Bonjour from Seattle. Interesting article, and I agree with your comments. I was recently in New York city for a few days and came to the same conclusions: Smaller dogs; better behaved; more mellow, and more patient; especially as they wait outside shops in the streets (New York is not Paris and canines are not welcome in public places, as you know.) Suburban dogs (I am thinking the ever popular Golden Retrievers or Lab mixes like mine,) tend to be larger; more hyper; and have not learned to adapt to a busy city environment. So, en fait, this may not be so much a “French trend” as an urban trend… Many French people live in cities; in apartment buildings; and the dogs – who get to follow them everywhere daily – are used to following the rules… Just my two cents. This being said, I have seen some pretty wild French dogs out there, and some pretty wild French children as well 🙂 Thanks for a fun article! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)