French Bulldogs began with small English Bulldogs that lace workers carried to France in the 1800s, where they were crossed with local dogs and became favorites in Parisian cafés. The upright bat ears were fixed later in the United States. A Frenchie is a compact, muscular dog of roughly 16 to 28 pounds, with a large square head, a very short muzzle, loose wrinkled skin and a smooth coat in brindle, fawn, cream or white patterns.
Many are playful, affectionate and quieter than most breeds, which helps in El Paso apartments with shared walls. The flat face also brings breathing, heat, skin and spine problems, and that matters in a desert city with long, hot summers. Dogs labeled French Bulldog in shelters may be mixes, and temperament and health vary from dog to dog.