French Bulldogs

so it has been a while and Panda is grown a bit more and became a sweet teddy bear hehehe))



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8 month old Max playing tug o war with his hound dog sister

 

Hey! I'm Chucha from Israel

Hi!!! I m Solly, from Poland!
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here's a photo of my holly wearing a photoshopped pink bow tie ;)
hope you like it..

I just joined (as of, like, three minutes ago) and have some questions.

In the past few weeks, I become obsessed with French bulldogs. I never gave the breed much thought until I saw one trot across the screen during Westminster and instantly fell in love. After some consulting with my roommate, who works at a grooming salon and interacts with a wide range of breeds on a daily basis, and my grandmother, who raised champion Dachshunds and Miniature Poodles and has known many, MANY reputable breeders for longer than I've been alive, I have concluded that Frenchies are, if not the most perfect breed in the world, at least perfect for me. Of course I would first like to interact with some myself before getting one, besides which my current financial situation prohibits adopting* a Frenchie for at least several years, but I figure that just gives me plenty of time for research. I've combed through books and websites, and as soon as the local dog shows start up I'll be heading out to talk to fanciers.

My point is, I already have a Pekingese, and from what I can read Frenchies sound very much like Pekes in terms of their personality and physical limitations (willful, short-legged brachycephalics), except somewhat more active and trainable (trust me, you do not know stubborn until you have lived with a Pekingese) and without the masses of coat. They even come in fawn/red with black masks! Are they as similar to Pekes as they seem? How likely are they to get along with my current dog (who was raised in a show environment and gets along fine with other dogs himself)? I would prefer to get a female this time, instead of another male, since I've heard opposite-sex introductions tend to be more successful.

What specific training problems are likely to crop up? Are they naturally well-mannered like Pekingese (e.g., not destructive or hyper, just total catlike disinterest), or will they take every opportunity to walk all over you? I don't want or expect an obedience superstar--I consider it a major victory if my current dog acknowledges my presence in response to commands--but would appreciate basics like sit, stay, and come.

How active are they? My Peke is basically a throw pillow with a digestive system, and his idea of a major outing consists of a walk to the mailbox and back. I take it that Frenchies are more active than this, but how much more? I'm a couch potato myself (hence my choice of Pekingese--I love the breed, but the coat is a LOT of work, which is why I'm considering a Frenchie for my second dog), and anything that needs a three-mile hike is right out.

How are they with cats, generally? My roommate and I have three extremely mellow cats. (I also keep hamsters, but obviously the dog wouldn't interact with them.)

This will sound odd, but being a shorthaired breed, do they need clothes to keep warm in the winter? My family had a Whippet when I was a kid, and she NEEDED little sweaters whenever the temperature dropped. I don't have any issues with dressing up a dog; in fact I kind of look forward to it (my Peke has enough coat for three dogs and gives me no excuse!), but I know that brachys can overheat easily. I'm just wondering if this applies to winter clothes.

Finally: Do they drool? That is the one thing I cannot STAND in a dog (okay, I'm not overly fond of rapid, high-pitched barking, either). I know that regular Bulldogs can drool excessively, but I wasn't sure if that was a Frenchie trait. Some sources say yes, some say no. Does it just depend on the individual dog?



*And yes, I do plan to adopt, not purchase a puppy…I already did the puppy experience with my Pekingese, and have no burning need to do it again. It avoids a slew of initial medical expenses and training issues, and besides there are dogs out there that need good homes.