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The Canine Chronicles Directory
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog's coat is short, soft, and smooth. The acceptable show colors
are brindle, fawn, white, and combinations of brindle or fawn with white. Tan, mouse,
solid black, liver and black and white are undesirable for the show ring. The broad,
flat head should be square-shaped with a short, flat muzzle. The face should be
wrinkled and the forehead round. The slightly undershot jaw should be turned up
a little. The round, wide set eyes should be dark in color and the round, high set
ears should be carried erect. The well arched neck is powerful with loose skin at
the throat. The chest is deep; wide in the front and narrow in the back. The backend
sits higher than the front and the dog should seem pear-shaped with the shoulders
wider than the tail area. The muscular front legs should be straight and set wide.
The back legs should be strong, muscular and longer than the front legs. The small
feet should be well knuckled and the back feet should be longer than the front.
The tail should be set low and either straight or in a cork screw. The tail should
never curl over the back. When showing French Bulldogs, they must not weigh more
than 28 pounds or they will be disqualified.
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Temperament
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French Bulldogs have an overall sweet temperament. They are playful, bright, easygoing,
alert, extremely affectionate and absolutely hilarious. This breed is very loyal
and usually bond strongly to a single person. They also get along with strangers
and other animals. They are usually not aggressive; however, some males might be
slightly so. They are possessive with their owners and do not appreciate other dogs
in the home. They will tolerate well-behaved or older-children, although they must
be supervised since they have a tendency to become snippy. This breed needs to be
a part of family life. They get jealous when they don't get attention and when left
alone for long periods of time can be destructive. Some lines in the breed drool
and slobber but others do not. This breed is particularly good for elderly people
since they are clean, quiet and affectionate. They are also a great hunter of mice.
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Height, Weight
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Height: 12"
There are two weight classes of French Bulldogs:
19-22 lbs. and 22-28 lbs.
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Health Problems
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As with most flat-muzzle dogs, this breed is prone to eye and breathing problems.
They tend to snore, wheeze and are a bit gassy. Some say this breed cannot swim
so be careful near water. Females of this breed tend to need a Cesarean section
in order to give birth. Owners should expect high Vet bills with this breed.
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Living Conditions
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French Bulldogs will do okay in an apartment. They prefer cooler temperatures and
overheat easily.
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Exercise
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Do not exercise this breed in hot weather as they overheat easily and can suffer
from heatstroke. They love to play and run.
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Life Expectancy
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About 10-12 years
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Grooming
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This breed is easy to groom requiring regular brushing. They are average shedders.
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Origin
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The French Bulldog actually originated from England and was developed as a smaller
version of the Bulldog. In the 1860s, these dogs were imported by breeders to France
and bred with French Terriers. Their name was then changed to 'French Bulldog'.
This breed first appeared in England in 1893 and their presence caused an uproar.
The English were upset about the breed's name. They disliked 'French' since the
bulldog was developed in England and the traditional symbol of English culture.
In 1905, the Kennel Club started registering the breed as Bouledogue Francais. They
are recognized by the AKC and the UKC.
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Group
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AKC Non-Sporting, UKC Companion Dog
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