Standards vs. Science | Episode 1C: Who Decided the Standard? A question I hear a lot is: who actually decided what a French Bulldog is “supposed” to look like? Breed standards weren’t written by veterinarians or geneticists. They were written by breed clubs—groups of breeders and fanciers who organized around dog shows in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their goal was consistency in judging and competition, not defining health or ethics. As dog shows became more popular, these clubs debated whi