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What is a purebred French Bulldog?
source: FCI breed standard
FCI-Standard N° 101; Group IX: Companion and Toy Dogs; Section 11 Small Molossian Dog
The exact appearance and behavior of a purebred french bulldog was specified in detail in the FCI breed standard as early as 1898. This document describes the appearance of a representative of this breed, taking into account such features as overall impression, important proportions, temperament, head, neck, torso, tail, limbs, gait/movement, skin, coat, height and weight, as well as faults. In addition, the breed standard provides information on the origin and history of the breed, its utility and FCI classification.
A french lapdog?
The exact origin of French bulldogs is unclear due to the rather complicated history of this wonderful breed. The French claim to have created the breed, but the British also claim to have played a part in its creation due to its similarity to the English Bulldog. English Bulldogs, which have their roots in Great Britain, the origin of purebred dogs, were used, for example, to immobilize bulls (from the words ‘bull’ and ‘dog’). Hence the specific brachycephalic skull structure: a broad head and muzzle, a receding nose, a strong jaw and ears curled back like rose petals. This structure of the English Bulldog's head ensured a stable grip on the bull while allowing it to breathe, and the ear, which is a very sensitive and highly vascularized part of the head, was less vulnerable to injury.
With industrialization in the mid-19th century, many craftsmen and workers from England moved to France, taking their dogs with them, including bulldogs. There, the dogs began to be crossbred in order to obtain specific and useful traits, e.g. by focusing breeding on traits useful for hunting rodents. This probably resulted in a slightly smaller, lighter, more agile dog with erect ears, whose shape and size ensured better hearing (to this day, every French Bulldog owner is familiar with the characteristic and unique capabilities of their ears!). French Bulldogs soon became extremely popular in Paris, especially among artists, workers and the upper classes. In 1880, the first official breed club was founded. The breed quickly gained popularity among dog lovers due to its friendly, cheerful disposition, feisty and playful character, and unique appearance, and became one of the most desirable companions in the home.
Unfortunately, the breed's magnificence and popularity do not always work in its favor. Irresponsible breeders acting out of the wrong motives have contributed to many problems within the breed, which is why responsible and ethical breeding of purebred dogs, with a focus on the quality and health of the breed, is so important.
💡Interesting fact: Did you know that a French bulldog's ear is made up of around 20 muscles?
A sweet, greedy couch potato?
The French Bulldog is a breed with a unique character that has won over its fans. However, contrary to what one might think, these are not gluttonous dogs that lie on the sofa all day, avoiding conflict and the slightest bit of exercise. Let's take a look at the breed standard! It gives us clear guidelines on what kind of dog we should expect. "The type is of a small-sized molossian. A powerful dog for its small size, short, stocky, compact in all its proportions, smooth-coated, with a snub nose, erect ears and a naturally short tail. Must have the appearance of an active, intelligent, very muscular dog, of compact build with a solid bone structure. No point is exaggerated compared to the others, which could spoil the dog’s general harmony, in appearance and in movement."
"BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT: Sociable, lively, playful, possessive, and keen companion dog."
Exactly… so, what is the French Bulldog like?
First and foremost, they are the life and soul of the family, dogs that love to accompany their owners everywhere and at all times, in the literal sense of the word (yes, even in the restroom 😉). In addition to companionship with humans, which they seek constantly and very effectively, these dogs love the company of other dogs. However, it is worth remembering that due to their characteristic anatomical structure, bulldogs may be misinterpreted at first glance by other dogs because of the messages they send (standing, forward-facing ears, strong build, short tail, muzzle structure). Therefore, every dog owner should familiarize themselves with how dogs function, their psyche and how they communicate, and remember that dogs are not humans and communicate differently than we do.
French bulldogs are temperamental. These dogs can clearly and firmly show their temperament, for which they are also loved. Their possessiveness and sometimes feistiness are indispensable elements of their character. It is worth remembering this when choosing a dog of this breed. A bulldog will not always be docile and submissive, but genetics and training have a significant impact on a dog's behavior.
Vibrant and playful: this is a great description of this breed's nature. Bulldogs love to run, romp, play and learn! They are very clever, intelligent and sensible dogs, which makes working with them a pleasure. Bulldogs love walks and outdoor activities, but they will also entertain themselves at home. Due to their sociable nature, they love playing with each other and with humans. They sleep a lot! Like all dogs, regardless of breed, this is a natural need. It is very important to allow your dog to get adequate rest. The owner (it is also important to make children aware of this!) should remember to give the dog rest and respect its need for peace and quiet. Bulldogs are not a bundle of energy all the time, but it is worth remembering that they will require a lot of attention and time from their owner and will not feel good without attention.
Loving and patient! Bulldogs are loyal and devoted to their family throughout their entire lives and show them all their love every day. They are wonderful companions, always keeping their humans happy thanks to their cheerful personality. This means that even when we are having a difficult day, a bulldog will always brighten our mood. These dogs love to be petted, cuddled and be close to their humans. They are therefore not suitable for people who need a lot of personal space. They are also very attentive, which makes them great guardians of their home and family.
Why does coat colour matter?
Examples of French Bulldog coat colors in accordance with the FCI standard: fawn, brindle, pied (brindle with moderate or important white spotting), fawn and white (fawn with moderate or important white spotting).
Examples of French bulldog coat colours that do not comply with the FCI standard: merle, blue, tan.
The FCI standard allows the following coat colors in the breed:
"Brindle: Fawn coat moderately characterized by transversal dark brindling creating a ‘tiger-marked’ effect, strongly brindled coats must not cover out the fawn ground colour. A black mask may be present. Limited white spotting is admissible.
Fawn: Solid coat, from light fawn to dark fawn, sometimes presenting a paler colouring of the inclined parts, with or without a black mask, although masked subjects are preferred. Sometimes accompanied by limited white spotting.
Coat with white spotting:
*Brindled with moderate or important white spotting: So-called ‘pied’, the spotting being ideally distributed over the entire subject. Some blotches on the skin are admissible.
*Fawn with moderate or important white spotting: So-called ‘fawn and white’, the spotting being ideally distributed over the entire dog. Some blotches of the skin are tolerated.
The nose is always black, in all coat colours, never brown or blue. The all-white subjects provided the edge of eyelids and nose are black – are admitted but not bred for, because of a risk of deafness."
The basic coat color of a French Bulldog is therefore fawn, ranging from light fawn to dark fawn. Brindle individuals are fawn dogs with black stripes, not the other way around. Pied bulldogs are fawn or brindle dogs with white patches, not white with fawn or brindle patches, although it may seem so because most of the dog's body is covered with white.
When walking, you probably come across dogs looking similar to this breed that are completely gray with blue eyes (blue coat), or gray-black (merle), or tan. On the internet, you can also see, for example, “fluffy” dogs, i.e., shaggy dogs with longer hair, or dogs that are lilac, cocoa, or chocolate-colored. Why are these colors not correct, yet still common? A dog's coat color is genetically determined. In the case of such non-standard coat colors, it is often associated with diseases or some kind of dysfunction in the dog's body. For this reason, such coat colors that do not comply with the standard are considered defective and may be associated with, for example, immune system dysfunction, severe skin problems, allergies, eye diseases, etc.
What does it mean for a dog to be purebred?
A purebred French Bulldog is one whose ancestors are individuals of known and pure origin, without admixtures of dogs of the breed type (only similar in appearance to a bulldog, but originating from crossbreeding of individuals of unknown origin).
It is worth knowing that in 2011, Poland changed its animal protection law. Since then, every dog breeder in the country has to be a member of some association. This change was meant to stop people from selling puppies at places like markets. Unfortunately, this has contributed to the misleading of potential puppy buyers. Currently, any dog born in Poland can be called a purebred dog, regardless of whether its origin is fully documented. It is sufficient for its breeder to belong to any association. Such breeders can print their own certificates or pedigrees, which are incomplete in terms of the animal's origin. These kennels do not have to be controlled in any way, and the parents of the puppies do not have to be carefully selected for breeding. Before the amendment to the Act, only dogs from kennels registered with the Polish Kennel Club (ZKwP) could be called purebred.
What are the ZKwP and the FCI?
The Polish Kennel Club (ZKwP) is based in Warsaw and was founded in 1938, making it the oldest Polish cynological organization in Poland, bringing together dog lovers and breeders across the country. Since 1939, the ZKwP has been a member of the International Cynological Federation (FCI), to which it has introduced five Polish breeds recognised by the FCI. The association consists of 48 departments located throughout the country. The members of the Association are interested in breeding, exhibiting, training and dog competitions. A very important aspect of membership is the protection and promotion of purebred dogs. The aim of the association is to breed purebred dogs, organize training, exhibitions and competitions, as well as to educate the public and promote purebred dogs.
More information: https://www.zkwp.pl/
Poznań branch of ZKwP website: http://www.poznan.zkwp.pl/
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is based in Belgium. It is the oldest and largest international cynological organisation in Europe, founded in 1911 to promote and protect cynology and purebred dogs. The organisation has 98 members and contractual partners. Only one association from each country can be a member of the FCI. In Poland, this is the Polish Kennel Club (ZKwP). The FCI recognises 356 dog breeds. The countries from which a given breed originates are responsible for establishing the breed standard. The FCI provides translations, updates and publications of standards, and patronises international dog shows held in member countries, as well as agility competitions and training contests, for example. This ensures that breed standards are maintained in breeding worldwide and that the breeding of purebred dogs continues. Purebred dogs are judged by judges based on FCI breed standards at shows organised by FCI members.
More information: https://www.fci.be/en/
Also worth checking out:
Strefa Buldoga Francuskiego: An interesting polish French Bulldog fan page on Facebook, where you can find information about this wonderful breed in the country and around the world.
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