French Bulldog

When exploring the history of the French Bulldog, 

it is important to recognize the roles played by three countries: England, France, and America.

England laid the foundation for the modern Frenchie with its old bulldog. 

French breeders then developed smaller versions into a distinctly “French” type, while American 

breeders established standards—most notably the iconic “bat ears.”

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The story begins in England, where many of our AKC breeds originated. 

The ancestor of today’s bulldog was not the modern version but the bulldog of 150 to 200 years ago:

a muscular, athletic dog, tall on the legs, originally used in the brutal sport of bull-baiting.

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During that period, many English breeders began to modify the breed, 

producing a larger,  heavier dog with exaggerated features. 

Others crossed bulldogs with terriers, resulting in bull-and-terrier breeds 

used for fighting and ratting. 

Meanwhile, a different group of breeders created a smaller, 

lighter toy bulldog weighing between 12 and 25 pounds. 

These dogs had either upright (“bat”) ears or rose ears, round foreheads, 

short underjaws, and sometimes a touch of terrier liveliness. 

They gained popularity among workers in the English Midlands—

particularly artisans involved in lace-making around Nottingham.

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As the Industrial Revolution shut down many small craft shops, 

lace-makers migrated to northern France and brought their small bulldogs with them. 

The popularity of these little dogs spread from Normandy to Paris. 

English breeders responded by exporting small bulldogs to France, 

where they became known as Bouledogues Français. 

They became favorites among ordinary Parisians

—such as butchers, café owners, and rag traders—

and gained notoriety as the companions of Parisian streetwalkers, 

les belles de nuit. 

The famous artist Toulouse-Lautrec depicted in several works 

a Frenchie named Bouboule, owned by Madame Palmyre,

proprietor of the popular restaurant “La Souris.”

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Society figures soon took notice of these adorable little dogs, and they quickly became fashionable. 

Most British dog enthusiasts, however, distanced themselves from these French bulldogs,

leaving the breed largely under French stewardship until later in the 19th century. 

During this period, the French refined the breed, creating a more uniform type—

a compact dog with straight legs and a less exaggerated underjaw

compared to the English bulldog. 

Some had erect “bat ears,” while others had “rose ears.” 

Wealthy Americans traveling in France also fell in love with these charming dogs

and began bringing them back to the United States. 

American breeders favored dogs with erect ears

—an aesthetic that aligned with their preferences, 

even though French breeders continued to breed the rose-eared variety.

The first society ladies exhibited French Bulldogs in 1896 at Westminster. 

The following year, a Frenchie appeared on the cover of the 1897 Westminster catalog, 

even though the breed had not yet been officially recognized by the AKC.

At that inaugural show, both bat-eared and rose-eared French Bulldogs were shown,

but the British judge awarded only the rose-eared specimens.