CAFBC

Central Arizona French Bulldog Club

The French Bulldog

Playful, affectionate and exceptionally good natured, the French Bulldog is bred primarily as a companion pet. But "Frenchies" also make good watchdogs. Compact and muscular, with a small to medium build, they are a good choice for small living spaces. They are highly trainable and intelligent and are happiest when close to their human family. French Bulldogs are excellent with children and compatable with other pets. They desire a lot of attention from their loved ones.

Frenchies make excellent pets for either apartments or homes. They can also be as comfortable as either city dogs as well as country dwellers. Frenchies in any environment have one overwhelming need, and that is to be in close contact with the person they love. A French Bulldog is happiest when it is with it's owner. The Frenchie's easygoing temperment makes him an excellent children's companion. Frenchies will play and rough house happily with children who have been taught to respect a dogs limitations. It is not advised to house a French Bulldog outdoors due to their inability to tolerate extreme cold or extreme heat. A regular canine may suffer to some degree from the heat, but to a French Bulldog, it may be lethal. It is important to protect them from extreme temperature at all times and ensure that they have access to fresh water and shade.

Health Problems

French Bulldogs can suffer from thyroid conditions. Due to the Frenchie's flat face, one of the most common defects can be 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 be a mild condition causing labored breathing to severe condition that can cause the affected dog to pass out from moderate exercise. A dog affected with an elongated palate has passive regurgitation, in which they may vomit up food or phlegm after eating or exercise. It is a good idea to ask the breeder if either parent has elongated soft palate, or has ever been operated on for the condition. French Bulldogs can also suffer from back and spinal disease, which are probably related to the fact that they were selectively chosen from the dwarf examples of the bulldog breed. You should look for a veterinarian with expertise in treating the bulldog breeds. The flat face breeds have their own unique set of needs when it comes to anesthesia and many procedures. Having comfortable rapport with your veterinarian is essential.

Cost

French Bulldogs can be rather expensive for a number of reasons. They are generally able to deliver only by C-Section, have small litters, and usually need to be artifically inseminated.

History of the Breed

Speculations abound on the origin of the French Bulldog. The most popular opinion is that the breed originated from the miniature, or toy, Bulldog brought to France by the Nottingham lace workers during the industrial revolution and econimic crisis in England. Others believe the French Bulldog decended from the Chincha Bulldog, which lived in ancient Peru. The French Bulldog first appeared in the US in 1896 at the Westminster Kennel Club's show in New York and was first registered by the American Kennel Club in 1898 in the non-sporting dog group. Britain accepted the breeds club membership in 1912.

For more information, you may contact The French Bulldog Club of America or the American Kennel Club.

French Bulldog Breed Standard

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.