French Bulldog Breed Standard
Smooth-Coated French Bulldog
General Appearance
A well-balanced, small, compact and solid dog, with characteristic bat ears, a naturally short tail and a smooth, short coat.
The French Bulldog should appear fit, active and capable, with free and easy breathing.
Size & Proportions
Approximately 12 inches at the withers, with overall balance and proportion being more important than exact height.
The body should be compact, square and well proportioned, with good substance without appearing excessively heavy.
The head should be in proportion to the body, and the dog should present a balanced outline from all angles.
Head & Muzzle
The head should be broad, square and in proportion to the body, with the characteristic French Bulldog expression.
The muzzle should be short, broad and well developed, measuring between one quarter and one third of the overall head length. It should not be shorter than one quarter of the head.
The muzzle should have well-developed flews, without excessive loose skin.
A slightly undershot bite is acceptable.
The muzzle should never appear narrow, weak or pinched.
Nostrils & Breathing
Nostrils must be wide and open, allowing free and unrestricted airflow.
Breathing should be silent, easy and effortless at rest.
Pinched or narrowed nostrils, or noisy, laboured or restricted breathing at rest, are faults.
The nose should be black.
Skin & Wrinkles
The skin over the body should be close and tight-fitting.
Wrinkling around the head and muzzle is acceptable and forms part of the characteristic French Bulldog expression.
A nose roll is acceptable, provided it does not cover or obstruct the nostrils or interfere with breathing.
Excessive loose, hanging or heavily wrinkled skin over the body is a fault.
Eyes
Eyes should be round, clear and naturally set within the face, neither sunken nor prominent.
Brown or dark eyes are preferred, with other eye colours accepted where appropriate to the dog’s colour.
When looking straight forward, no white should be visible.
Bulging, excessively prominent or deeply sunken eyes are faults. The eyes should sit naturally within the face and should never appear as though they are protruding from the socket.
Ears
Ears should be bat-shaped, upright and in proportion to the head.
They should be broad at the base with rounded tips, set naturally to give the characteristic French Bulldog expression.
Ears that are excessively large or small in proportion to the head are undesirable.
Body & Condition
The French Bulldog should be compact, solid, fit and muscular, with good substance without excessive heaviness.
The body should be broad and well ribbed, tapering into a visible waist and abdominal tuck.
The topline should be straight, curving gently over the rump towards the tail.
The dog should be presented in naturally fit condition. Excess body fat and being overweight are faults.
Front Construction
Viewed from the front, the French Bulldog should appear compact, broad and square, with good width through the chest.
The chest should be wide and well developed, giving a strong, solid appearance.
The front legs should be straight, strong and well positioned beneath the body, with sufficient bone and substance for the dog’s size.
The overall front should appear balanced and powerful without being exaggerated.
Feet
Feet should be compact, strong and well formed, with toes held neatly together.
Straight-facing feet are preferred. A slight outward turn is acceptable, provided it is not excessive or detrimental to movement.
Feet turning inward are a fault.
Rear Construction
The hindquarters should be strong, muscular and well developed, with powerful rear legs providing good forward drive.
The rear should have good, balanced angulation, allowing the dog to move freely and efficiently.
The hind legs should be correctly positioned beneath the body, neither excessively straight nor over-angulated.
Weak, narrow or poorly muscled hindquarters are a fault.
Movement & Athletic Ability
Movement should be free, balanced and effortless, with good drive from the rear.
The French Bulldog should be an active, agile and capable little dog, able to enjoy long walks, running, jumping and energetic play with ease.
It should retain the physical ability and natural enthusiasm to work as a ratter on a farm, take part in activities such as agility, and live a full and active life.
Its compact build should not prevent speed, stamina, agility or those characteristic bursts of energetic play.
Tail
The tail should be naturally short and movable, set correctly and sufficient to cover the anus.
It should extend only slightly beyond this point, maintaining the characteristic short-tailed French Bulldog appearance.
A complete absence of tail is a fault.
The tail should not be tightly fixed or cause deep pockets, discomfort or restriction to the surrounding skin.
Coat
The coat should be short, smooth and close-fitting to the body, with a healthy natural appearance.
Colour
All colours and patterns are accepted.
Colour should not take priority over health, structure, temperament, movement or correct breed type.
No otherwise correct French Bulldog should be penalised solely because of its colour or pattern.
Temperament
The French Bulldog should be friendly, affectionate and confident, making an excellent family companion.
It should have the breed’s characteristic playful, clown-like personality, being sociable, curious and full of character.
The French Bulldog should be comfortable around people and display a steady, good-natured temperament.
Unprovoked aggression is a fault.