Despite his serious appearance, the French Bulldog, or Frenchie as his admirers call him, is clown-like in behavior and lives life with joyful exuberance. Compared with its English Bulldog cousin, the French Bulldog is smaller, more alert, and more active, especially indoors. In fact, their indoor activity level is so high that they tend to need little outdoor exercise and can live comfortably in almost any situation from a city apartment, to an expansive farm. French Bulldogs are good companions and lap dogs without being “clingy”. They get along reasonably well with children, and even though small, is sturdy enough to absorb the attention of small children. But with strangers, they are typically reticent. With their easy-going temperaments, Frenchies get along reasonably well with other dogs and better than average with other pets. He does not bark as much as most dogs in the Toy Group, but still makes an above average watchdog. Though he may try, his size limits his ability to serve as a guardian. With their short snout, Frenchies frequently snort while breathing and snore when asleep. Many are gassy. Although some owners claim otherwise, most French Bulldogs have difficulty swimming. Owners should take care when their Frenchie is around water.

French Bulldogs are between 11 and 13 inches tall and can weigh between 20 and 28 pounds. They are small, but stout and muscular with wide shoulders and large heads, facial wrinkles, and the short snout characteristic of bulldogs. They have a coat that is smooth and comes in a variety of colors including black, liver, white, fawn, brindle and combinations of these colors. Their coat requires minimal maintenance and he sheds less than most breeds. But like all dogs with skin folds, his facial wrinkles should be cleaned regularly to avoid infection. A French Bulldog's stocky bodies allow them to do better in cool temperatures than most small dogs with short coats. But because they have trouble regulating their body temperature, a sweater is needed in cold weather. Like other short-faced dogs, in hot, humid weather they do very poorly and should never be heavily exercised in these conditions.

Puppies should be socialized while still young paying special attention to encouraging healthy relationships with strangers. Though he is not likely to be a top performer, he can still do satisfactorily in basic obedience class. But make sure to use positive motivation as French Bulldogs can be quite stubborn. Food rewards are recommended, but moderate feeding is needed to avoid obesity. The breed makes a good choice for first-time dog owners.