BREED STANDARD
General
Appearance
The
French Bulldog has the appearance of an
active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy
bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and
of medium or small structure. Expression
alert, curious and interested. Any alteration
other than removal of dewclaws is considered
mutilation and is a disqualification.
•
Proportion and symmetry. All points are
well distributed and bear good relation
one to the other; no feature being in
such prominence from either excess or
lack of quality that the animal appears
poorly proportioned.
•
Influence of sex. In comparing specimens
of different sex, due allowance is to
be made in favor of bitches, which do
not bear the characteristics of the breed
to the same marked degree as do the dogs.
Size,
Proportion, Substance
•
Weight. Not to exceed 28 pounds; over
28 pounds is a disqualification.
•
Proportion. Distance from withers to ground
in good relation to distance from withers
to onset of tail, so that animal appears
compact, well-balanced and in good proportion.
•
Substance. Muscular, heavy bone.
Head.
•Head
large and square.
•
Eyes. Dark in color, wide apart, set low
down in the skull, as far from the ears
as possible, round in form, of moderate
size, neither sunken nor bulging. In lighter
colored dogs, lighter colored eyes are
acceptable. No haw and no white of the
eye showing when looking forward.
•
Ears. Known as the bat ear, broad at the
base, elongated, with round top, set high
on the head but not too close together,
and carried erect with orifice to the
front. The leather of the ear fine and
soft. Other than bat ears is a disqualification.
The top of the skull flat between the
ears; the forehead is not flat but slightly
rounded.
•
The muzzle broad, deep and well laid back;
the muscles of the cheeks well developed.
•
The stop well defined, causing a hollow
groove between the eyes with heavy wrinkles
forming a soft roll over the extremely
short nose; nostrils broad with a well
defined line between them.
•
Nose. Black. Nose other than black is
a disqualification, except in the case
of the lighter colored dogs, where a lighter
colored nose is acceptable but not desirable.
•
Flews. Black, thick and broad, hanging
over the lower jaw at the sides, meeting
the underlip in front and covering the
teeth, which are not seen when the mouth
is closed.
•
The underjaw is deep, square, broad, undershot
and well turned up.
Neck,
Topline, Body
•
The neck is thick and well arched with
loose skin at the throat.
•
The back is a roach back with a slight
fall close behind the shoulders; strong
and short, broad at the shoulders and
narrowing at the loins.
•
The body is short and well rounded. The
chest is broad, deep, and full; well ribbed
with the belly tucked up.
•
The tail is either straight or screwed
(but not curly), short, hung low, thick
root and fine tip; carried low in repose.
Forequarters
•
Forelegs are short, stout, straight, muscular
and set wide apart. Dewclaws may be removed.
•
Feet are moderate in size, compact and
firmly set.
•
Toes compact; well split up, with high
knuckles and short, stubby nails.
Hindquarters
•
Hind legs are strong and muscular, longer
than the forelegs, so as to elevate the
loins above the shoulders.
•
Hocks well let down.
•
Feet are moderate in size, compact and
firmly set.
•
Toes compact, well split up, with high
knuckles and short, stubby nails; hind
feet slightly longer than forefeet.
Coat
Coat is moderately fine, brilliant, short
and smooth. Skin is soft and loose, especially
at the head and shoulders, forming wrinkles.
Color
Acceptable colors: all brindle, fawn,
white, brindle and white and any color
except those that constitute disqualification.
All colors are acceptable with exception
of solid black, mouse, liver, black and
tan, black and white and white and black
which are disqualifications. Black means
black without a trace of brindle.
Gait
Correct gait is double tracking with reach
and drive; the action is unrestrained,
free and vigorous.
Temperament
Well behaved, adaptable, and comfortable
companions with an affectionate nature
and even disposition; generally active,
alert and playful but not unduly boisterous.
Disqualifications
•
Any alteration other than removal of dewclaws.
•
Other than bat ears.
Nose other than black, except in the case
of lighter colored dogs, where a lighter
colored nose is acceptable.
•
Solid black; mouse, liver, black and tan,
black and white and white with black;
black means black without a trace of
brindle.
•
Over 28 pounds in weight.
