c.2010 Houston Chronicle
Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis may get top billing in “Due Date,” but at the film’s center is Sonny, a French bulldog who helped the movie earn its R rating.
“Due Date” is just the latest spotlight for the photogenic Frenchies, which have been getting more exposure in print ads, TV commercials and videos. The adorable puppy stuck on its back in a viral YouTube video is a French bulldog. And the pups look extra special in tutus.
French bulldogs are steadily climbing the American Kennel Club’s popularity ranking. The breed has gone from No. 73 in 1999 to No. 24 in 2009. The small, muscular dogs have a heavy bone structure, a smooth coat, a short face and batlike ears. They are related to American bulldogs and English bulldogs but much smaller. Frenchies competing in the show ring weigh no more than 28 pounds.
AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson says smaller breeds in general have increased in popularity during the past decade, and Frenchies are good companion animals.