Welcome to the FBDFA History Page

 This chapter delves into the relatively recent origins of the French Bulldog breed (less than 100 years old at the time of publication in 1933), explaining how it was developed through crossings of old French dogs over the preceding seventy to eighty years.

Featuring an interview with Mr. Roger, this post examines the breeding practices and development of French Bulldogs in Paris during the early 20th century.

 Discusses key breeding challenges, including difficulties with whelping and genetic surprises due to atavism, noting that out of one hundred French Bulldog puppies, certain unpredictable traits may emerge.

 Provides observations from a visit to the Emerys' home, contributing to the broader narrative on the breed's origin, history, and breeding techniques in the 1930s.

 Offers historical evidence, including a 1931 snippet from "L'Eleveur," about wire-haired and long-coated varieties, and details a breed standard update that mandated short coats.

 Explores the controversies surrounding Samuel Goldenberg's forced resignation and the evolution of the French Bulldog breed standard, with insights into historical interpretations and changes.

 Who Wants to Know Something (More) About Mary? 

We thought you would enjoy these little-viewed articles and photos about one of the most famous, accomplished (and young) female breeders of original French Bulldogs, Mrs. Mary Winthrop Turner, complete with juicy Guilded Age Scandals.  

This runaway orphan, nun, actress, published editor, and extremely accomplished competitor, breeder, and judge of French Bulldogs at the height of their popularity was one of the most influential people in this breed's history. 

And does she ever have the story to tell at a time when women did not even have the right to vote, let alone challenge the most powerful men in the world?

"Everyone who knew the history of the dogs to be judged was anxious to see how Miss Winthrop's decisions would compare with those made in previous shows and a few of the men present who believe a woman cannot have an unbiased opinion declared Miss Winthrop would not choose Gamin's Riquet to wear the blue".  - Excerpt from the New York Times 12/3/1911  

No wonder those Good Ol’ Boys hated her. Every time I think I have Mary pegged, she changes shape. 

 While the FBDCA lists "Cream" as a standard color, what very few modern breeders realize is that "Cream" was not an original color for the French Bulldog, making its first verified appearances in the AKC Stud books in 1931, a full 34 years after the breed was created.  

While genetic cream is recessive, meaning it takes two copies inherited from each parent to express, this gene is different than the others of its time, and not just because it is epistatic in expression.  

The key difference is that other recessive genes, such Dilute, Cocoa, and Tan (also recessive) were VERY well documented in the French Bulldog gene pool with registrations for each as early as 1900. 

 In April 1895, one of the early importers of French Bulldogs into America, Mr. J. W. "Thomas" Lawson of Winchester Massachusetts, made headlines in the papers for his French Bulldog, "J. Fros", also sometimes referred to in documents as "J. Fross".   

Mr. Lawson imported J’Fros, one of the first of his breed in America at the time, and entered him into the Boston Terrier and the Miscellaneous classes of the 1895 New England Annual Dog Show because there wasn’t yet a category for his breed. 

The newspapers wrote about him, discussing how he looked a lot like a Boston Terrier.

It was perhaps this “trial” show that triggered the Americans to separate Boston Terriers from French Bulldogs, giving them their own platform to be judged.

 Ever wonder how the Dilute (d) gene was introduced into the French Bulldog population? According to some, it is only a recent outcross, and that any French Bulldog, regardless of registration or pedigree, MUST be a "mutt" if they carry or express the Dilute (d) gene. 

Those minority few are wrong.

 In early 1911, one of the most celebrated and famous people behind this breed's history in America, Mary Winthrop Turner, purposefully CHANGED the AKC registrations of her most famous upcoming show dogs to list them as "dark brindle" instead of their previous colors, including "gray brindle".   

 At first, it looked like a typo because we already had the documented registration from the first volume. It wasn't until later that the updated registration was discovered in a later volume.  Why would she do that? That's a VERY good question... one that begs proper investigation.