The French Bulldog is a small breed of domestic dog. "Frenchies" were the result in the 1800s of a cross between bulldog ancestors imported from England and local ratters in Paris (France).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Bulldog

Judging the French Bulldog (AKC -- Illustrated Breed Standard)

•  http://images.akc.org/pdf/FBDCA_2018_Judges_ed_presentation.pdf

AKC Video (link - https://youtu.be/P7rIdO1txwU

View more videos on AKC's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AmericanKennelClub

SCC Video (link - https://youtu.be/tazcnw7rFoQ

View more videos on SCC's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKR90_uWp8dUNpGTfQ_y_Zw

• Fransk Bulldogg
• Bouledogue Francais
• Bulldog Francés
• Französiche Bulldogge
• Ranskanbulldoggi

France - Club du Bouledogue Francais: www.cbf-asso.org

Get a GRIHP! on French Bulldogs

This article on French Bulldogs is part of a series to highlight the Big Picture of health, welfare and breeding. Concerns for the welfare of brachycephalic breeds, including the French Bulldog, have been the subject of much debate over the past several years. The popularity of French Bulldogs is undeniable; demand for this breed has soared over the past decade.  Supply and demand has led to production of pups by less than scrupulous breeders who are not operating under the umbrella or direction of KCs and Breed club health improvement program recommendations.

Extremes of conformation are recognized as contributing factors in development of health and welfare challenges.  French Bulldogs are short-muzzled dogs - the breed has historically exhibited short noses. But over time, incrementally shorter faces and heavier, shorter-backed body proportions (related to spinal abnormalities) have become an accepted norm in the breed. Extreme examples of some brachycephalic breeds go even further than the drift that has occurred in the conformation rings over the past 100 years into the realm of essentially deformed dogs with almost no muzzle, deformed jaws, no tails, unbalanced proportions and poor skeletal structure.  The catastrophic health problems associated with extreme conformations has been well documented.**  

Health management and breeding strategies constructed by Kennel and Breed clubs are focused on identifying the prevalence of and effective methods to address key health concerns in the breed. In some cynological organizations Breed Standard wording has been clarified to minimize the acceptability of extreme traits.  In 2020 legislative action was taken by the Netherlands to regulate breeding of Brachycephalic breeds with the goal to enhance health and welfare. Additional legislative processes are underway in several other countries in Europe. Criteria for breeding outlined in the Dutch legislation involves the requirement to increase the ratio of length of muzzle to back skull (CFR).  The information in this article will assist all stakeholders to see the Big Picture - internationally - for the French Bulldog.  It should help the veterinary community to guide clients and to educate potential owners in determining whether a French Bulldog is the right breed for them. Sourcing of puppies from breeders who practice critical, rational, logical thinking about breeding decisions focused on health and welfare of the dogs produced and kept as companions is an important pre-purchase consideration for anyone with an interest in obtaining a French Bulldog. However, more than one research study has shown that people who are attracted to the appearance of Frenchies, do not prioritize health when they are acquiring one of these dogs, and, in spite of serious and costly veterinary care, as well as suffering for the dog and the owner, many indicate that they would purchase another one. Why do people choose the dogs they do - and what is the impact on dog health and welfare?

Check out the IPFD - WSAVA Meet the Breed article on French Bullldogs.

See our series of articles in the WSAVA Bulletin.

French Bulldog Breed Watch Report

IKFB - Interview - German International Club for French Bulldogs

French Bulldog - The Kennel Club - Dog Health Group Annual Report 2013

Bullies, Pugs and Bulldogs – The Current Top Runners

"We are the nerds" Dr. Anne Posthoff, the president of the German International Club for French Bulldogs, explains why the rules for breeding French Bulldogs in Germany are among the strictest in the world.

Club du Bouledogue Français CBF ACTION FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE FRENCH BULLDOG -- CURRENT SITUATION AND PROSPECTS

There are numerous breed standards.

The basis of breed/conformation shows is the judging of pedigree dogs against the 'Breed Standard', which is a picture in words that describes the range of features that are deemed appropriate for the breed.

Three of the major international standards are:

The American Kennel Club

The Kennel Club, UK

FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale)

1. Swedish Insurance Data

• Breed-specific information on rates of disease and death from Agria Pet Insurance (Agria Djurförsäkring) is available for many breeds.

2. Finland: JTO: http://www.suomenranskanbulldogit.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Jalostuksen-tavoiteohjelma-pohja-2021-2025-rev-final.pdf

Health/Breeding Strategy Documents and Links:

The Kennel Club, UK: Breed Watch

• Breed Health Conservation Plan 2018
• Breed Health Conservation Plan 2019 (at VetCompass)
• Respiratory Function Grading Scheme

1. Sweden: Breed-specific Breeding Strategies: (in Swedish) and/or English Summary
2. Finland: Health and Breeding
3. The German Kennel Club (VDH) | Internationaler Klub für Französische Bulldoggen e.V. (IKFB)
   FEATURE: Bullies, Pugs and Bulldogs – the current top runners
   "The snub-nosed are currently high up on the list of favourite dogs... At the VDH even French Bulldogs & Co have to clear high hurdles for breeding. By means of a stress test, for example, they have to prove that they really are top runners. Journalist Philip Alsen and his camera team paid a visit to the International Club for French Bulldogs (IKFB) to witness a breeding soundness examination."
   Article/Video Link (English): http://www.vdh.de/en/news/artikel/bullies-pugs-and-bulldogs-the-current-top-runners/
4. PRESENTATION: A Genetic Overview of the French Bulldog: Dr. Jerold Bell (2009): Click here to view downloads
5. Norsk Kennel Klub (Norwegian) Versjon 1 Gyldig t.o.m.: http://www.dogwellnet.com/files/file/129-french-bulldog-ras-norsk-kennel-klub-norwegian/
6. The French Bulldog Club of England: French Bulldog Breed Watch Report (2014)
7. Also see the BSI, FCI Group 9 - http://www.skk.se/Global/Dokument/Utstallning/special-breed-specific-instructions-A8.pdf

Excerpt: "French Bulldog (Bouledogue francais) - brachycephalic and small molossoïd breed
The special conformation of this breed with shortened skull and overly short bridge of nose as well as underdeveloped tail, cause health problems if exaggerated further.
Areas of risk are:

• Breathing: Problems which could result from overly short muzzle as well as pinched nostrils, insufficient room foremost in throat, pharyngeal cavities and/or ribcage.
• Face: Too short muzzle and protruding eyes which increase the risk of eye injuries.

          Proportions and construction: Overly short proportions in neck and back as well as insufficient angulation in fore and hindquarters can       cause powerless dragging movement.

• Underdeveloped tail : Lack of visible/touchable tail vertebrae is a disqualifying fault.
• Skin problems.

Look for sound breathing, correct bridge of nose, eyes, skin, tail and movement. Breed standard reads; "Length of muzzle about 1/6 of the total length of the head".
Gait should be free and active. The breed standard calls for an "active" dog which is "powerful for its small size, short, compact in all its proportions", but the French Bulldog must not be excessively short in neck and back."

       9. Club du Bouledogue Français -- CBF ACTION FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE FRENCH BULLDOG -- CURRENT SITUATION AND PROSPECTS

    11. a. FBDCA2017 HEALTH ED SEMINAR

French Bulldog Genetics: Brain Tumors, Spinal Malformations and Disk Disease

Speaker: Dr. Danika Bannasch, DVM, PhD

11. b. FBDCA 2018 HEALTH ED SEMINAR

The FBDCA 2018 Health ED Seminar was presented by IPFD CEO, Dr. Brenda Bonnett.

See a description in her blog: French Bulldog Health Seminar October 2018

1. The French Bulldog Club of England:

• Website/Health section: http://www.frenchbulldogclubofengland.org.uk/health.html

Talking about Tails - Penny-Rankin-Parsons

• Talking about tails - Penny Rankine-Parsons.pdf

Some things with dogs are just fun!

From the Finnish French Bulldog Association's annual meeting was held in Seinäjoki 03.17.2019 page a delightful video.

See: FBDCA FB Videos

Click on the images to go to PDF Infographics and see links to the papers and  further information at: http://www.ukbwg.org.uk/?page_id=490

• DWN Summary Article

1. The French Bulldog Club of England's "Health News" section includes research information:
   BRACHYCEPHALIC OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY SYNDROME RESEARCH PROGRAM: http://www.frenchbulldogclubofengland.org.uk/boas--spine-studies.html 
   Health Improvement Strategy: "French Bulldog Club of England Health Improvement Strategy 2012" at: http://www.frenchbulldogclubofengland.org.uk/uploads/1/5/9/2/15927418/french_bulldog_club_of_england_health_improvement_strategy_2012.pdf
2. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW): French Bulldog: Hemivertebrae: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/HEMIVERTEBRAEFRENCHBULLDOGS.php
   An information resource for prospective pet owners.
3. French Studies (in French): ÉTUDE ÉPIDÉMIOLOGIQUE DES ANOMALIES RADIOGRAPHIQUES DES VERTÈBRES THORACIQUES DU BOULEDOGUE FRANCAIS (Radiograpghic Anomolies of the thoracic vertebrae in French Bulldogs):
   http://www.cbf-asso.org/txt/anomalies_vertebrales_these.pdf

https://youtu.be/dj9SaFY6XmE (please note: you will need to go to YouTube to view this video - [French])

4. UK: Non-invasive Respiratory Function Assessment in Brachycephalic Dogs

For further explanation of this research see the - Flyer

              owner- breeder participation options

Queen's Veterinary School Hospital
Department of Veterinary Medicine
University of Cambridge

    BOAS Research website: http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/boas

5. Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013

We are listing sites for breed clubs with health or other information that might be helpful. Follow links below.

Norway: Norsk Bulldog Klubb
Denmark: Bulldog-Klubben
Finland: Ranskanbulldogit ry
Sweden: Fransk Bulldogg Klubb
USA: French Bull Dog Club of America
Australia: Bulldog Club of NSW / French Bulldog Club of Victoria
Austria: Club für Französische Bulldoggen
Belgium: French Bulldog Club
Canada: French Bulldog Fanciers of Canada
Czech Republic: Klub Francouzských buldocku Praha
England: Northern Counties French Bulldog Club / Bulldog Club of England
France: Le Club du Bouledogue Français / Cercle Européen du Bouledogue Français
Germany: Internationaler Klub für Französische Bulldoggen e.V. - IKFB
Italy: Club Bouledougue Francese
Netherlands: Bulldoggen Club HBC
Spain: Española para el Fomento de la Raza Bulldog Francés
Switzerland: Schweizerischer Klub für französische Bulldoggen