The first Dog Bark at the Bark Park, hosted by local French bulldog breeder B. Cannon, is set for Saturday, April 30, from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Murfreesboro Bark Park, 1540 W. College St.
The social event will continue monthly through July, on the last Saturday of each month. It is open to all dog owners and dogs of all breeds, as well as individuals interested in French bulldogs—the event, sponsored by Cannon’s OMG Frenchie Mundo, will showcase the French bulldog.
“I am doing this to bring awareness to the Frenchie dog breed,” Cannon said. “It is an amazing dog that we are raising, and if people are interested then they can get on the waiting list to purchase dogs.”
The French bulldog can not usually breed on its own due to its short legs, compact body and narrow hips; and it takes 60 days for a puppy to come into the world, so the popular dogs are often already sold before they are born, Cannon said.
“They are unique in how they are bred because they have to be artificially inseminated, and the female dogs have to have C-sections to bring the puppies into the world,” he said. “They are high-demand dogs. We want to push the culture forward with the dogs here in Middle Tennessee, and I believe we have some of the best temperament and best dogs.”
The French bulldog is a French breed of a companion dog or toy dog that appeared in Paris in the mid-19th century. Parisians knew and loved the French bulldog, a breed which “became a staple of city life in Paris,” according to caninejournal.com.
The Frenchie’s temperament is bright, playful, easygoing, affectionate, sociable, lively, keen, alert, athletic and patient. They generally have a lifespan of 10–14 years and the average weight is 16–28 pounds.
“The French bulldogs are very caring and sensitive,” Cannon said.
The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1898. The club notes “it is one of the world’s most popular small-dog breeds, especially among city dwellers.”
“The bright, affectionate Frenchie is a charmer,” according to akc.org. “Dogs of few words, Frenchies don’t bark much, but their alertness makes them excellent watchdogs. They happily adapt to life with singles, couples or families, and do not require a lot of outdoor exercise. They get on well with other animals and enjoy making new friends of the human variety.”
Frenchies do require some exercise to stay in shape, like a short walk or outdoor play session, owners report. They also enjoy training and sports that require obedience and agility. Owners should know that, because they are a flat-faced dog breed, they are prone to breathing difficulties and “should never be allowed to exert themselves in hot or humid weather.” Most Frenchies also cannot swim, and should never be left unattended near tubs, pools or bodies of water.
Cannon says the dogs adapt well to whomever the homeowner is.
“If you are someone that is energetic, expect your dog to become energetic,” he said. “If you are someone who is more mild, laid-back and relaxed, that’s how your dog is going to be. They are really tailor-made to the owner’s personality.”
Manny the Frenchie is becoming “quite the modern-day social media celebrity,” Catherine Clifford wrote for cnbc.com. This French bulldog, spreading the popularity of the breed, has over 1 million followers on Instagram and 1.8 million on Facebook.
“He’s something of a media darling—he’s been featured in Buzzfeed and appeared on the Steve Harvey Show,” Clifford wrote.
Frenchies have become so high-demand that some have been targeted by dognappers.
In 2021, someone stole Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav. She put out a $500,000 reward to retrieve her dogs and the dogs were found safe.
For more information about French bulldog ownership and details about Dog Bark at the Bark Park, contact Cannon at omgfrenchiemundo@gmail.com or call 629-238-8491.
