French Bulldog

[Manyandyoucanwalkover]

I was very sad to see a poor flat faced dog win the utilities section. There were so many lovely dogs in that section, with long faces. A dog who can actually breathe properly with the right shaped face, should have won. Crufts is the biggest dog show in the world and it’s utterly shameful that they are promoting dogs who can’t breathe properly.

Stop being so mean to Elton

The kc have changed the wording of the breed standard to make it very clear to judges and breeders that flat faces are not acceptable, and nostrils should be wide open.
The judges have completely ignored this.
I realize that this dog passed a vet check, but I am still horrified that this dog will be coming forward on Sunday for the best in show line up.
Not good for French bulldogs in any way at all.

What a bizarre response. I love all dogs, they are wonderful as pets and so brilliant in all the working jobs they do for us. We owe dogs such a lot and making sure they are born healthy is so the very least we can do for them.

Elton’s win will no doubt create a surge of interest in having a French Bulldog. The judges are completely irresponsible in ignoring the new breed standard. All dogs should be able to breathe properly, including poor little Elton.

I completely agree.

I agree.

There are definitely better Frenchies out there face wise.
I didn't watch Crufts, so can't comment about those in the ring.

He was a stunning little dog .
If you want to slate the frenchie there are a zillion other threads you can read .

It’s such a shame that people try and justify breeding like this because of fashion.

I see many of frenchies a week through work and they are all sorry states with justifiably grumpy temperaments. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one I’ve liked.

Yeah, I was really shocked too, feels like a step backwards.

Dogs should have noses.

Cats should have noses.

Rabbits should have noses.

This ongoing (and increasingly common) trend to remove them via breeding is obscene and the French Bulldog winning is yet another KC travesty.

As is every flat face dog, cat and rabbit out there.

Yeah, so stunning he can't even breathe properly 🙄

I can't understand how people can justify breeding dogs who can't even do the most basic task of keeping themselves alive.

Really? I know he scored BOAS 0, but flat noses and slit nostrils are known to predispose to it, which is why the breed standard has been changed.

He also has a very short back and I would be very surprised if he were to be free of spinal abnormalities. Also quite straight in the stifle.

All in all very depressing. I wish the bloody KC would wake up, insist on breeding for health and allow outcrossing.

I completely agree.

The number of times I have met people with Frenchies claim they bought their puppy from a responsible breeder and they come from "a really healthy line" and sure enough, a few years later that same dog is riddled with health problems and constantly going to the vet.

Poor dogs.

I met someone with a proper long-nosed Frenchie the other day while out with my dog and the difference between him and dog like Elton was staggering.

This dog was tearing around everywhere like a normal, fit and healthy dog. No issues with his spine or his breathing - he could even keep up with my beagle without a single issue. The owner said he was seven and he was in amazing shape.

He was such a lovely dog and it's such a shame that they're not all like him.

It’s bizarre. My breed (Border terrier) has the breed standard that dictates they should still be capable of working. They are marked down heavily if not. My dog certainly is - her dad has been to crufts several times. Yet you get these things happening.

Dogs should be able to run around, play, chaise and get muddy. Afterwards they should be able to knonk out on their bed / settee sleeping peacefully ... oh and did i metion that they lolove gobbling up their food?
All these natural and normal things can't be enjoyed buy that poor little dog that you call stunning.

It was a dreadful example of a dog. I can't stand heating the little mites snuffling along in the park.

@DancefloorAcrobatics

Don't be ridiculous. My frenchies have just come back from 2 hrs at the beach , running and playing the whole time . I've never once seen a frenchie sit on the sidelines because it can't breathe.

It's just another excuse for the war mongers to hate on a breed . My frenchies are fine and have clean bills of health from the vets.

@hattie43 so because your franchise are fine, that means that all the franchise out there who have multiple problems, live in pain, have shortened lifespans... don't exist? Are you denying that there's a problem at all here? I'm very glad that your dogs are in good health and have a happy life, but that's just not the case for a lot of frenchies.

*frenchies - autocorrect!

A few years ago there was a row about German shepherds,bred with a specific back, spine size/shape, purely for fashion and Cruft, with no thought to pain, arthritis and difficulty walking.

Article about this in the Guardian yesterday -

amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/08/no-discernible-nostrils-crufts-in-row-over-prizes-for-french-bulldog

There are French Bulldogs that go on our local park, who struggle to breathe. You can hear them before you see them. Poor things.

@hattie43 of course, yours are the exception to the rules.

What about their siblings, parents, grandparents nices, nephews... ?

Sticking your head in the sand at 8:30am on a beach, won't make all the health issues go away.