Breed Standards

Overall Appearance:

The French Bulldog is an active, intelligent, and muscular canine with a sturdy build, smooth coat, and a medium to small size. It is characterized by a square head with bat ears and a distinctive roach back. The expression should be alert, curious, and engaged. The proportions of all features must be well-distributed to maintain balance, without any single feature standing out excessively. When comparing males and females, allowances should be made for bitches, as they may not display the breed's characteristics as prominently as males.

Size, Proportion, Substance:

The French Bulldog's weight should not exceed 28 pounds; anything over this is considered a disqualification. Proportions are crucial, with the distance from withers to ground and from withers to the onset of the tail contributing to a compact, well-balanced appearance. The breed should exude substance, with a muscular build and heavy bone structure.

Head:

The head of the French Bulldog is large and square, featuring dark, brown, or approaching black eyes that are wide-set and positioned low on the skull. The characteristic bat ears are broad at the base, elongated, and carried erect. The forehead is slightly rounded, and the muzzle is broad, deep, and well laid back. The nose must be black, any other color being a disqualification. The flews are black, thick, and broad, covering the teeth and tongue when the mouth is closed. The underjaw is deep, square, broad, undershot, and well-turned up. Any bites other than undershot are considered serious faults.

Neck, Topline, Body:

The neck is thick, well-arched, and has loose skin at the throat. The back is a roach back, with a slight fall close behind the shoulders, gradually rising to a higher loin than the shoulder, and rounding at the croup. The body is short, well-rounded, and the chest is broad, deep, and full. The belly is tucked up. The tail can be straight or screwed (not curly), hung low, with a thick root and a fine tip, and carried low in repose.

Forequarters:

Forelegs are short, stout, straight, and set wide apart. Dewclaws may be removed, and feet should be moderate in size, compact, and firmly set. Toes should be well split up, with high knuckles and short, stubby nails.

Hindquarters:

Hind legs are strong and muscular, longer than the forelegs to elevate the loins above the shoulders. Hocks should be well let down. Feet should be moderate in size, compact, and firmly set. Toes should be well split up, with high knuckles and short, stubby nails; hind feet slightly longer than forefeet.

Coat:

The coat should be brilliant, short, and smooth. The skin is soft and loose, especially at the head and shoulders, forming wrinkles. Coats other than short and smooth are considered disqualifications.

Color:

Acceptable colors include white, cream, fawn (ranging from light fawn to a red fawn), or any combinations of these. Markings and patterns such as brindle, piebald, black masks, black shadings, and white markings are permitted. Ticking is acceptable but not desired. Solid black, black and tan, black and white, white with black, blue, blue fawn, liver, and merle are all disqualifying colors.

Gait:

The correct gait is a "four tracking" foot pattern, with the front track wider than the rear track. Movement should have reach and drive, being unrestrained, free, and vigorous.

Temperament:

French Bulldogs should be well-behaved, adaptable, and comfortable companions. They should exhibit an affectionate nature with an even disposition, being generally active, alert, and playful without undue boisterousness.

Disqualifications:

1. Over 28 pounds in weight.
2. Blue or green eye(s) or any traces of blue or green.
3. Other than bat ears.
4. Nose other than black, except in the case of cream or fawn-colored dogs without black masks, where a lighter colored nose is acceptable.
5. Coats other than short and smooth.
6. All coat colors other than those specifically described (e.g., Solid black, black and tan, black and white, white and black, blue, blue fawn, liver, and merle). Black means black without a trace of brindle. All other patterns and markings other than specifically described.