FRENCH BULLDOG

TRANSLATION : Mrs Peggy Davis.

ORIGIN : France.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 28.04.1995.

UTILIZATION : Companion, watch dog, pleasure dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs. Section 11 Small Molossian Dogs. Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Probably issued, like all the mastiffs, from the Epirus and the Roman Empire molosses, relative of the Bulldog of Great Britain, the Alans (tribe of the Middle Age), the mastiffs and small type mastiffs of France, the bulldog we know is the product of different crossings done by enthusiastic breeders in the popular quarters of Paris in the years 1880.

During that period, the Bulldog being a dog belonging to butchers and coachmen of « les Halles » (market place), he soon knew how to conquer the high society and the artistic world by his particular appearance and character.  He then rapidly propagated himself.

The first breed club was founded in 1880 in Paris.  The first registration dates from 1885 and the first standard was established in 1898, year in which the « Société Centrale Canine » of France recognized the breed of the French Bulldog.  The first shown dog was from 1887.  The standard, modified in 1931, 1932 and 1948, was reformulated in 1986 by H.F. Reant and R. Triquet (F.C.I. publication 1987), then in 1994 by the committee of the Club of the French Bulldog with the collaboration of R. Triquet.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Typically a small size molossian.  Powerful dog for its small size, short, compact in all its proportions, smooth-coated, with a short face, a snub nose, erect ears and a naturally short tail. Must have the appearance of an active animal, intelligent, very muscular, of a compact build with a solid bone structure.

BEHAVIOUR  / CHARACTER : Sociable, lively, playful, sporty, keen.  Particularly affectionate towards his masters and the children.

HEAD : The head must be very strong, broad and square, the skin of the head forming almost symmetrical folds and wrinkles.  The head of the bulldog is characterized by a contraction of the maxillary-nasal part; the skull has taken up in width that which it has lost in length.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Broad, almost flat, forehead very bulging.  Superciliary arches prominent, separated by a particularly developed furrow between the eyes.  The furrow must not extend onto the forehead.  Occipital crest is hardly developed.

Stop : Deeply accentuated.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Broad, very short, turned up, nostrils well open and symmetrical, slanting towards the rear.  The inclination of the nostrils as well as the snub nose (i.e. upturned) must, however, allow a normal nasal breathing.

Muzzle : Very short, broad, with concentric symmetrical folds coming down on the upper lips (length of muzzle about 1/6 of the total length of the head).

Lips : Thick, a little loose and black.  The upper lip rejoins the lower lip at its middle, completely covering the teeth which should never be visible.  The profile of the upper lip is descending and rounded.  Tongue must never show.

Jaws : Broad, square, powerful.  Lower jaw shows a broad curve, terminating in front of the upper jaw.  The mouth being closed, the prominence of the lower jaw (prognathism-undershot) is moderated by the curve of the lower mandibular branches.  This curve is necessary to avoid a too important shifting of the lower jaw.

Teeth : The lower incisors must never be behind the upper incisors in any case.  The arch of the lower incisors is rounded.  The jaw must not show lateral deviation, nor torsion.  The disposition of the incisoral arches should not be strictly delimited, the essential condition being that the upper and the lower lips rejoin to completely cover the teeth.

Cheeks : The muscles of the cheeks are well developed, but not prominent.

Eyes : Lively expression, set low, quite far from the nose and especially from the ears, dark coloured, quite big, well round, slightly protruding, showing no trace of white (sclera) when the dog is looking straight ahead.  Rims of eyelids must be black.

Ears : Medium size, wide at the base and rounded at the top.  Set high on the head, but not too close together, carried erect.  The orifice is open towards the front.  The skin must be fine and soft to the touch.

NECK : Short, slightly arched, without dewlap.

BODY :

Topline : Rising progressively at loin level to slope rapidly towards the tail.  This conformation which must be sought after, is the consequence of the short loin.

Back : Broad and muscular.

Loin : Short and broad.

Rump : Oblique.

Chest : Cylindrical and well let down; ribcage barrel shaped, very rounded.

Forechest : Wide.

Belly and flanks : Drawn up without excessive tuck up.

TAIL : Short, set low on the rump, close to the buttocks, thick at the base, knotted or kinked naturally and tapering at the tip.  Even in action, must stay below the horizontal.  A relatively long tail (not reaching beyond the point of the hocks), kinked and tapering is admissible, but not desirable.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs vertical and parallel seen in profile and from the front, standing well separated.

Shoulder : Short, thick, with a firm and visible musculature.

Upperarm : Short.

Elbows : Close to the body.

Forearm : Short, straight and muscular.

Pastern joint - Pastern  : Solid and short.

HINDQUARTERS : Strong and muscular, hindlegs a little longer than the forelegs, thus raising the hindquarters.  The legs are vertical and parallel as seen both in profile and from behind.

Thigh : Muscled, firm without being too rounded.

Hock joint  : Quite well let down, neither too angulated nor certainly too straight.

Hock : Solid and short.  The French Bulldog should be born without dewclaws.

FEET :

Forefeet round of small dimension, i.e. « cat feet », well set on the ground, turning slightly outward.  The toes are compact, nails short, thick and well separated.  The pads are hard, thick and black.  In the brindle subjects, the nails must be black.  In the pieds (caille = brindled fawns with medium white patching) and fawn subjects, dark nails are preferred, without however penalising the light coloured nails.

Hindfeet well compact. 

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Free movement, the legs moving parallel to the median plane of the body.

COAT

HAIR : Beautiful smooth coat, close, glossy and soft.

COLOUR :

·       Uniformly fawn, brindled or not, or with limited patching (pied).

·       Fawn brindled or not, with medium or predominant patching.

All the fawn shades are admitted, from the red to light brown (café au lait) colour.  The entirely white dogs are classified in « brindled fawn with predominant white patching ».  When a dog has a very dark nose, dark eyes with dark eyelids, certain depigmentations of the face may exceptionally be tolerated in very beautiful subjects.

SIZE AND WEIGHT : The weight must not be below 8 kg nor over 14 kg for a bulldog in good condition, size being in proportion with the weight.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

·       Nose tightly closed or pinched and chronic snorers.

·       Lips not joining in the front.

·       Depigmentation of the lips.

·       Light eyes.

·       Dewlap.

·       Tail carried high, or too long or abnormally short.

·       Loose elbows.

·       Straight hock or placed forward.

·       Incorrect movement.

·       Coat (hair) too long.

·       Speckled coat.

SERIOUS FAULTS :

·       Incisors visible when mouth closed.

·       Tongue visible when mouth closed.

·       Stiff beating movement of the forelegs.

·       Pink spots on the face, except in the case of brindled fawns with medium white patching (« caille ») and fawns with limited or predominant white patching. (« fauve »).

·       Excessive or insufficient weight.

DISQUALIFICATIONS :

·       Aggressive or overly shy.

·       Colour of nose other than black.

·       Hare lip.

·       Dog with lower incisors articulating behind upper incisors.

·       Dog with permanently visible canines, mouth being closed.

·       Eyes of two different colours (heterochromatic).

·       Ears not carried erect.

·       Mutilation of ears, tail or dewclaws.

·       Taillessness.

·       Dewclaws on hindquarters.

·       Colour of coat black and tan, mouse grey, brown.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

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

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  AKC  French Bulldog Breed Standard (Approved June 10, 1991   Effective July 31, 1991)
                                Non-Sporting Group

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.
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The French Bulldog Breed Standard of Canadian Kennel Club

General Appearance  The French Bulldog should have the appearance of an active, intelligent, muscular dog, of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and of medium or small structure. The points should be 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 deformed or poorly proportioned. In comparison to specimens of different sex, due allowance should be made in favour of the bitches, which do not bear the characteristics of the breed to the same marked degree as do the dogs.

Size

A lightweight class under 221b. ( 10 kg); heavyweight class, 221b. and not over 28lb. (10-13 kg).

Coat and Colour

Acceptable colours are: all brindle, fawn, white, brindle and white, and any colour except those which constitute disqualification. The skin should be soft and loose, especially at the head and shoulders, forming wrinkles. Coat moderately fine, brilliant, short and smooth.

Head

The head should be large and square. The top of the skull should be flat but slighty rounded. The stop should be well defined, causing a hollow or groove between the eyes. Muzzle should be broad, deep, and well laid back; the muscles of the cheeks well developed. The nose should be extremely short; nostrils broad with well defined line between them. The nose and flews should be black, except in the case of the lighter-coloured , dogs, where a lighter colour of nose is acceptable. The flews should be thick and broad, hanging over the lower jaw at the sides, meeting the underlip in front and covering the teeth which should not be seen when , the mouth is closed. The underjaw should be deep, square, broad, ' undershot, and well turned up. Eyes should be wide apart, set low down in the skull, as far from the ears as possible, round in form, of moderate size, neither sunken or bulging, and in colour dark. No haw and no white  of the eye showing when looking forward. Ears shall hereafter be known as the bat ear, broad at the base, elongated, with round top, set high in the head, but not too close together, and carried erect with the orifice to the front. The leather of the ear fine and soft.

Neck

The neck should be thick and well arched, with loose skin at throat.

Forequarters

The forelegs should be short, stout, straight and muscular, set wide apart.

Body

The body should be short and well rounded. The back should be a roach back, with a slight fall close behind the shoulders. It should be strong and short, broad at the shoulders and narrowing at the loins. The chest, broad, deep and full, well ribbed with the belly tucked up.

Hindquarters 

The hind legs should be strong and muscular, longer than the forelegs, so as to elevate the loins above the shoulders. Hocks well let down. The feet should be moderate in size, compact and firmly set. Toes compact, well split up, with high knuckles and short stubby nails; hind feet slighdy longer than forefeet.

Tail

The tail should be either straight or screwed (but not curly) , short, hung V low, thick root and fine tip; carried low in repose.

Disqualifications

Other than bat ears; black and white, black and tan, liver, mouse or solid black (black means without any trace of brindle) ; eyes of different colour; nose other than black except in the case of the lighter-coloured dogs, where a lighter colour of nose is acceptable; hare lip; any mutilation; over 28 lb. (12.7 kg) in weight.