FRENCH BULLDOG

& FRENCH BULLDOG EXOTIC

Official & original standard

Nr. NEBKC/FB/EN20

Inspired by the american standard

CATEGORY: brachycephalic molossoid

UTILIZATION: Companion

ACTIVITY LEVEL: Low

SIZE: Small 28-33 cm (11-13 inches)

WEIGHT: not over 12,7 kg, 28 pounds

ORIGIN: UK - FRANCE

BLOODLINES: Bull & terrier

NICK-OR-OTHER NAME: Frenchie

ORIGINAL STANDARD: NEBKC 2020

LATEST UPDATE: 18.10.2020

1 DESCRIPTION

The French Bulldog "Frenchie" is a smaller breed of domestic dog, bred to be companion dogs. They are stocky, compact dogs with a friendly, mild-mannered temperament. They happily adapt to city life and are the perfect companions for singles or families and do not require a lot of outdoor exercise.

2 HISTORICAL SUMMARY

If you are interested in French Bulldog history, the first thing you should know is they originate from England, not France! “Frenchies” were first bred in Nottingham in 1800s by lace makers who wanted to create a small, miniature version of English Bulldog also called a “toy bulldog".

The breed is the result of a cross between Toy Bulldogs imported from England and local ratters in Paris, France, in the 1800s. When craftsmen moved to France, they brought their dogs along with them. They became popular there and were given the name French bulldogs. However, certain experts claim that these dogs were crossbred with Pug Terriers and that is how we got to today’s French Bulldog. Even when the breed was brought back to England for dog shows, the name French Bulldog remained.

3 GENERAL APPEARANCE:

The ideal Frernch Bulldog is a smaller sized brachycephalic stocky dog with erect bat ears. He resembles a Bulldog in miniature, except for the erect “bat ears” that are the breed’s trademark feature. The head is large and square, with heavy wrinkles rolled above the extremely short nose. The body beneath the smooth, brilliant coat is compact and muscular.

FAULTS: Muzzle too long, head too small, narrow, lacking type or overtyped, too large or to small ears or incorrect shape or positioning. Lack of bone. Incorrect breed type. Too large or too small in size, body too long or incorrect top line, feet, limbs, tail. Under or over sized, under or overweight or any fault that spoils the general harmony. Boston Terrier or English Bulldog Type or Terrier typed.

4 TEMPERAMENT

Despite his glum expression, the French Bulldog is comical, entertaining, and dependably amiable. Many Frenchies are friendly with everyone, while others are politely reserved. French Bulldogs will bark to announce visitors, but are otherwise quiet dogs. Usually peaceful with other pets (though some French Bulldogs will hunt small rodents), males may bicker with other males. The French Bulldog is quite stubborn and can be challenging to train, yet also surprisingly sensitive, remembers what he learns, and responds well to early, patient, persistent training that utilizes food motivation.

FAULTS A dog who appears hyperactive in the ring, nervous

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: overly shy or aggressive. Human aggression

5 HEAD

a) Shape & Proportions

The head is square and broad in proportion to the body. The height of the head is equal to the width.

b) Front view

Skull flat between the ears; the forehead is not flat but slightly rounded. The muscle from the cheeks are well developed. The stop well defined, causing a hollow groove between the eyes with heavy wrinkles forming a soft roll over the very short nose.

c) Profile view

The forehead is slightly rounded. The underjaw is deep, square, broad, undershot and well turned up. A straight line can be drawn from the eye bridge - nose - point of the chin. the profile is inclined at a diagonal angle, inclined at about 60%, horizontal line drawn under the chin, then passed over the tip of the chin - nose - eyebrow arch. See drawing.

d) Top view

The skull appears brachycepahlic with a heavily wrinkled.

FAULTS

6 EARS

a) Setting: The ears are set on the sides of the skull and high. The outer edge of the ear rises in a vertical line, the tip of the ear is rounded and towards the middle of the skull the angle of the inner edge of the ear is inclined at an angle of about 25 -30%. They should be set in harmony with the skull, not to close nor to wide apart. See drawings below

b) Type: erect bat ears, rounded at the top

c) Size: medium. The size of the ideal ear, measured from the upper skull line to the tip of the ear, take place about 2 1/2 x in the skull height from the upper skull line to the chin. See drawings.

FAUTLS: Size fault - too large or too small. Shape fault: too sharp pointed, Boston Terrier typed or too short & rounded. To wide or too narrow at the base. Asymetric ears, set too narrow or too spaced between each other.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS cropped ears, rose ears, button ears

unilateral or bilateral deafness.

7 FOREHEAD

xxx

8 MEDIAN FURROW

xxx

9 STOP

xxx

FAUTLS xx

10 EYE BRIDGE xx

11 EYES

a) Setting : They eyes are set wide apart and low down in the skull in the same line as the median furrow, well away from ears.

b) Shape: Round in shape.

c) Size: Moderate size.

BELOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

d) Colors: All colors are equally accepted including odd eyes (heterochromia) or bi-color iris or "Husky blue" eyes for merle gene dogs.

FAULTS Odd eyes (for non merle dogs)

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS eyes set to narrow, bulging eyes, strabismus, asymetric eyes, cherry eye, albinism red eyes, congenital blindness.

12 EYE RIMS

The eye rims upper and lower should be tight around the eye with no looseness with good pigment. Any color is accepted: black, grey, chocolate.

FAULTS Lack of pigment, tendency to entropion or ectropion, surgically corrected eye rims, haw (conjonctive tissues) showing,

DISQUALIFYING FAUTLS Haw showing severely "droopy St Bernard eyes".

13 CHEEKS

Cheek are prominent due to the strong development of muscles, well rounded and extended sideways beyond the eyes from under the temples. They are moderately wrinkled. They are usually more wrinkled when "smiling" mouth open.

14 MUZZLE

a) Shape: The muzzle is square and broad with a nose wrinkle "roll" on his base that should not cover the nose. There are 2 distinct folds starting under the inner corner of the eyes extending on the base of muzzle to the corners of the lips.

b) Proportions: The length of the muzzle is about 1/4 from the total length of the skull measured from the occiput to the tip of the nose. A slightly shorter or longer muzzle is acceptable if still in harmony with the head.

The length of the muzzle should be measured from the median furrow in the middle of the eyes to the tip of the nose, not from the eye brows ridge bones that are about 1,5-2 cm further forward.

c) Muzze topline: The muzzle line is covered by a muzzle wrinkle "roll"

d) Chin line: Slightly turned up. The tip of the chin is further ahead than the nose forming the chin point.

FAULTS A muzzle too short is a fault. A muzzle too long is a severe fault. Exaggerated nose wrinkle "roll", covering entirely the nose, no nose wrinkle.

DISQUALIFYING FAUTLS A muzzle too long about 1/3 of the skull length, a narrow muzzle, a snipey muzzle.

15 LIPS

The lips are semi-pendulous with good pigmentation: black, blue, chocolate, liver, red.

FAULTS Pendulous lips, tight lips, lack of pigment.

16 NOSE

The nose is of medium size and backward to the chin with a backwards inclined angle. The nostrils are large and wide open to allow good breathing, the nose has a straight well defined vertical line between. All colors are accepted: black, blue, chocolate, liver, red nose.

FAULTS A butterfly nose (unpigmented spots), pinched nostrils, any sign of respiratory distress. A nose wrinkle "roll" covering entirely the nose is a severe fault.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS severly pinched nares and severe respiratory distress (from the nares or soft palate) A dudley nose (entirely pigmentless).

17 JAWS

The lower jaw is well developed wide and deep, slightly turned up and set straight.

FAULTS Offset jaws or slightly wry jaws

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS Severely wry jaws

18 BITE (OCCLUSION)

The bite is undershot, about 1,5 - 2 cm is ideal, 1 cm is acceptable, 2,5 cm is too much and need to be compensated in breeding, equally when undershot is not enough.

FAULTS Too much undershoot, over 2 cm, lower incisive visible when mouth closed,

DISQUALIFYING FAUTLS level bite, scissors bite, overshot, or inverted scissors bite, undershot over 3 cm

19 TEETH

Full set of 22 white and strong teeth on the lover maxillary, 20 on the upper maxillary. 6 incisors are set in a straight row between the 2 canines set wide apart, behind the canines are the premolars 4 on each side at the lower and upper maxillary, followed by 3 molars each side on the lower maxillary and 2 molars each side on the upper maxillary.

FAULTS

Crooked teeth, missing teeth, supernumerary teeth.

NOTE: Broken tooth are not penalized in a show ring or for confirmation. For extracted teeth, the owner must provide a vet certificate to avoid to have them judged missing.

DYSQUALIFYING FAUTLS

More than 4 missing teeth.

20 NECK

The neck is moderate in length and nearly wide as the head, well-arched at back and should not be set on the dog so it appears to stop at the shoulders. Some loose, thick and wrinkled skin about throat, forming slight dewlap on each side.

FAULTS

At thorat a fanon that is too pronounced (too much loose skin) is a fault, a neck too long or too short or a narrow neck lacking muscles.

21 THORAT Dewlap

Some loose, thick and wrinkled skin about throat, forming a slight dewlap on each side is visible behind the chin.

FAULTS Too much loose skin or no dewlap

22 ENTIRE DOG BODY

23 MUSCLES The muscles are naturally well developed all over the body and apparent. Conditioning must be good with no tendency to obesity nor thinness.

a) FRONT VIEW:

24 CHEST: Wide, prominent and deep. You should be able to imagine a perfect square, line drawn from inner of the feet to corner to corner of the armpits, 100% in height x 100 % in width, like in the English Bulldog.

FAULTS Narrow chest, not deep enough.

b) PROFILE VIEW:

25 BACK: The body appear square with a short back (cobby) in males and females about 100% in height, x 100%-120% in length. Height measured from the withers to ground, and length from the point of the shoulders to the buttocks.

FAULTS A body too long is a serious fault.

26 TOPLINE The ideal topline is slightly rising from the croup to the withers, a straight topline is acceptable or a slight roach over the loins.

FAULTS A topline dropping from the croup to the withers is a fault.

DISQUALIFYING FAULT A saddle back or a topline noticeably dropping towards withers.

c) TOP VIEW: The forelimbs are set wider apart that the rear limbs. The shoulders are noticeably larger than the hips and the waist thinner, giving a slight "pear shape" appearance. It's a good view to see if the tail is high set.

d) REAR VIEW: Hips medium width, thighs muscular, legs straight and parallel, feet straight, well defined tail short or long.

FAULTS BODY: Any deviance of the standard

27 RIB CAGE

Well rounded ribs

FAULTS

Flat-sided, too skinny, appearing ribs

28 ABDOMEN "BELLY LINE"

Tucked up

FAULTS

A straight belly line, pendulous line

29 HIPS

The hips are less wide than the shoulders but not narrow nor too wide

FAUTLS Hips higher than the withers, narrow or too wide

FOREQUARTERS

30 FORELEGS FRONT VIEW Forelimbs are straight and set wide apart (wider apart than rear legs) and parallel to each other. The Forearms are very stout and well muscled.

31 SHOULDERS PROFILE VIEW The shoulders have a humero-radial angulation of about 135°

32 ELBOWS are relatively close to the body, slightly apart from the body is admitted but not loose.

33 FRONT PASTERNS (Metacarpus)

FRONT VIEW Short, straight and strong

PROFILE VIEW the pastern that is about half of length of rear pastern and is moderately inclined. A dewclaw is present.

34 FOREFEET Straight or very slightly turned outwards of medium size and moderately round. Toes compact and thick, well split up, making knuckles prominent and high.

FAULTS Lack of bone is a serious fault, feet toeing out too much our toeing in, loose elbows, incorrect angulation: pasterns, shoulders.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS splayed feet, flat feet or any other fault if severe.

HINDQUARTERS

35 HINDLEGS Rear view: set straight, wide apart (but less wide apart than front legs) and parallel, strong with muscular thighs.

36 STIFLES (knees) Profile view: the tibia-metatarsus angle should be about 140-150°

37 REAR PASTERNS (Metatarsus) straight and strong, about double in height comparing to front pastern with no dewclaw.

38 HINDFEET round and compact. Toes compact and thick, well split up, making knuckles prominent and high.

FAULTS incorrect angulation at the hocks, bandy legs, cow hocks, dewclaw at rear

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS any fault that is severe

39 TAIL

A natural short tail or screw tail well defined and low set is preferred. A spike tail, straight half tail or long reaching the tip of the hocks is accepted.

FAULTS in short tails, high set, turned inwards. In long tails, kinks, deviation, circled over the back. If the tail has been docked for medical reasons, the owner must provide a veterinarian certification.

DISQUALIFYING FAULT Ingrown tail.

40 MOVEMENT

The gait is effort less when trotting, smooth powerful and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When trotting the topline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness when galopping "running" or cantering. Legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross.

FAULTS Paddling, sidewinding, Rolling "English Bulldog gait", incoordinated crossing gait, bunny hopping (sign for hip dysplasia), any limping.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS Any that is severe

41 SIZE

Females - 36 to 40 cm, males - 38 to 42 cm, at the withers.

A size slightly under the standard is admitted but must be corrected in breeding

FAULTS A height over the standard is a fault that must be corrected in breeding

42 WEIGHT : 23-28 kg for females, males 25-30 kg. The dog should look well conditioned and balanced, not obese or to slender.

43 COAT

a) Type: Short, dense, glossy & smooth with no undercoat, moderately stiff to the touch.

c) Colors: Any colors is acceptable with no preference for one over another: Solid white or black, chocolate, fawn, red, lilac, blue, also version of these colors in piebald, tricolor or & tan, with brindle of any type, sable, and different shades of all these colors, also with ticking. Merle is also accepted in all the above mentioned colors and versions.

e) Grooming: Low maintenance, very easy due to their short coat

FAULTS sparse or dull coat

NOTE a dog with surgical or accident scars should not be penalized

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS Long, fuzzy or wavy coats, albinismus.

44 CLIMATE TOLERANCE

Like all brachycephalic breeds and molosser in general, the New English Bulldog must be protected from great heat in summer and also from excessive coldness in winter due to their short hair.

45 REPRODUCTION

Males tie naturally or AI, female give birth naturally or by c-section.

Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding. As dogs are not perfect, the breeder should never double up on health or conformation faults, even if minor and do his utmost to meet the ideal of the standard that is used as guideline.

It is very important that no American Bulldog blood is introduced in the New English Bulldog breeding stock nor Old English Bulldog with strong American Bulldog blood either, at least 5 generations back. If the dog has only a 3 generation pedigree, ask to see the parents pedigrees of the dog be used. A good pedigree knowledge is requested to make the right selection. No french Bulldog, American Bully or Miniature Bulldog blood either. Pure quality EB x quality OEB. Characteristics that very clearly indicate crossing with other breeds are not to be tolerated.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.