Notes from our Independent Specialty Judge

(French Bull Dog Club of America)It was a pleasure to judge the French Bulldog Classes at the 111th National Specialty.  Both the size of the entry and the quality of the dogs were as good as I’ve seen anywhere.
 
The puppy classes were my favorite (there was more than one I wanted to take home) and I look forward to seeing some of them in a year or so.  Also impressive was the overall quality of the “6-9” Months Puppy Bitches” and “Bred By Exhibitor Bitches”.   Temperaments in all classes were excellent and it was gratifying to note the many breeders who've remembered essential FBD virtues—in particular, ear size and shape, heavy bone and correct toplines.  At this level of quality a judge expects to see Frenchies that exhibit other (but no less important) characteristics such as tidy feet, well turned up underjaws, dark eyes, and correct gaits.   There was no disappointment here.
 
As your breed continues to grow in popularity, health must surely be an ongoing concern.  For this reason, I paid close attention to movement and replayed a tape for each dog and handler that went “down and back,” one that asked:  Is this dog moving “unrestrained” and “vigorously” without compromising stamina?  Has the breeder succumbed to the temptation of developing the front half of the dog, while ignoring the rear (I did see a few too many straight stifles)?   Is this dog’s movement complemented by an outline of typical Frenchie proportions?  Is this Frenchie exhibiting in movement a contagious “joie de vivre”?  Finally, as every experienced handler knows, a show dog “up to the task” will use movement to set itself apart.   A few did, and it was fun to watch.
 
My recollections of the beautiful and remarkably sound Frenchies shown in the Veteran class brings to mind another thought related to health—weight and conditioning.  In my personal breed, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, this is of paramount importance.  No serious breeder would ever bring a fat, unconditioned Stafford to a dog show without incurring the wrath of fellow breeders.  Clearly the French Bulldog is different and bred for a different purpose, but I accept no argument that says a Frenchie shouldn’t be able to keep up with children and other dogs, chase a squirrel, do an effortless vertical leap (for a treat, of course) and, in general, greet life with the enthusiasm and physical abilities that are its birthright.
 
Again, thank you for sharing the best of the best.
 
Steve Eltinge