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French Bulldogs
Author
Carol Gravestock, frogdog@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Copyright 1995.
Table of Contents
* Breed History
* Appearance
* Home Environment
* Health Concerns
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Resources
+ Suggested Reading
+ Breed Clubs
+ Rescue
_________________________________________________________________
Breed History
While theories abound about the the exact origin of the French
Bulldog, the most prevalent opinion is that around the mid 1800's
Normandy lace workers from England took smaller bulldogs with them
when they sought work in France. In the farming communities north of
France that the lace workers settled in, the little Bulldogs became
very popular as ratters and loyal family companions and their
population began to swell. These little bulldogs were in fact "culls"
of the established Bulldog Breeders in England, who were generally
more than happy to sell these undersized examples of their breed to
fanciers of the "new" breed in England. This was especially true of
the "tulip" eared puppies that cropped up at times in Bulldog litters.
As the new, smaller Bulldogs gained popularity in France, they became
favourites of the Parisian "Belles De Nuit" - the street walkers.
Breed historians can still sometimes turn up notorious "French
Postcards" bearing images of scantily clad French prostitutes posing
with their little "Bouledogues Francais." The aura of notoriety that
owner****p of the little dogs conveyed soon made them a fa****onable way
for the well to do cl***** to show off how daring they could be, and
they soon became favourites of the "artistic" set across Europe.
Photos dating to around this time show photos of the Russian Royal
family posing along side their French Bulldogs, and they were said to
have im****ted several of the little dogs from France.
It is inarguable that without the influence of dedicated, turn of the
century American fanciers the breed would not be what it is today. It
is they that organised the very first French Bulldog Club in the
world, and it was they who insisted that the "bat" ear so associated
with the breed today was correct. Until that time, French Bulldogs
were shown with either the "bat" or "rose" ear.
As a point of historic interest, a French Bulldog, insured for the at
that time astronomical sum of $750, was on board the ill fated
Titanic. All in all, French Bulldogs truly are an International Breed,
with fanciers of many nations being responsible for the creation of
the loving dogs we know today.
_________________________________________________________________
Appearance
Contrary to the opinions of many Bulldog fanciers, French Bulldogs are
not simply Bulldog Snobs. Neither are they simply miniature bulldogs
with ears that stick up. The most frequent comparison owners hear is
that they resemble either Pugs with their ears cropped, Boston
Terriers on steroids or Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs!
A smooth coated member of the Non S****ting Group, French Bulldogs are
recognised by the FCI, The Kennel Club of Great Britain, the AKC and
the CKC. While definitely not a rare breed, they are also not that
commonly seen. For example, in April of 1995 27 French Bulldog litters
were registered in all of the USA, as opposed to 2.512 litters of
standard poodles, or 291 litters of Bulldogs. In 1994, French Bulldogs
ranked 81st in popularity. Registrations have been climbing steadily
for the last twenty years, although no one expects them to break in to
the top ten most popular breeds any time soon - not that most fanciers
want them to!
According to the American and Canadian Breed Standard, the maximum
weight for a French Bulldog is 28 Lbs. the Average weight for a male
tends to be 24-28 Lbs, and for a female 19-24 Lbs. This size makes
them a nice, sturdy, smaller sized dog, without the inherent frailty
of so many of the Toy breeds. Their bodies are similar in type to the
Bulldog, with less exaggeration. For example, while their jaw is also
undershot, it is not to the same degree as the bulldog. Neither are
their faces as wrinkled as their cousins the bulldog. They should in
general resemble a sturdy, compact, cobby little dog.
Their ears are of primary im****tance to the appearance of the breed,
and should always be "Bat." Equally im****tant is that elusive
something known as expression. As a matter of fact, most fanciers will
describe "that face" as being one of their primary reasons for
choosing this breed. With their gently wrinkled brow, clear gaze and
alertly intense gaze, almost no other bred can give as clear an
impression that they not only hear you but can understand everything
that you say - which is not to imply that they intend to listen!
French Bulldogs come in a gorgeous array of colours. In fact, ALL are
allowed in the show ring, with the exception of: Black (meaning with
out a SINGLE white or other coloured hair; Black and tan (Doberman
Type Colours); Liver and Mouse. The exact nature of these last two
colours is the subject of some debate among fanciers, many of whom
feel them to be rather ambiguous descriptions at best. Heavy ticking,
such as that seen on many setters, is to be avoided. In reality, these
colour distinctions are relevant only in the show ring. A dog with any
of those characteristics could make as equally wonderful a pet as any
of the more common Brindles, Creams, or Pieds.
For a more detailed discussion of the standard for the French Bulldog,
please consult the AKC Standard.
_________________________________________________________________
Home Environment
Frenchies make excellent pets for either apartments or homes, and they
are comfortable as either city dogs or country dwellers. Frenchies in
any environment have one overwhelming need, and that is to be in close
contact with the person they love. Due to their inability to tolerate
either extreme cold or extreme heat, it is not a consideration to
house a Frenchie outdoors. Regardless of temperature, a French Bulldog
is happiest when with itŐs owner, and they enjoy long walks or car
drives as much as any breed of dog you may hope to meet. I personally
take my dogs along with me to work on a regular basis, and find that
they are quite a congenial addition to the office. The do have the
rather disconcerting habit of sitting at the feet of any one who dares
to sit in their in "their" chair and gazing at them unblinkingly until
they move. They don't bark, beg or paw at them, they merely stare.
It's a frighteningly effective tactic to get people to move.
_________________________________________________________________
Health Concerns
There are several congenital diseases and conditions that French
Bulldogs are prone to, although they are still considered the
healthiest of the Bull Breeds. Frenchies can suffer from Von
Willebrand's Disease (VWD), a bleeding syndrome similar to to
Haemophilia in humans which can impede their clotting. In conjunction
to this, French Bulldogs may also suffer from thyroid condition. Many
breeders follow a program of testing younger dogs for VWD, and only
testing for thyroid at that time if the VWD factor is low. In this
program, the breeder tests thyroid again just prior to using the dog
for breeding. Other breeders test both VWD and Thyroid at the same
time.
As a result of the rather cramped conditions that a Frenchie's flat
face creates, one of the most common defects in French Bulldogs is
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 manifest as anything from a mild condition causing laboured
breathing to severe condition that can cause the affected dog to pass
out from moderate exercise. One of the most disgusting possibilities
in a dog affected with elongated palate is passive regurgitation, in
which the affected dog vomits up food or phlegm after eating or
exercise. It is generally advisable to ask breeders if either parent
has elongated soft palate, or has ever been operated on for the
condition.
Another result of the compacted air way of the French Bulldog is their
inability to effectively regulate temperature. While a regular canine
may suffer to some degree from the heat, to a Frenchie it may be
lethal. It is imperative that they be protected from temperature
extremes at all times, and that they always have access to fresh water
and shade.
French Bulldogs can also suffer from an assortment of back and spinal
diseases, most of which are probably related to the fact that they
were selectively chosen from the dwarf examples of the Bulldog Breed.
Some breeders feel that only dogs that have been X-rayed and checked
for spinal anomalies should be bred from, but this is a difficult
position to take sides on. While it is true that no dog affected with
a spinal disease should be bred from , there is a great deal of
variance in the appearance of a French Bulldog's spine as compared to,
for example, a Labrador Retriever. If possible, such decisions should
be left to either a Vet or breeder who has seen quite a few Bulldog
Breed Spinal Xrays, to avoid eliminating dogs unnecessarily.
No matter who you buy your French Bulldog from, make sure to ask what
disorders they are testing for, and beware of any breeder who
cavalierly states that "They don't have any of those problems in
*their* lines." Reputable breeders are struggling to produce dogs that
are as healthy as possible, and while these tests are expensive for
the breeder to do, they can help to save the puppy purchaser hundreds
or even thousands of dollars in potential vet bills. Needless to say,
any one who would consider the purchase of a French Bulldog from a pet
store would be further ahead to just sign their life savings over to
their vet. In spite of all this, French Bulldogs are still considered
to be the healthiest of the Bull Breeds.
_________________________________________________________________
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Frenchies Noisy?
Actually, some owners tell of having owned Frenchies for as long as
six months without ever having heard them bark. I personally owned
one that barked so infrequently that when she did it actually
sounded rusty! In general, though, most Frenchies as sensible
barkers, doing so only if they feel that there is something worth
really getting excited about.
How Are they With Kids?
Whenever I am asked "How are Frenchies with children?" I like to
reply "How are your children with dogs?" As with most dogs,
Frenchies will play and rough house happily with older children who
have been carefully introduced and taught to respect a dogs
limitations. Smaller children must be carefully taught to never
pick a Frenchie up, as they are a head heavy breed that is easy to
drop. Some fanciers believe that Frenchies may play too vigorously
for the average child under 2 years, but there is always the
exception to the rule. As with your children, it is the way your
Frenchie has been taught that will be the deciding factor.
How Much Do They Cost?
Well, quite frankly, a lot. French Bulldogs tend to be rather
expensive, for a number of reasons. They are generally able to
deliver only by Caesarean, have very low litter sizes, and usually
need to be artificially inseminated. All of this tends to keep
their prices rather high. Please ensure that if you find one that
seems to be a bargain that it wasn't by virtue of their care being
skimped on.
Do They Drool?
No! They are French, and as such would never be caught dead doing
anything as uncouth as drooling - they leave that to their British
Bulldog cousins!
Is A Frenchie Right For Me?
While French Bulldogs may not have the easily trained disposition
of Border Collies, they are easily trained to basic obedience
commands, and quite a few have competed successfully in the
obedience ring, even earning U.D. titles. Frenchies, with their
gentle nature and love of attention, make excellent therapy dogs
but are not the breed to choose, however, if you are seeking a
vigorous jogging companion or highly athletic dog. Their joints
were not made to take the stress of constant pounding, and their
impaired breathing can make heavy activity life threatening in
extreme weather conditions. If there was ever a couch potato
Olympics, on the other hand, I am quite sure that most of the Gold
Medal Winners would be French Bulldogs.
If you enjoy leisurely walks , long drives or pleasant outings to
the park then a Frenchie just may be the dog for you!
_________________________________________________________________
Resources
Suggested Reading and Viewing
The following are a short list of books, magazines and videos that you
may want to take a look at before you buy a French Bulldog. With the
lack of breed information on French Bulldogs you will find these
sources to be invaluable, whether you want a Frenchie to show or for a
pet. We find them to be indispensable!
The Frenchy Bullytin
Available from ARDESIGN http://www.ardesigninc.com/publications
Published quarterly in full color, this award winning breed
magazine is not just for breeders or exhibitors, but for
fanciers of French Bulldogs everywhere. Articles on rescue,
health tips, feeding, fiction, tips from other owners and much
more. Sample copies are available, see their web site for
details.
The French Bulldog AKC Breed Video
A complete overview of what to look for in a show quality
French Bulldog, and it also gives you a great indepth look at
Frenchies in general! If you've only seen Frenchies in books,
order this video and take a look at he real thing before you
buy. Invaluable for those considering showing.
French Bulldog Book and Video Store
http://www.frenchbulldogfun.com/bookstore>http://www.frenchbull
dogfun.com/
Listing of every known book, video or magazine featuring (or
even mentioning!) French Bulldogs,including rare and out of
print books.
The French Bulldog
By Steve Eltinge. Available from ARDESIGN at 612-454-9510 or by
email to bullytin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
.
This book is the first new book written on French Bulldogs
since the 1950's. It was the winner of the prestigious Dog
Writers Association of America Book of the Year award. It is
invaluable for any one even thinking of purchasing a French
Bulldog, containing Breed history, health tips, and lots of
full colour pictures. We strongly suggest to all of our puppy
purchasers that they obtain a copy.
DOG FANCY MAGAZINE- The May 95 Edition
Has a short breed Outline of the French Bulldog, written by
Steve Eltinge.
Breed Clubs
The French Bull Dog Club of America
http://www.frenchbulldogclub.org
Information regarding the French Bulldog, including Breed
information
French Bulldog Fanciers of Canada
http://www.frenchbulldogs.org/fbfc
Member****p is open to all fanciers of the breed from any where
in the world.
Rescue
USA
The French Bull Dog Club of America Rescue League (
http://www.frenchbulldogclub.org).
Contact the FBDCA for information
on adopting a French Bulldog, or if you know of a French Bulldog in
need of rescue or re-homing. Adoptive homes are selected to meet the
needs of each individual dog, with the priority being the dog's well
being. A donation is required.
Canada
Please contact Carol Gravestock (bullmarket@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
) if
you know of a French Bulldog anywhere in Canada in need of rescue,
placment or re-homing. Please note that, due to the thankful scarcity
of French Bulldogs in need of rescue in Canada, no waiting list for
rescue homes is maintained. Please do not use this address to inquire
about adopting French Bulldogs. Residents of Canada who wish to be
informed of any dogs currently in need of homes within Canada can
visit http://www.bullmarketfrogs.com/rescue
.
_________________________________________________________________
French Bulldog FAQ
Carol Gravestock, frogdog@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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