Breed Priorities – French Bulldog

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280 – October, 2026

By Nikki Riggsbee

Toy, miniature, or dwarf Bulldogs evolved in Great Britain and were especially popular in Nottingham, England, where many people worked as lace makers. During the Industrial Revolution, many in this business relocated to France and brought their small Bulldogs with them.

The French Bulldog developed from these English toy Bulldogs in the nineteenth century. Other breeds may have been involved in producing the French Bulldog, perhaps the Pug or a terrier, but there is no documentation as to what actually happened. But somewhere in that time, the bat ear appeared. They were named Bouledogue Francais.

The breed was popular with the working class in Paris and were favored by the “ladies of the evening,” as represented in artwork and illustrations of the time. Perhaps through the ladies’ customers, the upper classes also became interested in the breed.

Originally the breed had both the bat ear and the rose ear. Europeans preferred the rose ear, while the Americans liked the bat ear. When the French Bulldog parent club was formed in the United States in 1897, their standard had the bat ear as the only acceptable shape. The breed was first exhibited in France in 1887. It was recognized as a breed by AKC in 1898. It is currently the number one breed in the United States, based on AKC dog registrations.

Twenty-seven breeder-judges were invited to take a survey on the French Bulldog’s conformation breed priorities. Nineteen agreed to participate. By the deadline, fourteen surveys were received. The group had been in the breed for an average of twenty-two and-one-half years–and had been approved to judge it for fourteen years on average. Half have judged their national specialty, and most have judged other French Bulldog specialties.

French Bulldog Virtues

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280 – October, 2026

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