Nothing, not even the deep devotion of a Golden retriever, can touch the stratospheric popularity of the French bulldog in South Africa. Figures from the Kennel Union of Southern Africa show 1,298 Frenchies were registered last year compared with 66 in 2012 – that's close to a 2,000% increase in just 10 years.

Comical and friendly, the stocky, flat-faced, bat-eared pup offers a lot in a small package. They've certainly gained attention on social media – there are 38.7-million posts tagged with #frenchbulldog on Instagram – and count celebrities as owners including Lady Gaga, Megan Thee Stallion and Dwayne Johnson.

But they are dogs prone to breathing, spinal, eye and skin conditions. Weighing an average of 10kg, they come with a hefty price tag of between R25,000 to R80,000.