton|p=58}} Despite opposition from Miniature Bulldog (the new breed name for the Toy Bulldog) and Bulldog breeders,{{r|leighton|p=59}} in 1905, the Kennel Club changed its policy on the breed and recognized them separate from the English variety, initially as the Bouledogue Francais, then in 1912 as the French Bulldog.{{r|coile|p=7}}

Today the French Bulldog is commonly kept as a pet: in 2020, it was the second-most registered dog in the United Kingdom,<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/1160770/2018-2019-top-20.pdf|title=Top Twenty Breeds In Registration Order For The Years 2018 And 2019|publisher=The Kennel Club (UK)|access-date=23 June 2020|archive-date=26 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626014119/https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/1160770/2018-2019-top-20.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the fourth-most in the United States.<ref name="AKC">{{cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/most-popular-dog-breeds-of-2018/|title=AKC: Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2018|publisher=The American Kennel Club}}</ref> They were rated the third-most popular dog in Australia in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/pets/heres-a-list-of-the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-australia-in-2017/news-story/9fb18cee13620568228886c5ba122cda|title=Top 10 dog breeds in Australia 2017. Don't worry, they're all adorable|work=NewsComAu|access-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>  In 2019, in the United Kingdom, the French Bulldog had a total of 33,661 registered dogs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/129029/10yrstatsutility.pdf|title=COMPARATIVE TABLES OF REGISTRATIONS FOR THE YEARS 2010 – 2019 INCLUSIVE|website=The Kennel Club UK|access-date=18 May 2023|archive-date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131060253/https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/129029/10yrstatsutility.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> By comparison, the [[Labrador Retriever]] had over 36,700 dogs and the [[Cocker Spaniel]] fewer than 22,000. In 2013, the American Kennel Club (AKC) ranked the French Bulldog as the 10th most popular breed in the United States, enjoying a sharp rise in popularity from 54th place a decade before, in 2003.<ref>[http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/ American Kennel Club 2013 Dog Registration Statistics Historical Comparisons & Notable Trends], The American Kennel Club, Retrieved 28 May 2014</ref>  In 2023, the French Bulldog overtook the Labrador as the most popular breed of dog as ranked by the AKC. Before 2023, Labradors had held the top spot for 31 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/dogs-breeds-popularity-frenchies-bulldogs-labrador-retrievers-983c17969c8b3efaf1b02f55a0d8f24b|title=Beloved and debated, French bulldog becomes top US dog breed|date=15 March 2023|access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> Most recently, the American Kennel Club has found the French Bulldog to be the most popular dog breed in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haid |first=Melanie |date=March 20, 2025 |title=Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2024 - American Kennel Club |url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/most-popular-dog-breeds-2024/ |access-date=March 26, 2025 |website=American Kennel Club}}</ref>

====Historic photographs====
<gallery  mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left; font-size:smaller">
File:French Bulldodg circa 1890.jpg|1890
File:French Bulldog circa 1901.jpg|1901, Maurice in New York City
File:Anna-Maria-Sacher-1908.jpg|1908, [[Anna Sacher]]
File:The new book of the dog - a comprehensive natural history of British dogs and their foreign relatives, with chapters on law, breeding, kennel management, and veterinary treatment (1911) (14760460261).jpg|1911, Ch. Stanmore Argus
File:French Bulldog from 1915.JPG|1915
File:Smiling woman with fur hat and four dogs.jpg|between 1875 and 1917
File:TatianaAnastasiaOrtino.jpg|1917 with Grand Duchesses Tatiana and Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia
</gallery>

== Description ==
The American Kennel Club standard for the French Bulldog states that it should be muscular, with a soft and loose coat forming wrinkles.<ref name="Get to Know the French Bulldog" /> 

The AKC Standard weight for a French Bulldog is at maximum {{convert|28|lb}}.<ref name=":0" /> The head of a French bulldog should be square shaped and large, with ears that resemble bat ears.<ref name=":0" /> French bulldogs are a [[brachycephalic|flat-faced breed]].<ref name="French Bulldog AKC">{{Cite web|url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/french-bulldog/|title=French Bulldog Dog Breed Information|website=American Kennel Club}}</ref> Eyes that are AKC Standard approved for French Bulldogs are dark, almost to the point of being black; blue eyed French bulldogs are not AKC approved.<ref name=":0" /> The coat of a French bulldog should be short haired and fine and silky.<ref name="French Bulldog AKC"/> Acceptable colors under the breed standard are the various shades of [[brindle]], fawn, cream or white with brindle patches (known as "pied"). The fawn colors can be any light through red.<ref name=":0" /> The most common colors are brindle, then fawn, with pieds being less common than the other colors.<ref>{{cite book|title=The New Complete Dog Book: Official Breed Standards and All-New Profiles for 200 Breeds, 21st Edition|last=American Kennel Club|date=11 November 2014|publisher=i5 Publishing|isbn=9781621870913|page=912}}</ref> The breed clubs do not recognize any other colors or patterns.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/French_Bulldog-6-18.pdf|title=American Kennel Club - Dog Breed Standards|last=Club|first=American Kennel}}</ref>

<gallery  mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left; font-size:smaller">
File:Fantasme de la parure.jpg|Brindle 
File:French bulldog (7982288518).jpg|Pied 
File:Cream French Bulldog.jpg|Cream 
File:A French Bulldog.jpg|Fawn 
File:Oliver french bulldog.jpg|Black 
File:900-French-Bulldog-l.jpg|Gray
</gallery>

== Health ==
[[File:Sir_Pinch_a_Lot_Frenchie.jpg|thumb|Closeup of the French Bulldog's [[Cephalic index#Modern use in animal breeding|brachycephalic]] face]]
[[File:Encontro_Dog_Institute_(41893165422).jpg|thumb|French Bulldog at rest, panting]]
A study in the UK comparing French Bulldogs to the general canine population found that of 43 common conditions, the French Bulldog had significantly higher prevalence for almost half (20/43) and a significantly lower prevalence for a quarter (11/43). [[Stenotic nares]] had an occurrence rate of 42 times the general population, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome was 30 times more prevalent, [[Otitis media|aural discharge]] was 14 times more prevalent, [[Intertrigo|skin fold dermatitis]] was 11 times more prevalent, and [[dystocia]] was 9 times more prevalent.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=O’Neill | first1=Dan G. | last2=Packer | first2=Rowena M.A. | last3=Francis | first3=Peter | last4=Church | first4=David B. | last5=Brodbelt | first5=Dave C. | last6=Pegram | first6=Camilla | title=French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study | journal=Canine Medicine and Genetics | volume=8 | issue=1 | date=2021-12-16 | issn=2662-9380 | pmid=34911586 | pmc=8675495 | doi=10.1186/s40575-021-00112-3 | doi-access=free | page=13}}</ref>

In 2013, a UK Medical Study reviewed the health of 2228 French Bulldogs under veterinary care in the UK. The study found that 1612 (72.4%) of these French Bulldog had at least one recorded health issue: The most common disorders recorded were ear infections (14.0%), diarrhea (7.5%) and conjunctivitis (3.2%). Skin problems were the most commonly reported group of disorders (17.9%).<ref name="cgejournal.biomedcentral.com">"Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013" https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-018-0057-9#Sec4</ref>

Despite these challenges, the popularity of French Bulldogs continues to rise, emphasizing the importance of addressing their health issues.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O’Neill |first1=Dan G. |last2=Baral |first2=Lauren |last3=Church |first3=David B. |last4=Brodbelt |first4=Dave C. |last5=Packer |first5=Rowena M. A. |date=2018-05-03 |title=Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013 |journal=Canine Genetics and Epidemiology |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=3 |doi=10.1186/s40575-018-0057-9 |doi-access=free |issn=2052-6687 |pmc=5932866 |pmid=29750111}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|2611700588}} |last1=Thompson |first1=Dennis |title=Highly Inbred, French Bulldogs Face Higher Odds for 20 Health Issues |url=https://www.healthday.com/health-news/general-health/12-16-highly-inbred-french-bulldogs-face-higher-odds-for-20-health-issues-2656019916.html |work=HealthDay |date=20 December 2021 }}</ref>

===Brachycephaly===
The shortened snout and pushed in face of the French Bulldog is known as [[brachycephaly]].<ref>Knecht, C. D. (1979). Upper airway obstruction in brachycephalic dogs. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet, 1, 25-31.</ref> Brachycephaly results in deformation of the upper airway tract and leads to obstruction of breathing.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Hendricks | first=Joan C. | title=Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome | journal=Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=22 | issue=5 | year=1992 | issn=0195-5616 | doi=10.1016/s0195-5616(92)50306-0 | pages=1145–1153| doi-access=free | pmid=1523786 }}</ref> Effects of brachycephaly are [[stridor]], stertorous breathing, [[emesis]], skin fold dermatitis, [[brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome]], [[exophthalmos]], [[Pharyngeal reflex|pharyngeal gag reflex]], [[cyanosis]], and laryngeal collapse.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=TC | first1=Amis | last2=C | first2=Kurpershoek | title=Pattern of breathing in brachycephalic dogs | journal=American Journal of Veterinary Research | date=1986 | publisher=Am J Vet Res | volume=47 | issue=10 | pages=2200–2204 | issn=0002-9645 | pmid=3777646 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Hendricks | first1=J. C. | last2=Kline | first2=L. R. | last3=Kovalski | first3=R. J. | last4=O'Brien | first4=J. A. | last5=Morrison | first5=A. R. | last6=Pack | first6=A. I. | title=The English bulldog: a natural model of sleep-disordered breathing | journal=Journal of Applied Physiology | publisher=American Physiological Society | volume=63 | issue=4 | date=1987-10-01 | issn=8750-7587 | doi=10.1152/jappl.1987.63.4.1344 | pages=1344–1350| pmid=3693167 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Hendricks | first=Joan C. | title=Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome | journal=Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=22 | issue=5 | year=1992 | issn=0195-5616 | doi=10.1016/s0195-5616(92)50306-0 | pages=1145–1153| doi-access=free | pmid=1523786 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Meola | first=Stacy D. | title=Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome | journal=Topics in Companion Animal Medicine | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=28 | issue=3 | year=2013 | issn=1938-9736 | doi=10.1053/j.tcam.2013.06.004 | pages=91–96| pmid=24182996 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2335 |title=Reverse Sneezing (Pharyngeal Gag Reflex) |last=Lundgrun |first=Becky |date=26 June 2006 |work= VeterinaryPartner.com |access-date=26 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Sebbag | first1=Lionel | last2=Sanchez | first2=Rick F. | title=The pandemic of ocular surface disease in brachycephalic dogs: The brachycephalic ocular syndrome | journal=Veterinary Ophthalmology | volume=26 | issue=S1 | date=2023 | issn=1463-5216 | doi=10.1111/vop.13054 | pages=31–46| doi-access=free | pmid=36585820 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Hobi | first1=Stefan | last2=Barrs | first2=Vanessa R. | last3=Bęczkowski | first3=Paweł M. | title=Dermatological Problems of Brachycephalic Dogs | journal=Animals | publisher=MDPI AG | volume=13 | issue=12 | date=2023-06-16 | issn=2076-2615 | doi=10.3390/ani13122016 | doi-access=free | page=2016| pmid=37370526 | pmc=10294810 }}</ref> Other issues arising from brachycephaly are risk of complications whilst under anaesthesia,<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Gruenheid | first1=Michaela | last2=Aarnes | first2=Turi K. | last3=McLoughlin | first3=Mary A. | last4=Simpson | first4=Elaine M. | last5=Mathys | first5=Dimitria A. | last6=Mollenkopf | first6=Dixie F. | last7=Wittum | first7=Thomas E. | title=Risk of anesthesia-related complications in brachycephalic dogs | journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association | publisher=American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) | volume=253 | issue=3 | date=2018-08-01 | issn=0003-1488 | doi=10.2460/javma.253.3.301 | pages=301–306| pmid=30020004 }}</ref> and [[hyperthermia]] — with the latter caused due to an inability to effectively reduce body temperature via panting.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Ewers Clark | first=Anna | title=Heatstroke and brachycephalic dogs – is there an increased risk? | journal=Veterinary Evidence | volume=7 | issue=4 | date=2022-12-22 | issn=2396-9776 | doi=10.18849/ve.v7i4.534 | page=| doi-access=free }}</ref>
French Bulldogs are banned by several commercial airlines due to the numbers that have died while in the air.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haughney |first=Christine |date=6 October 2011 |title=Banned by Many Airlines, These Bulldogs Fly Private |newspaper=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/nyregion/banned-by-many-airlines-these-bulldogs-fly-private.html |access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Short-nosed-Dogs-and-Air-Travel-FAQs.aspx |website=[[American Veterinary Medical Association]] |title=Air Travel and Short-Nosed Dogs FAQ |access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref>

===Life expectancy===

A study of the deaths of 30,563 dogs of different breeds in the United Kingdom in 2016–2020 found the French Bulldog to have a life expectancy at birth of {{val|4.53|u=years}}, the lowest by a large margin of all breeds in the study, which found an average for all dogs of {{val|11.23|u=years}}.{{r|sr|p=1}} This same study indicates that the low life expectancy for French Bulldogs is possibly influenced by the increasing number of French Bulldogs present in the UK, increasing from 2,771 KC registered individuals in 2011 to 39,266 individuals in 2020, skewing the general population to be very young on average and biasing the data.{{r|sr|p=1}} A Japanese study of pet cemetery data found the French Bulldog to have a life expectancy of 10.2 years, the lowest of all breeds in the study.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=INOUE | first1=Mai | last2=KWAN | first2=Nigel C. L. | last3=SUGIURA | first3=Katsuaki | title=Estimating the life expectancy of companion dogs in Japan using pet cemetery data | journal=Journal of Veterinary Medical Science | publisher=Japanese Society of Veterinary Science | volume=80 | issue=7 | year=2018 | issn=0916-7250 | doi=10.1292/jvms.17-0384 | pages=1153–1158| pmid=29798968 | pmc=6068313 }}</ref>{{efn| The Japanese study reviewed cemetery data which is unlikely to have any records of still-births and altricial deaths whilst a veterinary clinic likely would have some data on these.}} A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 9.8 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for [[Mongrel|crossbreeds]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1=McMillan | first1=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=531| pmid=38302530 | pmc=10834484 | bibcode=2024NatSR..14..531M }}</ref>

=== Birth and reproduction ===
French Bulldogs frequently require [[Caesarean section]] to give birth, with over 80% of litters delivered this way.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Evans|first1=Katy M.|last2=Adams|first2=Vicki J.|year=2010|title=Proportion of litters of purebred dogs born by caesarean section|journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice|volume=51|issue=2|pages=113–8|doi=10.1111/j.1748-5827.2009.00902.x|pmid=20136998}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph-CSection">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peterwedderburn/9405067/why_do_over_80_per_cent_of_bulldog_births_happen_by_caesarian_section/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813011429/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peterwedderburn/9405067/why_do_over_80_per_cent_of_bulldog_births_happen_by_caesarian_section/|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 August 2011|title=Why do over 80 per cent of Bulldog births happen by caesarian section?|author=Pete Wedderburn|date=6 April 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>

A UK study identified French Bulldog bitches to be 15.9 times more likely to experience dystocia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Packer |first1=Rowena |title=New study reveals flat faced dogs have the highest risk when giving birth. |url=https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/new-study-reveals-flat-faced-dogs-have-the-highest-risk-when-giving-birth |website=Royal Veterinary College |publisher=University of London |access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref>

===Orthopaedics===
French Bulldogs are prone to having congenital [[Congenital vertebral anomaly|hemivertebrae]] (also called "[[butterfly vertebrae]]").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marvistavet.com/html/hemivertebrae.html|title=Hemivertebrae|publisher=Mar Vista Animal Medical Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430045931/http://www.marvistavet.com/html/hemivertebrae.html|archive-date=30 April 2015|access-date=21 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufaw.org.uk/Hemivertebrae.php|title=Genetic welfare problems of companion animals: Hemivertebrae|publisher=Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UK)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312201047/http://www.ufaw.org.uk/Hemivertebrae.php|archive-date=12 March 2015|access-date=21 December 2019}}</ref> 

A review of more than 200,000 patients in the UK found that French Bulldogs had a noticeably higher occurrence of [[patellar luxation]] with the French Bulldog having an odds ratio of 5.4.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=O’Neill | first1=Dan G. | last2=Meeson | first2=Richard L. | last3=Sheridan | first3=Adam | last4=Church | first4=David B. | last5=Brodbelt | first5=Dave C. | title=The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England | journal=Canine Genetics and Epidemiology | volume=3 | issue=1 | date=2016 | issn=2052-6687 | pmid=27280025 | pmc=4898461 | doi=10.1186/s40575-016-0034-0 | doi-access=free | page=4}}</ref>

=== Other conditions ===
A French study found that 45% of French Bulldogs presenting with a neurological condition had [[spinal disk herniation|Hansen type I intervertebral disk herniation]], with the study concluding that the French Bulldog is prone to the condition.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Mayousse | first1=Vincent | last2=Desquilbet | first2=Loïc | last3=Jeandel | first3=Aurélien | last4=Blot | first4=Stéphane | title=Prevalence of neurological disorders in French bulldog: a retrospective study of 343 cases (2002–2016) | journal=BMC Veterinary Research | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=13 | issue=1 | date=2017-07-05 | issn=1746-6148 | doi=10.1186/s12917-017-1132-2 | doi-access=free | page=212| pmid=28676057 | pmc=5497356 }}</ref>

A UK study found the French Bulldog to be more likely to suffer from [[thoracic vertebral malformations]] than other breeds.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Ryan | first1=R. | last2=Gutierrez-Quintana | first2=R. | last3=ter Haar | first3=G. | last4=De Decker | first4=Steven | title=Prevalence of thoracic vertebral malformations in French bulldogs, Pugs and English bulldogs with and without associated neurological deficits | journal=The Veterinary Journal | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=221 | year=2017 | issn=1090-0233 | doi=10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.01.018 | pages=25–29| pmid=28283076 | url=https://researchonline.rvc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10689/1/10689.pdf }}</ref>

A British study found [[demodicosis]] to be more prevalent in the French Bulldog than other breeds. The overall prevalence in French Bulldogs was 1.3% compared to the overall rate of 0.17%. The prevalence in dogs under the age of 2 years was 1.9% compared to 0.48%.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=O'Neill | first1=D. G. | last2=Turgoose | first2=E. | last3=Church | first3=D. B. | last4=Brodbelt | first4=D. C. | last5=Hendricks | first5=A. | title=Juvenile-onset and adult-onset demodicosis in dogs in the UK: prevalence and breed associations | journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice | publisher=Wiley | volume=61 | issue=1 | date=2019-10-04 | issn=0022-4510 | doi=10.1111/jsap.13067 | pages=32–41| pmid=31584708 | pmc=7003809 }}</ref>

The French Bulldog is one of the most commonly affected breeds for [[Cataracts (canine)|hereditary cataracts]].<ref>{{cite book |author1-first=James A.C. |author1-last=Oliver |author2-first=Cathryn S. |author2-last=Mellersh | editor1-first=Barbara | editor1-last=Cooper | editor2-first=Elizabeth |editor2-last=Mullineaux |editor3-first=Lynn | editor3-last=Turner |title=BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing |date=2020 |publisher=British Small Animal Veterinary Association |isbn=978-1-910-44339-2 |edition=Sixth|chapter=Genetics| page=131}}</ref>

The French Bulldog is also prone to skin allergies (in addition to the demodicosis called out above) that often result in excessive licking of the paws, watery eyes, ear infections, sneezing, or vomiting.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 10 Most Common French Bulldog Health Problems|url=https://southerncrossvet.com.au/french-bulldog-health-issues/|website=Southern Cross Veterinary Clinic}}</ref>

{{commonscat}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist|25em|refs=

<ref name=coile>
{{cite book
 |first = D. Caroline |last = Coile
 |year = 2005
 |title = French Bulldogs
 |place = Hauppauge, NY
 |publisher = Barron's
 |isbn=9780764130311
 |url = https://archive.org/details/frenchbulldogsev00coil/page/5/mode/1up
 |via = [[Internet Archive]] (archive.org)
}}
</ref>

<ref name=fci>
{{cite web
 |title = Bouledogue Français   |lang = fr, en
 |trans-title = French Bulldog
 |id = 101
 |series = FCI breeds nomenclature
 |publisher = [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]]
 |url = http://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/FRENCH-BULLDOG-101.html
 |access-date= 15 November 2021
}}
</ref>

<ref name=fci2>
{{cite report
 |title = Bouledogue Français   |lang = fr, en
 |trans-title = French Bulldog
 |series = FCI Standard
 |id = N° 101 g09 / en
 |publisher = [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]]
 |url = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/101g09-en.pdf
 |access-date = 15 November 2021
}}
</ref>

<ref name=leighton>
{{cite book
 |last = Robert  |first = Leighton
 |year = 1907
 |title = The New Book of the Dog
 |place = London, UK / New York, NY
 |publisher = Cassell
 |url = https://archive.org/details/newbookofdogcomp00leiguoft/page/58/mode/1up
 |via = [[Internet Archive]] (archive.org)
}}
</ref>

<ref name=snr>
{{cite news
 |title = A Sacramento heiress and [a] murder on the ''French bulldog express''
 |date = 4 February 2022
 |department = Looking back
 |newspaper = [[Sacramento News & Review]]
 |url = https://sacramento.newsreview.com/2022/02/04/looking-back-a-sacramento-heiress-and-murder-on-the-french-bulldog-express/ 
 |via = sacramento.newsreview.com   |url-status = dead <!-- presumed -->
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220630064937/https://sacramento.newsreview.com/2022/02/04/looking-back-a-sacramento-heiress-and-murder-on-the-french-bulldog-express/
 |archive-date = 30 June 2022
}}
</ref>

<ref name=sr>
{{cite journal
 |first1 = Kendy Tzu-yun  |last1 = Teng
 |first2 = Dave C.  |last2 = Brodbelt
 |first3 = Camilla  |last3 = Pegram
 |first4 = David B. |last4 = Church
 |first5 = Dan G.   |last5 = O'Neill
 |year = 2022
 |url = https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-10341-6.pdf
 |title = Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom
 |journal = [[Scientific Reports]]
 |volume = 12 |issue = 2022 |page=article 6415
 |doi = 10.1038/s41598-022-10341-6
|pmid = 35484374
 |pmc = 9050668
 |bibcode = 2022NatSR..12.6415T
 }}
</ref>

}}   <!-- end of "refs=" -->

== Other sources ==
{{refbegin|colwidth=25em|small=yes}}
<!--
<ref name=lynch></ref>
-->
* {{cite book
 |last = Lynch  |first = Don
 |year = 1992
 |title = Titanic: An illustrated history
 |publisher = Hyperion
 |place = New York, NY
 |isbn = 978-1-56282-918-6
}}

<!--
<ref name=tkc></ref>
-->
* {{cite report
 |title = French Bulldog
 |series = Breed standards
 |place = London, UK
 |publisher = [[The Kennel Club]]
 |url = https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breed-standards/utility/french-bulldog/
 |access-date = 15 August 2022   |via = thekennelclub.org.uk
}}

{{refend}}

{{French dogs}}
{{Toy dogs}}
{{Mastiffs}}

[[Category:Bulldog breeds]]
[[Category:Companion dogs]]
[[Category:Dog breeds originating in France]]
[[Category:FCI breeds]]