General Appearance

A sturdy, active, smooth coated dog of graceful curves. An alert wide-awake expression that portrays intelligent curiosity. Totally balanced with no part exaggerated, exuding an air of confidence. While not a big dog a Frenchie is muscular and robust, this should not be interpreted as stout or fat. Due allowance given to bitches, whose feminine form is more refined

Temperament

A steadfast dog of roguish charm and clown like qualities, with a deep sensitivity, understanding and devotion towards the humans it owns. 

Characteristics

 

Bat Ears

An erect ear, broad at the base, rounded in outline at the top, with internal surface fully facing towards the front. 

A slightly rounded forehead, side-to-side and front to back. The skull flattening as it recedes to be flat between the ears. 

Roach Back

From a slight dip, creating a low point behind the withers, the spine should gradually rise to its highest point over the loins, then curving more markedly to the naturally short low set tail, forming a graceful arch. 

Head

Square, large and broad, but in proportion to the dog's size. The brow is prominent and the bony ridges around the eye well defined. The shape of the head is nearly a perfect square. The vertical measurement from the top of the skull to the lowest point to the under jawbone, and the horizontal measurement the distance between the outer points of the cheekbones. The impression of a square is enhanced by the flesh and skin on the head. Muscles of the cheek developed just sufficiently to complete the square appearance - NOT prominent 

Skull

Slightly rounded in forehead above the eyes. The skull flattening as it recedes to be visually flat between the ears. (Tight wrinkles producing a corrugated effect, somewhat obscuring the flatness of the skull.) Occipital crest not defined 

Stop

Deep. Forming a short curved groove between the eyes, extending to, but not onto the forehead. The stop is accentuated by an over nose wrinkle. Separate symmetrically wrinkle descends on each side of the foreface. The loose skin of the wrinkle is within moderation, neither heavy nor slight. 

Muzzle

Short, wide and well laid back. (The muzzle is angled back towards the stop, so that the lips are forward of the nose.)  

Nose

Broad; black; short, well set back towards the skull. The top of the nose leans back a little towards the stop. There is a slight descent from the top of the nose to the base of the stop, masked by the overnose wrinkle. The overnose wrinkle should be a separate entity to the face wrinkle. The wrinkle at the side of the face should not extend in an unbroken form up and over the nose. Excessive wrinkling is neither required nor desired. The lower line drawing displays this heavy undesirable effect.

 

In profile. If a rule were placed on forehead and chin, the nose would be very slightly forward of this imaginary line. 

Nostrils

Nostrils large and open with a clearly defined line between them.

Correct

Incorrect - nares too narrow, narrow underjaw, flews drooping.

Eyes

Dark brown of round appearance. Accentuated, while neither protruding nor sunken. Showing no haw or white when looking straightforward. Set wide apart and low down in the skull. "Wide-awake" in their expression, giving the impression of alert intelligence. Eye rims black. 

Jaw

Flews thick broad and black. Upper jaw cushioned, filling out the central part of the sides of the foreface, giving the effect of squareness. The profile of the upper lip is descending and rounded. 

 

Curved under jaw essential and well turned up. Sharp upward curve at the end, forming a juncture with the upper jaw. The prominence of the undershot lower jaw is moderated by its curve. Deep and slightly undershot. Visually appears square and broad. Under no circumstances must the tongue protrude 

Bulldog	French Bulldog

 

Lips

Lips thick, meeting each other in the centre, completely hiding the teeth. Heavy drooping lips producing a draped curtain effect are to be deprecated. 

Upper lips cover lower on each side, never so exaggerated as to hang much below the level of the lower jaw. Meeting lower lips at the centre ideally forming a visible half moon shape, but in any event the lower lip MUST be visible. 

Upper lip never so excessive that it impairs the mouth function. i.e.. Trapped between the teeth, folding under, or overlapping the lower lips causing a step. 

Ears

"BAT EARS" are essential. Wide apart, set high, at the outer corner of the skull. Carried upright and parallel. The inner aspect of the ears taper towards the outside as viewed they are at 11 o clock, one o clock. The ear is elongated, being greater in height than its width at the broad base. 

Mobile, sonar ears of soft, fine texture. 

Neck

Powerful, thick set and just long enough to form a slight graceful arch. Loose skin at the neck and throat should not be excessive. NO DEWLAP 

Forequarters

Correct Front

Forelegs

Straight when viewed from the front or the side. Vertical and parallel. Relatively short visually. This effect being created by the depth of chest falling below the level of the elbows. Legs set wide apart, the space between the legs forming an almost perfect square. Substantial bone .

Elbows

Held under the shoulder and close to the body.

Shoulders

Set at the outside of the chest but not tacked on. Laid back, but not overly angulated, keeping in balance with the moderate angulation of the hindquarters. Shoulder and upper arm thick with visible muscle. 

Pasterns

Strong, short, straight, upright as viewed from the front. Slightly sloping when viewed from the side.  

Feet

Correct	Knuckled Over

Round, tight and compact with thick deep pads. Very slight outward turn; so slight it is barely perceptible.

Hind Feet

Slightly longer than the fore. The two centre toes slightly longer than those on the outside.

Toes

Well split up without much space between. Compact with prominent knuckles.

Nails

Short and thick, well separated, preferably black in brindle and fawn, without however penalising light coloured in lighter specimens. 

Body

Strong and muscular. Roach back. The roach provides agility for cornering and speed. Frenchies can jump high, run really fast and corner on a dime. 

Faults

Camel Back	Running Up Behind

 

Brisket

Brisket should begin to arch up at the division between the ribs and the abdominal cavity in a convex curve creating a well tucked up waist, which follows the contours of the roach top line.

Chest

Chest deep and capacious. Ribs well rounded and well let down between the forelegs.

Waist

rich in muscle

Back

The back between withers and loin is short, while the overall body length (withers to tail set) approximates the height at the withers.  

Croup sloping and rounded off. Broad across the shoulders, tapering beyond the ribs Narrowing at the Loins showing a waist, but still stocky. 

Hindquarters

Rear legs strong with moderate angulation and firm elongated muscle, longer than the forelegs, raising the loin above the level of the shoulder.  Short Hocks well let down, parallel and vertical as viewed from the rear or side. If a vertical line were drawn down from the rump it would touch the front surface of the rear pastern, with the tips of the toes in line with the set on of tail. Correct rear is absolutely essential to any leaping ability but in combination with a roach transfers power like a spring. 

The pelvis slopes off at a relatively steep angle. The hind feet must converge on the move so as to pass between the forefeet. Rear legs must therefore NOT be set wide apart. No looseness of joints is permitted nor are rear dewclaws. 

Faults

Cow hocks, out at elbows	Sickle hocks, narrow front, down in pastern, knarled tail

 

Tail

A short, natural (undocked tail). Low set, thick at the root, tapering quickly towards the tip. Close to, but not tightly clamped against the rear. Straight (Spike tail) carried in line with the curvature of the body. The ideal length being just sufficient to cover the anal orifice. Longer tails are acceptable providing they do not extend beyond the groin and do not cause a visual imbalance to the dog. The tail must not be carried above the horizontal even when moving. Kinked tail permitted but not preferred. Knotted or lack of a tail, are undesirable features. 

Tail cariage when in motion or alert

Movement

Viewed from the side, there should be obvious reach to the front legs, with the rear legs driving in a balanced corresponding fashion, using forelegs and rear legs with equal efficiency.

The hind feet track within the steps of the front feet .i.e. the four feet touch the ground forming two separate parallel lines. A wider gauge railway track at the front and a narrower gauge track inside that line from the rear. Rear feet are visible through the front legs when coming forward. Hocks are parallel and upright as the foot lands.

Properly gaited the French Bulldog will carry its head held up naturally, with a smooth, lively gait and in such a fashion as to leave the impression it could move this way indefinitely.

The front legs move straight through on a direct line with only slight convergence and remain almost parallel to each other.

Light on their feet for a stocky built dog, the gait is quick and flowing. There is a spring in the step, with a gentle sway of the rear, due to having only moderate angulation, wide front, narrower rear and ROACH back. Viewed from the side, there is as little undulation as is possible. 

Correct Movement

Coat

Short, close, smooth and fine. Ideally with a texture like satin. 

Colour

The French Bulldog comes in Brindle and fawn with or without white. Where white predominates this is termed pied.   Fawn palest cream to deep mahogany. Nose and eye rims MUST be black. May contain the odd brindle hair, but not solid black patches or black halos surrounding white areas on the body. Clear coat preferred.

Brindle

is a black pattern of stripes overlaying any of the fawn colours, creating a mixture of black and coloured hair. The brindles to be perfect should have a fine, even and equal distribution of the composite colours . Lighter or heavier black overlay is acceptable, providing some brindling is evident.

Pied

Pearly white predominates. Whites are classified with pieds, but eye rims should be black. The white of pieds should be clear without ticking or black spots. However very minor imperfections may be tolerated in an otherwise outstanding specimen.

Black mask in any colour is perfectly acceptable and can enhance visual appearance.

UNDESIRABLE COLOURS. No award should EVER be made to any of the following. Black and Tan, Grey/blue, Liver, Sable, Mouse (fawn grey/ blue), or any colour not complying with the black pigmentation the breed requires. Black means black, not just dark. Smuttiness of coat or black areas on a fawn are mismarks and should be viewed as such. 

Size

Balanced and in proportion is most important and must be maintained regardless of weight which is a variable requirement depending on which standard is being used. A 20lb Frenchie meeting the above would be in the vicinity of 10 inches, whereas a dog towards the upper end of the weight range could be nearer 13 inches. While agreement is unlikely on a universal standard in relation to weight a Frenchie in the mid range between the 20 and 30lb would appear to fit in with the overall perception of a breed without extremes. 

Faults

Any dog not complying with the requirements of the breed characteristics should be viewed as not being a true representative of the breed. The French Bulldog should be presented in its natural form and any trimming is to be discouraged. A stripped coat is an incorrect coat. Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness should be in direct relation to its degree.