French Bulldogs, despite the name, were bred in England. In the 19th century, breeders decided to create a breed of companion dog that could easily be kept in urban conditions. Craftsmen, seamstresses, lacemakers did not miss the opportunity to acquire a mischievous pet, which pleased the owners with a light disposition and funny habits. To breed such a dog, breeders selected the smallest English bulldogs, crossed them with terriers, pugs. This is how the modern breed appeared.
In the second half of the 19th century, the demand for manual labor greatly decreased due to the rapid development of manufactories. Many English workers moved to France, taking their beloved dogs with them. According to another version, bulldogs were brought here by traders. Good-natured character, ability to catch small rodents and unusually large erect ears instantly attracted the attention of the French public to this breed.
In Paris, courtesans became the first owners, or rather owners, of small bulldogs. There are many photo postcards with naked or semi-naked women posing with their pets. Very quickly, the fashion for these dogs spread in high society, as evidenced by numerous photographs. Since the 80s of the XIX century, a real boom in the popularity of the breed began. At this time, Paris was already the fashion capital of the world, so the whole world soon learned about French bulldogs. In 1890, dogs were brought to the USA, and 7 years later the FBDCA (French Bulldog Club of America) was established.
French Bulldogs made their public debut at an English show in 1896, where they won the admiration of many breeders. Breeders are interested in breeding these dogs. The popularity of the breed grew rapidly, and in 1913 about a hundred French Bulldogs arrived at the Westminster show. Initially, these dogs were called Bouledogue Francais, but at the beginning of the 20th century the name was changed to French Bulldog. The Kennel Club in 1905 recognized the breed as an independent breed, separating it from the English Bulldogs.
In the 20s of the twentieth century, these cute pets came to the territory of Russia, but since puppies were very expensive, only representatives of the nobility and simply rich people could afford a French bulldog. Fedor Chaliapin was one of the most famous fans of French Bulldogs. Over time, the popularity of these dogs declined, but they still managed to take the 21st place in the popularity rating among 167 breeds registered by the AKC.
There is a beautiful legend that a French bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe, being the pet of one of the passengers of the Titanic, managed to escape from a shipwreck and even find a new owner. However, this is only half the truth – archival records confirm the presence of a bulldog on board, but he failed to survive. Since the dog was insured, its owner received an impressive compensation – more than 20 thousand dollars. Another representative of the breed, which went down in history under sad circumstances, was Ortipo, the favorite of Princess Tatyana Nikolaevna (daughter of Nicholas II). The dog died along with the mistress during the execution of the royal family.
Appearance of French Bulldogs
The standard for French Bulldogs had been developed by the time they started showing. The main criteria allow you to select the best representatives of the breed: healthy, suitable for show and breeding.
Dimensions
They are small, compact dogs. Adult males weigh about 10-15 kg, females – 8-12 kg. The height at the withers is not officially limited by the standard, but usually it does not exceed 25-35 cm.
Wool
The coat of the French Bulldogs is smooth, shiny and thin, the cover fits well to the body and does not have an undercoat, so it is worth warming the dog for walking in cold weather.
Torso
The French Bulldog has a strong, square build. The back and hind legs are muscular and strong.
front legs
The forelimbs are somewhat shorter than the hind legs, which visually makes the dog slightly stooped. Because of this feature, pets like to lie in a funny position – stretching their hind legs back. The weighted body and short legs do not allow the French Bulldog to swim (it can stay upright on the water and gets tired quickly).
Head
Wide and square, so the representatives of the breed are inherent in undershot. Some puppies are born with an elongated or cleft soft palate.
Muzzle
On the forehead there are wrinkles characteristic of the breed, passing closer to the middle into symmetrical concentric folds, the muzzle is short. A small nose is flattened and turned up. The forehead has a convex profile, the neck is covered with folds. The eyes are large, round with a benevolent expression. Breathing is difficult, accompanied by sounds similar to grunting.
Ears
The organs of hearing are large, erect, rounded at the ends.
Color options
Fawn, white, black, brindle, spotted, beige, white-brindle, blue (not recognized by all associations), cream.