It's always fun to learn about a breed of dog you've dedicated your home to; whether for bragging rights or just plain curiosity, it seems there's never enough you can know about the heritage of your favorite pet.

French bulldog 'fanciers' have a strong love of their breed, so it's no wonder that there are some fun and interesting tales to be told about these lovable, smart, human friends.

French Bulldogs were bred to be companion animals

French Bulldogs became a favorite of city dwellers, and as a distinguished dog breed they came to be called the "Gentleman's Dog"

The English bulldog is generally accepted as the predominant ancestor of the French Bulldog; French Bulldogs were bred from dwarfed versions of the English bulldog

The French Bulldog was originally called the "Boule-dogue Francais"

Truly, the French Bulldog is an international breed—it is English in its roots, became popular on the city streets of France, but rose to distinction and was more specifically developed in the U.S.

U.S. French Bulldog fanciers insisted that the now distinctive "bat ear" of the French Bulldog be accepted as the right shape for French Bulldog ears; otherwise, today's French Bulldogs would have a "rose" shaped ear

The first specialty club for the French Bulldog was the French Bulldog Club of America; in 1989, they hosted a specialty showing at New York's Waldorf-Astoria. No other specialty show had been hosted in such extravagance before then

The peak of French Bulldog popularity was in 1913 when 100 specimens were entered at the famed Westminster Kennel Club Show

The French Bulldog is growing in popularity again and is in high demand thanks to its recent TV and Hollywood exposure

The French Bulldog has recently been used in a number of TV commercials

The French Bulldog has been a star in recent movies including "Bringing Down The House" and "Second Hand lions"

Increase demand for French Bulldogs has spurred import from several nations across the Ukraine and Europe

The French Bulldog was first boosted to popularity as a favored pet of the "Belles De Nuit" (street walkers) of Paris

French upper classes adopted the French Bulldog as part pet, part fashion statement, which is how they came to become favored as an upper-class dog

Postcards of prostitutes with their French Bulldogs were prevalent in France, some of which still exist today

French Bulldogs are featured in photographs with the Russian Royal Family

A long and varied history full of fun, scandal, and notoriety has been the hallmark of the French Bulldog breed. Today, this breed is far from rare, but still remains one of the lesser-kept dog breeds; and that is precisely how French Bulldog fanciers like to keep it.