French Bulldog History – The Toy Bulldog, Pt 2

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Miniature and Toy Bulldogs, 1904. From ‘The New Book of the Dog’. Full sized here.

 Part One | Part Two

Since the early history of the French Bulldog is indelibly intwined with that of the Miniature or Toy Bulldog, I thought it would be interesting to reproduce one of the best histories ever published on this extinct breed.

In 1907, Robert Leighton published “The New Book of the Dog“, one of the most exhaustively comprehensive examinations of modern British dog breeds. In it, he devotes several chapters to the history of the “Bull Breeds”, including the Bulldog, the Toy Bulldog, and the French Bulldog.

This is the chapter on Toy Bulldog history, taken from that book, and written by Lady Kathleen Pilkington.

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French Bulldog History – The Toy Bulldog, Pt 1

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Toy Bulldogs, 1904, taken from “The New Book of the Dog” 

 

The foundation of the French Bulldog as a breed is perhaps one of the better documented canine breed histories. Instead of being shrouded in mystery, or allegorical stories, ours is a fairly pragmatic tale – some Bulldogs were born small, and some people liked them that way. Some Bulldogs were born with ‘tulip ears’, and some people liked them that way.

At the intersection of these two states of being arose the French Bulldog, which was both small and tulip eared, while the former gave rise to the Toy Bulldog. As a separate breed, Toy Bulldogs faded away around the 1930s, while the French Bulldog continued to thrive, albeit in a small way, for many decades.

In 1907, Robert Leighton published “The New Book of the Dog“, one of the most exhaustively comprehensive examinations of modern British dog breeds. In it, he devotes several chapters to the history of the “Bull Breeds”, including the Bulldog, the Toy Bulldog, and the French Bulldog.

This is the chapter on Toy Bulldog history, taken from that book, and written by Lady Kathleen Pilkington (more to come on this stellar Lady later).

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French Bulldog History – Beware of Drunken Firemen

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Tessa in her favorite patio chair

Many years ago, I had an office in the Yorkville area of Toronto, which was one of the very first Toronto neighbourhoods to get a Starbucks Coffee. I had a daily ritual of going to Starbucks for a coffee at the start of my work day, and would of course bring Tessa with me when I went. Initially, I brought her inside, but a manager one day told me that Public Health would no longer allow dogs inside the coffee shop, and that Tessa would have to wait outside.

Tessa was already used to sitting on the patio at Starbucks, where she would sit at her own chair. She loved to people watch, surveying the sidewalk and making friends with the other patrons, many of whom, at that time, had never seen a French Bulldog before.

Within a month or so, Tessa was on a first name basis with half of the regular patrons, who grew used to seeing her sitting outside on her own, in her chair, while she waited for me to come outside. Occasionally, someone would offer her a piece of biscotti, or part of their scone, and one day, she sat on the lap of James Woods, who admired her ears and her beautiful eyes.

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Catching up with our Frenchie Kids: Luke!

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Luke says “It’s hard work being this fabulous”.

 

Since we’ve caught up with the fabulous Mr. Teddy, international super model, I thought it would be only fair to catch up with his equally fabulous half brother, Luke.

Luke, also known as Ch Bullmarket Newhope at SpiritDragon, is owned by Dr. Andrea Morden-Moore, DVM.  Andrea has been busy as a bee getting Luke out and about, and I’m thrilled she took time out from her schedule to write me a quick note about what Luke has been up to.

 

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HSUS Targets Rescue a French Bulldog, Wendy Faith Laymon

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Rescue a French Bulldog website, showing stolen photo of Michelle Tippet’s departed French Bulldog, Stu

 

I have written extensively in the past about Wendy Laymon (aka Wendy Faith Laymon aka Faith Laymon) and her fake French Bulldog rescue, ‘ Rescue a French Bulldog’ – www.rescueafrenchbulldog.com

Wendy Laymon is a notorious, convicted puppy miller, despicable enough to have earned herself a place on the Humane Society of the United States list of Missouri’s Dirty Dozen Worst Puppy Mills . That’s quite a feat, considering how much puppy mill competition there is in the state of Missouri.

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