F.B. in England

The history of the FB in England is the history of the club. Founded in 1902 the Statute was written in 1925, following 23 years of hard work.
During this period the club not only held 19 important shows, it never ceased its work of promoting the breed, establishing a number of classes, prizes and Special Trophies .
By inviting the opinions of the best French experts the breeders strengthened and reaffirmed the French type.
The FBCE was founded at a time when the F.B. "as is" didn't really exist in the country. Although it is well known that the first "small bulldogs" had been known since 1803 they were taken little notice of. So it was that the French breed, different from the "small English Bulldog", was still the subject of some dispute in1902, and the controversy greeted the birth of the new club. All the power of the Bulldog Club and the Toy Bulldog Cub were brought to bear against this small French dog that had the cheek to exist and, what was worse with the (for the English sacred ) name of Bulldog. It was thought that , being bulldogs, they were too English to be considered French; but given that they were indeed French they had no right to be called Bulldogs. It was said that there were too few of them to be recognised officially and so could be ignored.
But although the tipology was French at least they represented no threat to the English type. Were they then to be ignored? A cruel choice.
The Club would have its first show in April of 1903 at Tattershall where the controversy would find its answer. M. Menans de Corre was the invited judge, a well known and undisputed authority. There were 70 entries and 51 dogs shown. Of these there were at most 10 that were ordinary, the rest were either good or very good. They showed the care and trouble that had gone into their breeding. This show left two questions well defined; the number of dogs and the definitive type of the F.B. in England.
1905 saw a great improvement and the F.B. could no longer be ignored, The Kennel Club was obliged to officially recognise the breed. To avoid hurting the feelings of the English Bulldog it was given the name of “Bouledogue Français” ( French spelling) rather that French Bulldog, being classsified as a subvariety amongst the foreign breeds. Nevertheless, the FB was duly classified in the Kennel Club show of 1905.
In 1912 the Kennel Club decided that the breed until then known as “Bouledogue Français” should officially be known as the French Bulldog. Its weight should not exceed 24lbs for males and 22lbs for bitches. The breed was by this time self sufficient in England with few imorts.
In the list of registered dogs for the 1902 and 1910 shows are to be found many names of French dogs, American Champions and their progeny.
In 1914, in Richmond (judge: Paul Méguin) at the beginning of the war, there were 84 dogs on show, notably Ch. Ambroise and Ch. Lady Lolette.
During the war the shows continued,for better or worse, except for 1917/18.
From 1920-23 we can point to such fine dogs as Enfant Prodigue, of Mrs. Hubert Roberts; also Tiger, son of Hunk’s Bequest and Betty, whose owner was M. J.Q. Smith (judge: Lady Kathelin Pilkington).
Hunk's Bequest, one of the great American dogs arrived in England and was a great success, winning all the shows in which he was presented. He was considered the best of the American exports and weighed 20 lbs. A very pretty dog but from the French point of view he was a little heavy of lip, a feature he was to pass on to his progeny. He was also very small nosed, short and compact. Born in1910 his father was the celebrated Nelcott Gamin, taken to America by Mr. Goldenberg and thought by many to be the wellspring of the breed. His mother was Felice.
Mrs Roberts bought Gavroche, son of Barnum of Mr. Albonis, in Paris from M Bivo, and after three months in quarantine he was shown, becoming Champion after only three shows.
L’Entente M. Le Duc was another outstanding dog.
So we see in overview some of the events between 1902 and 1925.
In the 1911 show Menans de Corre and Goldenberg were not always of the same opinion. Goldenberg felt that in England there was a lack of "bullyness" and head. He thought that the best head was that of a dog which Menans de Corre did not like due to its cranial furrow, a sure sign of English blood.
These divergent opinions had at their root the vexed question of the universal standard.
In1932 the breed underwent a marked yearly improvement. Mrs. Towsend Green was the President during these years, some of the more important breeders being Mrs. Hubert Roberts, Mrs. Romilly and Mrs. Sugden.