TECHNICAL BREED STANDARD

Breed: French Bulldog
International designation: French Bulldog
Group: 4 – Bull-type Dogs
Type: Small Molossoid
Working trial: not required
Recognition: WDF-recognized breed

Recognized and classified varieties:

French Bulldog Classic
French Bulldog Exotic
French Bulldog Fluffy / Long – experimental coat variety currently under WDF study and research

1. Historical Background

The French Bulldog is a small Molossoid breed developed in France, with particular consolidation in the Paris region during the second half of the 19th century.

The development of the breed is linked to small bulldogs and reduced-size Molossoid dogs present in Europe and subsequently selectively bred in France.

In late-19th-century Paris, these dogs were particularly widespread among:

workers;
merchants;
butchers;
coachmen;
craftsmen;
working-class urban communities.

Their distinctive conformation, small size, sociable temperament and characteristic appearance rapidly promoted their popularity also within artistic circles and the upper social classes.

Selection progressively consolidated a dog that was:

compact;
muscular;
brachycephalic;
equipped with large, characteristic erect ears;
naturally short-tailed;
strongly boned in proportion to its size;
extremely well suited to companionship.

Over time, the French Bulldog became one of the most recognizable companion breeds in the world.

Development of the Exotic Variety

Beginning in 2014, in Eastern Europe, a specific breeding programme was initiated for the study and stabilization of French Bulldogs displaying colour expressions different from the traditional colouring.

The first phase of selection mainly involved dogs born with a dilution of black eumelanin, producing shades commonly identified as Blue.

Subsequently, the breeding programme was expanded to include other genetic colour expressions, including:

Chocolate;
Cocoa;
Lilac;
Isabella;
Tan Point;
Merle;
additional colour combinations and dilutions.

From this breeding work, what would progressively become known as the Exotic variety of the French Bulldog began to take shape.

The designation Exotic was specifically adopted to identify dogs morphologically and genealogically belonging to the French Bulldog breed but characterized by colours differing from the traditional colour range.

A decisive role in the first phase of study and classification was played through close cooperation between the Kennel Clubs:

ICBD – Italian Club Breed Dogs;
KZS – Kennel Slovensko Association.

This cooperation led to the drafting of an initial experimental technical standard, intended for the inclusion of dogs in a specific study registry.

The objective of the experimental registry was to:

genealogically identify the dogs;
document the different colour expressions;
analyse the genetic transmission of colours;
verify phenotypic stability across generations;
collect morphological data;
observe possible correlations between colour and health conditions;
maintain traceability of the bloodlines used in the breeding programme.

The project was not intended to create a different morphological type of French Bulldog, but rather to study different colour expressions within the same breed type.

In 2017, the World Dog Federation registered the project for the first time at international level as an experimental standard project for the Exotic variety of the French Bulldog, placing the relevant bloodlines into a programme of genealogical, morphological and genetic observation.

From that point onward, the adopted breeding principle was to keep the fundamental morphological type of the breed unchanged.

The French Bulldog Exotic therefore had to retain the same characteristics as the traditional French Bulldog in terms of:

structure;
head;
proportions;
height;
weight;
movement;
temperament;
functionality;
Molossoid characteristics.

The difference was to concern mainly:

colour;
genetically related pigmentation;
colour pattern.

Modern WDF classification therefore distinguishes:

French Bulldog Classic

Includes dogs with the traditional colours of the breed.

French Bulldog Exotic

Includes dogs genealogically and morphologically belonging to the French Bulldog breed that display colour expressions, dilutions, patterns or combinations different from the Classic variety.

French Bulldog Fluffy / Long

Represents a specific phenotypic expression characterized by greater coat length.

The variety is currently included in an experimental World Dog Federation study and research programme.

The three classifications must not lead to the formation of different morphological types.

Regardless of colour or coat length, the dog must remain clearly identifiable as a French Bulldog.

31. Coat

31.1 Standard Coat

In the Classic and Exotic varieties, the standard coat must be:

short;
smooth;
close-fitting;
glossy;
soft to the touch.

The undercoat must not be excessively evident.

The coat structure must be uniform and compatible with breed type.

31.2 Fluffy / Long Variety

The designation Fluffy / Long identifies a particular phenotypic expression of the French Bulldog characterized by greater coat length.

It does not represent a new breed.

Anatomical structure, proportions, head type, size, weight, movement and temperament must remain those established by this standard for the French Bulldog.

The difference concerns exclusively the length and distribution of the coat.

The coat must be:

medium in length;
soft;
silky;
plush to the touch;
regular;
sufficiently close-fitting to the body while displaying greater volume than the standard short coat.

The greater length is particularly evident:

on the ears;
behind the ears;
on the neck;
on the chest;
along the body;
on the back of the thighs;
on the tail, where anatomically sufficiently developed.

Ears

On the ears, the hair may be visibly longer than in the short-haired French Bulldog.

It may form light feathering especially:

along the outer edge;
at the base;
on the back of the ear leather.

The presence of longer hair must not alter the characteristic bat-ear shape.

The ears must remain:

erect;
well open;
correctly set;
functional.

Body

On the body, the coat is moderately longer than in the short-haired variety.

It must retain a texture that is:

fine;
soft;
silky;
pleasant to the touch.

A coat that is:

woolly;
extremely abundant;
curly;
strongly frizzy;
so profuse as to completely conceal the anatomical structure of the dog

is undesirable.

The greater coat length must not interfere with morphological assessment.

32. Recognized Varieties and WDF Classification

The WDF classifies the French Bulldog into the following varieties:

A. French Bulldog Classic

Colour variety comprising the traditional colours established by this standard.

B. French Bulldog Exotic

Colour variety comprising the different genetic colour expressions established by this standard.

C. French Bulldog Fluffy / Long

Phenotypic coat variety currently under experimental WDF study and research.

The Fluffy / Long classification concerns coat length and may be associated with the colours provided for the Exotic variety.

A dog may therefore be registered, for example, as:

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Blue

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Blue & Tan

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Chocolate

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Lilac & Tan

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Isabella

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – New Shade Isabella

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Merle

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Merle & Tan

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Pied Exotic

The presence of long hair does not automatically alter the assessment relating to:

structure;
proportions;
anatomical correctness;
breathing;
movement;
temperament;
health;
functionality.

34 bis. French Bulldog Fluffy / Long

The Fluffy / Long variety includes French Bulldogs genealogically belonging to the breed that display a genetic expression responsible for increased coat length.

The variety is currently maintained by the World Dog Federation under an experimental study and research programme.

The objective of the programme is to assess over time:

genetic transmission of coat length;
phenotypic stability;
coat quality;
possible health correlations;
maintenance of morphological type;
preservation of functionality;
genealogical traceability;
interaction with the different colour loci.

Morphological Principle

A French Bulldog Fluffy / Long must be, from an anatomical standpoint, the same French Bulldog defined by the general standard.

A distinct type must not be selected based on:

a different muzzle;
a different head;
greater or lesser size;
different bone structure;
different chest conformation;
different topline;
different movement.

The greater coat length constitutes the distinguishing feature of the variety.

Colours

The Fluffy / Long variety may display the colour expressions provided for the Exotic variety, including, by way of example:

Black;
Black & Tan;
Blue;
Blue & Tan;
Chocolate;
Cocoa;
Lilac;
Lilac & Tan;
Isabella;
Isabella & Tan;
New Shade Isabella;
New Shade Isabella & Tan;
Rojo;
New Shade Rojo;
Platinum;
Sable;
Tricolor;
Trindle;
Merle;
Merle & Tan;
Pied Exotic;
additional genetically documentable combinations.

Greater coat length and Exotic colour do not in themselves constitute faults when the dog is correctly classified in the relevant variety.

50. Mandatory WDF Rule on Merle

ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION OF MERLE × MERLE

The prohibition applies without distinction to:

French Bulldog Exotic;
French Bulldog Fluffy / Long;
any dog belonging to the breed that genetically carries a merle allele relevant for breeding purposes.

For WDF breeding purposes:

THE MATING OF TWO MERLE DOGS IS ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED.

The prohibition remains in force regardless of:

base colour;
coat length;
visual intensity of the pattern;
minimal or extensive expression of merle.

The rule applies to:

visible merle;
minimal merle;
cryptic merle when genetically detected;
Black Merle;
Blue Merle;
Chocolate Merle;
Cocoa Merle;
Lilac Merle;
Isabella Merle;
New Shade Isabella Merle;
any other combination containing a merle allele relevant for breeding.

Before mating a merle dog, genetic verification of the partner’s Merle locus is required or strongly recommended, according to the breeding programme applied.

52. Registration of Variety and Phenotype

Each dog must be registered indicating, where applicable:

Breed: French Bulldog;
Variety: Classic, Exotic or Fluffy / Long;
Primary colour;
Pattern, where present;
Markings, where present;
Coat type, where necessary;
any available genetic test results.

Examples:

French Bulldog – Classic – Fawn

French Bulldog – Classic – Brindle Pied

French Bulldog – Exotic – Blue & Tan

French Bulldog – Exotic – Isabella

French Bulldog – Exotic – Blue Merle

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Blue

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Lilac & Tan

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Isabella

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – New Shade Isabella & Tan

French Bulldog – Fluffy / Long – Merle

The name of the colour or coat type must not replace the official breed name:

French Bulldog.

68. Identity of Classic, Exotic and Fluffy / Long

Classic, Exotic and Fluffy / Long belong to the same French Bulldog breed.

Classic and Exotic primarily represent a distinction related to colour expression.

Fluffy / Long represents a phenotypic classification relating to increased coat length and is currently under WDF study and research.

All must share:

identical head type;
identical anatomical structure;
identical proportions;
identical height parameters;
identical weight parameters;
identical movement standard;
identical temperament;
identical functional requirements;
identical fundamental health requirements.

Selection must not produce:

a French Bulldog Classic;
a French Bulldog Exotic;
a French Bulldog Fluffy / Long

that are morphologically different from one another.

A dog belonging to any of the three classifications must be immediately recognizable, before any other characteristic, as a French Bulldog.

Colour and coat length are different phenotypic expressions, not justification for modifying breed type.

70. Cynognostic Summary

The ideal French Bulldog is a small companion Molossoid, powerful in relation to its size, compact, muscular, with strong bone, a broad and nearly square head, a short but functionally breathable muzzle, erect bat ears, expressive eyes, a broad and deep chest, a characteristic topline moderately rising toward the loin, strong hindquarters, a naturally short tail and free, energetic movement.

The Classic variety includes the traditional colour expressions established by the standard.

The Exotic variety, developed through a breeding programme initiated in Eastern Europe from 2014, includes the different genetically documentable colour expressions of the breed, including dilutions and patterns such as Blue, Chocolate, Cocoa, Lilac, Isabella, New Shade Isabella, Tan Point, Merle and their respective combinations.

The programme developed through cooperation between ICBD – Italian Club Breed Dogs and KZS – Kennel Slovensko Association led to the drafting of an initial standard and an experimental registry intended for the genealogical and genetic study of these colour expressions.

In 2017, the World Dog Federation registered the project as an international experimental programme dedicated to the Exotic variety of the French Bulldog.

The designation Exotic therefore identifies a variety characterized by colour expressions differing from traditional colouring, without modifying the fundamental morphological identity of the breed.

The Fluffy / Long variety instead displays increased coat length, with medium-length hair that is soft, silky and plush to the touch, particularly evident on the ears and distributed at greater length over the entire body.

The Fluffy / Long variety may display the colours provided for the Exotic variety and is currently maintained under World Dog Federation examination, observation and research.

Neither Exotic colour nor the increased coat length provided for Fluffy / Long constitutes, in itself, a fault when the dog is correctly classified.

The following breeding rule remains mandatory for all varieties:

MERLE × MERLE MATING IS ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED.

In every variety, absolute priority must be given to:

health, functional breathing, morphological correctness, movement, balance, breed type, welfare, correct genetic selection and genealogical traceability.