If you are thinking of showing your French bulldog then you will have bought the puppy from a reputable breeder who has strived to raise show dogs and whose puppies come from winning show dogs. The breeder will have given you advice when choosing your puppy and the puppy will have all the appropriate papers needed for showing. There are certain criteria which the show dog must posses in order to become a champion and these are set out as follows:

General appearance - the body should be sturdy, compact and solid with good bone, the coat should be short, smooth and good overall balance is essential.

Characteristics – full of courage with clown like qualities, the ears should be bat like and the tail should be short but not docked.

Temperament - deeply affectionate and intelligent.

Head and skull - the head should be square, large and broad while being in proportion to the dogs size, skull should be almost flat between the ears with a domed forehead. Loose skin around the muzzle should form symmetrical wrinkles with the muzzle being broad, deep and set well back. The muscles of the cheeks should be well developed with black nose and lips. The lower jaw should be deep, square, broad and slightly undershot; the nose should be extremely short and black with clear nostrils. The lips should be thick and meet in the centre.

Eyes - the eyes should be dark in colour and match, they should be moderate in size, round and be neither sunken nor prominent. They should be set wide apart and low down in the skull.

Ears - the ears should be bat like and of medium size, they should be wide at the base and round at the top. The should be carried upright and not too close together.

Mouth – slightly under shot with teeth that are round and regular, the tongue must not protrude.

Neck - the neck should be powerful with loose skin at the throat, it should be well arched and thick without being too short.

Forequarters - the legs should be set wide apart, straight boned, strong, muscular and short.

Body – short, muscular and well rounded with deep wide brisket, wide at the shoulders and narrowing at the loins, the ribs should be well sprung.

Hind quarters - the legs should be strong, muscular and longer than the forelegs, the loins should be raised above shoulders.

Feet - small and compact.

Tail – short but undocked, thick at the root while tapering to the tip.

Coat - fine, smooth, short and close.

Colour – brindle, pied or fawn.

Size - ideal weight for dogs is 28lb, bitches should be 24lb.

While you might have in mind the exact breed of puppy you want many people have to make this decision when thinking of buying a puppy, there are so many different breeds to choose from each possessing qualities of their own. However there is also another option available when buying a puppy and this is buying a mixed breed puppy.

A mixed breed puppy can be just as beautiful as a pure bred and they are just as intelligent, a mixed breed is a mixture of two different breeds of dog somewhere down the line. Depending on if it is a first generation mixed, for example the mother could be a Labrador and the father a German Shepard then the puppy could look very similar to either of its parents and have the traits associated with both.

If the mix breed has both parents who are themselves a mixed breed then the puppy will still have the genes of the original two purebreds only they will be more recessive. If you just want a puppy for a pet and companion then it really doesn’t matter if you choose a mixed breed, if however you want the puppy for show then of course you will have no choice but to choose a purebred.

The purebred dog

One of the benefits of having a purebred dog is that you will know exactly what it’s going to look like when the puppy grows into an adult dog and you will know how big it will get. All purebreds have predictable physical characteristics that don’t vary much, if you want a certain size dog, with a particular coat length and colour then you will be able to choose a breed matching those characteristics.

Purebred dogs will also have to some extent a predictable temperament, if you are looking for a friendly dog with lots of energy then choose a breed which are know for this character. On the downside the purebred dog is generally more prone to disease and ailments than the mixed breed; this is mainly down to genetics in the breeding. Certain breeds are prone to certain diseases and illnesses; also in certain breeds the incidence of defects is extremely high.

The mixed breed dog

Most times its not possible to predict what a mixed breed puppy will turn out like, of course if the owner of the mother of the puppies has a purebred dog and she knows that the father of the puppies is a purebred dog then you will have a general idea of the size of the puppies and to some extent what they will look like. Most puppies however come from a long line of mixed breed and there will be no way of determining what the puppies will look like or how big they can grow to.

However a mixed breed dog can be just as loving and make just as good a pet as any of the purebred dogs do, just because the puppy is of mixed breed doesn’t make it inferior in any way, of course you wont be able to show the dog, though sometimes county fairs will have a special section in shows for mixed breed dogs. This however is strictly for fun and is usually for the cutest puppy, ugliest dog e.t.c. it is really just a matter of preference when choosing to go for a purebred or mixed breed.

Just because someone proudly brags that their puppy is a pedigree and it’s registered by a kennel club doesn’t necessarily mean that their puppy is any better than yours. Being registered by a kennel club doesn’t automatically mean that the puppy is of superior quality to one which isn’t, the kennel club will register any puppy whose parents were registered and those parents were registered because their parents were registered, and so it goes on. Registration by a kennel club simply means that you filled in a form and paid your money to keep the chain of registration going.

What does the pedigree mean?

Again apply to the kennel club, fill in a form, pay your money and they will access their database and look for the long list of names of your puppy’s parents, grand parents, great grand parents e.t.c, as many of them and as far back as you wish to pay for. A pedigree is really just nothing more than a family tree that we humans can trace back to find our relatives; the dog hasn’t had to meet any specific requirements for behaviour, temperament, health or appearance.

Every single year there are thousands of litters which are registered by the kennel club with the majority of these puppies being poor quality and defiantly not worthy of showing. So if a breeder is offering puppies for a ridiculous amount of money just because they are pedigree and are kennel club registered don’t be fooled into thinking you are getting something special because you probably aren’t.

Do the papers prove the puppy is purebred?

Unfortunately not, purebred simply means that the ancestors can be traced back for many generations and they all have the same set of fixed genes. Fixed genes are what give the dog its colour; size, type of coat e.t.c, and having these genes are what makes the puppy a purebred, if the puppy doesn’t have these genes then the registration papers don’t mean anything.

Just because a puppy has papers doesn’t mean they are right or true, for example if the owner has two German Shepard for breeding but the female accidentally gets out and the mixed breed dog from down the road mates with her if the breeder is dishonest there is nothing stopping her from filling in the registration papers and claiming that her boxer male is the father. If the puppies take after their mum then the breeder may get away with it, and these puppies while having registration and pedigree are far from purebred puppies.

What are pedigrees and registration good for?

Pedigrees and registration papers are only really useful for the conscientious breeder; a breeder will use the pedigree to trace back the origins of a dog before considering breeding them. They will check the pedigrees to make sure that they aren’t breeding two dogs that are closely related, they also use them to check out temperament, physical build and health of as many ancestors as they can.

There are many varied explanations of where the French bulldog actually originated from, however the most prevalent of these suggests that it came from the toy bulldog which was brought to France by some lace workers from Nottingham in the UK. There is however some that speculate the fact of artwork and skeletal finds of the bulldog know as Chincha in ancient Peru and which is said to closely resemble the French bulldog.

Excavated sites uncovered burial grounds which unearthed mummified bodies of dogs, skulls and skeletons, which did indeed confirm that bulldog like dogs did live around 1100 to 1400 AD in Peru. It was found that the Chincha bulldogs skull did have many similarities to what we know as the French bulldog today.

By the 1950`s and 1860`s England saw the increase of the toy or miniature bulldog and when many of the workers moved to France in search of work they took these smaller bulldogs with them. They found this small variety of bulldog was ideal for the small, cramped living conditions, in which they lived also these small bulldogs, were found to be excellent at hunting and killing rats which where to be a plague of that century.

Their popularity increased as more French realised they were not only good companions but also great “ratters”. By the mid 1860`s the breed became so popular and exportation to France was so great that the breed almost became extinct in England. The bulldog was then crossed with a terrier native to France the “terrier boule”, this also looked very similar to a small bulldog and this cross eventually gave rise to the French bulldog of which we know today.

Historians of other breeds have also claimed that the small bulldog was crossed with the pug but no evidence has ever substantiated this claim. What was known then as the petite boule quickly expanded in popularity throughout France and they became a favourite of the courtesans who adored the dog for its eccentric appearance? It was during this period that the upper class also fell for the charm of the little bulldog and its popularity soon began to extend to royalty.

The French bulldog however really took off in the 1880 when a group of French bulldog owners began to have regular meetings and it was during 1885 that the first provisional register of the breed was recognised and the French bulldog appeared in a show under its own name, the French bulldog in 1887. the French bulldog first appeared at a show in the United States in 1896 in New York, this is where the popular name “frenchie” was first given them and it is a name which has stuck with them ever since.

It was the Americans who organised the first ever French bulldog club in the world and it was these who first insisted that the “bat” ear of the dog which is still associated with the breed today should be considered the correct form for the standard.

The French bulldog breed is prone to several conditions and congenital diseases the most common of these being problems relating to breathing due to the squatness of their face. The French bulldog is also particularly prone to a condition called Von Williebrands disease which is a disease similar to haemophilia in humans. Many breeders of the French bulldog now routinely perform tests for this particular disease.

One of the most common defects found in the French bulldog is elongated soft palate or cleft palate, cleft palate is considered to be something which is almost impossible to correct in the French bulldog and so puppies born with this defect are generally put down at birth.

The elongated soft palate can cause problems such as mild laboured breathing difficulties to the more serious condition in which the dog can pass out during moderate exercise. One serious problem for both dog and owner due to a soft elongated palate is the regurgitation of food, a dog with this condition will vomit up food or phlegm during exercise or after eating.

Before buying a puppy always ask the breeder if the parents have this problem or have been operated on for this problem. Another problem of the French bulldog is due to the compacted airways of the breed is their inability to regulate successfully their temperature, while most other breeds suffer to some degree from the heat to the frenchie it can be fatal.

Therefore it is essential that they are protected from extreme to temperatures at all times and that they have access to cool water and shade. The frenchie is also prone to back problems, some of which are spinal diseases. This is probably down to the fact that the dogs were chosen from dwarf breeds and some breeders feel that only dogs that have had spinal x rays should be used to breed from.

The breathing system of the French bulldog

The French bulldog has a flat face, short muzzle and a condensed breathing system; it is this breathing system that gives the breed its commonly known snuffles, sniffles and snorting noises. It is this system which also makes the French bulldog a bad candidate for anaesthesia; this is one aspect that should be talked about with your vet before any surgery is undertaken.

Heatstroke

The shorter breathing system of the French bulldog puts them at greater risk of heatstroke than many other breeds, the frenchie has less chance of cooling the air that it takes into the body which can then result in them becoming overheated. Great care should be taken on warm days to ensure that your frenchie has somewhere cool to lie down and that cool fresh water is available to them at all times. It can never be stressed enough that great care with a very watchful eye should be taken to cool your dog down should they start to pant a lot and their inner ears suddenly redden.

The French bulldog is a small, compact, short coated dog which weighs around 11kgs, they can be very stubborn particularly when older and training should commence at an early age. The French bulldog is known for its comical expressive face and heavy or noisy breathing due to the squatness of its face and nose, the French bulldog can live a life expectancy of around 9 to 15 years.

French bulldog dietary requirements

Weight can be a problem for the frenchie and this should be monitored constantly as it can lead to serious breathing difficulties, heart problems and back problems in the breed.

French bulldog show characteristics

The French bulldog has a square, squat, large head with a broad deep short muzzle, the head between the ears and face should be flat and wrinkled. The bottom jaw should be turned up and slightly undershot; the eyes should be round, deep set and dark in colour. The ears should be high set and of medium size, they should be broad and always held erect.

The ears have often been described as bat ears. The neck should be thick, powerful and well arched with plenty of loose skin at the throat. The chest should be deep with a short body while being wide at the front and narrow towards the back. The front legs should be straight, short, muscular and strong and should be set wide.

The back legs should be muscular, strong and slightly longer than the front legs. Feet should be well knuckled, strong and compact, with the back feet being longer than the front ones. The tail should be short but not docked and set low, the coat should be short, smooth and fine. The most favourable colours for the breed are fawn, brindle, pied and solid black.

Brief history of the French bulldog

Contrary to its name some suggest that the French bulldog is actually of Spanish origin where it was traditionally used as a bull baiting dog. In the 1860`s these dogs where then transported to France and were thought to have been crossed with the French terrier, this lead to the French bulldog which we know today. It is thought to have first appeared in Britain around 1893 with the earlier breed being called the toy bulldog.

General characteristics of the French bulldog

The French bulldog is a very affectionate breed which can be jealous when they aren’t receiving all your attention, it is also wise not to leave the breed alone for long periods as they can be destructive if left to their own devices. They have a medium energy level needing on average around 20 minutes of exercise daily.

Their level of aggression is low and it isn’t a breed which is prone to barking constantly, they are a breed which will get along with children and other animals well and thrive on human companion ship and being a part of family life.

It is a breed which is particularly easy to groom and one which doesn’t shed a much as other breeds, though special attention should be paid to the wrinkles around the face which do need to be kept clean.

The French bulldog or “Frenchie” as they are charmingly nicknamed is a delightful little animal which can make an excellent companion, guard dog and is also excellent around children.

It is however a breed that doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time but rather loves spending time with a companion and is regarded as a faithful companion dog. The French bulldog has earned itself several nicknames which includes “a clown”, “fearless” and “gay” and due to its small size needs very limited space so is ideal for those that live in apartments.

However they do require exercising the same as all breeds of dog and enjoy the fresh air but in return for this the “Frenchie” will give you many years of loyalty and devotion. They are regarded as one of the most intelligent breeds of dog and do adapt easily to training, in fact their willingness to please their owner makes training fun, puppies can be very mischievous and when reaching the “teenage” years they can be very independent so perseverance is essential during this time and of course understanding and patience. When it comes to choosing your French bulldog you will of course have to decide what role it is to play, there are puppies that are sold as “show” dogs and those that are sold as companion dogs or pets. The main difference will be the cost of the puppy. A puppy that has been bred for showing will meet the criteria set out for the standard of the American kennel club while a companion dog may fall a little short. However if you don’t have plans to show the dog then there is nothing wrong with choosing a puppy from a companion litter.

When it comes to buying your puppy you should always go to a reputable breeder for your dog, never buy a puppy from a puppy farm or pet store. A reputable breeder will be able to give you all the information you need regarding this charming little dog and this is essential if you know very little about the breed. As with all breeds of dogs the Frenchie isn’t without its problems when it comes to medical conditions and a reputable breeder will have had their puppies checked over and will have given them the necessary inoculations. A reputable breeder will also be there to give advice after the sale of the puppy if you should have any problems. There are French bulldog clubs throughout all States in the USA which can pass a list of breeder’s names onto you and again a club such as this holds vital information and facts regarding the breed.

When looking for a puppy it is often said that a puppy will choose you rather than you it, but some tips for choosing a healthy puppy include choosing one that isn’t shy and comes forward with plenty of curiosity whilst at the same time not being over boisterous. The puppy should show a keen interest and be inquisitive, should have a sheen to its coat and bright alert eyes, don’t choose a puppy that shies away from you, is very quiet or that seems to be very docile, while it could mean the puppy is nothing more than just being shy, it could also indicate problems.

The cost of the French bulldog is mostly determined by the quality of the breed, if you are looking for a dog that meets the standard for the breed to a tee with the option of showing the dog at dog shows then you will pay more for a puppy than you would if you just had in mind to have the dog as a pet.

A French bulldog sold just as a pet will not meet the high standards that are needed and meet the specific criteria that is set out in the breed standard, this might be that the ears are slightly too small than that of the standard or they don’t stand right on the head. This of course doesn’t defer from the dogs appearance and lovability of course and the puppy is worthy of buying if you just want a companion dog and of course they are cheaper, but if you want a dog for show then you will have to ensure that it does meet the exact standards and of course the show breeders will charge a high price for a puppy that come from show stock quality.

While the ears and quality of the French bulldog are the main consideration when it comes to cost, they should appear bat like; there are other factors which can determine how much you pay for your dog or puppy. The French bulldog can be found in a gorgeous array of colours and if you want one of the more exotic colours that are being bred then you can expect to pay more. The more common colours of the French bulldog such as the pied, brindles and cream are a lot cheaper to buy as are black and tan and live and mouse colours.

Perhaps one of the biggest factors which determine the high cost that is associated with the French bulldog is the problems they have when breeding and delivering the puppy or puppies. The French bulldog breed has very small litters due to their small size and usually has just one or two at the most and of course this puts up the cost of the puppy drastically in comparison to breeds that have six or seven puppies to a litter. The majority of puppies are born by caesarean, again due to the size of the mother and the fact that the French bulldog is noted for its big head and ear size which makes giving birth difficult and when it comes to breeding the bitch usually has to be inseminated artificially, which of course is very costly and as such the price of the puppy will reflect this.

The French bulldog is considered to one of the expensive breeds of dogs but of course this is only reflected by the care they need and the means which have to used during conception and birth. You should be very wary of any puppy which is offered as a bargain as this could mean that both the puppy and the parents aren’t registered by the kennel club, they might not have the proper documentation or that the health and care of the puppy and its parents weren’t the best.