French Bulldog
Bouledogue francais
French Bulldog Breed Standard
Non-Sporting Group
General Appearance
The French Bulldog has the appearance of an active, intelligent, muscular dog
of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and of medium or small structure.
Expression alert, curious, and interested. Any alteration other than removal
of dewclaws is considered mutilation and is a disqualification.
Proportion and Symmetry--All points are well distributed and bear good relation one to the other; no feature being in such prominence from either excess or lack of quality that the animal appears poorly proportioned.
Influence of Sex--In comparing specimens of different sex, due allowance is to be made in favor of bitches, which do not bear the characteristics of the breed to the same marked degree as do the dogs.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Weight not to exceed 28 pounds; over 28 pounds is a disqualification.
Proportion--Distance from withers to ground in good relation to
distance from withers to onset of tail, so that animal appears compact, well
balanced and in good proportion. Substance--Muscular, heavy bone.
Head
Head large and square. Eyes dark in color, wide apart,
set low down in the skull, as far from the ears as possible, round in form,
of moderate size, neither sunken nor bulging. In lighter colored dogs, lighter
colored eyes are acceptable. No haw and no white of the eye showing when
looking forward. Ears Known as the bat ear, broad at the base,
elongated, with round top, set high on the head but not too close together,
and carried erect with the orifice to the front. The leather of the ear
fine and soft. Other than bat ears is a disqualification. The top of the skull flat between the ears; the forehead is not
flat but slightly rounded. The muzzle broad, deep and well laid
back; the muscles of the cheeks well developed. The stop well defined,
causing a hollow groove between the eyes with heavy wrinkles forming a soft
roll over the extremely short nose; nostrils broad with a well defined line
between them. Nose black. Nose other than black is a disqualification,
except in the case of the lighter colored dogs, where a lighter colored nose
is acceptable but not desirable. Flews black, thick and broad, hanging
over the lower jaw at the sides, meeting the underlip in front and covering
the teeth, which are not seen when the mouth is closed. The underjaw
is deep, square, broad, undershot and well turned up.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is thick and well arched with loose skin at the throat.
The back is a roach back with a slight fall close behind the shoulders;
strong and short, broad at the shoulders and narrowing at the loins. The body
is short and well rounded. The chest is broad, deep, and full; well ribbed
with the belly tucked up. The tail is either straight or screwed
(but not curly), short, hung low, thick root and fine tip; carried low in repose.
Forequarters
Forelegs are short, stout, straight, muscular and set wide apart. Dewclaws
may be removed. Feet are moderate in size, compact and firmly set. Toes
compact, well split up, with high knuckles and short stubby nails.
Hindquarters
Hind legs are strong and muscular, longer than the forelegs, so as to
elevate the loins above the shoulders. Hocks well let down. Feet are
moderate in size, compact and firmly set. Toes compact, well split up, with
high knuckles and short stubby nails; hind feet slightly longer than forefeet.
Coat
Coat is moderately fine, brilliant, short and smooth. Skin is soft and loose,
especially at the head and shoulders, forming wrinkles.
Color
Acceptable colors - All brindle, fawn, white, brindle and white, and any color
except those which constitute disqualification. All colors are acceptable with
the exception of solid black, mouse, liver, black and tan, black and white,
and white with black, which are disqualifications. Black means black
without a trace of brindle.
Gait
Correct gait is double tracking with reach and drive; the action is unrestrained,
free and vigorous.
Temperament
Well behaved, adaptable, and comfortable companions with an affectionate
nature and even disposition; generally active, alert, and playful, but not unduly
boisterous.
Disqualifications
Any alteration other than removal of dewclaws.
Over 28 pounds in weight.
Other than bat ears.
Nose other than black, except in the case of lighter colored dogs, where a lighter
colored nose is acceptable.
Solid black, mouse, liver, black and tan, black and white, and white with black.
Black means black without a trace of brindle.
Approved June 10, 1991
Effective July 31, 1991
Bouledogue Francais
The French Bulldog is a dog breed that originated from a group of English bulldog fanciers who were not interested in the dog-fighting realm. The English artisans, particularly lacemakers, breed a small bulldog that would weigh at least 16 lbs but no more than 28 lbs. As the Industrial Revolution grew in England, the lacemakers and other artisans took their skills and small dogs to France where they could continue to ply their trade. The small bulldog earned quite a following in France and by the late 1800s they were known as French Bulldogs. When wealthy Americans traveled to Paris they were very taken with the little Frenchie and imported them to the United States. The breed was first exhibited at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1896.
History
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. In the farming communities north of France that the lace workers settled in, the little Bulldogs became very popular as ratters and loyal family companions and their population began to swell. These little bulldogs were in fact "culls" of the established Bulldog Breeders in England, who were generally more than happy to sell these undersized examples of their breed to fanciers of the "new" breed in England. This was especially true of the "tulip" eared puppies that cropped up at times in Bulldog litters.
As the new, smaller Bulldogs gained popularity in France, they became favorites of the Parisian "Belles De Nuit" - the street walkers. Breed historians can still sometimes turn up notorious "French Postcards" bearing images of scantily clad French prostitutes posing with their little "Bouledogues Francais." The aura of notoriety that ownership of the little dogs conveyed made them a fashionable way for the well to do classes to show off how daring they could be, and they soon became favorites of the "artistic" set across Europe.
Photos dating to around this time show photos of the Russian Royal family posing along side their French Bulldogs, and they imported several of the little dogs from France. Other famous fanciers included Toulouse-Lautrec, the author Colette and King Edward VII. As a point of historic interest, a French Bulldog, insured for the at that time astronomical sum of $750, was on board the ill fated Titanic.
It is inarguable that without the influence of dedicated, turn of the century American fanciers the breed would not be what it is today. It is they that organized the very first French Bulldog Club in the world, and it was they who insisted that the "bat" ear so associated with the breed today was correct. Until that time, French Bulldogs were shown with either the "bat" or "rose" ear.
All in all, French Bulldogs truly are an International Breed, with fanciers of many nations being responsible for the creation of the loving dogs we know today.
