The French Bulldog enjoys a long history as the famous companion dog. They Originate from England and started as a miniature Bulldog.
Besides being great companions, they once were used to serve as great ratters, now currently their job focuses on being the fabulous friends, family, and show dogs.
You might know these as bat-eared dogs but they are oddly beautiful creatures. French Bulldogs have a great appeal but people know very little about where do French Bulldogs come from.
Aesthetically various other breeds can undeniably become showy and glamorous, but the beauty remains in the beholder eyes and what a lot behold in French Bulldog are attributes making the breed as one of the best available companion dogs in the world nowadays.
History of French Bulldog
Being the direct descendent of the ancient Greek and Molossians tribe, the modern French Bulldogs are some of the most loved species of dog. Their origination and thriving in large numbers are believed to be the movement of ancient traders. The British Molossian dogs got developed in English Mastiff which was a Mastiff sub-breed and was Bullenbeisser (a dog used mainly for baiting bull).
In 1835 blood sports like bull-baiting got outlawed in England in the year 1835, while leaving the “Bulldogs” without any work. However, like us, many other pet lovers started keeping them for different reasons not related to sports since the 1800 and thus their use got changed from sporting breed to the companion breed. For reducing their size, a lot of Bulldogs crossed with terriers, ratter dogs from England “slums”.
By the year 1850, Toy Bulldogs became quite common in England while appearing in various confirmation shows while they began around 1860. The dogs weighed about 16-25 pounds (7.3-11.3 kg), although the classes also got available at the dog shows for dogs weighing below 12 pounds (5.4 kg).
During this time, Nottingham lace workers got displaced with the Industrial Revolution and they began settling in Normandy, France. Also, they brought different dog varieties with them, which included Toy Bulldogs. These dogs gained popularity in France and later on trade in small imported dogs got created, with the breeders within England sending Bulldogs that they considered to remain small, or with faults like stood up ears.
By 1860, there are quite a few Toy Bulldogs left in England, such was their popularity in France and because of the exploits by exporters of specialist dogs.
Getting popular dog breed
Gradually the little Bulldog type was getting assumed as a dog breed, and got the name, Bouledogue Francais. The English name Francization was also a contraction of words boule (ball) and Dogue (molosser or mastiff). These dogs were quite fashionable and got sought after by the society.
Also, there was a record of artists Toulouse-Lautrec and Edgar Degas who were thought of having French Bulldogs pained in paintings. However, these records weren’t kept of breed’s development as further it diverged from the original roots of the Bulldog. As it got changed the terrier stock was brought in development traits like the straight and long ears of the breed.
Just like you love them now, the French Bulldogs enjoyed quite a good share of popularity in the past as well, mainly in Western Europe. English Bulldog was among the ancestors. For a while, Americans imported the French Bulldogs, but it wasn’t until 1885 when they got brought over for setting up a breeding program that was American based.
Again, they arrived in the following year also with a lot of entries, where the breed judging would be prevalent for future ramifications. The dog show judge, Mr. George Raper, selected winners having “rose ears” – folded up ears at tip, as standard ones for Bulldogs. Ladies formed the French Bull Dog Club of America and also created breed standard stated for the first time that the correct type was “erect bar ear”“.
Just like today, French Bulldog breed was high society vogue, with the dogs changing hands for more than $3,000 and also getting owned by influential family members like Rockefellers and J.P. Morgans.
The American Kennel Club recognized breed quickly after breed club got formed, and by the year 1906 French Bulldog got recognized among America’s five most popular dog breeds.
And in the year 2013, American Kennel Club (AKC) positioned French Bulldog as 11th most renowned dog breed available in the U.S. These little pets enjoyed with a steep popularity spike from being in the 54th spot a decade before, in 2003.
Also, by the year 2014, they moved up for becoming the ninth most renowned AKC registered dog breed in the USA and by 2017 they got as the fourth most renowned one.
French Bulldog Origins
After getting popular more people wanted to know where do French Bulldogs come from. This was fairly a new breed of Bulldog in England and it was seen for the first time in 1893, with the English breeders in uproar as the French imports didn’t meet standards of the new breed this time and they wanted prevention of English Stock from Crossbreeding with French ones. Initially the Kennel Club recognized these as subset of present Bulldog breed instead of total new breed.
A few English breeders in the period bred French Bulldogs for resurrecting Toy Bulldog. In July of 1902, the Frederick house W. Cousens, there was a meeting for setting up a breed club for seeking individual recognition for French breed.
The French Bulldog earlier originated from England and back then it was considered as a little toy-sized version of large Bulldog. The dog breed has been renowned among the lace workers working in Nottingham city and then a lot of workers got emigrated. France to get better opportunities, then they also naturally brought these little bulldogs.
The French Bulldog, later on, saw thrive in numbers in Europe and France, and their charm was no longer only home to Europe as Americans also started loving them.
United States had the very first appearance of French Bulldog in the show of Westminster Kennel Club during the year 1896.
Later on, the breed quickly got a popular name as “Frenchie,” and still this is an adorable and affectionate name being used nowadays.
The French Bulldog size is around 11 to 12 inches tall. The Males mainly weigh around 20 to 28 pounds and the weight of females is around 16 – 24 pounds.
Characteristics of the French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is small but has a substantial build with a muscular and powerful body. The dog sports short simple-care coat for accompanying the easygoing personality. The Frenchie would love to play, but now he also enjoys relaxing on the sofa.
The relaxed attitude and love of play carry over their training sessions. The French Bulldogs are quite intelligent species and training them is simple as long as you’re making this seem like a game while keeping everything fun.
The dogs are free thinkers and are not ideal breed meant to compete in agility or obedience although some risen to challenge. The freethinking approach also is the reason behind their stubborn attitude, and when they’re deciding on digging the heels, no one is budging them.
French bulldogs are some of the most loving companions thriving mainly on human contact. When you want an outdoor dog for being left alone for longer time periods, the Frenchie wouldn’t be the breed you would love to have.
The dog enjoys lavishing love on the human companions as much as he is loving the same treatment in return.
They typically get along well with everyone like children. However, they would be possessive and territorial when it comes to their people, especially when other dogs are around. If you’re petting the breed, you’d need to provide plenty of socialization, but with simple companionship this becomes a task worth enjoying for.
With its nature being both in the mischievous and humorous category, the French Bulldog requires living with anyone who is firm, patient, and consistent with the idiosyncrasies, antics making him both delightful and frustrating.
The French Bulldogs make great watchdogs and alert people for approaching strangers, but this wouldn’t be their style for barking without any reason.
They become protective of family and home and some French Bulldog defend both keeping their lives at risk.
If you’ve petted a French Bulldog, you won’t need to have lots of room and they behave quite well in small dwellings and apartments. With just a few 15-minute walks in a day they can manage their weight and remain healthy.
You’ve got to keep your Frenchie in comfortable and cool surroundings as he is susceptible to exhaustion of heat and required an environment that is air-conditioned. This wouldn’t be a dog that stays outside in hot day.
French Bulldogs have been renowned as some of the most wonderful companion dogs and of course it all comes from their behavior. People loved them describe them as quite mischievous goofballs and can’t imagine their life without having them around.
We know where do French Bulldogs come from and how they behave. Now, it’s up to you how well you care for them and provide them great companionship. These pet dogs deliver a constant presence around you and they’ll provide you with love and affection with all strength present in their little bodies while proving that beauty is from the inside.
