What’s your origin story, Louie? Blaise & Taylor got me from a breeder in Ft. Worth 5 years ago and I’ve been with them since I was a petite pup. They decided to call me Louie, after Louis Armstrong, the famous jazz trumpeter. Both he and mom are from New Orleans, and the name is very fitting, since I, too, am destined for greatness.

What is the story behind your breed? Our story, like me, is unique and interesting. French bulldogs or ‘Frenchies’ are actually English in origin and merely popularized by the French. Frankly, I think the whole riff between the English and the French is really all over us! The English crossed our cousins, the larger English bulldog, with smaller pugs and terriers and we were the result. When English lace workers began working in France, we were seen sitting upon the laps of the lady tatters. Naturally, the French Femmes fell in love with us and demanded there be more of us. The rest, as they say, is history. Voila. 

Any special or unusual talents/quirks? Oh yes. How much time do you have? Shall I start with the ones that most amuse me? Good idea. I can ‘high five’, ‘low five’, guess which hand the treat is in, jump super high, play hide and seek with the neighborhood kids, swim in a pool… need I go on?

Favorite Activities? I love being outdoors and interacting with my little 2-year-old human sister, Brooks. She may be bigger than me, but she definitely needs looking after, so I do my best to protect her. We like to go down the slide at the park – she goes first, then I go. Then I go again. We swing on the round saucer swing together, which I make sure we do as often as possible.

Any funny stories?  Since Mom is from NOLA and there’s a parade every hour of every day of the week, she has a closet full of costumes for me. If Ridgedale ever decides to break out into a parade, I’m ready. Some of my costumes are my Paris-Look (striped shirt and beret), my Triceratops Dinosaur outfit, and my shark outfit – but my favorite so far this year is the nun costume I sported on Halloween. Brooks was dressed as Madeleine, and I as Miss Clavel; we made quite the pair.

What else should we know about you Louie, and how have you enriched your home/family? When Dad comes home from work, it’s a race to see who gets to him first, me or Brooks. It matters not really, because I know I’m loved since they have a dog bed for me in every room of the house. Now that’s devotion! And obviously, I’ve trained them well.