The French Bulldog first appeared in Paris in the early 19th Century, thanks to a cross between British ‘Toy’ Bulldogs and small French ‘ratter’ dogs mostly found in Paris. From the 1800’s since the demise of blood sports like bull bating in the UK, a smaller companion breed of bulldog (7–11 kg (15–24 lb)) was bread called the ‘Toy’.
French Bulldog: Facts and History tells us an influx of British working migrants, in Paris due to causes of the Industrial Revolution brought with them their diminuative pets. it wouldn’t be long the crossed dog took on traits of the mixed dogs such as bat-like ears, barrel bodies and short legs.
Exxported ‘Frenchies’ were expensive and with 80% born by ciserian section, despite the demand the small dogs were rare. In the mid 1850’s demand was high in France for the carry dog, where Parisians coined it: the Bouledogue Francais. The cute dog became the desired companion to fashionistas, and ladies – including ladies of the night.
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Physical Details
The French bulldog is a small, stocky dog with a short, smooth coat that is either short or long. They come in a wide variety of colors and markings, including brindle, fawn, black and tan, or black and white. Their snub noses and slightly droopy, wide-set eyes make them look a bit like miniature Bulldogs, and their wrinkly faces give them a human like face. French Bulldogs are generally between 10 and 16 inches in height, and they weigh between 25 and 40 pounds. Males are usually larger than females.
A French bulldog’s shortened face is one of the breed’s most prominent features. The anatomical structure of their jaw makes it look as if they are perpetually smiling, but this shortened appearance also comes with a host of potential issues.
Decoding The Genetics Of Coat Color In Dogs
All dog coat colors are controlled by genes, and these genes are found on the canine chromosome. There are three main genes involved in canine coat color, and they are the B (black), E (extension), and C (cinnamon) genes. Each of these genes has two variations, and these variations determine what color a dog’s coat will be based on the mix of these gene variations. For example, the B and E genes will determine what color the dog’s black pigment is.
The B gene is dominant and the E gene is recessive. This means that the B gene will always be expressed regardless of what the E gene is (unless there is a mutation in the B gene). Dogs have two chromosomes; one from their mother and one from their father. Therefore, dogs have two sets of genes and can have one of each of the three variations for each gene.
A dog can have the B gene on one chromosome and the E gene on the other chromosome. This means that a dog can have two different coat colors! Some genes have an effect on coat color and others do not. One of these genes is the agouti gene, and it determines the amount of black and yellow pigment a dog will produce. Dogs who have two copies of the agouti gene variation E will produce more yellow pigment than dogs who have one copy of the E gene variation. Dogs who have two copies of the E gene variation will produce more black pigment than dogs with one copy of the E gene variation.
Fawn-Colored French Bulldog
Fawn-colored Frenchie coats are very common and are known as brindled fawns. This coat color is caused by one copy of the E gene variation. Brindled fawns can have either a blue or a blue-green eye color. If a fawn Frenchie does not have the blue or blue-green eye color, then it will have amber or brown eye color.
Brindled fawns have a coat color that is somewhere between red and brown, and it has a yellow undertone. Brindled fawn-colored French bulldogs are a very common coat color, and if you own a Frenchie, you will likely see many of them around! Fawn-colored Frenchie coats are a very attractive coat color, especially when paired with the Frenchie’s signature squished face and big, adorable eyes!
Brown French Bulldog
Brown French bulldogs have a coat color that is caused by two copies of the E gene variation. They can have either blue or blue-green eye color. Brown Frenchies are often confused with a fawn Frenchie because they have the same coat color without having the same eye color differences. However, fawn Frenchie coats have a yellow undertone, whereas brown French bulldogs have a red undertone.
Brown Frenchies have a coat color that is somewhere between red and brown, and it has a red undertone. Brown Frenchies are a very common coat color because they are the same as the brindled fawns described above.
Black And Grey Coat Colour Variations
Black and grey French bulldogs can have blue or blue-green eye color. Black and grey French bulldogs are also called black and tans. Black and tans have a coat color that is a mix between black and red, and it has a red undertone. Black and grey French bulldogs are very common and are the same as the black and tan.
Black and tans have a very unique coat color. Black-coated dogs typically have yellow or green eyes, and grey-coated dogs typically have blue eyes. However, black and tans have a noticeable amount of red pigment, which gives them their distinctive black-and-red coat color. This also makes their eyes appear to have a hint of blue. Black and tans have a very handsome coat color and a very unique eye color.
Blue French Bulldog
Blue French bulldogs have a coat color that is caused by two copies of the B gene variation. Blue Frenchies have a coat color that is somewhere between blue and grey, and it has a bluish undertone. Blue Frenchies have either blue or green eye color. Blue French bulldogs are one of the most common coat colors.
Blue Frenchies are very attractive with their dark coat color and big, beautiful eyes. Blue Frenchies are often confused with black and tans, but they have a bluish undertone rather than a red undertone and a different amount of black pigment. Blue French bulldogs are very handsome dogs with a beautiful coat color.
White French Bulldogs
White French bulldogs have a white coat color, and they have either blue or blue-green eye color. White Frenchies are the same as the blue French bulldogs except they have a white coat color rather than a blue coat color. White Frenchies are very rare and are a very attractive coat color. White Frenchies have a very distinctive appearance, and they look very unique among the other coat colors. White French bulldogs are a very rare coat color and are different from the rare white coloration variation that happens with all dog breeds.
Prognathic Jaw of The French Bulldog
French bulldogs have a very pronounced prognathic jaw, meaning that their lower jaw protrudes forward. This causes the appearance of an overbite and also puts pressure on their tongue and gums when they eat. Prognathic jaws are not dangerous or painful for your Frenchie; however, you should be aware of some conditions that can develop due to the overbite, such as dental and throat problems.
The jaw was a bonus for earlier Bulldogs as it gave them extra strength in the bite when fighting bulls, while the flattened face provided places to be wounded by bears or bulls.
Dental Problems: the overbite of a French bulldog’s prognathic jaw can cause pressure on the gums and teeth, which could lead to problems with the alignment of their teeth. This is especially true in puppies, who have extremely crowded mouths. The best way to avoid these dental problems is by keeping an eye on your puppy’s teeth. Take him or her to the veterinarian for a vet checkup and cleaning when he’s old enough for the procedure. The vet will assess the health of your puppy’s gums, teeth, and mouth, and will give you recommendations for how to keep your Frenchie’s teeth healthy.
The prognathic jaw of the French bulldog does not a bad thing and is not something to be concerned about, though have the telephone of a vet on standby if you’re expecting puppies. Frenchies just have a different appearance than other dogs. The most important thing to remember is to help your puppy with his oral health. Brush his teeth regularly, feed him a dental diet, and take him to the vet for a dental clean when he’s old enough
Fantastic Facts About French Bulldogs
- When French Bulldogs first appeared in London in in the late 1800’s breeders whom had specific rules for Bulldogs were shocked and dismayed by the desire of French breeders to give it a breed name. However, despite objections by ‘Toy’ Bulldog owners by 1905 the breed was called The French Bulldog and seen as a breed in its own right.
- Tolouse LauTrec painted an early French Bulldog in the mid 1850’s
When Did French Bulldogs Arrive In America?
French Bulldogs have been in America since the early 20th Century. The first French Bulldogs were brought over from France by a woman named Mme. Pierre le Franc. She bred the dogs for a decade and then sold the rights to the breed to Miss Helen Walter. Miss Walter eventually sold the dogs to a man named Harrison H. Walker. Mr. Walker formed the French Bulldog Club of America (FBCA) and began to grow the breed.
The breed thrived in America and was featured in various show circuits such as the Westminster Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club. However, there was a major setback that almost ended the breed forever. During the 1950s and 1960s, the French Bulldog fell out of popularity due to health reasons. Breeding created many health problems, including respiratory issues and a very low birth rate. This led to many French Bulldogs being euthanized.
Thankfully, a few breeders refused to give up and saved the breed from dying out in America. These breeders worked extra hard to get their dogs recognized again by the AKC. They were successful and the breed began to grow in popularity once again. The breed has thrived and is now one of the most popular dog breeds in the country, e=ranking 4th in 2022. The future is bright for French Bulldogs in America.
In Conclusion – French Bulldog: Facts and History
By 2020 the Frenchie was the second most registered dog in Britain and the fourth in the United States. Ideal as a house pet, they dog is not only liked for its cute looks, in comparison with bigger dogs they’re easier to manage. Despite the dog’s diminuative size they still can sound an alarm and are fiercly loyal and friendly to their family and owners.
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