The first time Franklin the bulldog plopped himself into a new hole in the yard and made himself perfectly comfy, his owners burst into laughter. They had never expected that their cute pup would love to do this over and over again.
Grant and Caitlin were digging in their yard when they discovered their dog’s unusual penchant.
“A few months after Franklin came to live with us, we were digging a trench to put in a new drainage system for the gutters,” said Caitlin, a marine biologist who works as a scientist supporting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“He just hopped down into it and snuggled into the perfectly bulldog-sized trench. He was happy as a clam and did not want to get out—we would pick him up out of it, and right back in he went.”
Since that day, the couple have dug many more holes and trenches in their yard intended for plants and flower beds, and Franklin always investigates.
“He’s always interested in what we’re doing,” Caitlin said, “and if that thing happens to be digging, even better.
“If it’s a small hole—smaller than a bulldog—he‘ll paw at it and try to get us to make the hole bigger, but regardless of the size, he’ll try to fit as much of himself into the hole as he can and lay down. If the hole is big enough, Franklin prefers to jump in headfirst!”
Describing him as a “pandemic puppy,” Grant and Caitlin welcomed Franklin into their home in Alabama in early 2021, when he was still small. The couple lost their first bulldog in 2019 and missed him so much, they opted to get another.
“He loves attention ... We always say that Franklin has too much personality for such a little package,” Caitlin said. “He’s very expressive and there is little mistaking what he’s thinking or what he wants. I joke that he’s a monster due to his mischief.”
Caitlin has been working from home ever since the couple got Franklin, and said she and the pup “do just about everything together, although he does prefer cuddling on the couch with Grant at night.”
Their pup clearly brings masses of fun and laughter into their lives. “He loves to be with his humans and wants to be involved in whatever we are doing right up front and center,” Caitlin said. “He’s such a character and has the most expressive personality.”
Caitlin also advises that people exercise caution when considering owning this type of breed. “Bulldogs have wonderful, unique personalities, but they also have their share of health issues, so adopting one isn’t something you should rush into,” she said.
One great way to get a slice of Franklin fun is to watch his antics online.
“People really seem to love his videos” Caitlin said. “They make people smile and laugh, and who doesn’t need more of that in their lives?”
