French Bulldog
Non Sporting

Group:

Non sporting

Size:

small

Lifespan:

9-1 years

Exercise:

very low

Grooming:

very low

Trainability:

easy

Watchdog ability:

medium

Protection ability:

guard home

Area of Origin:

France

Date of Origin:

1800's

Other Names:

Bouledogue Français

Original Function:

lap dog

History

Although native to France, the French Bulldog has a strong English ancestry. During the middle of the 1800's, many English lace makers immigrated to France in search of a better living, taking their beloved toy Bulldogs with them. Once in France, the miniature Bulldogs were crossed with other local breeds, until the French Bulldog, with its distinctive "bat" ears, was developed and bred true. Originally called the "Bouledogue Français," the breed gained a strong following, and in 1902, a specialty club was formed and the Frenchie was officially recognised by the Kennel Club. Although it has never been an outrageously popular dog at the shows, its charming personality has earned it many loyal fans around the world. It makes an excellent family companion and enjoys life in the city or suburbs.

Temperament

This breed is courageous, loyal, affectionate and smart. They make good family pets and will warn of stranger, they like to play the role of family guardian. Patient and sweet, French Bulldogs crave companionship and do not do well on their own. French Bulldogs do not bark without cause. They may become very possessive and protective of their owners. Frenchies will hunt mice, and make excellent companions for the elderly.

Upkeep

The Frenchie has minimal exercise requirements, although it is a fun-loving dog. It enjoys a romp outdoors, but it doesn’t do well in hot, humid weather. A short walk on lead is sufficient to meet most of its physical needs. This breed should not live outdoors. It requires minimal coat care.

Official Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A French Bulldog should be sound, active and intelligent, of compact build, medium or small sized, with good bone, a short smooth coat, and the various points so evenly balanced that the dog does not look ill- proportioned.

Head and Skull:
Head massive, square and broad. Skull nearly flat between the ears, with a domed forehead, the loose skin forming symmetrical wrinkles. Muzzle broad, deep and laid back with the muscles of the cheek well developed; nose and lips black. Stop well defined. Lower jaw should be deep square, broad, slightly undershot and well turned up. Nose extremely short, black and wide, with open nostrils and the line between well defined. Lips thick, the lower meeting the upper in the middle, completely hiding the teeth. The upper lips should cover the lower on each side with plenty of cushion, but not so exaggerated as to hang too much below the level of the lower jaw.

Eyes:
Should be dark, of moderate size, round, neither sunken nor prominent showing no white when looking straight, set wide apart and low down in the skull.

Ears:
"Bat ears" of medium size, wide at the base, rounded at the top, set high, carried upright and parallel, a sufficient width of skull preventing them being too close together; the skin soft and fine and the orifice, as seen from the front, showing entirely.

Mouth:
Teeth sound and regular, but not visible when the mouth is closed. Tongue must not protrude.

Neck:
Should be powerful, with loose skin at the throat, but not exaggerated. Well arched and thick, but not too short.

Forequarters:
Legs set wide apart, straight boned, strong, muscular and short.

Body:
Short, cobby, muscular, well rounded, deep wide brisket, roach back, strong, wide at shoulders slightly narrower at loin, good cut up, well sprung.

Hindquarters:
Legs strong, muscular and longer than the forelegs so as to raise the loins above the shoulders. Hocks well let down and with a very fine movement.

Feet:
should be small, compact and placed in continuation of the line of the leg, with absolutely sound pasterns. The hind rather longer than the fore-feet. Toes compact, knuckle high, nails short, thick and preferably black.

Tail:
Very short, set low, thick at the root, and tapering quickly towards the tip either straight or kinked, but never curling over the back. A good tail is placed so that it cannot be carried gaily.

Coat:
Texture fine, smooth, lustrous, short and close.

Colour:
The colours allowed are brindle, pied, fawn & fawn pied.
(1) The brindle is a mixture of black and coloured hairs. This variety may contain white on condition that brindle predominates.

(2) The pied is a dog in which the white predominates over the brindle or fawn. White dogs are classified with the pieds, but their eyelashes and eyerims should be black. In pieds the white should be clear with definite brindle or fawn patches and no ticking or black spots.

(3) The fawn dog may contain brindle hairs but must have black eyerims and eyelashes.

Weight and Size:
The ideal weight is 12.7 kg. (28 lbs) for dogs and 10.9 kg. (24 lbs) for bitches, but soundness must not be sacrificed to smallness.

Faults:
Nose other than black. Eyes of different colours. Ears not erect. Hare lip. Tail docked. Colour - Tan, Mouse Grey (Blue).

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.