10 French Dog Breeds — Everything You Need To Know

France is responsible for many things — culture, fashion, fine wine and food, the iconic Eiffel Tower. However, it’s also the birthplace of some of the most popular dog breeds in the world, from the quirky and downright cute French Bulldog to the imposing canine slobber machine that is the Dogue de Bordeaux.

Here, we take a closer look at ten of the most popular and much-loved French dog breeds. And, if you notice that we haven’t included the Poodle, it’s deliberate — although the Poodle is the national dog of France, the breed originated in Germany.

No list of French dog breeds would be complete without this breed. The French Bulldog was the No.1 most popular dog breed in the USA in 2023, according to American Kennel Club data, loved for its off-the-scale cuteness and affectionate nature.

The Frenchie was developed in northern France and really rose in prominence when they became part of the Parisian lifestyle, depicted in paintings and frequently seen around the city’s café culture. The French Bulldog is known for its ‘bat like’ ears, heavily wrinkled skin and, of course, for its flat, almost squashed face. Although it might seem a loveable feature, as with all flat-faced dog breeds, the French Bulldog suffers with Brachycephalic  Syndrome, which leads to breathing issues.

Because of this, this French dog only needs a small amount of exercise, and you should avoid it doing anything too physically strenuous in hot weather.

Read much more about the French Bulldog in our breed guide.

The Beauceron is one of the oldest known French dog breeds, believed to date right back to the 1500s or 1600s. A herding breed, it’s the biggest of the French sheepdogs and was used to drive and protect sheep and cattle on farmland.

Capable of weighing up to 110 lbs and standing between 24 to 28 inches in height, it’s a French dog breed on the large side. It has a muscular build and looks imposing; it’s no surprise to learn that the Beauceron makes an excellent guard dog. They do need firm and experienced handling; this breed isn’t suitable for new pet parents.

In terms of temperament, a Beauceron might be wary of strangers, and of other dogs; it may also try to ‘herd’ small children. But, this is a loyal and protective dog that loves to please. Training and socialization go a long way to making the Beauceron a family pet. Regular exercise is also important.

Learn more about the Beauceron in our in-depth breed profile.

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The loveable Basset Hound, with its soulful, doleful expression and large, droopy ears, is surely one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world. Its short and rather squat build sits it low to the ground — and in fact, that’s where this breed gets its name from; ‘basset’ comes from ‘bas’, which is French for ‘low thing.’ And the Basset Hound is a very low thing.

Believed to have originated in the 1500s, the Basset Hound was bred to hunt rabbits, hares and other small animals. It was officially recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1935. This French dog is friendly and good-natured, and calm around children, making it an ideal family pet. Bassets love their food, so pet parents should be careful about how many treats they surrender — and regular exercise is important to keep them in shape.

Find out more about the Basset Hound with our breed guide.

The Briard is a French dog breed of medium to large size; it dates right back to medieval France. It had some important jobs to do — the Briard was used as a hunting and guard dog, and was adopted as the official dog of the French army because it could find wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

This breed has a powerful physique, and a thick, shaggy, double coat. This is an attractive feature but also needs a lot of care; regular brushing and grooming to prevent it becoming matted and tangled. Briards need lots of exercise, too — this is a high-energy dog that loves to play and thrives with a job to do. 

Read our Briard breed profile for more information.

Weighing in at up to 110 lbs or even more, the unmistakable Dogue de Bordeaux is a large French dog breed; some might even consider it a giant breed — it cuts an imposing figure. Also known as the French mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux has a huge, handsome head, a stocky and powerful physique, and a short and soft coat. It can stand as high as two feet tall, up to its shoulder.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is believed to be a descendent of the ancient Molossus breed. It was bred to hunt boar, and to protect property, and those traits might still be evident today. It can be protective and loyal; if properly socialized, the Dogue de Bordeaux can be gentle and affectionate with its family members. As with any dog of this size, it’s best not to leave small children unattended with the Dogue de Bordeaux.

Learn more about the Dogue de Bordeaux by reading our breed profile.

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Here’s another large French dog. This breed’s name is testament to its size (Great) and its origins — it was developed in the Pyrenees mountains, which are located between France and Spain. The Great Pyrenees was bred to work in those mountainous areas, blessed with a thick, water-resistant double coat to provide protection from snow and cold temperatures as it guarded livestock from the threat of wolves.

This breed may still be used in a working capacity on farmland, but is equally comfortable as a family pet. This dog has a calm temperament and is typically gentle around children though they can be stubborn as well as very intelligent — they need training and socialization to be at their best.

Dive into our breed profile on the Great Pyrenees here.

Papillon is the French word for butterfly; this breed earned its name because of its distinctive ears (they look a bit like butterfly wings, don’t they?). This charming French dog breed is small, standing only as high as 8-11 inches and weighing 7-9 lbs. But, for a little dog, it has a big personality and lots of character.

This is a toy breed, an ideal companion dog. Loveable and intelligent, the Papillon is a fast learner and enjoys a daily walk. They don’t like being left on their own for too long, however, and can experience separation anxiety so if you’re out and about for extended periods, a Papillon isn’t the best choice of pet for you.

Read up on the Papillon here.

The Barbet – it’s pronounced bar-bay, by the way – is also known as the French Water Dog; they love to swim and, in fact, were bred to flush out and retrieve water game. So, any prospective pet parent needs to be prepared to frequently have a wet and muddy pup on their hands.

The Barbet has a thick coat, which is weather-resistant but does need a fair amount of grooming and maintenance to keep it in good condition. A friendly breed, this French dog is typically cheerful and welcoming with children. They’re usually happy to mix with other dogs, too. They’re easy to train.

Having come close to extinction in the 1940s, the Barbet is still a relatively rare breed with only around 600 of them in the world. They were officially recognised by the American Kennel Club as recently as 2020.

Our breed profile on the Barbet has more information.

The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a majestic-looking dog — it’s actually nicknamed the ‘King of Hounds’.  This French dog breed is large, and as such, was bred to hunt large game — among them boar, deer and even wolves. They tended to hunt in packs.

Established and developed in France, the Grand Bleu was introduced to the USA when George Washington was given a few (it’s not 100% certain how many) dogs as a gift in 1785. The Grand Bleu remains popular in the US today.

They fare well with other dogs, and have the type of gentle, and kind, temperament that makes them a happy family pet. They do have a high level of energy though, so plenty of exercise is needed, and they love the opportunity to follow a scent. Keep them entertained and exercised, and you’ll have a placid and relaxed dog.

Read more about the Grand Bleu de Gascogne here.

This is a breed with a name that tells you just about everything you need to know about its appearance and origins. We’ve already learnt that Basset translates roughly to low (see the Basset Hound), while Griffon equates to shaggy, which references this dog’s style of coat. Petit is, of course, small (this French dog breed is small, at around 23-25 lbs in weight), while the Vendeen part refers to the Vendee region of France, where it comes from.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was bred to chase down rabbits and hares, and still has that sense of adventure today. This is a fun-loving breed that loves to run and play, often with its nose to the ground. It’s friendly with other dogs, and affectionate with children, too. All in all, it’s a great family pet.

Learn more about the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen with our breed profile.