While theories abound about the exact origin of the French Bulldog, the most prevalent opinion is that around the mid-1800s Normandy lace workers from England took smaller bulldogs with them when they sought work in France. (bulldoghavennw.org)
As for the hips, frenchies are also prone to hip dysplasia — a condition common to most small bulldog breeds. (bulldogmixes.com)
Another origin of the miniature is the selective breeding of small Bulldogs to achieve a smaller size. (dogs.lovetoknow.com)