Country/Date of Origin: France/1800s
Other Names: Bouledogue Francais

The French Bulldog bears a strong resemblance to the Burgos Bulldog, a breed that is a part of the Frenchie development and also characterized by the "bat ear.", which has become a trademark of the French Bulldog. For awhile, Great Britain tried to perfect a miniature or toy English Bulldog but this did not turn out successfully and many of the smaller Bulldogs from this breeding program were exported to France. Both the English Bulldog and the Burgos Bulldog  perfected the creation of the now "French Bulldog."

Despite the fact that French Bulldogs were derived from the help of other breeds in addition to the English Bulldog, Great Britain rose up in wrath when France named its breed French Bulldog. The feeling in England, where the Bulldog was a strong tradition, was that the Bulldog belonged strictly to their county and thus should be the only breed to bear the name "Bulldog." This particular insult was considered most unjustified by Frenchie fanciers due to the very distinctive appearance of the French Bulldog. Obviously, since it is the identification still used for them to this very day, the name French Bulldog remained with the breed.

It was not until the later part of the 19th century when the French Bulldog made an appearance in Great Britain, but it was America that they especially caught on, early in the 20th century, and there instantly loved and admired Despite the outrage over the use of the word Bulldog in the breed name, the British dog fanciers did not hold back their interest in the breed.

Fortunately, early American fanciers of the French Bulldog immediately realized the important  of the breed's bat ear, this most desired characteristic enhanced the breed's general appearance and gave it a celebrated distinction. Since these early days, the bat ear has received a very special prominence and presently is the most outstanding single feature of the French Bulldog. The French Bulldog Club of America was quickly formed upon the introduction of the breed to the USA, and the breed standard was created to maintain the proper look of the French Bulldog. The Frenchie club held the first big-time specialty show for ANY breed of dog at the ritzy New York City hotel, a custom which was to become the norm for dozens of breeds. This specialty took place in 1889, only a couple of years after the Frenchie clubs formation. They made their show debut spectacularly choosing as the location the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel. This specialty sparked other parent clubs to the sponsorship of specialty shows and stylish social gatherings at elegant New York hostelries. So great was the excitement from this first specialty that the number of French Bulldog fanciers in the New York area grew quickly. In the meanwhile, the Westminster Kennel Club Show had come to the notice of the public, and in 1903, 100 Frenchies were entered. Obviously the stylish New York City specialty events resulted in tremendous notice from fashionable New Yorkers, who would soon not be seen without a French Bulldog. The American Kennel Club admitted the French Bulldog to its stud book in 1898. The first dog admitted was Guguss.

History excerpt from: "French Bulldogs" by Anna Katherine Nicholas

Karin and Cheryl Daehn
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