The French Bulldog E-Book

Muriel P. Lee

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Kennel Club Classics
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 312

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

The first title in the exciting new Kennel Club Classics series is French Bulldog, an elaborate photographic celebration of one of the dog world's most beloved breeds. Written and compiled by Just Frenchies editor Muriel P. Lee, this 200-page hardcover volume features articles on the breed's history by Anne M. Hier, breed health by Janice Grebe, judging by Virginia Rowland, the breed in England and France by Penny Rankine-Parsons, the breed in Australia and New Zealand by Michael Rosser, and working dogs by Bette and Manda Kaplan. No Frenchie lover will live without this volume on their coffee table!

Leseprobe

EDITORIAL

Andrew DePrisco Editor-in-Chief

Peter Bauer Managing Editor

Amy Deputato Senior Editor

Jonathan Nigro Editor

Matt Strubel Assistant Editor

ART

Sherise Buhagiar Senior Graphic Artist

Bill Jonas Book Design

Joanne Muzyka Digital Art

The French Bulldog

Copyright © 2007

40 Broad Street • Freehold, NJ • 07728 • USA

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lee, Muriel P.

The French bulldog / by Muriel P. Lee.

p. cm. — (Kennel club classic series)

Includes index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59378-680-9

eISBN-13: 978-1-62187-031-9

ISBN-10: 1-59378-680-8

1. French bulldog. I. Title.

SF429.F8L4392 2007

636.72--dc22

2007011699

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Kennel Club Books®, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Printed and bound in Singapore

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Acknowledgments

The publisher would like to thank the owners of the dogs featured in this book, including:

Sande Abernathy

Teresa Bjork

Lucy Bonsal

Laura Bostwick

Mme. Bourquin

Marilyn Burdick

Mark and Beth Carr

Bob and Laura Condon

Donna Cron

James Dalton

Liz Davidson

Dorit Fischler

Graham Godfrey

Jim and Jan Grebe

Brad Hagmayer

Warren and Debbi Houtz

Bette Weinstein Kaplan

Manda S. Kaplan

Diane Laratta

Muriel Lee

Heidi Lillie

Michael and Nancy Magill

Joseph A. Martin Jr.

Richard and Carol Meyer

Stan and Teddy Mileham

Alan and Judith Miller

Andrea Morden-Moore

Carlene Naughton

Kath Parlett

Dulcie Partridge

Constance Payne

Mary Phelps

Sandra Plotts

Penny Rankine-Parsons

Ron and Suzanne Readmond

Michael Rosser

Colette Secher

Claire Senecal

Luis and Patty Sosa

Philip Stemp

Deb Stevenson

Sarah Sweatt

Chris Thomas

Scott Tomassi

Dr. John Turjoman

Kathy Dannel Vitcak

Vivien Watkins

Jim and Shauna Woodruff

Photography

Sande Abernathy

Ashbey Photography

Abiy Assefa

Carol Beuchat

Blaser Photography

Booth Photography

Laura Bostwick

Steve Bull/Sirius Photography

James Dalton

Dorit Fischler

Four Seasons Photography

Isabelle Français

Brad Hagmayer

Henry Photography

Amy Johnson

Bill Kramer

Terry Lansburgh

Heidi Lillie

Mary Evans Picture Library

Lazaro Montano

Andrea Morden-Moore

Next Age Photography

David Sombach Photography

Luis and Patty Sosa

Scott Taras

Scott Tomassi

Paula Trainer/A Different Image

Tom Weigand/The Winning Image

Ch. Shann's Goodtime In Hollywood, Ch. Shann's Goodtime Celeste, Ch. Shann's Pudgybull Primadonna and Ch. Shann's Pudgybull Houdini.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

PART ILe Bon Vivant

The Irrésistible French Bulldog

The Élégant Well-dressed Frenchieby Heidi Lillie

Le Cirque du Frenchie

The Inspirational Frenchieby Bette Weinstein Kaplan and Manda S. Kaplan

PART IIÀ Votre Santé!

The French Bulldog in Sickness & in Healthby Janice Grebe, PhD

O Worthy Frenchie, Be Fruitful and Multiply

PART III The Grand Tour: Amérique!

The Frenchie’s Naissance 1800-1930by Anne M. Hier

The Frenchie’s Belle Epoch 1930-2000

The Frenchie Révolution 2000-

PART IV Frenchie Royals & Aristocrats

Meet the Parent Clubby James Grebe

On Judging the French Bulldogby Virginia Rowland

Presenting la Crème de la Crème

PART V Bat Ears Abroad!

France & the UK: Dual Citizenshipby Penny Rankine-Parsons

The Road to Oz & New Zealandby Michael Rosser

PART VI The Priceless Frenchie: Art & Objets d’Art

Pieces de Résistanceby Gary Bachman

A Visit to la Galerie du French Bulldogby William Secord

APPENDICES

I: Top-Producing Stud Dogs

II: Top-Producing Bitches

III: Winners of the National Specialty

IV: Regional French Bulldog Clubs

V: Publications of Interest

VI: Websites of Interest

To the

French Bulldog

The body shape of dogs like you,

No sculptor’s tools can e’er enhance.

You, sprightly dog of brindled hue,

You, bulldog of beloved France.

Neat, natty, smart and quick are you;

Possess’d of pluck and power, too.

Your full-brained skull denotes no fear;

It’s filled with fighting intellect;

Your bat-like, listening, ready ear

Has made you ever circumspect.

Yes, dogs have brains, as well as we;

And use them quite as frequently.

You, foundling, yours no misery;

Your daily life is never hard:

Companion in the nursery,

In boudoir and on boulevard.

You, women’s pet, you, children’s need;

You, Frenchmen’s choice of bulldog breed!

Anon.

INTRODUCTION

My life in dogs began around the age of eight when my parents purchased a Wire Fox Terrier. We didn’t know what a terrier was, especially one called “Wire Fox,” but my parents had watched The Thin Man movies and wanted a dog that looked just like Asta, the canine star of the series. Our Susie was well-bred and my mother learned how to groom her reasonably well, so she looked more or less like a proper Wire Fox Terrier. We didn’t know a thing about training a dog, so Susie just grew and, true to her heritage, remained a wild pup until about the age of 12, when she began to slow down. She lived to the age of 16, when her spirit was finally spent.

I didn’t have another dog until I was in my mid-20s, when I responded to a newspaper ad about a sheepdog puppy. “Is this the dog with the hair over its eyes?” “No, this sheepdog looks like a little Collie. You’re looking for an Old English Sheepdog.” Thus my entry into the world of pure-bred dogs. Three Old English and lots of grooming, along with some health heartbreaks, led me back to my beginnings, the terriers. And that began 20 years in Scottish Terriers with many litters and many champions.

Eventually I went through five years with no dogs and a new carpet, but as the carpet began to look a bit tired I thought again about getting a dog. The breed that stayed in my mind was one that had been recommended to me by many old-timers in the dog game. “If you could have only one dog, what would it be?” “Oh, a French Bulldog…they are great.” A French Bulldog? What a funny-looking breed! However, I made some inquiries, as I thought this just might be the breed for our household. And when the first Frenchie came to live with us, I thought, this is a strange breed!

Will Judy wrote in 1935, “One must learn to like the Frenchie just as he learns to like olives but once having learned to like the Frenchie, he will never cease to speak the praises of the breed.” How true, and it turned out that the Frenchie was the dog for us. What a breed! Not only is he an easy keeper and below-the-knee in size but he is also fun, cute as can be, smart and full of personality!

Welcome to the French Bulldog! In this book you will find the Frenchie in his full glory. You will learn of the breed’s history, its health and its standard. And, best of all, you will see fabulous photographs of the Frenchie doing what he does best—looking smart, handsome, pretty, cute, fun and well dressed. Of course, not to be left out, he can be a dedicated little worker, jumping over hurdles, retrieving dumbbells and even doing a day’s work as a certified therapy dog. In addition to all of that, the French Bulldog has been a favorite of the art world over the past century; you will find pictured in this book fabulous photographs of great Frenchie artwork and unusual objets d’art.

What more could one want in a breed of dog?

Rosie (Tansey’s mom), Lila Mae, Tansey (Lila’s mom) and Spruce (half-brother to Tansey).

The

IRRÉSISTIBLE

French Bulldog

The section of the breed standard that describes the French Bulldog’s temperament reads as follows: “Well behaved, adaptable and comfortable companions with an affectionate nature and even disposition; generally active, alert and playful, but not unduly boisterous.” One sentence sums up the character of the French Bulldog quite well. However, this little Frenchman is so much more!

Unlike the terriers, who enjoy having a job and often need to have one in order to live in a household without driving everyone nuts, a Frenchie can do a day’s work—but he really doesn’t feel that this is essential in the scheme of things. The sporting dogs love to romp around in the field whether it is raining or snowing, muddy or sunny. A Frenchie is not eager to get his feet wet and isn’t thrilled to be out in the very cold weather. In the heat of summer his owner knows better than to take him for a brisk walk around the lake, as his nose and ears will turn red and he will have difficulty breathing. In fact, overheating can cause serious problems for him. He can surely run and likes a good time, but don’t expect him to take a five-mile race with you, as he will wear down faster than any hound.

What the Frenchie is best at is being a companion, and this is what he was bred for. He loves his master and mistress and any children in the household. He will gladly share the sofa for an evening of television or, even better, share your bed at night. And like a true Frenchman, he loves to eat and particularly likes to eat well. Shrimp, oysters, caviar, a good cut of meat and green vegetables are all enjoyed, and a birthday cake is always appreciated. He would probably like a glass of red wine before dinner, but since he has no thumbs he would have difficulty in picking up the crystal-stemmed glass.

Brindle buddies: Rare-Breed Ch. Oakleafs Taboo of Fabelhaft (Presa Canario) with Frenchie Am./Can. Ch. Robobull Fabelhaft Inferno.

The Frenchie likes to play and he likes to giggle. Even though he barely has a tail, when he leans down on his front legs, with his fanny in the air and his eyes saying, “Let’s play,” you can see that little tail stub wagging. He likes lots of soft toys and he wants them all around the house. Place a toy box or basket in every room, fill it with teddy bears and other soft plush toys, and he will be in his element. He loves the squeakers but may lose interest in a toy once the squeak is gone. Teddy bears with eyes that can be taken out are lots of fun, but you must watch and see that those little pieces are not swallowed.

He knows when you are sick or injured and he will be most sympathetic. Have a hip replacement and within a few days you may find your Frenchie limping around, in sympathy for your surgery. If you are sick in bed with a bad cold, your Frenchie will be lying beside you. And if you are feeling sad and lonely he will be there, offering a comforting lick of your hand.

Tansey, taking the notion of “bat ears” to a new extreme.

“Do you think anyone can see me?”

Tansey spends some time relaxing and just “hanging out” at the park the day after completing her Rally Advanced title.

Frenchie life is always a day at the beach.

A Frenchie is a girl’s best friend.

Although the Frenchie is a great companion, he also has other attributes. The French Bulldog has been seen to make an ideal dog for therapy work. He is intelligent and can understand a task when given to him. Frenchies like to participate in agility, rally and obedience work and although they may require a bit of patience, most will take to the work with intelligence and interest.

It’s a bird…it’s a plane…no, it’s Ch. Bon Marv’s EZ as Pied Jackpot!

He doesn’t like to be scolded and he does not take well to harsh punishment. His feelings will “be hurt” and your buddy will not be a happy camper. With his intelligence, you can usually get your point across to him without breaking down his spirit.

As early as 1916, James Watson wrote in The Dog Book, “The French bulldog has been quite a prominent feature in the toy section of American dogdom for the past 15 years and the best evidence of his being a good dog about the house is the way those who take up the breed stick to it. Fanciers of the boule-dogue are anything but butterflies but hold to their pets with a persistence that might well be copied by the men who disturb other breeds by getting out before they have hardly had time to settle in the fancy. Not quite so rompy and active as the Boston terrier, the boule-dogue is nevertheless as lively in his movements as any dog needs to be about the house, possessing some of the sedateness of the pug in his temperament and disposition. He possesses the advantage which all short coated dogs have, of being easily kept clean and fit for the house, requiring only good daily grooming to that end.”

The International Encyclopedia of Dogs says, “The ‘Frenchie’ has many advantages. It is small enough to get out of the way but big enough to look after itself. It is normally peaceful but alert enough to warn of strangers. It is strong and robust, yet with a modest appetite. It is short-coated and therefore easily groomed.”

As one can see, the French Bulldog is not the average dog. With his distinguishing bat ears, he is an intelligent, fun-loving companion. If you bring love to his table, he will return it to you ten fold.

Jackpot! I’m the Boss of JustUs looks ready to take on the world.

Who can resist Waldo’s fabulous Frenchie face?

Pattée and Spanky in Gran’ma’s stone martin furs.

The

ÉLÉGANT

Well-dressed Frenchie

By Heidi Lillie

Whether dressed in a stylish sweater, a Halloween costume or an antique badger-hair collar, a well-dressed Frenchie is a sight to behold!

What is it that makes French Bulldogs so enticingly dressable? Their wonderfully expressive faces become even more adorable when adorned with a hat, a feather boa or a pair of bee-like antennae. Their expressions seem almost human once they have a pair of designer glasses wrapped around them. Their bully chests seem to puff with pride when wearing the right sweater, collar or gown. In short, French Bulldogs love to be admired! So many Frenchie owners love the attention that their unique dogs command and, once accessorized, a Frenchie becomes even more extraordinary (as if that’s possible!).

Frenchies also have the right temperament for playing dress-up. Most French Bulldogs enjoy playing the model, as this is a breed that loves to please. When Frenchies know they are looking good and are getting recognition, laughter and accolades from their people, they seem to revel in it. Many a French Bulldog has allowed his or her child to dress him up to have a “tea party.” Vintage photos show Frenchies being costumed by children, and this amusing pastime continues to this day due to the patient and loving nature of the breed. (Please make sure to always supervise toddlers with your Frenchie, as they may inadvertently be too rough when they get carried away with the fun of dressing up their “fwenchie.”) Frenchies are just the right size for dressing up as well. Not too small, not too large, they can carry off just about anything! And best of all, they let us do it, no questions asked.

Darla models her Hollywood starlet look.

Why do people love to dress up their Frenchies? Sometimes simply for sheer fun, as with Halloween costumes, or to show their love for their devoted dog by having him don a birthday hat or a new collar for a special occasion. Some people dress them as an extension of themselves by putting them in designer finery. If the owner has the latest Louis Vuitton handbag, then of course Fido must have a collar to match! Not to mention the coordinating leash and the dog carrier.

It’s been well documented in photos, lithographs and illustrations over the past 200 years that a “badger” collar was once seen on every French Bulldog of distinction. This is a leather collar that is framed on either side with real badger hair that fans out in a halo around the dog’s neck. It essentially frames the dog’s head and sets off his beautiful visage. Perhaps it was a status symbol, but it was definitely a fashion statement. Occasionally you can still find an original “badger” collar at an antique shop or at auction—with a very high price tag, of course. You can also find nice reproductions. One thing is for certain: the “badger” collar was one of the definitive starting points as far as accessorizing your Frenchie went.

Rhinestone cowdog Ch. Fisher’s Mon Reve of Starhaven.

The most famous image of a Frenchie in a “badger” collar comes from the front cover of the Westminster catalog from 1897. A tiny brindle is nestled in the arms of his fashionable owner. Tons of vintage postcards show Frenchies in the fancy collars, and many of the dogs are in the arms or on the lead of an actress or another equally famous person. Photos of Colette, the French novelist, show her with her Frenchies in “badger” collars as do drawings by Toulouse-Lautrec. Of course, the Steiff French Bulldog stuffed animals are always seen wearing them, and the original antique Frenchie “Growler” pull toys are shown sporting badger-hair collars.

If you’ve seen the Dogville “All Barkie” film shorts from the late 1920s and early 1930s, they’ve upped the ante by featuring dogs of many breeds dressed to the nines, acting in parodies of old Hollywood films. One of the main “starlets” was none other than a French Bulldog! Recognized for her fabulous and expressive flat-faced mug, she stole the show, along with most of the leading roles! Check the films out on the Turner Classic Movies channel or at www.tcm.com; this is a hilarious and fascinating genre of films featuring a treasure trove of well-dressed dogs.

The “badger” collar has long been the accessory of choice for the fashionable Frenchie.

In the recent movie Bringing Down the House, starring Steve Martin and featuring the very photogenic French Bulldog actor/model known as Linus, who played the role of “Shakespeare,” Linus is filmed sporting an Elizabethan clown collar that is often seen in old illustrations of the breed. Many porcelain Frenchie figurines show the old clown collars as well. Linus has appeared in many other films, commercials and print ads, but to my knowledge this is the only film in which he appears “dressed.”

Recently, many canine apparel and accessory companies have sprouted up out of the love of French Bulldogs and have become very successful due to their adorably dressed mascots! Charming Pet Charms was the first to feature their handsome pied Frenchie, Cowdog, as their spokesmodel. They carry a complete line of party collars, collar charms and jackets for the well-dressed Frenchie. Sococo, or “Socially Conscious Companion,” is a company inspired by the owner’s darling brindle French Bulldog Gilles and specializes in hand-beaded collar charms for the humanitarian cause of AIDS relief. When you purchase their charms, you can feel good about dressing up your Frenchie and supporting a good cause at the same time!

A modern take on the traditional “badger” collar.

Feather boa collars became very popular among the Frenchie set, and the newer “party” collars made of tulle and rhinestones were the next step. These collars come in all colors and styles and give your dog the “clown-collar” look of yesteryear, but in a fun, updated fashion. Handmade beaded ornamental collars have been all the rage for the past few years, as have the personalized collars that spell out your Frenchie’s name in rhinestones. The old standby, the studded collar, is still quite popular for the somewhat less daring Frenchie.

Ch. Fisher’s Mon Reve of Starhaven can’t resist the call of the open road.

If you can sew, there are many pattern books for sale that feature clothing made to fit Frenchies. Check out eBay on any given day and you will find many French Bulldog models in little shirts and sweaters featured all over the books in the auctions.

There are several items for dressing up your Frenchie that are perhaps not as fashionable or as fun as the others, but are necessary purchases for the well-being of your French Bulldog. The first item I want to mention is an engraved tag with your address and phone number to attach to all of the beautiful and fancy collars that your Frenchie loves to wear. You can find these tags at many pet-supply stores; they engrave them on the spot. You can also order them online. Have several on hand for all of your Frenchie’s different collars so that you don’t forget to attach the tag when you change to a different collar. There are even stunning hand-hammered ID tags available—pricey, but worth it!

With a Mardi Gras-style mask and ribbons to match, Ch. Fabelhaft Flower Power, “Lily,” is decked out for a celebration of her success.

Have no fear…it’s SuperFrenchie! It’s the crime-fighting Ch. Enstrom’s Spike of Starhaven.

Stylish coats are a must for any Frenchie living in warm climes. When soaked in water before wearing, they can reduce the body temperature of your Frenchie to a much more comfortable level and they can be a lifesaver! Doggles, which are goggles specifically made for dogs, protect your dog’s eyes from the sun’s damaging rays if he rides in your convertible (seat-belted in, of course) or while on your boat.

This brings us to a most important part of your dog’s fashion gear. The canine lifejacket is a must if your Frenchie spends any time on or around the water. There are many different brands, so try them on your Frenchie to see which style fits your dog the best. As we know, our beloved barrel-chested breed does not swim well, so a lifejacket can be the difference between life and death. It takes only an instant for a Frenchie to drown, so please check out the many different kinds of canine life vests and purchase one so your Frenchie can enjoy the water, worry-free, right along with you!

When looking for sweaters or coats to fit your dog, make sure to check for the broad-chest factor. French Bulldogs can be notoriously hard to fit due to their bully chests. Also check and make certain that any clothing can be put on and taken off your dog easily.

So where do Frenchies go when they’re all gussied up?

Commander-in-chief Spanky is the Frenchie in charge.

Costume contests are always a big Frenchie crowd pleaser. Every year at the French Bull Dog Club of America’s national specialty, the costume contest is a big hit! Entrants have ranged from bees and ladybugs to clowns, cowboys, mermaids—they have seen it all!

Other Frenchie costume contests have been popping up at Frenchie meet-ups and Frenchie fun walks all over the country, and the breed has done very well in many all-breed costume contests as well. A Frenchie took first place in the 2005 “Haute Dogs Howl’oween” costume contest in Long Beach, California; the winner appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno dressed as a mermaid, with her owner as her adoring sailor! She was a huge hit!

In New York, attending the French Bulldog meetup groups are a must to see who can outdo whom in all of their Frenchie glamour! Feather boas, designer collars and top-of-the-line sweaters are among the many accoutrements sported by French Bulldogs in the Big Apple. With all of the fabulous doggie boutiques that have sprung up, both in the city and online, there is no end to the fashions available to Frenchies and their fashion-forward owners.

Whether it is to win a costume contest, to impress others, to protect your French Bulldog from inclement weather or simply to delight you, dressing up your Frenchie is fun! And whenever you do, be sure to take photos. You never know whether your Frenchie might be the next canine top model!

Lily shows her “flower power,” adorned with roses and a feather boa.

An energetic Frenchie with titles in obedience, rally and more, Lulu is also sweet, gentle and very photogenic.

Le

CIRQUE

du Frenchie

The French Bulldog, although not known as a “circus dog,” can certainly hold his own in performance events, and many of them have excelled over the years. Jackie Drucker, Clinton and Verlene House, Brenda Buckles, Andrea Morden-Moore, Deb Stevenson and many others have taken the time and have had the patience and interest to see their Frenchies achieve a high degree of excellence.

Here are some of their stories:

Deb Stevenson writes of her UCD Agathe Von Den Loewen CD, RAE, NJP, CSH, RL3, CGC, TDI, called “Lulu” for short, that “she is a monkey in a dog suit, wearing a pig costume. Comical and quite full of herself, she has a passion for stuffed toys, sticks and people of all shapes and sizes.

“On the Frenchie energy scale, Lulu is probably at the high end of the spectrum. With her impish ways, it helps to channel her energies toward good rather than evil. She enjoys rally and obedience, which she clearly views as wonderful games with treats. She is the first French Bulldog to earn the AKC’s highest level rally title, Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE), and has earned her Novice Obedience title with three different organizations. At the age of two, we accidentally stumbled upon her aptitude for agility, so Lulu has added agility competition to her repertoire. She attacks agility with her own special style, mixing athleticism with a healthy dose of silliness. Yeah, she jumps pretty high for a little piggy. I have her in the 8-inch preferred class for jumpers, but I swear she clears the jumps by about a foot.

“Above all else, Lulu is a sweet little dog who adores everyone, making her ideally suited for her more serious pursuit as a therapy dog. Lulu is certified with Therapy Dogs International, Inc. and visits a senior day care center and a senior assisted-living facility. With her outgoing personality, silly antics, sillier appearance and loving disposition, she’s a natural. Like most good celebrities, Lulu knows how to make an entrance, has a commanding presence and can really work a room. She gladly soaks up all of the hugs and kisses and revels in bringing a smile or a laugh to those she visits.”

Agility specialist Gunny flies over a jump and has a ball doing it.

Andrea Morden-Moore DVM writes of the eight Frenchies that she has lived with, loved and achieved so well with in the performance rings:

“La Petite Pierrot De McKee UD, a.k.a. ‘Herk,’ whelped in 1982, excelled in obedience. His titles and awards included CD, CDX, UD, CGC, High Scoring Dog in Trial in Open obedience at the 1987 FBDCA specialty in Chicago (first independent specialty) and FBDCA High-Scoring Open Dog in 1987. In 1991 Herk became the fifth French Bulldog to complete a Utility Dog (UD) title. Brenda Buckles’ Magnum was the fourth Frenchie UD and, prior to that, the other Utility titles in the breed had been achieved in the 1960s. Magnum and Herk were trailblazers in obedience for the Frenchies. Yes, they can do obedience! Herk was my very first Frenchie, and my very first dog that I trained in obedience, and we went all the way! Herk was a gentle soul and is still missed to this day, 12 years after his passing.

“Regina Noir de McKee CD, CDX, CGC, a.k.a. ‘Gina,’ whelped in 1985, also excelled in obedience. She was the FBDCA High-Scoring Novice French Bulldog in 1985, the FBDCA High-Scoring Open French Bulldog in 1990 and High-Scoring Dog in Trial in Open obedience at the 1991 FBDCA national specialty in New Orleans. Gina was a classy and beautiful girl and she took her job of keeping the boys in line very seriously. My fondest memory of her is her growling and barking at any animal she saw on television; they didn’t even have to be moving or making noise. She just recognized them as intruders to her house and made sure that we knew about them!

“Ch. Cox’s O’Narly Pecoda CD, CGC, a.k.a. ‘Gnarly,’ was born in 1990. The disciplines in which he excelled were conformation and obedience…and being just a grand dog! Gnarly was a great dog, the perfect dog in terms of conformation, fabulous movement and a personality that won over many people to French Bulldogs. He had a lot of fans at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and many in the oncology ward as, unfortunately, he had several run-ins with cancer. The third bout finally took him from us at the age of 10½, but he was an unofficial mascot in the ward as he came every day for radiation therapy at the clinic for a month. He howled like a banshee if kept in a cage, but the staff left him to roam the ward on his own. He was blessedly quiet and he spent his time in the easy chair, as every Frenchie should! His howl was an unearthly sound; the head clinician called it ‘the Gnarly noise’ and planned on using a recording of it for Halloween. I have his son to this day, detailed in the following paragraph.

“Ch. Spirit Dragon’s Chiisai Tomo CD, CGC, a.k.a. ‘Tomo,’ was born in 1995. Tomo means ‘little friend’ in Japanese; and his registered name is a tribute to my decade (at that time) of martial arts and the name of our karate dojo, Spirit Dragon. Tomo is the son of Gnarly, a blend of Cox breeding and Carol Meyer of Starhaven. Tomo was a labor of love, as I wanted so much to have a son of Gnarly who we thought was the perfect dog. Tomo was the first (and only) dog that I handled to a championship as Gnarly was finished by his first owner. Tomo is still with us and, unlike his father, he remains a little wild man. He earned his CD, but not without the typical protest. You want me to do what? I remember during one of the legs he earned for his CD title, he did the most bizarre long down. I had taken a ‘tricks’ class with Tomo and he knew ‘dead dog.’ For his long down, he laid for three minutes with all four feet sticking out about the floor like a dead dog. He entertained many and soon earned his CD title.

“Bullmarket Shogun Spiritdragon CGC, OA, OAJ, a.k.a. ‘Gunny,’ born in 1997, excels in agility, his specialty. Gunny loves agility, and although he had basic obedience training, he has far more aptitude and the physique for agility and is the first dog I have trained to performance level in agility. Tomo was nearly ring-ready but hurt his back at home, so he was retired from this physically demanding sport. Gunny is far better than his handler is and in the year that I’ve shown him he never fails to garner admirers. He is lightning fast and takes his work seriously. We have earned the first-level titles in agility and continue to work for more ‘clean runs.’

“Kobi’s Arabella of Windance CGC, CD, RE, TDI, RL1, RL2, excels in rally obedience and obedience. ‘Bella’ was acquired from her breeder as a ‘rehome.’ She came to us a scant two weeks after we lost our Gnarly, and we were missing a bitch in the house. We got one in spades! Little 15-pound Bella takes her job seriously as ‘play police’ and pushes the boys around. She is cobby and petite and collects admirers wherever she goes. Many people are on the list of possible suspects if she ever disappears! Bella, like all of my Frenchies, has her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title from the AKC. She has been showing in both traditional obedience and rally obedience simultaneously.

“The sport of rally obedience, or ‘rally-o,’ is a relatively new one, recognized by the AKC in January 2005. Another organization, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), sponsors rally competition and offers titles. Bella has earned her first-level APDT title, RL1, and is working on the second of three levels. Bella has earned titles at all three levels of AKC rally: RN (Rally Novice), RA (Rally Advanced) and RE (Rally Excellent). She is working on her RAE (Rally Advanced Excellent) title now, which is earned by qualifying in both the Advanced and Excellent classes in a single show. It takes 10 legs to earn this highest title. Bella earned her Novice obedience title (Companion Dog, CD) last year and is working on Open-level exercises with hopes of earning her CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) this year. Bella also has earned certification as a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International (TDI). She visits nursing homes, where she brings smiles to everyone who meets her.

© WWW.NEXTAGEPHOTO.COM

Titlist in obedience and rally obedience, Bella patiently awaits instructions for the next exercise in a rally-o trial.

“Spirit Dragon’s Gilbert CGC, RN, TDI, a.k.a. ‘Gilbert,’ excels in rally obedience and in just being a great companion. Gilbert is a rescue dog acquired through the French Bulldog Rescue Network at the age of approximately two. He was discovered in a puppy mill in Wisconsin. His history is not known completely, but at some time he did have a family and he was kept outdoors under the porch for a winter (in Wisconsin). He was later sold to a puppy mill and lived there for some time. I adopted him and, over time, little shy Gilbert blossomed into a silly little guy. He still crouches somewhat when you reach out to pet him, so I suspect he wasn’t always treated nicely. Gilbert’s progress will be slow, but he is enjoying being part of a family and getting out to experience the world. He is a very sweet therapy dog, and his diminutive size (20 pounds) means he is just right for lap cuddling!

“Spirit Dragon’s Nick at Night CD, RN, RL1, CGC, TDI, a.k.a. ‘Nikko,’ whelped in 2002, excels in obedience and rally obedience. Nikko is a rescue dog acquired at the age of two through the French Bulldog Rescue Network. Nikko was relinquished by his young owner who didn’t have the time for him; he also required expensive surgery that she couldn’t afford. Nikko had his knee surgery at my veterinary clinic and recuperated with me at my home. Not surprisingly, I fell in love with him and applied to adopt him. Nikko also has a congenital heart condition; though present, it does not keep him from having a normal dog’s life. He will not be trained in the rigorous sport of agility, but he certainly has the physique for it and he runs like a horse! His performance will be limited to obedience, which has very limited jumping. Nikko has an aptitude for obedience that I hope will take him far. He loves to get out and do new things and he loves to please. He earned four titles in one year and is close to at least one more. He, like Bella, competes simultaneously in obedience and rally obedience and he also does therapy work. A strapping big boy, he weighs in at 31 pounds of solid muscle.”

Clinton and Verlene House owned Ch. Lyndale’s Editor-in-Chief (1990–1995) who, at the time of his death, was the most titled French Bulldog in the history of the breed. In addition to being a champion he had the following titles: CD, CDX, UD, CGC, therapy dog, agility I and II titles, versatility champion and ASCA CD. Verlene said, “He was a true darling, both to live with and to train. We lost him at an early age from a spontaneous back paralysis. My memory is fading, but the hole in my heart will never heal. ‘Eddie’s’ favorite toy, in training or at play, was a racquet ball. I drilled a hole in it to attach a leather handle, and the handle served two purposes: it made certain he couldn’t swallow the ball and it made it more pleasant to handle the slimy thing! He would force it to shoot out of his mouth and then revel in the chase. He had invented the perfect game to play by himself.

“He loved his treat machine. It was a prize he received from the FBDCA and it was a great prop at nursing homes and demonstrations. He also played a great piano…child’s version, of course! He was eager to fetch a tissue if an audience member sneezed. With the help of his scentwork training, he amazed the school kids with his ability to ‘tell colors and numbers.’ His fetch commands were ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you,’ so we were able to slip in a few courtesy reminders with the demonstrations, showing that he wouldn’t retrieve unless properly asked.

“Nursing-home visits presented a problem as he was too heavy for the elderly to hold on their laps and too short to be petted from the floor. I embellished the cover on his travel crate and allowed him to stand or sit on it at their sides and the problem was solved. Does it sound like we had fun? You bet your life!”

Of course, there are newcomers to the sport of Frenchie obedience and rally, too.

Warren and Debbi Houtz own U-CD Fancibul Bijou Be Mine CGC, CD, RN. Debbi writes, “Bijou is our first Frenchie and her older sister is a white Standard Poodle. We also have three cats that she tolerates and