French Bulldog

The French Bulldog has bat ears, a squashed face, and the confidence of a movie star. It snores, it snorts, and it has taken over the country.

The breed began in England. Lace makers in Nottingham bred small Bulldogs as lap companions. When the lace trade moved to France in the 1800s, the workers took their little dogs along. French breeders loved them and favored the upright bat ears.

The Frenchie became a Parisian fashion in the late 1800s. Americans imported it, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1898. A Frenchie even sailed on the Titanic.

For more than a century it stayed a cult favorite. Then, in 2022, it passed the Labrador to become America’s No. 1 breed. It has held the top spot every year since, through 2025.

At home, a Frenchie is a clown, a snuggler, and a lap warmer. It does not need much exercise. It needs company, a cool room, and a comfy couch.

Mind the heat, mind the breathing, and expect an audience wherever you go. A Frenchie always has an opinion.