Some people look at the French Bulldog's intelligence ranking and conclude that it must be a foolish dog. Since its rank is around 58th among dogs, they assume it cannot be very smart. Looking at its face, they may also think it looks a bit clumsy and hardly like an intelligent breed. But that view is really a mistake of judging a dog by its appearance. In reality, a dog's intelligence cannot be measured only by ranking. Sometimes a lower ranking simply means the breed learns more slowly, while still being clever in many other ways, and the French Bulldog is a good example of that.
The French Bulldog is lively and smart, and it is especially kind toward children. In its own mind, children do not seem dangerous, so it usually does not attack them. If the dog truly were stupid, why would it treat different kinds of people differently? Although French Bulldogs may not look especially sharp or quick-minded, they are full of curiosity about new things. People should not make assumptions about them too easily. Some dogs have personalities that cannot be judged from appearance alone.
The French Bulldog's appearance often creates misunderstanding. People think it is just a muscular and somewhat dull-looking dog, but in fact the breed also has its own kind of shrewdness. Its appearance may even help frighten away people with bad intentions. Yet toward those who treat it well, it is very gentle. Once you spend enough time with a French Bulldog, you discover that it is actually a lively dog with a high degree of alertness, making it a very competent companion animal.
One especially attractive trait is its curiosity toward new things. Whenever it sees something unfamiliar, it wants to explore it and understand it. This eagerness to learn is very appealing. The breed may not rank high in intelligence, so it may learn commands more slowly and require more patience from the owner. However, once a French Bulldog has learned something, it usually remembers it well. Training a Border Collie may be easier and less tiring, but the French Bulldog has strengths of its own that no other breed can replace.
Food for a French Bulldog should be offered in a balanced way. It should not eat only one kind of dog food forever, or it may become picky. At times, some cooked meat such as chicken, beef, or pork can be given, ideally finely chopped and preferably lean. However, the quantity must be controlled. Eating too much is not good for the stomach and can also lead to weight gain.
Although the French Bulldog may look a little fierce, that is simply one of the breed's characteristics and also part of its appeal. It is a dog whose real personality is much gentler and smarter than its face suggests. If you care for it well, you are unlikely to regret choosing it.