French bulldog: a breed deprived of a chance for a future (10 photos)

When a person really wants something, the laws of physics and biology politely step aside. This is how the French bulldog was born – a dog made up of contradictions, charisma, and the sounds typically made by an old refrigerator. How is it that this stern descendant of fighting dogs can no longer jump, run, or even reproduce?





Teeth!

The history of the French is a classic example of how the stern proletariat inadvertently created a style icon. From rags to riches, as the saying goes, has happened with many breeds. Fashionable Yorkies started out as rat catchers in factories, and Spitz dogs even worked as guards. And with bulldogs, it all began in 19th-century England, when their ancestors, the Old English Bulldogs, fought bulls for public amusement. These "mongrel" dogs were a match for their work – large, powerful, and very fierce. When bloody entertainment was banned, these fighters lost their only job and ceased to exist in their purest form. These beasts split into several lines: large, but light and fast dogs continued to compete in underground dog fights, while all the others, shorter than the knee, were collectively known as "toy bulldogs." No one ever let them into the arena again – the miniature version of the gladiators had unexpectedly developed a talent for companionship.



Old English Bulldogs.





Modern Toy Bulldog :DD

By the mid-19th century, Toy Bulldogs became very popular with all kinds of working dogs. These amusing little animals brightened the harsh working days and sometimes even helped around the house by catching rodent pests. Then came the Industrial Revolution. Human labor was replaced by soulless machines, leaving people out of work and losing their jobs. Many of them migrated to France, where the Revolution hadn't yet reached. And, of course, their dogs followed the workers. There, bulldogs were bred with local rat-catching terriers and continued to amuse the people with their short muzzles and quirky antics. They were so amusing that the local bohemians took notice of these grimy factory animals. Poets and artists, actresses and aristocrats—everyone wanted a bulldog. And so the fashion took off.



Brother?

At the end of the 19th century, the craze for snub-nosed companions was picked up by the Americans. They were the ones who finally formalized and packaged all toy bulldogs under a single standard—the French Bulldog. Back then, these dogs still had a fairly long muzzle, and they remained light and athletic—today, no one would recognize those dogs as purebred French Bulldogs. Over time, three things happened: more breeders became involved, dog shows began to gain popularity, and, most importantly, a wave of fashion for all things cute and small began. This fashion primarily affected dogs.



Yes, I get it, I get it, why shout so suddenly!

It's the way evolution and nature designed it: the human brain reflexively perceives childish features—huge, wide-open eyes, a small, snub nose, and a large, round head—as something extremely cute and adorable. We subconsciously interpret these features as a sign of vulnerability, something we want to protect. And it doesn't matter that the snub-nosed thing isn't a human child, but simply a dog with a short muzzle.



Mom, help, I fell in a puddle of chocolate.

And so the race for type began. The most exaggerated specimens of the breed, with the shortest muzzles and largest heads, won at shows. These same specimens then produced numerous offspring, from which the widest, most massive, and cutest dogs were selected – the breeding process succumbed to the pressure of fashion to the point of absurdity. Today, French Bulldogs are so different from their ancestors, and from dogs in general, that such an animal wouldn't survive a day in the wild.



Bulldogs also can't swim—they need special life jackets.

This is, in fact, one of the breed's main problems. Because their noses are too short, the air doesn't have time to cool in the summer or warm up in the winter, causing the dog to either choke from the heat or suffer from the cold immediately after leaving the building. Additionally, some dogs have a "soft palate"—an excessively long soft palate that blocks the trachea and prevents normal breathing. Another problem is a weak back. These dogs have been bred to be overly powerful and large-boned, which causes spine problems. Bulldogs are not even allowed to simply jump onto a high sofa and back, as their own weight can interfere with their ability to do so, resulting in injury.



Perhaps not all is lost?

Keeping such a treasure is a quest in itself. You need to regularly wipe every wrinkle on their face, watch for overheating and hypothermia, formulate a proper diet, and never give in to those huge puppy eyes. French Bulldogs are great at begging for food from the table, but this isn't allowed—in addition to weight gain, they're prone to allergies. And, as if that weren't enough, French Bulldogs are practically incapable of breeding on their own. Due to their anatomy, males almost never manage to breed on their own, and females have a very difficult time giving birth—the puppies' heads are much larger than their mother's pelvis. Therefore, most puppies are born through the efforts of an entire delegation—first a mating instructor, then a team of doctors for a Caesarean section. And even then, human assistance is needed, as very large and heavy mothers can easily crush a newborn. If not for people, the breed would have died out within a couple of generations.



You smell like love...

Yet, despite all the difficulties and potential illnesses, French Bulldogs still top the lists of the most popular dog breeds worldwide. But why? The answer is simple – we still see them as defenseless babies. Damn charismatic babies. In fact, charisma is the only thing that absurd selective breeding hasn't touched or ruined. Each Bulldog is a separate, independent, and self-sufficient individual. One who still considers himself a powerful fighting bulldog and strives to prove it to everyone around him every day. Fighting with another dog, for example. Or yelling at the owner, scaring the neighbor's grandmother with sudden barking, throwing a tantrum for no apparent reason, and refusing to go anywhere at all. Having a bulldog at home is like living with a three-year-old who's incredibly sweet while sleeping, but the moment they wake up, you're already Googling the nearest orphanage.



Bulldogs are also one of the most "non-standard" breeds, as they come in a variety of recognized and lesser-known colors and patterns.