French Bulldog FAQS

Frog dogs, clown dogs, companion to French prostitutes, lizard hunters and otherwise named, French Bulldogs are unique and intelligent companions.

I saw the first French bulldog in New York , Prospect Park , in the late 1980’s, thinking then that they were not as cute as the English Bulldogs.  I thought their heads were disproportionately large and that they resembled bats.  I guess this means that the French bulldog could be an acquired taste, and that is only if you see them at a distance as I did.

If you have the opportunity to meet one and experience the personality of a French bulldog, I believe the metamorphosis from thinking they look a bit strange to falling in love will happen instantaneously.  The French bulldog is engaging, their personality and propensity to kiss unconditionally, and most times right on the lips or attempt to tongue kiss, are very endearing qualities that will bring them into your heart immediately.

French bulldogs are companion dogs bred specifically to be a friend to humans.

French bulldogs earned the name clown dogs because they will enjoy wearing clothes and dressing up.  French bulldogs like most to do things in pairs and to have two of them is ideal.

French bulldogs are affectionate, intelligent and full of energy.  They are from the brachycephalic breed with small nasal openings and are affected by extreme hot and cold.

I have tempered my French bulldog girls to a certain extent by walking them 45 minutes to one hour each day in the early morning.  I am in Florida , so in July and August we walk at 6:00 a.m., but without tempering I would not recommend much, if any exercise in extreme heat.

The Look

The French bulldog has a large and square head, the skull is flat between the ears while the forehead is slightly rounded.

Ears are the signature of the French bulldog and are known as the bat ear, broad at the base, elongated with round tops, set high on the head but not very close together, and carried erect with the orifice to the front.  The ears are soft and fine.

The French bulldog has dark eyes, set low down in the skull, wide apart and as far from the ears as is possible, they are round and of moderate size and do not bulge like a pug or are sunken.

The French bulldog nose is black, and the muzzle is deep, broad and laid back, and the muscles of the cheek are well developed.  The stop is well defined and heavy wrinkles form a roll over the short nose.  The nostrils are broad with a line between them.

The French bulldog flews (jowls) are black, thick and broad, hang over the lower jaw on the sides and meet the underlip in front covering the teeth (which, when the mouth is closed, are not seen).  The French bulldog jaw is deep, broad, square and turned up.

The French bulldog forelegs are short, straight, stout, and muscular and set wide apart. 

The French bulldog has a thick neck which is well arched with loose skin at the throat.

The French bulldog has a back that is called a roach back with a slight fall behind the shoulders.  The back is strong and short and narrowing at the loins.

The French bulldog body is well rounded, muscular and short.   The chest of the French bulldog is broad, deep and full, with the belly tucked up.

The French bulldog tail is either straight or screwed, shot, low, carried low when not wagging.

The French bulldog hind legs are longer than the forelegs, elevating the loins above the shoulders.  The French bulldog hocks are well let down.

The French bulldog coat is bright, short and smooth with fine hair.  French bulldog skin is loose especially at the head and shoulders where wrinkles form.

The French bulldog acceptable colors are brindle, fawn, white, brindle and white.  The disqualification colors as per the AKC are solid black, mouse, liver, black and tan, black and white, white with black.  Black for the purposes of this description means black without brindle.

The French bulldog feet are medium in size, and firmly set with compact toes, well split up, with high knuckles and short stubby nails.

The History

The French bulldog first finds itself in 1850 England , also a descendent of the mastiff breed, as is the English bulldog.  In the 1700s the English Bulldogs were used in baiting bulls and used for entertainment.  In 1835 cruelty to animals laws came about and this sport became illegal and somehow morphed into dog fighting.  Some people wanted a smaller dog and crossed bull and terrier breeds for dog fighting.  Other bull breed enthusiasts started to breed a small bulldog, on that would be between 16 and 26 pounds.  The bulldog breeders in England did not take kindly to this variation and some of the working class English took a liking to them and they were called Toy Bulldogs.  When the Industrial Revolution grew in England , many artisans took the small toy bulldogs and moved to France .  The English bulldog breeders who frowned upon the variation were glad to see them go, and before long there was nary a French bulldog to be found in England .  In France these little toy bulldogs were very popular and became known French bulldogs by the late 1800’s.  The French drew the first standard for the French bulldog breed.  By 1890 Americans began to import these dogs and the breeders of America produced French bulldogs that were consistent in size and appearance.  In 1896 the breed first showed in Westminster Dog show.  The French Bulldog Club of America arose out of anger at a judge who shunned the French bulldog preferring the ears of the English bulldog.  In 1898 the breed was accepted by the American Kennel Club with the first show being held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.  It was a high society event.

In the early years from 1986 to 1902 approximately 300 French bulldogs were exported to the US and they dogs cost in excess of $5000.00. Considering inflation, and the value of money, these were dogs that only the very wealthy could afford.

In 1902 in England the French Bulldog Club of England was founded and the standard was identical to the French, German, Austrian and American standards.  The Toy bulldog breeders opposed the breed.  The official name of the breed is Bouledogues Francais.  In the 1950s and 1960s some prominent breeders emerged in America and since then there is no going back.

The Snoring, the Snorting, the Purring and the Farting

Yes to all.  These French bulldogs, much like their English ancestors do all of the above.  At times people have thought that one of my purring French bulldogs, Juliette was growling, but she purrs when she is happy.  When sleeping they snore.  While awake they snort, and they will always fart!

Sense of Humor

Being the human servant of a French bulldog requires sense of humor more than any other trait as, once you have a French bulldog, you have brought in the clown.  They are hilarious, and they will know how to play you to get what they want.  Remember they are very intelligent and I sometimes feel they have all studied drama!

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