About Aunt Bea's French Bulldogs

 

Logo Illustration by Olga Kruse

Aunt Bea’s French Bulldogs

 

Aunt Bea’s French Bulldogs, formerly Aunt Bea’s Bulldogs was established with the addition of Isabel Be Be in August of 2006, in Gulfport , Florida .

 

Aunt Bea’s endeavors to breed and raise healthy French bulldog puppies bred from show potential quality stock.  Although Aunt Bea’s does not show the bullies, the ancestors of all dogs bred have been shown and are classified by the AKC as “show quality” French bulldogs.

 

Aunt Bea’s is not a “puppy mill,” no more than two (2) French bulldogs are bred out of the kennel during any given period of time.  The bulldogs bred are certified show quality, are pets of the owner of the company, which is a sole proprietorship, and no female is bred more than three times, and in most cases only two times during the lifetime of the dog.

 

Carol has inquired with the USDA, the State of Florida , the County of Pinellas and the City of Gulfport and has provided links to each regarding licensure of the breeding.  Through interpretation of the various statutes, it has been determined that as Aunt Bea’s French Bulldogs is not a puppy mill, breeding less than two litters a year with only two female dogs (less than 20 puppies), Aunt Bea’s French Bulldogs is exempt from licensure, but must comply with Florida Statute regarding vaccinations and health requirements.

 

Aunt Bea’s is a labor of love, providing quality pets and or show dogs to individuals who are concerned with the health, well being and preservation of the breed standard.

 

 

About French Bulldogs

 

A very useful link to the French Bulldog of America, provides FAQs regarding common questions asked about French Bulldogs, and can be found at:

Breed Standard from the French Bulldog Club of America

 

 

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 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 exception of solid black, mouse, liver, black and tan, black and white and white and 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.
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.

Over 28 pounds in weight.

 

The History and Metamorphosis of English Bulldog Breeding to French Bulldog Breeding for Aunt Bea’s Bulldogs

 

Aunt Bea's Bulldogs is and has always been comprised of Carol Sciannameo, a retired NYPD Lieutenant, Professor of Criminal Justice and owner of a Tampa Bay Investigations, a licensed private investigations agency in Florida .  She is the breeder and owner of Aunt Bea’s French Bulldogs.

 

                                                  Beatrice Note: if you want to know more about Beatrice go to Beatrice: A Short Story that Spans Seven Years  click here to read it

 

Aunt Bea’s Bulldogs is named for Beatrice, and to read more about her and all she has taught Carol, please visit the link, Beatrice: A Short Story that Spans Seven Years.

 

Carol began her bulldog endeavors as a young girl growing up on the streets of Brooklyn , and having the opportunity to live on the same block as one of these gentle creatures.  His name was Henry.  Since the day Carol saw Henry at age three, her fate was set.

 

Carol’s mom was very afraid of dogs having been attacked by a large dog as a young girl.  As a result of this fear, Carol grew up with cats and dreamed of one day owning a bulldog.  Carol had every type of bulldog attire imaginable, and loved Spike, the Bulldog protector of Tweety Bird on Warner Brothers Cartoons.

 

For those of you who live in big cities, New York , like many cities with apartments do not allow dogs.  It was not until the late 1990s at age 40 when Carol obtained Beatrice, (who subsequently departed earth on June 30, 2004), and realized her dream of having a bulldog.

 

Carol and Beatrice lived in a dog friendly building one half block from Prospect Park .  Prospect Park was designed by Olmstead and was the model for Central Park .  The park had fields and meadows, many of which had dog “off leash” provisions and for a dog, it was tantamount to doggie heaven to run freely amongst the dogs, playing each and every morning in the park.  At a point, a dog beach was added to the park, and dogs could take a dip to cool down on a long walk.

 

After a few months of having Beatrice and while she was  growing up with two cats, Sal and Ziggy. she was acting more like a cat than a dog, and Carol wanted to get her a friend as a role model.  Darla was purchased from a local breeder and the rest is history.

 

  Darla and Margie

 

Carol began to go to Long Island Bulldog Club events and met up with Marge Deyorra, a breeder of English bulldogs for thirty-five years under the kennel name DeyDel, and the owner of many Champion dogs.  Marge recognized Carol’s love for the breed and encouraged her to breed Darla. Hence, Darla's Little Margie Dey, was born.  During Darla’s last litter, when Margie was born, Marge Deyorra passed away, and this is where Margie got her name.  Unfortunately, Margie passed away on Sunday, March 4, 2007 after a glorious walk on a Sunday afternoon, and has joined Beatrice.

 

English bulldogs have a short life span.  Beatrice died at seven and one half years of age of Cushings disease a form of pituitary gland cancer and Margie of sudden heart attack at age six and one half years, two very common maladies of the breed.  Darla, as we refer to her as the old “mamma dog” is not ten and one half years of age in March of 2007 and shows some signs of aging, but having puppies around keeps her young.

 

The Transition

 

In the year 2000, Carol, Beatrice, Darla and Margie relocated to the Tampa Bay area, specifically to Gulfport .

 

They arrived in October and enjoyed an active period of winter months.  Once summer arrived, it became apparent that English bulldogs did not fair well in heat, and the activity curtailed, the girls, although having full run of a back yard, with dog door and kennel room, could not enjoy the quality of life they were accustomed to in New York .

 

After Beatrice passed on, Carol decided that she could not give up her passion for the bulldog breed and did some research, and found that French Bulldogs have a longer lifespan in many cases, tend to endure heat better than their English relatives and have all the endearing and wonderful qualities of an English Bulldog.

 

Now that Carol is fifty, and has had experienced numerous evacuations due to hurricanes, the size of the French Bulldog is also more conducive to the terrain as they weigh an average of 20-25 pounds, rather than 50-65 pounds as their English cousins.

 

Carol purchased her first French Bulldog from a local breeder, Isabel Be Be, and soon thereafter found her to be deaf.  The breeder was in Carol assessment, unethical in that she wanted Carol to either return Isabel not spayed so that she could breed her, or “put her down” and receive a refund.  Carol certainly could not do this to a member of her family, she had Isabel spayed, and she is now the model for the logo of Aunt Bea’s French Bulldogs. 

 

Isabel will not be bred due to this deafness and subsequent spaying, but does not make her less of a member of the pack or a less valued member of our family.  She will assist the other French bullies raise their litters in the same way that Bea assisted Darla. 

 

It was partially in this experience that Carol was further motivated to breed healthy, quality French bulldogs.

 

 Isabel Be Be (namesake of Beatrice)

 

Carol was in love with the temperament and so pleased with Isabel despite her deafness, that she made a decision to purchase a show quality female, Juliette Margot (name sake of Margie), from McKee Kennels in Texas.  The breeder of this young lady is Linda McKee, a woman who has been breeding French bulldogs for over thirty five years.  A link to her website can be found in the links section of this website.

 

 Juliette Margot, at five months of age.

 

 Juliette Margot, side view, at five months

 

 Juliette Margot, other side view, at five months

Carol was in love with the temperament and interactions of both the frenchies together, and so pleased with the French bulldog method of play, that she made a decision to purchase another female, Josephine Dahlia (name sake of Darla), from McKee Kennels in Texas.   

Josephine Dahlia

 

Carol is determined to work with Linda McKee and other ethical breeders to select stud dogs to compliment the health and welfare of the puppies bred by Aunt Bea’s French Bulldogs.

 

Of course, no matter how meticulously dams and sires are selected, occasionally a puppy suffers from an unpredictable malady such as deafness, cleft palate or other “non life or comfort threatening” health issue.  If this is to occur, these puppies will be offered for adoption into good homes. 

 

Carol stands by her puppies, gives a full guarantee and is always willing to take a puppy back if the individual purchasing or adopting the puppy cannot keep the puppy for a reason as outlined in the purchase contract.

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