FRENCH BULLDOG

byname Frenchie, a small dog of the nonsporting group, which was developed in France in the later 1800s from crosses between small native dogs and small bulldogs of a toy variety. The French bulldog is a small counterpart of the bulldog (q.v.), but it has large, erect ears, rounded at the tips. Its skull is flat between the ears and domed above the eyes, and the expression is typically one of alertness, rather than moroseness as in the bulldog. A valued companion and watchdog, the French bulldog stands 28 to 30 cm (11 to 12 inches) and weighs about 10 kg (22 pounds). Its short, fine coat may be any of a number of colours, such as brindle, grayish brown (fawn), or white.