Among the list of the most popular dog breeds in France, there are non-French breeds such as the Australian Shepherd or the English Setter, but also breeds of French origin. Fun fact: there are over 40 dog breeds that are known to have originated in France. In this article, we wanted to highlight a few of these French breeds. Are you interested in adopting a French dog breed but don’t know which one? In this article, discover 10 French dog breeds.
Bichon Frisé
The Bichon Frisé is a small white dog resulting from the crossing between the Maltese and other small dog breeds such as the Barbet.
This dog has been recognized by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) as being of Belgian-French origin since 1960. This breed is easygoing because they do not eat a lot and have a robust health.
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a molosser-type dog that has been quite popular in France since it first appeared in Paris in the 14th century. However, this dog breed’s exact origins are still unclear. It is believed that the French Bulldog is a cross between a Ratter and an English Bulldog. Nevertheless, the French Bulldog is a French dog breed.
This dog is gentle, sweet, sociable, and playful. In addition, the French Bulldog does not require intense physical activity to be fulfilled. This makes this dog breed an excellent pet, especially for kids and elderly people.
Beauceron
The Beauceron is known for its intelligence, loyalty, and protective personality. This breed appeared in the 16th century and was mostly used for surveillance and herding because of its natural instinct for guarding. It is also characterized by its double dewclaws, which allow it to travel longer distances over rough terrain, which is particularly useful for guarding flocks in the wild. This double dewclaw is the main standard of this breed.
While the Beauceron is nowadays a family pet, it also continues to be used in the police and military.
Briard
The Briard is also known as the Berger de Brie and was originally bred as a sheepdog. It is endowed with a vigilant personality and developed hearing that allows it to efficiently watch over herds. It also has a very strong protective instinct, making it the ideal guardian for the animals that it fiercely guards.
The origins of the Briard go back to before the 14th century, where writings already mention its existence.
The Briard is a loyal companion, easy to train, and very affectionate. Children consider this dog breed to be an unwavering protector as it will always seek to protect them, even when they are being scolded by adults.
Brittany
The Brittany is a versatile hunting dog and the result of crossbreeding between French and English hunting dogs. The English dogs used for the crossing were hunting companions that were left in France by aristocrats after hunting expeditions. The Brittany was bred to develop the best qualities of each breed and to become an excellent hunting and pointing dog.
This dog breed is often adopted as a companion by hunters not only in France, but also in the United Kingdom and the United States.
If you want to adopt a Brittany as a pet, it’s important to know that it has strong hunting instincts which makes it want to move and play constantly. To ensure that this dog is happy and fulfilled, you must take care to provide it with a lot of physical activity in the open air.
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Similar to the Brittany and the Beauceron, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen was also bred for hunting. This breed is especially good at hunting rabbits gifted for hunting rabbits in the dense undergrowth of the Atlantic coast and enjoyed its period of glory during the reign of King Louis XII who made it his favorite dog breed. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen earned the nickname of the king’s little white dog.
This small curly-haired dog from Vendée is cheerful, energetic, and affectionate. It demands a lot of attention from its owner. With that being said, this dog double its efforts to please you.
It’s important to keep in mind that the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is still a hunting dog that will have the tendency to follow its instincts. It will stop at nothing to follow the trail that it has found. For this reason, when going for walks, be sure to keep this dog on a leash.
Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the oldest dog breeds in France. Like most of the French dog breeds, this dog was bred for hunting. Thanks to its size, this dog is well suited to hunt large game such as wild boar.
The impressive appearance of this dog breed also makes it an ideal watchdog, a role that it has long assumed. Butchers used to use them to guard livestock. Some did not hesitate to make fighting dogs out of them.
Despite this dog’s size and impressive appearance, the Dogue de Bordeaux can also be a pet. It is very calm and kind with its family.
It is important to point out that this dog breed drools a lot. Be prepared to clean up behind this dog.
Löwchen
The Löwchen, which is also known as the Little Lion Dog, is one of the French dog breeds that was not bred for hunting. There are many theories about this dog breed’s origins. But experts agree that this dog breed was bred as a pet. Its origin is probably linked to the development of the Toy Poodle. However, some also believe that it is the result of crossbreeding between dogs of Mediterranean, Tibetan, or Russian origin.
Whatever it may be, this dog is easily recognized for its proud and noble appearance like that of a lion, which is where its name comes from. Its bark makes this breed a very good watchdog, a role that has made it popular as a pet throughout history.
This dog breed is also one of the dog breeds that are most represented in dog shows. It stands out thanks to its agility and obedience.
Ariégeois
The Ariégeois is a dog that comes from the French department, Ariège. It is a dog breed that appeared in the 19th century and is the result of the crossing between a Briquet dog and a Grand Bleu de Gascogne.
This dog breed is often used as a hunting dog because of its rapidity and sharp sense of leadership.
As a pet, this dog is obedient, patient (especially towards children). This dog also has a very strong adaptability. This allows it to live easily with other dogs.
Papillon dog
The Papillon is the result of a crossing between small Spaniels. It was created in order to have pets for aristocrats during the 17th and 18th century.
It is known for its joyful and dynamic personality despite its small size. It is more inclined to play than ask to be petted and has the energy of a large dog.