against the proposed change in the standard CBF

Although the S.C.C. (Société Centrale Canine : french national dog society) rightly refused from the C.B.F (Club du Bouledogue Français : french bulldog club) all the standard revision attempts, the latter persists in willing these changes and shall carry on threatening the S.C.C. This time, all is about the tail of the french bulldog. That’s a new “crazy idea” of the bred club which wants our bulls’ tails to become longer. The selection done for years (partially from the Club, the choices of the judges, etc.) has given french bulldogs with one or two verterbrae tails. And now, according to the decision of the french Club president, the tails must be extended ! None medical reason justifies this change. Even if we can rarely have to regret back problems with the french bulldogs, no one can put forward the lack of tail as worsening factor. Many breds as Basset Hound, Dachshund or others that have very long tails have more back aches ! Old and serious studies, particularly realized in the States, didn’t reveal any dorsal abnormality caused by lack of tail. And now, in defiance of hierarchy respect, without waiting for the S.C.C. opinion, the Club gave to the judges instructions on its wish about tails length. The consequences are very diffferent interpretations from the judges. Some of them are waiting for the official change, others follow the wishes and refuse to confirm the pedigree of dogs who have a tail not long enough. During dog shows, some people judge dogs following only their tails length, in defiance of their body construction, others go on nominating the first or the best of bred a too short tailed dog. We are totally in an “artistic fuzziness” ; some of us daren’t no more attend to dog shows. For some people the classifications become eccentric, even incomprehensible ! Another brilliant idea from the french Club would be to penalize the fawn-coloured dogs with blackenings, although these blackenings have always been allowed. It’s the same concerning the pied-fawn dogs : their blackenings in the fawn fur are considered as ungraceful although recent champions are fawn or pied- fawn with blackenings !! Of whom is the french Club joking ?? Nobody among the serious and famous stockbreeders is looking favourably on these eccentric changes and see no positive aspect in this, except flattering the oversized ego of their investigator. The standard of 1995, with which we are working, trying to select more than seriously the dogs quality, that is getting better and better, satifies us totally. Trying to change or modify it, following so futile reasons and without real justification, would do nothing but injure our french bulldog pedigree. The odds are that, in some years, the french bulldogs with four verterbrae tails may be “as long as sausages” and so will not be at all according to the standard.