ABKC Breed Standard
French Bulldog
Active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, medium or small structure.
General Impression
Active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, medium or small structure. Expression alert, curious, interested.
Overview
Active, intelligent, muscular dog of heavy bone, smooth coat, compactly built, medium or small structure. Expression alert, curious, interested.
Physical Standard
Key physical attributes emphasized in the ABKC standard.
- Head large and square; eyes any color, wide apart; ears bat ear, broad at base
- Neck thick and well arched with loose skin; back is roach back with slight fall behind shoulders
- Body short and well rounded; chest broad, deep, full
- Forelegs short, stout, straight, muscular, set wide apart
Breed Standard Sections
Proportion and Symmetry
All points 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
Due allowance in favor of bitches, which do not bear the characteristics of the breed to the same marked degree as the dogs.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Weight not to exceed 30 pounds.
Head
Head large and square. Eyes any color, wide apart, set low down in the skull, as far from ears as possible, round in form, of moderate size, neither sunken nor bulging. Ears — known as the bat ear, broad at base, elongated, with round top, set high on head but not too close together, and carried erect with the orifice to the front. Skull flat between ears; forehead not flat, slightly rounded. Muzzle broad, deep, well laid back; muscles of cheeks well developed. Stop well defined. Underjaw deep, square, broad, undershot, well turned up.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck thick and well arched with loose skin at the throat. Back is a roach back with a slight fall close behind the shoulders, gradually rising to the loin which is higher than the shoulder, and rounding at the croup. Body short and well rounded. Chest broad, deep, full, well ribbed with the belly tucked up. Tail either straight or screwed (but not curly), short, hung low, thick root and fine tip; carried low in repose.
Forequarters
Forelegs short, stout, straight, muscular, and set wide apart.
Hindquarters
Hind legs strong and muscular, longer than the forelegs, so as to elevate the loins above the shoulders. Hocks well let down.
Size
Weight
- Not to exceed 30 pounds
Coat
Moderately fine, brilliant, short and smooth. Skin soft and loose, especially at head and shoulders, forming wrinkles.
Color
All colors acceptable. All nose colors acceptable.
Gait
Correct gait is double tracking with reach and drive; action unrestrained, free and vigorous.
Temperament
Well behaved, adaptable, comfortable companions with affectionate nature and even disposition; generally active, alert, playful, but not unduly boisterous.
Show Classes
Common class groupings seen at ABKC events (exact classes vary by show).
- Puppy
- Junior
- Adult
- Champion
- Grand Champion
Disqualifications
- Other than bat ears
