Published Apr 7th, 2008
By Renée
Tags: Small Dog Breeds, The Versus Theory
By Renée
Tags: Small Dog Breeds, The Versus Theory
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Boston Terrier vs. French Bulldog
What do a smart stylish dog and a sweet natured clown dog have in common? Beside their batlike ears, Boston terriers and French bulldogs also share the same forefather—Bulldog. On appearance and temperament, they do share many similar qualities however they require different type of owner. Both Bostons and Frenchies are great people pleasers however Bostons are ideal family dogs while Frenchies are more of the monogamy type (only bond with one person) of dogs.
This is not to say you can’t have one of each living in the same household. You may need to make some adjustments and give proper trainings.
Boston Terrier vs. French Bulldog
| Breed | Boston Terrier | French Bulldog |
| Country of Origin | United States | France |
| AKC / KC Groups | Non-Sporting Group / Utility Group | Non-Sporting Group / Utility Group |
| Original Function | Companion | Companion |
Physical Appearance
| Coat Color | Brindle, seal, or black with even white markings—should be on muzzle, between eyes, blaze collar, forechest, and part or whole of forelegs and hindlegs. | Brindle, fawn, or pied (predominantly white with brindle markings. |
| Coat Type | Short and smooth | Short, soft, and close lying |
| Head | Square wrinkle free skull, jaw, and muzzle. The muzzle is deep and short, with a black nose. | Very large, with a pushed-in muscular appearance and wrinkle skin. The upper lip hang low over the sides of the lower jaw. |
| Eyes | Large, round, and set wide apart. Dark brown in color. | Set low and far apart. Round and very dark brown. |
| Ears | Small, thin, erect, and set at the corners of the skull. | Big batlike ears but thin in texture. |
| Body | Compact and quite muscular with a short back and loins. Chest is deep and wide. | Wide body, heavy bone, muscular build. Deep chest and short back, arched over narrow loins and hindquarters. |
| Tail | Set and carried low. Short and either straight or twisted. | Set and carried low. Tapers rapidly to a point from a wide base. |
| Height | 15 – 17 inches | 11 – 13 inches |
| Weight | 10 – 25 lbs. Three groups—15 lbs and under, 15 – 20 lbs, and up to 25 lbs. | 24 – 28 lbs |
Temperament, Needs, and Learning
| Overall Temperament | Very affectionate, lively, and intelligent. | Deeply affectionate, Sweet, amiable, easy going, adaptable |
| General Activity | Moderate | Moderately low |
| Exercise Requirement | Needs daily exercises consist of short walks and free romp either indoor or in the yard. | Moderate. Short walks and romp in the park |
| Grooming Requirement | It’s an easy care coat with minimal shedding, needs only weekly brushing to remove dead hair. The face should be cleaned daily with a damp washcloth. | It’s an easy care coat with minimal shedding, needs only weekly brushing to remove dead hair. The face should be cleaned daily with a damp washcloth. |
| Ideal Home Environment | Due to its compact size, Boston terrier is an idea companion for city dwellers. However, he’s willing to stay with any homeowners who’d offer a spacious and shady yard. | Very flexible dog. Apartment or house with a shady yard. |
| Ideal Owner | Owner with a semi-active lifestyle. Must be affectionate, gentle, and patient. i.e. family with children and elderly. | Frenchies need human companionship constantly. A “monogamy” kind of dog. Seniors or SOHOs or owners who can take dogs to work. |
| Special Needs | Can be very vocal. So early training is advisable. | Can become a couch potato. So give plenty of mental and short duration of physical activities. |
| Intelligence / Ranking | Moderate / ranked no.54 | Moderately low / rank no.58 |
| Trainability | Very strong-minded and a little stubborn but learn readily. Will only engage in activities that appear fun and interesting to them. | Quite easy to train (if you make the training more like games) as long as you don’t expect collie-style of intelligent and standards. |
| Cold / Heat Tolerance | Extremely low / extremely low | moderately low / extremely low |
Behavior
| Excitability | Moderate | Low |
| Playfulness | High. Loves games and people pleaser. | Moderate |
| Demand for Affection | Moderately high. | High |
| Watchdog Barking | Excellent barker (on demand). Love the sound of his own voice yet quiet at the same time. | Low |
| Protection | Low | Low |
| Dominance Over Owner | Low | Low |
| Good With Dogs | Great with other dogs at home but sometimes may be aggressive toward strange dogs. | Moderately well. However, some males can be very territorial. |
| Good With Pets | Moderately well. | Excellent. Occasionally may chase cats. |
| Good With Children | Get along very well with children of any age group. | Moderately well. If your Frenchie is devoted to you, he may not be so willing to take commands from your children or vice versa. |
| Good With Strangers | Reserved | Very reserved. |
| Problematic Areas | Like all brachycephalic (short-faced) breeds, Bostons may have breathing difficulties when exposed to heat or over exertion. | Similar to Bostons and all short-nosed breeds, Frenchies snore and may wheeze and drool. |
Health
| Life Span | 12 – 16 years | 11 – 12 years |
| Major Aliments | Brachycephalic syndrome | Brachycephalic syndrome, spinal disc trouble |
| Minor Aliments | Patellar luxation, allergies | Patellar luxation, hemivertebra |
| Recommended Food | Beef, fish | Beef, wheat, oats |
Click here to download a free copy of Boston Terrier vs. French Bulldog Chart
Source on Intelligence Ranking:
The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions
Page 192 to 193
Apr 13th 2008
7:55 PM
Good Read. Sometimes I think my Frenchie looks like a Boston T.
Jan 16th 2009
4:18 PM
I have a frenchie too and was curious if it is not a Boston Terrier. Body not so dwarf-like as usual frenchie. Very active and full of energy when outside, loves to play and runs arond like a fool with no reason
. 2-3 hrs walk in hills is no problem. Loves snow. Definitely not a couch potato. Sometimes barks, does not snores as the nose is a bit longer. The dog just loves everyone mostly children but is more likely to respect the authoritative people just like other dogs. Perfect company for its low requirements, can travel long distances as it is able to sleep in every position, sometimes looks realy weird. Absolutely not a watch dog – does not bother when doorbell is ringing…not an earthquake can wake her up 
.
Apr 10th 2009
2:04 PM
Hi, and thanks for a very informative web page comparing French bulldogs to Boston terriers. I just wanted to call your attention to a small error. Despite their name, French bulldogs did not originate in France. According to the AKC web site, French bulldogs were originally bred by 19th century English lacemakers to serve as companions. When some of the lacemakers moved to France, they took the dogs with them and the dogs became popular there. 19th century American tourists saw the dogs in France and gave them the moniker.