French Bulldog Breed Guide

Spike has a thing with hands. Whichever one he can reach — that one gets licked. All of it. Seven years and he still does it.

I've had more than twenty dogs in my life. I grew up on a farm. I know dogs. Nothing prepared me for what a French Bulldog actually is.

They are the clowns of the dog world. Zoomies at midnight for no reason. Flipping on their back and wiggling like something is broken. Burying their face into a pillow until only their ears stick out. They will make you laugh on your worst day — not because they're trying to, just because they genuinely can't help it. They follow you from room to room. They don't want to be in the same house — they want to be near you. They are exceptional with children. And those ears? They hear everything before you do.

Once you love this breed, other dogs start to look ordinary. I know how that sounds. But there's something about a Frenchie that gets into your soul and stays there.

But here's what nobody told me before I got Spike. This is a high-maintenance breed. Their breathing is compromised by design. Their vet bills are real and they come without warning. This is not a dog for a first-time owner — not because it's impossible, but because you need to know what you're getting into before the problems start.

If you're prepared for all of that — there is no better dog. Nowhere close.