Published Apr 7th, 2008
By Renée
Tags:
Small Dog Breeds,
The Versus Theory
Product Reviews
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.
Sep 25th 2009
12:19 PM
I have had many bostons . The first one my brother recieved as a gift. my hole famly fell in love with them. One thing i have notice of all the bostons my famly has had is that they are very protective of the kids in the famly. They will not tolerate anyone (incoulding mom and dad) harming the children. They also make very good mousers. very fun loveing and get upset if some one of the famly leaves or passes away. Mine may be weird but if a cat is rasied with them they will not harm it and will stop there dogs from harming them. I am glad to have seen this website because i have been thinking of getting a french bulldog.
Sep 27th 2009
9:51 AM
Hello, as a child, I had a very loving and intellegent Boston Terrior. It was everything a child could ask for in a playmate. Your article brought back so many memories and I still at times get a little teary eyed thinking of my Skipper, who died much to early. Thank you so much for a lovely article, I’m so glad I came onto the inernet and tuned into your blog. Keep up the happy stories about one of the greatest doggies that ever lived. Eve
Oct 28th 2009
6:21 PM
hi, are do french bulldogs drool?? i like them because they are smaller than the bostons but i dont deal with drool to well. thx
Oct 29th 2009
12:25 AM
Hi, from my experience in normal conditions not.
Only when there is too hot. And it also depends on physical activity of the dog – the more frenchie plays the more drools. But that is mostly same for all dogs I think.
They might be a bit more ‘messy’ when eating or drinking /depending on type of food/ as they might be not able to lick they mouth as good as other dogs.
Oct 29th 2009
4:36 AM
thanks, do u think bostoon terriers are better or french bulldogs?
Oct 29th 2009
5:22 PM
I don’t think this question can be really answered
. Depends on what do U need or expect from the dog and what can U offer to it. Many aspects to be considered …
Oct 29th 2009
5:55 PM
do boston terriers drool more than french terriers, and do french bulldogs have as many health probs? thanks.
Nov 10th 2009
2:04 AM
My frenchy is 15″ at the shoulder, weighs 33lbs at 9 months, and has the slightly longer muzzle which means no snoring or breathing difficulties.
Breeders in England tried to come up with miniature English bulldogs and to speed the process other smaller breeds were crossed with E.bulldogs. As a result some pups were born with erect ears and these were quickly given away to servants and such so potential buyers wouldn’t see the “failures” and be put off buying from them. The industrial revolution saw a lot of lacemakers out of work due to automation but in France their services were saught as fine hand made lace was still popular. The French quite took to the erect eared little bulldogs that came with some of the lacemakers and they bred them to feed demand.
The breed at that time was very much like the Boston Terrier in stature, with longer legs and smaller heads than is now accepted as the norm. It is thought that the further breeding for the chunkier looking dogs took place originally in the USA. Unfortunately along with the chunkier appearance came the increased risk of breathing related ailments.
Nov 12th 2009
7:31 PM
cool thx
Jan 8th 2010
3:13 PM
Hello – I am recently in the process of adopting a boston terrier with behavioural issues from neglect. This dog is 19 months old and was kept in a crate for the first 9 months of his life without much social interaction – to other pets, kids etc. Subsequently his current owners who have made small improvements can no longer care for him. They find him to be very aggressive towards cats and other dogs. I have a little cat named Buddy and would like to work with him on this. Any suggestions? Has anyone ever been experienced something like this with their boston terrier dog?
Thank you kindly in advance for any advice.
Regards,
Jen
Jan 9th 2010
4:10 PM
Oh man, thanks so much for this page! I’ve been asking what the difference was for a long time & now I know
I really want to get either a Boston or a Frenchy, but my hubby and I live in a 2bedrm apartment which is upstairs. Is it alright for either dog to be indoors most of the day or is that cruel? And which dog, in your opinion, would be better for our situation? Thanks!
Jan 10th 2010
4:01 AM
Hi Steph,
. I would go for frenchie as it is less ‘sporty’ and likes to sleep a lot. Also shorter walks are recommneded so if U don’t have that much time it is better. That is my opinion – I’m not an expert it is just my experience.
I had the very same feeling about dogs being kept indoors in small flats, I changed my mind. Also both are ‘indoor’ doggs. In my opinion the most important for the dog is social life – to meet people, to be with their owner and to meet other dogs outside – we walk our dog at least 4 times a day /sometimes longer trips/. That makes a rich and pleasant life for your dog. Then it does not matter how big is your flat or house. Your dog will be happy… But if the dog is most of the day home alone it is not very good as it enjoys the human touch – you don’t want your dog to wait 9 hrs 5 times a week for U.
Is there an elevator in your house? I would be careful about some breeds – might have problems walking downstairs – only if you carry them. Not good for their backbone and joints. Frenchies should not walk dowonstairs more than one floor. Be also careful about feeding your dog and then taking it out using stairs. I definitely recommend to read a lot about that breed before having one
Mar 16th 2010
3:05 PM
hey, im thinking of picking up a b. terrier pup but my only concern is if i bring him to work will he run around everywhere. i work in a dog friendly store and the owner actually owns a french bully who is awesome, but im curious if the little guy will go bananas if im not constantly playing with him
Mar 29th 2010
5:17 PM
I would like to correct a bit of information on this site. A Boston Terrier’s first job was NOT companionship. They were bred as general ratters and vermin catchers. Boston was a pretty rodent-filled place in the 19th century! They have a bit more spunk than Frenchies as a result. In addition, people tend to leave out the fact that Boston Terriers were also fought in the ring and are part of bulldog fighting heritage. Their original name was Boston Bulldog and this was not just because of their English Bulldog roots, but also because they were a fighting bully breed.
Also, people tend to misidentify Boston Terriers versus French Bulldogs because some of these dogs are very closely related to the French Bulldog. The reasons for this is because Frenchies were bred into Bostons to calm their temperament when fighting them fell out of favor. Over time, they have become the quintessential companion dog. They have some dubious history people tend to forget, IE fighting.
They were also referred to as Bullet Heads and Round Heads. I own two Boston Terriers and they can be highly active little buggers and some individuals would go stir crazy in an apartment.
May 9th 2010
3:36 AM
Heather, Frenchies were never bred as fighting dogs. Never ever. Why would a breeder seek to reduce the size of an English Bulldog (which wasnt bred as a fighting dog) to achieve a fighting dog.
Historically E.Bulldogs were butchers dogs used to hold bulls for slaughter. They were great family pets but large and quite stubborn (ask a bull). A smaller version was sought as a companion dog. This from historical documents of the period.
My Frenchy was attacked by a Dalmation recently, he yelped and ran, no fight whatsoever. Someone said “I heard about the fight your dog was in…” but this wasn’t the case. He took three bites to his back and one to the ear and only tried to escape. It was like a thug beating a baby.
Also, where you claim Frenchies were bred into Bostons to calm their temperament(!) Do you know any Frenchies? All the ones I met are calm, confident dogs. I feel the need to comment not out of disrespect to Heather but to return some balance for those people that are researching the two breeds with a view to chosing one as a pet. A Frenchy is a lower octane dog than a Boston (generally).
I have read that some Bostons were used for fighting at one time… this probably reflects more on humans than the dogs.
I chose a Frenchy over a Boston as his lower octane lifestyle would be more suitable for my 56 years. As he turned ot to have a build (slightly)more like a Boston he can still walk the legs off me on an outing and I’m fit and active for my years. He is more like a famly member than a dog and has a fantastic temerament and personality. Very dog friendly, just wants to make friends. Very, very well mannered sleeping in our bed (that was never going to happen but he’s more like a family member….). You would hardly know he’s there except he has to be snuggled up to one of us to some degree (hardly ever snores)
May 9th 2010
3:43 AM
oops! Sorry Heather, I got all defensive of the Frenchy there and having read your post again with my “paying attention” glasses on I see you didn’t even suggest that Frenchies were fighting dogs and you actually said that Frenchies were introduced into the Bostons to calm them….
please forgive me, I’m only a man.
G xo
Aug 25th 2010
1:15 PM
the french bulldog’s country of origin is england, not france.
Aug 25th 2010
9:46 PM
Danny: This is true. French Bulldogs did originate in England. Their popularity took off in France once some workers had been displaced to France during the Industrial Revolution. At that time, they were referred to as “toy bulldogs” by Englishmen.
On a personal note, I have two Boston Terriers but would like a Frenchie as well. I know several people who have mixed households of Frenchies and Bostons. It is my understanding that they get along quite well.
My female Boston is often mistaken for a Frenchie. She has the look and personality (calm) but would be considered a wee French Bulldog at 17lbs. 