The French Bulldog.

The French Bulldog.

The French bulldog is currently a popular breed of dog in the UK and, its no wonder, as they are delightful little dogs that make excellent companions for families. In this article, Holidays4Dogs looks into the history of these cute little canine buddies.

These are indeed quirky little dogs, with big personalities, but their popularity comes at a price.

French Bulldogs are fetching anything from fifteen hundred to four thousand pounds. Many welfare organisations have concerns about this. Not least because unscrupulous breeders seek only profit at the expense of the health and welfare of these delightful little dogs.

Origins of French Bulldogs.

The history of the breed, like many others, is often contested. However, it is thought that the French bulldog originated from the English Bulldog in the south of England. It is reputed these dogs were much smaller than their counterparts in other parts of the country.

During the late 1800s, lace workers in the south of England were made redundant due to the development of machinery during the Industrial Revolution.  Previously, these small dogs were used as ‘lap warmers’ in the draughty factories. In their search for work, many people travelled to France, taking their little bulldogs with them.  They were ideal dogs to smuggle across in the ships and useful for killing rats amongst the cramped living quarters.

There is speculation amongst historians that these dogs were crossed with terriers, which may account for the large bat ears on French bulldogs we see today. However, this has never been proven.

Once established in France, these small bulldogs grew rapidly in popularity. English breeders soon began to hone in on a healthy trade, exporting the dogs to France, where they became known as the Bouledogue Francais.

The French took over as guardians of the breed until the late 19^th Century, developing them into a more compact, cobby dog, but without such an extreme head as the original English bulldog.  Some of the dogs had large ‘bat ears’ and others smaller, ‘rose’ type ears.

From France to the U.S. and back to England.

Americans were fascinated by the breed. Thus, they began taking them back to the United States.  The English and French favoured the dogs with larger ears. However, when the dogs were first exhibited at Westminster in 1897, the judge chose a rose-eared dog. This infuriated the Americans who promptly set up their own breed club, where the breed standard specified dogs with erect ears.

The American breed club was the only one in the world dedicated to the French Bulldog. As a result, the popularity of the dogs soared. However, after the First World War, these dogs went into sharp decline. This was due, in part, to interest in other breeds such as the Boston Terrier.

In addition, French bulldogs suffer from health problems which were, and still are, rife in the breed. These health issues include an inability to whelp naturally.  Not until many years later would safe and routine caesarean sections for these dogs, be available to breeders.

A further decline came about during the 1930s when breeding purebred dogs was low on the priority list throughout the dark days of the Depression.  Only a handful of breeders managed to keep the breed going.

However, since the 1980’s the breed has been subject to a revival of interest and in more recent years, their popularity has soared.

Do French Bulldogs make good pets?

French bulldogs are comical and engaging little dogs with big personalities.  They are generally good-tempered and amiable; just as happy living in an apartment, as they are living in more spacious surroundings.  However, they do have a reputation for being somewhat stubborn. French bulldogs can be quite sensitive too, but with patience and the right training, they are quick to learn and they are certainly not stupid dogs.

Health and welfare.

These are indeed quirky little dogs, with big personalities, but their popularity comes at a price.

French Bulldogs are fetching anything from fifteen hundred to four thousand pounds. Many welfare organisations have concerns about this. Not least because unscrupulous breeders seek only profit at the expense of the health and welfare of these delightful little dogs.

Sadly, French Bulldogs are one of the brachycephalic breeds which means they have much shorter noses than other types of dogs. These squashed-in faces often mean they suffer from breathing problems.

In addition, they often have difficulty mating due to their ‘cobby’ proportions. Worse still, bitches frequently have problems giving birth and many have to undergo cesarean sections.

These factors mean that French Bulldogs are very expensive to buy and average fetch figures of 800 to over 1000 pounds.

Look for reputable breeders.

The French Bulldog Club of England, is committed to tackling health issues in French bulldogs. They consistently lobby the Kennel Club for changes to the breed standard. The club seeks to avoid over-exaggeration of features in order to improve the long-term health of the breed overall.

As with any other breed, it is always wise to do your homework before purchasing a dog. Despite their cute appearance, French bulldogs like many other breeds with foreshortened snouts, suffer from difficulties with breathing. They also have an inability to regulate their own temperature. Although French Bulldogs appear robust, they do need extra considerations when it comes to their health and welfare.

Always approach reputable breeders if you are considering a French Bulldog. The Kennel Club is a good place to start for lists of accredited breeders.

Consider a rescue dog.

There are now three welfare services for French Bulldogs in the UK. This shows that the increase in French bulldog numbers is already impacting on rescue organisations. French Bulldogs are indeed a delightful and comical breed with a great deal of appeal and personality. However, despite their popularity, they might not necessarily be the right dog for you. If you still have your heart set on a French Bulldog, you could consider approaching one of the rescue organizations, such as French Bulldog Rescue GB http://www.frenchbulldogrescuegb.co.uk/

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