The French Bulldog
(Bouledogue français, Frenchie, "Frogdog") (part 2)
... made them a fashionable way for the well to do classes to show off how daring they could be, and they soon became favourites of the "artistic" set across Europe, often being depicted in brothels by artist of that day, like Degas and Toulouse Lautrec in his picture "Le Marchand des Marrons" (1897).
The French Bulldog first appeared in the United States in 1896 at the Westminster Kennel Club's show in New York. He soon became known as "Frenchie," a name that stuck with him. Even though he looked at first sight as a minituare bulldog, his bat-like ears, held erect, the flat skull between the ears, his small size and his activeness set him apart from the Bulldog. He had a lively expression and a disposition described by some as roguish and fun loving . He's been referred to as "a clown in the cloak of a philosopher."
The French Bulldog's real success however began in 1880, when a group of parisian Frenchy breeders and fans began to organise regular weekly meetings. In 1885 the first provisional register of the breed was established and the French Bulldog participated in an exhibition under its own breed name for the first time in 1887.
Photos dating from around this time show the Russian Royal family posing with their French Bulldogs. They were said to have imported several of the little dogs from France. In Austria, Germany and of course the USA the breed began to acquire more and more popularity.
The following year the club was formally consituted with Marcel Roger, a great admirer of the breed, as founding president. However it lasted another ten years before the French Canine Society began to take the breed seriously. This happened when the Central French Canine Society suggested that the society formed by Gordon Bennet ( the French Bulldog Lovers' Club) and Marcel Roger's club joined together. Both parties saw the advantages of this union and so the Bouledoge Club of France as we know it today came into existence. The president was Menans de Corre and the vicepresident Gordon Bennett.
American tourists discovered the little French Bulldog and began bringing them home. The French Bulldog is one of only a few breeds, which owes its existence to the efforts of breeders in different countries - France, America, England and Germany. Certainly the continuance of the unique bat ears at the turn of the century was due largely to America and there was immense popularity for the frenchie in America from a century ago and continuing for at least thirty years.
It is inarguable that without the influence of these dedicated, turn of the century American fanciers the breed would not be what it is today.
Mistinguette, Colette, Mac Orland, King Edward VII with his dog Peter in England, count among the more notable fans of the breed.
It is also thought that due to its reputation for strength and tenacity, sterling qualities in those days of sail, they became appreciated by seafaring men all over the world which made them soon popular on other continents.
The American fanciers of the breed organised the very first French Bulldog Club in the world, and insisted on the fact that the "bat" ear so associated with the breed today should be considered the correct form. Until that time, French Bulldogs were shown with either the "bat" or "rose" ear. Indeed, in 1897, exhibitors, disappointed because an English judge picked a Frenchie with rose ears for his best of breed, called a meeting and formed the French Bull Dog Club of America (the first breed club for French Bulldogs in the world) and the next year adopted a standard which remains essentially unchanged today.
SMALL MOLOSSERS ( Small Molossians)
Bulldog Information 2003-2005 © All rights reserved.
Photos of the French bulldogs reproduced by kind permission of Pilar Hannan www.bulldogfrances.com
Photographs of the paintings reproduced by kind permission of William Secord, www.dogpainting.com.
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The French Bulldog
by Kathy Dannel (Author)
More information:
Flat Face Encyclopedia -
Bulldogs and
French Bulldogs: A To Z
by Jan Durr Grebes PhD,
Steve Eltinge
more information:
CH. Monty
own.: Pilar Hannan
French Bulldog
by Richard Fath
(France, 1900-1952)
Photo credit: William Secord
Shanvic Sunbeam Bear
own.: Pilar Hannan
Monty & Peggy
own.: Pilar Hannan
Toulouse Lautrec
Le marchand de marrons 1897
Eduard VII c. 1901
and Paul, son of Peter
French Bulldog 20th C. painting
Ch. Le petit Marquis de la France 1954
Fred Sitzler
Photo credit: William Secord
Monty, Photo: Pilar Hannan
Many thanks to Pilar Hannan www.bulldogfrances.com who authorized me
to reproduce the beautiful photographs of her lovely bulldogs on this page.
Photographs of the paintings and art objects reproduced by kind permission of
William Secord, author of Dog Painting 1840-1940, and owner of the New York City
gallery specialising in 19th C. dog and animal art www.dogpainting.com.
