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Does your Frenchie inspire you to use onomatopoeia? Alliteration? Break out in silly song or verse? Other rhetorical devices?

Do you sometimes feel you have turned into the Saturday Night Live character who mangled people’s names? (Snort Meister!)

Just how many nicknames do you have for your pooch? A couple, five, ten, twenty, lost count? (Sir Snorts-A-Lot) Isn’t it amazing how many nicknames your Frenchie inspires? (Lucy Lou Lou) You started off with a very dignified name, befitting his breed. A name such as Montaigne and it somehow morphs into baby talk. (Minty Monty Moo) Is this a Frenchie-exclusive affliction? Perhaps other breeds have their own trait-inspired nicknames? (Snort-a-lious, Smell-a-rama Mama)

The next time you find yourself coming up with yet another rhyming word for your Frenchie’s name, stop and think: perhaps the French Bulldog is just the muse you needed to put all those English and literature lessons into practice. That is, unless you speak French. And inquiring minds want to know: Does owning a Frenchie help with conjugating French verbs?

No wonder why Frenchies aren’t known for their obedience, what with all the silly names and nicknames. Could it be they are confused who’s being talked to? Of course, there IS that universal nickname they all love: Treat!

Many years ago, I once heard there is a link between Art & Science and Math & Music. That is, if you are good at traditional art, you are usually good in the Science fields. And if you excel in Math, you are probably good with Music. It’s based on the theory that the brain structure or pathways needed to excel in one of the areas, such as Science, is the same structure it takes to excel in the other area, such as Art. While it’s not a hard and fast rule, it is interesting how often it applies. We have seen this fascinating collation in our own life and friends.

Now, that brings us to Frenchies: have you ever noticed how many creative people are drawn to this breed? People with creative talents of all sorts, but especially the Fine Arts? And truly accomplished artists; some that even make their living by it?

A Frenchie breeder once told me, many of her brindle Pieds went to NYC graphic artists because they were in such demand by them. Guessing it’s the stark color contrast of a Pied which has lots of appeal for the artistically inclined.

So look around at the owners of Frenchies you know. Do you see a similar pattern in those around you? Can you find a few creatively talented folks in your Frenchie crowd? Perhaps you are one of them?

Have you ever noticed your Frenchie watching the TV along with you? And not just because there is a dog or cat on the screen? We’ve noticed this behavior for years in our guys. (Lucy has this thing for a younger Mel Gibson.)

Found some very interesting research which determined short-nosed dogs see differently than long-nosed dogs. A short-nosed dog’s eyes are shaped more like a human’s and they have a visual field more in-line with ours. It all deals with the retina and whether a dog’s eye has vision cells in a cluster (like ours) or in a visual streak (like a hunting dog).

For a more in-depth “look” at this topic you can read these articles.
“Arizona Republic” article
“Catalyst” article
Karger research article “Brain, Behavior, and Evolution”

So if your short-nosed dog could be in-tune with what’s on the screen, you have to wonder, do dog food commercials make them as hungry as fast-food commercials do for humans?

Does your Frenchie snort? Wheeze? Grumble? Chances are, he or she does along with making lots of other interesting noises. It never ceases to amaze, as soon as you think you know what this breed sounds like, you meet a new dog and they have yet another unique noise to add.

Around our house, it’s a constant symphony of snorts, snuffles, grumbles, and one very soothing purr. We have our little “uh huh” dog. When he’s tired, it truly sounds like he’s agreeing with you. “Are you ready to go to bed?” “Uh huh,” he hums. He’s also our “ha ha” dog. When he’s bouncing around the yard playing, he makes a happy “ha ha” sound, as if he’s laughing at his own joke.

Can’t leave out Percolator Girl. When she’s happy she makes a little snort like the gasp of a coffee maker at the end of a brew cycle.

Another girl has a deep, commanding “Scratch my tummy now!” rumble-grumble.

One boy shows his interest in things with a rollercoaster scale of snorts and whooffles. And when he’s happily sleeping on your lap, he sounds like a slow, sawing log.

Then there is the mysterious, quiet, high-pitched Squeaker. At first you’re not sure you are hearing something, then it registers. And of course you have to figure out where the sound is coming from and give him a hug.

Then we have the inhuman-baby Noisemaker. When he’s unhappy and wants his way, he’ll set up a whine that is unearthly and LOUD! Have you heard about the Frenchie Death Yodel? He could very well be a Master Yodeler. (Interestingly, he’s also our purring dog.)

Most any dog owner will tell you their dog communicates to them. But it just seems as if a Frenchie’s vocabulary is more expansive than other breeds and the “conversation” a bit livelier. There are so many little noises and snuffles a Frenchie uses to express a wide range of emotions and to communicate. And if snorts and sounds are the vocabulary, the ears are the punctuation, and their expressive eyes carry the dialogue. Learning their vocabulary is an ongoing process and can take a few years to become proficient. And of course, each new dog has his or her own voice, which adds to the fun.

Next time you pet or meet a Frenchie, listen a little harder. You might hear them “talking” to you, too.

It’d be interesting to hear what unique sounds your Frenchie makes (front end only!). Add your comment below, or just drop us a line.