GENERAL APPEARANCE
The French Bulldog has the appearance of an active, intelligent,
muscular dog of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, and of medium
or small structure. Expression alert, curious, and interested. Any
alteration other than removal of dewclaws is considered mutilation and
is a disqualification.
Proportion and Symmetry - All points are well distributed and bear good
relation one to the other; no feature being in such prominence from
either excess or lack of quality that the animal appears poorly
proportioned.
Influence of Sex - In comparing specimens of different sex, due allowance
is to be made in favor of bitches, which do not bear the characteristics
of the breed to the same marked degree as do the dogs.
SIZE, PROPORTION AND SUBSTANCE
Weight not to exceed 28 pounds; over 28 pounds is a disqualification.
Proportion - Distance from withers to ground in good relation to distance
from withers to onset of tail, so that animal appears compact, well
balanced and in good proportion. Substance--Muscular, heavy bone.
HEAD
Head large and square. Eyes dark in color, wide apart, set low down in
the skull, as far from the ears as possible, round in form, of moderate
size, neither sunken nor bulging. In lighter colored dogs, lighter
colored eyes are acceptable. No haw and no white of the eye showing when
looking forward.
EARS AND MOUTH
Known as the bat ear, broad at the base, elongated, with round top, set
high on the head but not too close together, and carried erect with the
orifice to the front. The leather of the ear fine and soft. Other than
bat ears is a disqualification.
The top of the skull flat between the
ears; the forehead is not flat but slightly rounded. The muzzle broad,
deep and well laid back; the muscles of the cheeks well developed.
The
stop well defined, causing a hollow groove between the eyes with heavy
wrinkles forming a soft roll over the extremely short nose; nostrils
broad with a well defined line between them.
Nose black. Nose other than
black is a disqualification, except in the case of the lighter colored
dogs, where a lighter colored nose is acceptable but not desirable.
Flews black, thick and broad, hanging over the lower jaw at the sides,
meeting the underlip in front and covering the teeth, which are not seen
when the mouth is closed.
The underjaw is deep, square, broad, undershot
and well turned up.
NECK, TOPLINE AND BODY
The neck is thick and well arched with loose skin at the throat. The
back is a roach back with a slight fall close behind the shoulders;
strong and short, broad at the shoulders and narrowing at the loins.
The
body is short and well rounded. The chest is broad, deep, and full; well
ribbed with the belly tucked up.
The tail is either straight or screwed
(but not curly), short, hung low, thick root and fine tip; carried low
in repose.
FOREQUARTERS
Forelegs are short, stout, straight, muscular and set wide apart.
Dewclaws may be removed. Feet are moderate in size, compact and firmly
set. Toes compact, well split up, with high knuckles and short stubby
nails.
HINDQUARTERS
Hind legs are strong and muscular, longer than the forelegs, so as to
elevate the loins above the shoulders.
Hocks well let down. Feet are
moderate in size, compact and firmly set.
Toes compact, well split up,
with high knuckles and short stubby nails; hind feet slightly longer
than forefeet.
COAT
Coat is moderately fine, brilliant, short and smooth. Skin is soft and
loose, especially at the head and shoulders, forming wrinkles.
COLORS
Acceptable colors - All brindle, fawn, white, brindle and white, and any
color except those which constitute disqualification.
All colors are
acceptable with the exception of solid black, mouse, liver, black and
tan, black and white, and white with black, which are disqualifications.
Black means black without a trace of brindle.
GAIT
Correct gait is double tracking with reach and drive; the action is
unrestrained, free and vigorous.
TEMPERAMENT
Well behaved, adaptable, and comfortable companions with an affectionate
nature and even disposition; generally active, alert, and playful, but
not unduly boisterous.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Any alteration other than removal of dewclaws.
Over 28 pounds in weight.
Other than bat ears.
Nose other than black, except in the case of lighter colored dogs, where
a lighter colored nose is acceptable.
Solid black, mouse, liver, black and tan, black and white, and white
with black.
Black means black without a trace of brindle.
Approved June 10, 1991
Effective July 31, 1991
Source: www.akc.org
