French Bulldog IKFB Germany

In 1926 the co-founder Maria Müller wrote in "Der Hund" magazine that the then president of the Continental Bulldog Club, FW Pelzer, was not only aware to the need for a dedicated club, he was also prepared to lead the difficult negotiations with the International Miniature Dog Club (IZK) which accepted the recognition of the IFBC under duress. Maria Müller said," One may be led to believe that the IZK has not forgiven to this day that Herr Pelzer should include the French Bulldog in his own club."
In 1912 the second volume of the IZK studbook was produced with only 15 Frenchies registered!
The birth of the International French Bulldog Club was accompanied by much discussion which was followed closely by the fans of the breed in the specialist press.
The development of the new club was influenced by the fact that there were two important breeding centres. This fact would not only influence the birth of the club, but would continue to play its part over the coming years in a series of confrontations.
In 1909 Munich had a number of breeders who felt the need to form a more tightly knit group. In Berlin the breeeding was led by Max Hartenstein, a well-known breeder, respected both inside and outside Germany. He had the dogs fostered out to his employees under the careful eye of an inspector. So in Berlin we see a planned breeding program under the expert eye of Max Hartenstein, whilst the Munich breeders waited for the club to prove its organisational merit. However, soon the club began to enjoy a wider membership, both German nationals and foreigners: Countess Töring, Consul Kustermann, Professor Hobein, Princess Kustermann, Max Hartenstein, Max Naether, Princess Lubormirska, Frau A. Sacher, Charles Waterlow... and so was voted in the first committee of the Internationaler Bouledogue Francais Club.
1st President: Cónsul H. Kustermann
2nd President: Dr. M. Hobein
Secretary and Keeper of the Studbook: María Müller
Treasurer: Architect O. Prollius
Advisors: Max Naether y Dr. J. Schön
The IBFC began work and organised special shows. After a first meeting in Sept. 1911 contact was made with other national clubs in an attempt to broach a unified standard.
In 1912, after three years of existence, the IFBC was officially recognised as an independent club for the betterment of the breed. Now it could take charge of the official studbook for the French Bulldog in Germany.
With the celebration of the 1912 Munich show a commission from various countries debated the characteristics of the breed. The commission was made up of : Max Hartensein (Berlin), María Müller (Munich) representing Germany; H. Piesecker and Th. Rückeshaüser, of Vienna representing Austria; G. Bossi, of Zurich from Switzerland. In addition, a document presented by S.L. Goldenberg of the USA detailed the various points of view of Americans, British and French experts on various aspects of the breed characteristics.
These characteristics were accepted in 1913 in an AGM of the German club, followed soon by the various state groupings. The IFBC then took its place on the national scene and was duly admitted as a member of the circle of specialist breed clubs.
The design by Prollius for the club logo was also approved to be used in all official publications by the club. That same year the IKFB and the Austrian FB club (Österrreichischer Klub fur Französische Bulldoggen) jointly published the first volume of the studbook. In this finely illustrated work we find 306 dogs inscribed with three-generation pedigrees and many illustrations . This information gives us a good insight into the state of Austro-German breeding of the time. The illustrations and the genealogical detail show how these early breeders took great pains in their work.
The success of the German breeders was such that it impressed many outside the country. Outstanding were the Plavia dogs, bred by Max Hartenstein, which caused a stir in many shows. In 1912 Hartenstein's Gigolo beat 80 other dogs to win the Paris show, and one year later, in the watershed year of 1913, Patrice beat 120 competitors in the same show.