French bulldog, breed of small, alert nonsporting dog with batlike ears, developed in France in the second half of the 19th cent. It stands about 12 in. (30.4 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 19 to 28 lb (8.6–12.7 kg). Its short, smooth coat may be brindle, fawn, white, or brindle and white in color. The French bulldog descends from a toy variety of the English bulldog. These toys were not popular in England, and in the mid-19th cent. many were shipped to France, where they were crossed with native breeds. The French bulldog was much desired as a pet in fashionable circles, both in France and in the United States, in the early 20th cent. In recent times it has become popular as a house pet and companion. See dog.
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