French Bull Rat Terrier

The French Bulldog is believed to be a descendent of the ancient Molossians, from whom came the Mastiffs and then the Bulldogs. Ancestors of the French Bulldog were first bred for bull-baiting and then for dog fighting. Once these cruel sports became illegal in England and throughout Europe, the English Bulldog had no work to do. Later crossed with small Terriers to reduce their size, the French Bulldog line was developed. These dogs were considered too small for English tastes and were brought to France where they became favored society companions. The breed headed to the United States and by 1898, the French Bulldog was added to the roster of the American Kennel Club, being placed in the Non Sporting Group. The American Rat Terrier mix was created from a combination of crosses by earlier immigrants to the United States. These included the Fox Terrier as well as other popular Terriers from Europe in the 1800’s: the Old English White Terrier, the Manchester Terrier and the Bull Terrier. Later, these dogs were crossed with the Beagle, Smooth Fox Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, Whippet and Italian Greyhound. The 178th breed added to the American Kennel Club’s purebred list, the American Rat Terrier was recently added in 2013.