Maggie the Merle

Meet Maggie

Maggie is a merle French Bulldog, born in the summer of 2023, about 26 pounds of snuggler, snorter and self-appointed floor cleaner.

She's the face of this site, and the reason it exists. Living with a flat-faced dog means thinking about things most owners never have to: whether a harness presses on her throat, whether it's too warm for a walk, what her insurance actually covers. We looked for one clear, sourced place for those answers and couldn't find it, so we're building it.

Maggie's family stays behind the camera. We're dog people, not veterinarians, so the health facts here come from vet schools, veterinary bodies and breed clubs, and we link every one of them.

Close-up of Maggie, a merle French Bulldog, resting her chin on her paws

A few things about Maggie

Maggie asleep, sprawled across her favorite extra-large black bean bag
The couch monster in her natural habitat: the extra-large bean bag.

The couch monster

Maggie loves to snuggle so much that we call her the couch monster. Her favorite cozy spots are our extra-large bean bag and the gap between the couch cushions, where she wedges herself in for naps.

A jealous girl

Maggie is a jealous girl. If someone else is getting kisses and cuddles, she'll try to steal them for herself.

Floor vacuum

She has a vacuum-style ability to eat anything that hits the floor. That's one reason we keep our floors clear.

Lazy, but secretly agile

For a dog who loves lounging this much, she's probably the most agile little dog we've ever seen, lazy ways and all.

Those snorts

To us, Maggie's snorts are a soothing comfort. We also know snorting isn't something to brush off as “just a Frenchie thing.” The University of Cambridge BOAS research group notes that dogs with a normal upper airway breathe quietly, and that snoring and snorting can be signs of airway obstruction (source). If your Frenchie's breathing is noisy, especially if it's loud or getting worse, mention it to your vet. See our health page and our not-veterinary-advice note.

What she wears on walks

Right now Maggie wears a Voyager Step-In Air Dog Vest Harness, size Large, in Turquoise 2-Tone. That's simply what she wears today. It isn't a formal test or a fit verdict. Every Frenchie is built differently, so measure your own dog and check the maker's chart in our Harness Fit Finder.

Maggie napping wedged between gray couch cushions, ears up Maggie lying on a black fleece blanket, looking at the camera Maggie rolled onto her back, belly up, on a gray blanket Maggie on a tan blanket on the couch, cuddled up next to one of her housemates, a curly black dog Maggie peeking out from under a knit blanket on the couch Maggie asleep on a gray dog bed, sharing it with one of her housemates, a scruffy gray dog Maggie sitting and looking up at the camera Maggie sitting on a rug, ears up Maggie resting on a green blanket Maggie stretched out on a tan blanket on the couch

All photos are of Maggie (and, in two, her housemates), taken by her family.

Daily couch-monster content: follow Maggie on Instagram at @the.couch.monster 🛋️

Maggie's Monthly Sniff

One email a month: one gear pick, one heat or safety tip, and any policy changes we spot. No spam, and you can unsubscribe in one click.

We'll only use your email for this newsletter. See our privacy policy.