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French Bulldog
A brindle and white French Bulldog
Other names	Bouledogue Français
Country of origin	France
Nicknames	Frenchie, Frogdog
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group 9 Section 11 #101 standard AKC Non-sporting standard ANKC Group 7 (Non-Sporting) standard CKC Group 6 - Non-Sporting standard KC (UK) Utility standard NZKC Non-sporting standard UKC Companion standard

The French bulldog is a dog breed that originated from a group of English bulldog fanciers who were not interested in dog-fighting. The English artisans, particularly lace makers, bred a small bulldog that would weigh at least 16 lbs but not more than 28 lbs. As the Industrial Revolution grew in England, the lace makers 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 or Frenchies. 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. Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Bulldog (disambiguation). ... The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day benched conformation show that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City every year. ...

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 alongside 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. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (November 24, 1864 - September 9, 1901) was a French painter. ... Colette Colette [1] [2] was the pen name of the French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (January 28, 1873 – August 3, 1954). ... Edward VII King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India His Majesty King Edward VII (9 November 1841–6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth realms, and the Emperor of India. ... For other uses, see Titanic (disambiguation). ...

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.

Description

Appearance

French Bulldogs are a compact, muscular dog with a smooth coat, snub nose and solid bone structure. Their physical appearance is characterized by naturally occurring 'bat ears' that are wide at the base and rounded on the top. Their tails are naturally short, not cropped, straight or screwed but not curly.

Under the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club standards, weight is not to exceed 28 pounds (13 kg). In general, bitches range in weight between 16 and 24 pounds, with dogs between 20 and 28 pounds. The FCI does not set a hard and fast weight limit, simply stating 'The weight must not be below 8 kg nor over 14 kg for a bulldog in good condition, size being in proportion with the weight'. © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... FCI is a three-letter abbreviation that can refer to: Federal Correctional Institute, Bureau of Prisons USA Fujisankei Communications International, the American equivalent of the Fujisankei Communications Group in Japan Fédération Cynologique Internationale, a dog breed standards organization Fuel-coolant interaction Framatome Connectors International Far Cry Instincts This...

Coat colors in French Bulldogs

French Bulldogs come in a variety of colors and coat patterns. Here is what the AKC standard has to say about color: © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ...

"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."

The FCI standard disallowed fawn until the mid nineties. Color disqualifications under the current FCI standard are "black and tan, mouse grey, brown".

All of this variety has a drawback, however - confusion over just what name applies to each color or color pattern.

In its most simple forms, French Bulldog coat color can be simply described as fawn, with a variety of possible marking patterns and dilutions possible. Fawn can range in shade from deep red to cafe au lait to pale golden cream. The differences in appearance from here are all due to variants in marking patterns, which range from brindle - black stripes in varying degrees of repetition and thickness overlying the fawn base coat, to pied - varying patches of brindle overlaying fawn interspersed with white markings, to black masked fawn - fawn in differing shades with a classic 'masking' pattern on the face and dorsal area of the body. There are a myriad of variants of marking type, pattern, size and placement possible within these parameters.

Here are a few examples of common - and not so common - coat patterns and colors within French Bulldogs. All terms should be taken objectively, as there is a great deal of difference of opinion within the Frenchie community as to which term defines which color.

For more in depth exploration of coat color inheritance and genetics in French Bulldogs, refer to Malcolm Willis' 'Genetics of the Dog'

Black brindle - also known as seal brindle - so dark it may appear black, but closer inspection will reveal at least a few lighter colored hairs. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (640x640, 106 KB) Copyright Carol Gravestock, Bullmarket French Bulldogs. ...	This color pattern is sometimes referred to as reverse brindle in Frenchies. It refers to the fact that fawn is more predominant than the black brindling. Image File history File linksMetadata Tiger_Brindle. ...	Tiger brindle is a term reserved for dogs with a coat pattern comprising a fairly regular pattern of alternating fawn and black stripes, similar in appearance to the coat of a tiger. Download high resolution version (1122x750, 345 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ...	Pale cream French Bulldog. Creams can range in hue from deep amber to rich butterscotch to palest gold. This color is generally considered to be a dilution of fawn, minus the masking gene. Image File history File links Cream_french_bulldog. ...
This color and pattern are referred to as black masked fawn. The base color of the coat can vary in shade from red to tan. The mask refers to the marking pattern on the face. Image File history File links Carmen_frenchbulldog_fawn. ...	This color and pattern are referred to as black masked RED fawn, due to the rich red hues of the fawn base coat. We have seen fawns in all shades, from brick red to honey to lemon yellow. Image File history File links Red_fawn_frenchbulldog. ...	This pattern is referred to as brindle pied. Brindled areas - areas where fawn is overlaid with black striping - are interspersed with areas of white coat. Markings can be slight, or predominant. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (662x662, 55 KB) Image shown is Champion Bullmarket Versace, champion French Bulldog and Westminster BOB winner. ...	Ticked Pied. Dog has obvious freckled markings among the white areas of the body. Only the KCofE standard specifies 'ticking' as a DQ, but this pattern still tends to be heavily penalized in show rings everywhere. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 720 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 833 pixel, file size: 311 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Image of a heavily ticked pied French Bulldog. ...
Red fawn pied French Bulldogs. Paler versions are sometimes referred to as fawn pied, lemon pied or honey pied. Image File history File links Redfawnpied_french_bulldogs. ...	This color can be referred to as either liver or brown - each is a disqualification within the AKC or FCI breed standards. Dog has NO brindling, and is a uniform reddish - brown, with self pigmented lips, nose, pads,etc. Eyes have a yellowish hue. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (989x959, 734 KB) Liver (also known as brown) French Bulldogs. ...	This is referred to as blue, or blue brindle. Brindle markings on this dog have a "grey" hue, and base coat color is a solid blue-grey. It has been debated whether or not this color is also what the standards refer to as 'mouse'. Image File history File linksMetadata BlueFrenchBulldog. ...	A Blue Pied French Bulldog. "Blue" Frenchies are a result of the 'd' or dilute gene. In this form, the dilute factor has caused the black hairs to become blue. Pigment on nose and pads is also a greyish blue in color, and eyes are often blue or yellowish gold. Again, this color has also been referred to as mouse. Image File history File linksMetadata Blue_pied_frenchie. ...
Blue-Fawn A variation of blue, with coloring being seen most clearly in the masking points on the face. Typically they have green/grey eyes. It is said that they are usually produced by a fawn or red fawn parent. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...	Black and tan French Bulldog. Undoubtedly the rarest of the disqualified colors, this is still an extremely striking marking pattern. It has been theorized that black and tan was initially designated a dq because it is a dominant marking pattern in canines. Image File history File links French_bulldog_black_and_tan. ...

Temperament

The French Bulldog is a gentle breed that typically has a happy-go-lucky attitude. Like many other companion dog breeds they require close contact with humans. They have fairly minimal exercise needs, but do require at least regular daily walks. Their calm nature makes them excellent choices for apartment dwellers, as does their usually sensible attitude towards barking. As a flat faced breed, it is essential that owners understand that French Bulldogs cannot live outdoors. Their bulk and their compromised breathing system makes it impossible for them to regulate their temperature efficiently. In addition, Frenchies are top heavy and therefore have a difficult time swimming. Be cautious when exercising your Frenchie during hot or humid weather, as well. Companion dog usually describes a dog that does not work, providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. ...

French Bulldog doing therapy visit at Senior's home

French Bulldogs can play too roughly for some smaller children, and should be monitored at all times during play. As well, children should be cautioned not to pick French Bulldogs up, as their size can mask how truly heavy they actually are. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

French Bulldogs are essentially a bull and terrier breed, and as such, it is not surprising to learn that canine aggression can sometimes occur. Generally, this takes the form of same sex aggression, with the bitches being the most culpable in this respect. Owners considering adding a second dog to their household are usually cautioned to choose one of the opposite sex. Spaying or neutering can do much to curb aggressive tendencies before they begin. The French Bulldog energy level can range from hyperactive and energetic to relaxed and laid back.

French Bulldogs can be stubborn, and early and consistent obedience training is highly recommended. French Bulldog have competed successfully in numerous competitive dog sports, including dog agility, obedience, rally obedience, weight pulling and even Schutzhund. Obtaining a Canine Good Citizen certification on your French Bulldog is easy, and an excellent way of ensuring they have a solid set of basic manners. Many French Bulldogs excel at doing therapy dog work, with most seeming to truly enjoy the attention and interaction with both children and the elderly. Dog sports are activities that involve dogs. ... Agility field left side: A competition agility field showing (clockwise from lower left) a tunnel, the dogwalk, the judge standing in front of a winged jump, two additional winged jumps, dog executing the teeter-totter with his handler guiding, and the tire jump. ... Rally obedience (also known as Rally or Rally-O) is an American dog sport based on obedience. ... Weight pulling is a dog sport involving a dog pulling a cart or sled, loaded with weight, a short distance across grass, carpet or snow. ... Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s to test whether German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) act and peform in the manner that the breed was intended, rather than simply evaulating a dogs appearance. ... In the late 1980s, the American Kennel Club set out to create a program to promote responsible dog ownership and to encourage the training of well-mannered dogs. ... Therapy Dog refers to a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, mental institutions, schools, and stressful situations such as disaster areas. ...

Health

There are several congenital diseases and conditions to which French Bulldogs are susceptible, although they are still considered among the healthiest of the Bull Breeds. Frenchies can suffer from Von Willebrand's disease (VWD), a bleeding syndrome similar to Hemophilia in humans which can impede their clotting. In conjunction to this, French Bulldogs may also suffer from thyroid condition. Many breeders follow a program of testing younger dogs for VWD, and only testing for thyroid at that time if the VWD factor is low. In this program, the breeder tests thyroid again just prior to using the dog for breeding. Other breeders test both VWD and Thyroid at the same time. Von Willebrands disease (vWD) is the most common hereditary coagulation abnormality described in humans. ...

French Bulldogs suffer from Brachycephalic syndrome, which is what creates the flat faced appearance of the Frenchie. As a result, one of the most common defects in French Bulldogs is elongated soft palate or cleft palate. Puppies affected with Cleft palate are generally put down at birth, as it is generally considered to be an almost impossible condition to correct. Elongated soft palate can manifest as anything from a mild condition causing labored breathing to severe condition that can cause the affected dog to pass out from moderate exercise. The cephalic index is the ratio of the maximum breadth of the head to its maximum length, sometimes multiplied by 100 for convenience. ... The soft palate, or velum, is the soft tissue comprising the back of the roof of the mouth. ... Cleft palate is a condition in which the two plates of the skull that form the hard palate (roof of the mouth) are not completely joined. ... Cleft palate is a condition in which the two plates of the skull that form the hard palate (roof of the mouth) are not completely joined. ... The soft palate, or velum, is the soft tissue comprising the back of the roof of the mouth. ...

Frenchies may also have a tendency towards eye issues. Cherry eye, or everted third eyelid, has been known to occur, although it is more common in (English) Bulldogs and Pug Dogs. Glaucoma, retinal fold dsyplasia, corneal ulcers and juvenile cataracts are also conditions which have been known to afflict French Bulldogs. Screening of prospective breeding candidates through CERF - the Canine Eye Registration Foundation - can help to eliminate instances of these diseases in offpsring. The skin folds under the eyes of the French Bulldog must be cleaned regularly and kept dry, in order to avoid fold infections. In extremely severe cases of persistent fold infections, some veterinarians have performed fold removal surgeries. Cherry Eye on an English Bulldog Puppy Close-up of a cherry eye Cherry eye is the term used to refer to canine nictitans gland prolapse, a common eye condition in various dog breeds where the gland of the third eyelid prolapses and becomes visible. ... Country of origin United Kingdom Classification Breed standards (external links) FCI, AKC, ANKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC The English Bulldog, often called simply the Bulldog, is a medium-sized dog breed, originally used for bullbaiting, in which trained bulldogs attacked and killed tied-up bulls for sport during the 17th... For other uses, see Pug (disambiguation). ... Cerf can refer to: Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a United Nations fund created by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to aid regions threatened by starvation and other disasters. ... Skin folds are areas of skin where it folds. ...

French Bulldog undergoing Caesarean Section

French Bulldogs can also suffer from a condition called megaesophagus, a term which collectively describes several esophageal disorders and malformations in any combination from single-to-double or multiple. One of the most disgusting possibilities in a dog affected with megaesophagus is passive regurgitation, in which the affected dog vomits up food or phlegm after eating or exercise. A frequent and sometimes lethal complication of passive regurgitation is aspiration pneumonia. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A caesarean section (AE cesarean section), or c-section, is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mothers abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more babies. ... Megaesophagus is a condition in dogs where peristalsis fails to occur properly and the esophagus is enlarged. ... Megaesophagus is a condition in dogs where peristalsis fails to occur properly and the esophagus is enlarged. ... Aspiration pneumonia is a specific form of lung infection (pneumonia) that develops when oral or gastric contents (including food, saliva, or nasal secretions) enter the bronchial tree. ...

Another result of the compacted air way of the French Bulldog is their inability to effectively regulate temperature. While a regular canine may suffer to some degree from the heat, to a Frenchie it may be lethal. It is imperative that they be protected from temperature extremes at all times, and that they always have access to fresh water and shade.

French Bulldogs can also suffer from an assortment of back and spinal diseases, most of which are probably related to the fact that they were selectively chosen from the dwarf examples of the Bulldog Breed. This condition is also referred to as chondrodysplasia. Some breeders feel that only dogs that have been X-rayed and checked for spinal anomalies should be bred from, but this is a difficult position to take sides on. While it is true that no dog affected with a spinal disease should be bred from , there is a great deal of variance in the appearance of a French Bulldog's spine as compared to, for example, a Labrador Retriever. If possible, such decisions should be left to either a Vet or breeder who has seen quite a few Bulldog Breed Spinal Xrays, to avoid eliminating dogs unnecessarily. This article is about the mythical creature. ...

French Bulldogs frequently require Caesarean section to give birth. As well, many French Bulldog stud dogs are incapable of naturally breeding, requiring breeders to undertake artificial insemination of bitches. French Bulldog bitches can also suffer from erratic or 'silent' heats, which may be a side effect of thyroid disease or impaired thyroid function. A caesarean section (AE cesarean section), or c-section, is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mothers abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more babies. ... The thyroid gland and its relations The thyroid is one of the larger endocrine glands in the body. ...

Thyroid disease may also be responsible for some of the skin conditions which afflict some Frenchies. Skin allergies, obsessive foot licking, and interdigital cysts have been known to affect some French Bulldogs.

Those considering the purchase of a French Bulldog would be well advised to ask what disorders breeders are testing for, and beware of any breeder who cavalierly states that "They don't have any of those problems in *their* lines." Reputable breeders (although there is contention over whether it is possible for any breeder to be reputable) are struggling to produce dogs that are as healthy as possible, and while these tests are expensive for the breeder to do, they can help to save the puppy purchaser hundreds or even thousands of dollars in potential vet bills.

Books

• Michael Rosser, Ann Winsor, D.V.M Arlie Amorie Alford and Jane Flowers. Celebrating Frenchies, ARDesign Inc., ISBN 0-9660133-5-2
• Durr-Grebe, Janice. Flat Face Encyclopedia: Bulldogs and French bulldogs, A to Z, ARDesign Inc., ISBN 0-9660133-0-1
• Dannel, Kathy. The French Bulldog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet, Barron's Educational Series, ISBN 0-7641-3031-5
• Coile, Dr. Caroline. French Bulldogs (Complete Pet Owner's Manual), Howell Book House, ISBN 1-58245-163-X
• McDonald,Joan. The Book of the Bulldog, Neptune, NJ:TFH Publications, ISBN 0-86622-027-5
• Jenkins, Robert. The Story of the Real Bulldog Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications, ISBN 0-7938-0491-4

Neptune, New Jersey can refer to either: Neptune Township, New Jersey Neptune City, New Jersey This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Neptune, New Jersey can refer to either: Neptune Township, New Jersey Neptune City, New Jersey This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...

Magazines and manuals

French Bullytin website
24+ years in print. The premier magazine for French Bulldog lovers worldwide.
1134 Grand Avenue
St Paul, MN 55150

Just Frenchies website
Quarterly breed magazine for French Bulldog fanciers
PO Box 518
Clora Dorsey Road
Trappe, MD 21673

External links

Breed Clubs by Country

For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country in Europe. ...

French Bulldog Rescue

French Bulldog Informational Sites

• French Bulldog Z Social Network and Breed Information Site
• French Bulldog Village
• French Bulldog Kingdom
• Comunidad Frenchie En Español
• French Bulldog Rescue Network
• French Bulldog Links Directory Project
• French Bulldog Shop
• French Bulldog Art
• Brachycephalic Veterinarian Directory
• French Bulldog Pedigree Research Database
• Canine Health Information Center French Bulldog Breed Data