CHARLEMAGNE OF AMERSHAM
The Famous International Champion. Winner of cup for best of the
breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Show, New York, Pittsburg,
Erie, Chicagp, St. Louis, etc., 1911. One of the very few outcrosses
for American Strains.
CHAMPION POURQUOI PAS
This grand young dog, acknowledged by the most noted experts to
be about the finest American bred. Weight 22 lbs. Has won at the
most important shows, including a record list of cups at the Chicago
Specialty Show, 1910. Sire of Ch. The Dollor Princes, Parsque, Prenez
Garde, La Beaute, and the noted European winner, The Belle of New
York.
LE ROI II
Has the most typical head of any French Bulldog in the country.
Winner for best of breed at the New England Specialty Show, 1910;
Albany, 1911-12; Chicago Specialty Show, 1911, etc. Sire of the
pronounced "bully" type. Weight 26 lbs.
MAGNIFIQUE
The dog who is undoubtedly the nearest to the standard of perefection,
as adopted by the French Bulldog Club of America, than any other sire.
CHAMPION HUNK'S BEQUEST
A toy Miniature Bulldog, cobby body, low to ground and tight screw
tail. Wonderful head and expression. In color Dark Bronze Brindle.
Of English Miniature Lineage and therefore most valuable at stud.
MILNSHAW BOULAU
A Great-headed dark brindle, weighing about 23 lbs., with perfect
ears, massive shoulders and bone and cobby body. A grand outcross
for Gamin, Santos and Athos Stock. Has won at the leading shows, including
reserve championship at Chicago. Sire of Flossie II, La Petite, and
other winners.
SALVOLATILE - Original Winner of the 1910 FBDCA Speciality
THE ORIGIN OF THE FRENCH BULLDOG
Durring the Fall, 1910, a controversy re the type and orgin
of the French Bulldog, was carried on through the columns of many
of the dog periodicals. This controversy grew out of the protest which
was lodged against the famous French Bull bitch, "SALVOLATILE" of
which I was then, and still am, the fortunate owner.
Mr. Maurice Greenwood was the owner of the English Bulldog "Peggie."
He took her to the Warren Kennels and she was there bred (so I am
informed) by Mr. Purdy, at that time President of the French Bulldog
Club of New England, to his dog "Cyrano."
"SALVOLATILE" was first shown in New England where her breeding was
no secret. She was next shown at Newark, N.J., where she recieved
winners and finally, at the Hotel Astor, New York April 21, 1910,
Specialty Show of the French Bulldog Club of America where she received
winners under Mr. James Mortimer.
Shortly after this, a protest was lodged through envy, and it was
sustained, and she was disqualified justly, according to the laws
of the American Kennel Club.
Though taking no part in the above controversy, my deep interest in
the breed and my sincere affection for this quaint and curious Bouldogue
Francais, has naturally inspired the question, "Whence its origin?"
From all sources of information, the preponderance of opinion is in
the on direction.
In the interest of the breed, and for the information of many who
love this affectionate little dog but have not the opportunity nor
the time to look into such matters, I submit the following extracts
with the compliments of the Never-Never Land Kennels.
THE BREED OF MINIATURE BULLDOGS
By Mrs. Carlo F.C. Clarke Few breeds have had so many difficulties
to contend against as that of the Miniature Bulldog-- difficulties
in part due to private prejudice-- and these, no doubt, account
to some extent for the slow progress made by the breed since its
revival in England, which may be said to date from 1898, when the
Toy Bulldog Club was founded.
Previous to that some few specimens had been exhibited, notably
a team at the Kennel Club Show of 1893, the property of Mr. G. R.
Krehl. These being freshly imported from France, originated the
the incorrect title of "French Toy Bulldogs."
To any reasonable person the orgin of the breed seems indisputably
clear, but so much controversal matter has collected round this
subject during the last few years that it may be well to recapitulate
the facts. These are as follows:
About 1860 light-weight Bulldogs predominated in England. At Manchesters
Shows for instance, both in 1864 and 1865, we find classes given
to "dogs over and under 12 pounds."
Judging by the portrait of the Old English Champion Toy Bulldgo
"Nottingham Frank," published by the by the Illustrated Kennel
News in its Christmas Number of 1904, these light-weight specimens
do not compare fovorably with the modern Miniature Bulldog. In fact
"Frank's" portrait was mistaken for that of a Bouldogue Francais
by a judge of that breed. Still it should be remembered that in
big Bulldogs as well the type has altered considerably during the
last fifty years--even the celebrities "Crib" and "Rosa" being far
too "terrier like" to stand a chance of winning under a judge of
to-day.
Between 1870 and 1880 there was a complete revolution in the type.
Spanish blood was introduced. Big, heavy-weight, rather coarse dogs
became the fashion, and the light-weights gradually disappeared.
Large numbers of them were exported to France-- principally by the
French lace-workers at Nottingham--and became so popular in that
country that the demand soon exceeded the supply. Except for a few
isolated specimens, the light-weight Bulldog became practically
extinct in England, until, as mentioned above, it was revived bythe
introduction of a team from France by Mr. Krehl in 1893.
Although the Kennel Club had granted them a separate classification
in the Stud Book, we do not find the breed recognized by any of
the Bulldog Clubs until 1899, when the Bulldog Club (Inc.) granted
it classification at the Club Show.
The majority of the Toy Bulldogs exhibited during the first years
of the revival of the breed had bat-ears. This characteristic had
been imported from France, and must not be confounded with the tulip
ear, which, judging from old prints and painting, was far commoner
than the rose ear even in big Bulldogs in the olden days. The tulip
ear is semi erect, pointed at the tips, which fold over, and was
rather aptly described by an American reviewer lately as "the collie
ear," whereas the bat-ear is perfectly erect, and should be rounded
at the tips.
Certainly the bat-ear detracts from the Bulldog character, and probably
for this reason a division arose between the admirers of the bat-eared
type and those of the pure English type, which culminated in 1902
in the formation of the French Bulldog Club. This Club at once applied
for registration of dogs of the bat-eared type, as a separate breed,
in the Kennel Club Stud Book; but this was not granted till 1906,
when at a meeting attended by delegates from the Miniature Bulldog
Club, the French Bulldog Club and the London Bulldog Society (as
representing the big Bulldog clubs), it was decided that henceforth
the bat-eared and rose eared varieties must be regarded as separate
breeds, both for breeding and exhibiting purposes.
This legislation was, of course, not retrospective, and the Kennel
Club allowed an interregnum until January 1st, 1907, durring which
period all existing Miniature Bulldogs could be registered either
as French or English, according to the wish of their owners, and
the type of ear they possessed. This has resulted for the moment
in a most direful confusion of pedigrees; frequently two pups from
the same litter being registered, the one as a Bouldogue Francais,
the other as a Miniature Bulldog, and posterity will find it difficult
to understand why such confusion exists.
Page created by Colette Secher, with documents from her collection.
