From the beginning of the nineteenth century, bulldogs were bred in the United Kingdom for purposes other than traditional blood sports such as bull-baiting, which were banned in 1835. By the middle of the century there were miniature bulldogs, often weighing some 7–11 kg (15–24 lb), though some weighed considerably less.

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At the same time, lace workers from Nottingham who were displaced by the Industrial Revolution began to settle in Normandy, France.  They brought a variety of dogs with them, including Toy Bulldogs. The dogs became popular in France and a trade in imported small Bulldogs was created, with breeders in England sending over Bulldogs that they considered to be too small, or with faults such as ears that stood up. By 1860, there were few Toy Bulldogs left in England, such was their popularity in France.

The small Bulldog type gradually became thought of as a breed, and received a name, the Bouledogue Francais.  This Francization of the English name is also a contraction of the words boule ('ball') and dogue ('mastiff'). The dogs were highly fashionable and were sought after by society ladies and Parisian prostitutes alike, as well as creatives such as artists, writers, and fashion designers. The artists Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec are thought to have French Bulldogs in their paintings. However, records were not kept of the breed's development as it diverged further away from its original Bulldog roots. As it changed, terrier stock had been brought in to develop traits such as the breed's long straight ears.

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Americans had been importing French Bulldogs for a while, but it was not until 1885 that they were brought over in order to set up an American-based breeding program. They were mostly owned by society ladies, who first displayed them at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1896. In the following year, the judge at the dog show, George Raper, only chose winners with "rose ears"—ears that folded at the tip, as with the standard for Bulldogs.  The ladies formed the French Bull Dog Club of America and created a breed standard which preferred the "erect bat ear" type.  In the early 20th century, the breed remained in vogue for high society, with dogs changing hands for up to $3,000 and being owned by members of influential families such as the Rockefellers and the J. P. Morgans. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed quickly after the breed club was formed, and by 1906 the French Bulldog was the fifth most popular dog breed in America.

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This new Bulldog breed arrived for the first time in England in 1893, with English Bulldog breeders in an uproar as the French imports did not meet the new breed standards in place by this time, and they wanted to prevent the English stock from crossbreeding with the French. The Kennel Club initially recognized them as a subset of the existing Bulldog breed rather than an entirely new breed.  Some English breeders in this period bred the French Bulldogs in order to resurrect the Toy Bulldog. On 10 July 1902, at the house of Frederick W. Cousens, a meeting was held to set up a breed club in order to seek individual recognition for the French breed.  The adopted breed standard was the same one which was already in use in America, France, Germany and Austria. Despite opposition from Miniature Bulldog (the new breed name for the Toy Bulldog) and Bulldog breeders,:   in 1905, the Kennel Club changed its policy on the breed and recognized them separate from the English variety, initially as the Bouledogue Francais, then in 1912 as the French Bulldog.

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Today the French Bulldog is commonly kept as a pet: in 2020, it was the second-most registered dog in the United Kingdom, and the fourth-most in the United States. They were rated the third-most popular dog in Australia in 2017. In 2019, in the United Kingdom, the French Bulldog had a total of 33,661 registered dogs. By comparison, the Labrador Retriever had over 36,700 dogs and the Cocker Spaniel fewer than 22,000. In 2013, the American Kennel Club (AKC) ranked the French Bulldog as the 10th most popular breed in the United States, enjoying a sharp rise in popularity from 54th place a decade before, in 2003.  In 2023, the French Bulldog overtook the Labrador as the most popular breed of dog as ranked by the AKC. Before 2023, Labradors had held the top spot for 31 years.

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The American Kennel Club standard for the French Bulldog states that it should be muscular, with a soft and loose coat forming wrinkles.

The AKC Standard weight for a French Bulldog is at maximum 28 pounds (13 kg). The head of a French bulldog should be square shaped and large, with ears that resemble bat ears. French bulldogs are a flat-faced breed. Eyes that are AKC Standard approved for French Bulldogs are dark, almost to the point of being black; blue eyed French bulldogs are not AKC approved. The coat of a French bulldog should be short haired and fine and silky. Acceptable colors under the breed standard are the various shades of brindle, fawn, cream or white with brindle patches (known as "pied"). The fawn colors can be any light through red. The most common colors are brindle, then fawn, with pieds being less common than the other colors.

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In 2013, a UK Medical Study reviewed the health of 2228 French Bulldogs under veterinary care in the UK. The study found that 1612 (72.4%) of these French Bulldog had at least one recorded health issue: The most common disorders recorded were ear infections (14.0%), diarrhea (7.5%) and conjunctivitis (3.2%). Skin problems were the most commonly reported group of disorders (17.9%).  The shortened snout and pushed in face of the French Bulldog is known as brachycephaly.  Brachycephaly results in deformation of the upper airway tract and leads to obstruction of breathing. Effects of brachycephaly are stridor, stertorous breathing, emesis, skin fold dermatitis, brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome, exophthalmos, pharyngeal gag reflex, cyanosis, and laryngeal collapse. Other issues arising from brachycephaly are risk of complications whilst under anaesthesia,  and hyperthermia — with the latter caused due to an inability to effectively reduce body temperature via panting. French Bulldogs are banned by several commercial airlines (CARGO) due to this.

OUR PUPPIES ONLY FLY IN CABIN WITH A FLIGHT NANNY!! (NOT CARGO) AND IT IS COMPLETELY SAFE FOR THEM TO FLY IN CABIN WITH THE FLIGHT NANNY JUST NOT CARGO DUE TO AIR FLOW IN CARGO AND THERE BREED STRUCTURE. 

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The French Bulldogs don’t require a lot of grooming and generally do well in small living quarters. They are not noisy and most of them are very fond of people. They should never be allowed to run free, and should only be allowed outdoors in a fenced yard or on a leash.

 

 French Bulldogs must never be left unattended around water, as they are poor swimmers and can easily drown due to their front-heavy structure. French bulldogs do best in moderate temperatures and should be carefully supervised in both high and low temperature ranges. Panting or shivering are both indications of excessive exposure. In warm and/climates or humid environments, (over approximately 70º F), air conditioning in the house and car are a must!

 

Indestructible dog toys are best, as those powerful bulldog jaws can destroy less durable ones; and rawhide type chews should not be used because when they soften they can become lodged in a Frenchie's throat.

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Occasional brushing keeps the coat shiny, and regular nail trimming is a MUST since they don’t usually wear their nails down by running. Regular cleaning of the ears and of the deep facial folds will prevent these sensitive areas from becoming irritated or infected.

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The AKC Breed Standard describes “an active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and of medium or small structure. Expression is alert, curious and interested.

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The French Bulldog has enjoyed a long history as a companion dog. but today his job focuses on being a fabulous family friend and show dog. The French Bulldog is a rare dog breed, so expect to be the topic of conversation when people see you with a French Bulldog. Also expect to put in some time on a waiting list before you’re able to bring one home.

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sources from: www.dogbreed.com, From Wikipedia, AKC.

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