10 Cool Facts About French Bulldogs

We want to know everything about dogs. Everything! But there are countless breeds of dog out there, and each one is a unique animal with its own history. That's why every week, we shine a spotlight on a different breed. This week, learn some fun facts about French bulldogs.

FRENCH BULLDOGS DON'T COME FROM FRANCE

Despite its name, the French bulldog has English origins, hailing from the city of Nottingham. When English artisans lost their jobs in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, many fled to France, where their skills remained in demand. They brought their dogs with them, and the pet's popularity in France quickly outpaced its popularity in its native England. From then on, France was the breed's adopted home country.

THE BREED'S EARS COME IN TWO SHAPES

French bulldogs are known for their "bat" ears. Early in the breed's history, though, one could find many Frenchies with "rose" ears, i.e. folded over like an English bulldog's ears. American breeders decided early on that bat ears should be considered the standard, because they are more distinctive. Since then, rose ears on a French bulldog have been a disqualifying characteristic according to the American Kennel Club's breed standard.

THESE DOGS HAVE A STRICT WEIGHT LIMIT

A French bulldog can't weigh more than 28 pounds. Well, it can, but exceeding 28 pounds is an automatic disqualification for a show dog according to the AKC's breed standard. French bulldog owners who aren't interested in showing their dogs may still want to use this weight limit as a guide, because Frenchies love to eat and they tend to become obese easily.

FRENCH BULLDOGS WERE ONCE THE FAVORITE PETS OF FRENCH PROSTITUTES

One of the most crucial influences in growing the French bulldog's popularity was their favor with late-19th and early-20th-century Parisian "belles de nuit" (aka prostitutes). In fact, these French prostitutes were the first to call dogs the breed "Bouledogues Francais," or French bulldogs. The name caught on quickly with other French bohemians, writers and artists, and spread from there.

THE BREED ACHIEVED PEAK POPULARITY IN THE EARLY 1900s

In 1898, the Waldorf Astoria luxury hotel in New York City rented a ballroom to the French Bulldog Club of America for a special breed show. There was significant press coverage of the event, and French bulldogs immediately exploded in popularity among Americans. That popularity peaked in 1913, when 100 Frenchies competed in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

A FRENCHIE WAS AMONG THE ROMANOV FAMILY'S MANY PETS

The Romanovs had a menagerie of pets, but chief among them may have been Ortino, Tatiana Romanov's beloved French Bulldog. Tatiana gave Ortino the run of the household, and let him sleep in her bed despite his loud snoring (typical for the breed). Ortino was still alive when Tatiana and the rest of the Romanov family were executed during the Russian Revolution. Ortino's ultimate fate remains unknown.

THERE WAS A FRENCH BULLDOG ON THE TITANIC

Robert W. Daniel brought his French bulldog with him on board the RMS Titanic for the ill-fated cruise. Not just any dog, 2-year-old Ch. Gamin de Pycombe was a champion show dog who had cost Daniel the equivalent of what would be more than $20,000 today. Daniel survived the disaster and lived until 1940. Gamin de Pycombe was not as fortunate. He was last seen futilely swimming for his life in the freezing water.

ONE FRENCHIE WON BEST OF BREED AT WESTMINSTER EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW

No French bulldog has ever won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, yet the world's biggest canine event has seen successful Frenchies. Ch. Bouquet Nouvelle Ami won the French bulldog Best of Breed title for eight years in a row in the 1950s. The streak ended only when Ch. Bouquet Nouvelle Ami retired. Her owner, Amanda West, won the category for the next 10 years with other French bulldogs.

FRENCH BULLDOGS MAKE GREAT CHARACTER ACTORS

Hollywood seems to be catching on to the irresistible appeal of French bulldogs. The breed can be found in lots of movies and TV shows from the past decade or so. The list includes "From Hell" (2001), "Bringing Down the House" (2003), "Secondhand Lions" (2003) and "Due Date" (2010). A French bulldog even portrayed Gamin de Pycombe in James Cameron's mega-popular "Titanic" film.

Pictured: Sunny the French bulldog with co-stars Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis at the European "Due Date" premiere.

THE DOG'S POPULARITY IS ON THE RISE AGAIN

While never exactly fading into obscurity, the French bulldog lost some steam among fanciers in the years after its peak about a century ago. However, the breed is in the middle of an astonishing resurgence in popularity. It's currently the 11th most popular breed in the U.S. according to the AKC's statistics. That's up from 14th place in 2012, 26th in 2008 and 54th in 2003. Don't be surprised to see Frenchies move firmly into the top 10 next year.