It was no accident, in 2023, that Frenchies broke the Labrador Retriever’s record-breaking 31-year reign in the #1 spot. Over the past decade, the French Bulldog has been quietly climbing the charts and stealing many celebrities' (and our) hearts along the way.  

Classified as a companion dog, the French Bulldog is an incredible family dog. They’re perceptive and have an uncanny ability to read the emotions of their hoomans. They are sensitive to the moods of those around them, providing comfort and support when needed. As they can connect with people on a deep level, Frenchies are a popular choice for individuals who suffer from anxiety, depression, or other emotional conditions. Add all that to their sweet and gentle nature, and you’ll quickly see why French Bulldogs can make excellent therapy dogs. Because they are small and easy to manage, they are ideal for visiting hospitals and nursing homes, where they can bring comfort and joy to patients and residents alike.

Due to their stubby legs, small hips, and short airways that often leave males quickly exhausted and fatigued, this breed doesn’t have an easy time mating. While they can reproduce naturally, most French Bulldogs are born through artificial insemination. Also, due to the build of female dogs, about 80% of French Bulldog puppies are born via cesarean section.  

Frenchies hardly bark at all - in fact, we call our Kamo mostly "mute." However, they seem to have their own language! These little clowns make sounds that can range from snorts and grunts to yawns and yaps, or even hilarious yodels. It’s like having a furry little alien as a pet! Their unique vocalizations are definitely part of what makes them such a quirky and lovable breed. With that said, they are surprisingly protective and will bark when they think their hooman is in danger (even from other family members Lol!)

January 13th is National French Bulldog Day, and it's the pawfect time to show your Frenchie appreciation with some extra love! Ways to spoil them: play a game, make them a tasty treat, or just give them a belly rub. At the end of the day, cuddle up, because they’re couch puptatoes at heart!  

According to the ship records, there was a black-colored French Bulldog on board. His name was Gamin de Pycombe and his owner was a young US banker, who insured the dog for an enormous amount of $750 (with  inflation, that amount is nearly $22K today!) He's even commemorated in James Cameron’s movie for a moment. Sadly, history records that he was one of the many casualties of the tragedy. 

The French Bulldog breed actually traces its origins to England... between the 12th and 19th centuries, the horrific and cruel "bull-baiting" became a form of entertainment. This event took place at theatre-like arenas and during which, a bull (or a bear) was chained up while dogs would attempt to immobilize it, by latching its strong jaws onto the bull’s snout. This is where the term “bulldog” comes from. Fortunately, in 1835 bull baits were permanently outlawed, making the bulldogs unemployed. Bulldogs were divided into several classes, the smaller class (known then as the English Toy Bulldog) became an instant favorite among female lacemakers. When the Industrial Revolution eliminated their jobs, they took the dogs with them across the English Channel to the Normandy area in northern France. 

And this is where they gained fame on French soil... In France, women from other professions soon fell in love with them. And Bulldogs became the constant companions of prostitutes, especially in the famous quarter of Paris called Montmartre. The cute and friendly dogs were excellent ice breakers and conversation starters for these women and their clients. Some of the clients were artists, painters, poets, and writers, so it was inevitable that sooner or later the bulldogs would appear in works of art. Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and Edgar Degas have several valuable and famous paintings of bulldogs. 

Once these artists brought Frenchies out of the French Brothels, higher social classes began to keep them as pets. The Rockefellers and even the world-famous Grand Duchesses Tatiana and Anastasia Romanov of Russia had French Bulldogs! It's believed that their Frenchie (Ortipo) met the same unfortunate fate as the rest of the Russian imperial family.

The French designer, Yves Saint Laurent, asked the famous American pop artist Andy Warhol to paint his Frenchie (Moujik II.) The portrait became the last portrait by Warhol, just a year before he died.