French Bulldogs at Stud in the 1920s

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The common method of offering your French Bulldog at stud in the 1920’s was to place a ‘kennel card’ advertisement in one of the popular show dog magazines of the day. The ad would tout his accomplishments, mention his numerous champion get, and generally state his stud fee, which seemed to vary between $7 and $25 dollars. Bitches were generally shipped in by train, if they were not local.

Now, French Bulldogs offered at stud are handled much, much differently. Owners generally place an ad in one of the popular French Bulldog breed magazines. The ad touts the dog’s show accomplishments, mentions his numerous champion get, and states he’s available to ‘approved bitches’. OK, maybe not so different, but at least stud fee isn’t usually mentioned in print any longer. This is probably a good thing, since they can now vary from $850 to $2500, with bitches staying put at home, and the stud dog’s semen being flown to the bitch via courier.

Here are some kennel card ads from the 1920’s – click to view full sized. The ad for Never Never Land Kennels appeared in, of all places, the Yale Newspaper.

More on Les Moujiks, Yves Saint Laurent's Very Fashionable French Bulldogs

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Yves Saint Laurent French Bulldog Moujik Andy Warhol PosterAs mentioned in my last blog, Yves Saint Laurent’s Moujik (each Moujik, that is) was a tres fashionable Bouldogue Francais.

Moujik II was the subject of the final portrait painted by Andy Warhol – the only dog ever immortalized by the famous pop artist.

Each year, Saint Laurent issued a of small Season’s Greetings posters. The posters, entitled “Love” and then the year of issue, were intended as gifts for close friends.

In 1991, Saint Laurent’s “Love” poster featured the Warhol painted portraits of Moujik.

Copies of the poster can be found from time to time on eBay, and at live auctions.

With the recent death of Yves Saint Laurent, they can only be imagined to raise in value significantly…

Here’s the auction copy for the poster pictured, which sold for $1800 on eBay in May of this year:

Description:

ANDY WARHOL & YVES SAINT LAURENT.LOVE. 1991.

24×15 inches, 61×38 cm.

For over twenty years Yves Saint Laurent designed small season’s greeting posters entitled “Love.” Generally they were pop art images with a heart appearing as the central motif (see Swann Modernist Poster Auction #1897, lot 114). His 1991 image is very special, as it represents one of Saint Laurent’s true loves, his dog Moujik. Using four images of his pet painted by Andy Warhol, Saint Laurent arranges them against a bright yellow background. The charming, handwritten text reads, “He is Moujik, my dog, painted by Andy Warhol, I am Yves Saint Laurent.”

Yves Saint Laurent French Bulldog Moujik T ShirtIf a Moujik poster is out of your price range, you might be able to find one of the limited edition “Moujik” t shirts that Saint Laurent designed for French Children’s charity D.E.M.

Saint Laurent joined designers Sonia Rykiel, Lolita Lempicka, Barbara Bui, Emanuel Ungaro, Christian Lacroix and others in designing fashionable, 19,90 € t shirts, which were sold at a special sale that ran from June 18th to 19th in 2007.

Now that I think about it, the t shirts just might be as scarce as the posters, and possibly more expensive!

A google search, eBay search and just about every other search I know of failed to turn up a single one, either for sale now or in the past. Apparently those who own them, plan to keep them – and who can blame them?

Free roaming strays beat building new shelter

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This just in from Arkansas, where the Helena West animal shelter director has decided that letting his city’s strays run free in the National Forest beats more complicated measures, such as caring for them or trying to arrange for them to be adopted out

Ark. city releases shelter dogs into forest

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Unable and unwilling to keep abandoned dogs in a dilapidated shelter, the city of Helena-West Helena is taking strays to a national forest and leaving them on the side of the road.

“They are better off free,” Mayor James Valley said Thursday. “Pardon the pun, but it was just something that was dogging us. So it would be easier for us until we get a facility and have a plan that we just not be in the animal shelter business.”

But the St. Francis National Forest isn’t in the animal shelter business, either.

“In the code, it is illegal to release animals, livestock or abandoned personal property on national forest land,” spokeswoman Tracy Farley said.

Valley said the city’s animal shelter was so run down that a regional humane society worker cut its locks last winter and released all the dogs. The city then temporarily moved its shelter to four uncovered pens at the city sanitation department.

After people complained the animals were still not properly cared for, the mayor decided the animals would be better off in the forest. The city street director on Wednesday took about 10 dogs to the forest after feeding and watering them. About three dogs were kept to be put down by a veterinarian, Valley said.

He said the city would need $50,000 to $60,000 to open a new animal shelter — and also must enforce existing animal-control laws.

“We have a leash law that we’ve been trying to work our way into enforcing. It’s been so lax,” the mayor said. “People are not buying leashes or tags for the animals. We could literally pick up every other dog in the city.”

If animal-control officers get a call now, “they’re going to pick the dog up and probably just take them to the other side of town,” Valley said. “And it’s going to be someone else’s problem. … or maybe they will take them to the forest.”

You’d like to believe this is just a joke, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, here’s a video clip just to back up how surreal-ly real this story is.

Art for the Masses – and the Frenchie Lovers, too

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Is there a space on your wall that is just crying out for some art? If so, and you’re in New York (or willing to travel there), pop on over to The Affordable Art Fair , at The Metropolitan Pavilion.

Mixed in with the Alice In Wonderland inspired prints, tiny hand colored photographs, and quirky statuary, you can find some more unusual and unique pieces to bring home, for fairly reasonable prices.

For price unknown, you can light up your loft with a chandelier, lovingly created from tampons, fake nails, hairbrushes and other odds and ends. It’s sure to give an atmospheric glow to even the stodgiest of dinner parties.

If you’re like me, you prefer your art, like all else in your life, to be French Bulldog themed. Does this mean there’s nothing for us at the Affordable Art Fair?

Absolutely not!

For just $4500, you can nab a nine inch high bas relief, mixed media French Bulldog (esque) sculpture, created from lace, buttons, cloth and sequins.

Artist Donya Coward does custom orders, too.

I’m not sure if you can custom order the chandeliers, but if you just don’t have space for a new lighting fixture, you can adorn yourself with artist Vadis Tuner’s birth control necklace.

The Affordable Art Fair at The Altman Building and The Metropolitan Pavilion, 135 W. 18 St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.) June 12-15 from noon – 9 on Thurs., noon – 8 Fri. and Sat., noon – 5 Sun.

For a list of galleries go to www.aafnyc.com

Cats Versus Dogs (old, but still good)

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Goofy French Bulldog

 

Excerpts from a Dog’s Diary:

6:00 am – At last! I Go Pee! My favorite thing!

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm – Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!

6:00 pm – They’re home! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Angry Cat

Excerpts from a Cat’s Diary

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe —for now…