French Fridays ~ Les Chiens de France & a Giveaway

Did you happen to catch any of the Westminster Kennel Club’s 2011 Dog Show this week? If you know me and Laura just a little you know that we are absolutely mad about our poochies! So, it only seems fitting this week to talk about les Chiens de la France
and have a fun little giveaway too….

What comes to mind at the mention of “French Dogs?”
Perhaps the iconic French Poodle...here preparing to dine on a morsel of Brie; the poodle may be a perfect representation of French…grace intelligence and style, in a dog suit~

Napoleon had a black poodle named Moustache, which would accompany him into battle. Moustache was decorated with a medal for his numerous heroics in the battles of Marengo, Austerlitz and Iena, including once crossing enemy lines to bring back the remains of le drapeau or flag. His name is also inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe. I understand that the remains of Moustache were stuffed by a taxidermist and now sit in Les Invalides in Paris. Unable to find a photo of this, I instead have a cute gravure to show you of Moustache being presented to Napoleon, executing his “jump over the sword” trick~

Besides poodles, the French have a great love of hunting dogs. This is one of my favorite dog paintings, by Constant Troyon (1810-1865). Troyon started as a painter of porcelain in Sevres, but became a fantastic Barbizon painter.
The breed here is called an Aregieous Hound~

As with this year’s winner of Westminster Kennel Club’s show, the Scottish Deerhound, the French use all sorts of dog breeds for hunting rabbits, fox, deer, pheasant and other game. Here, another painting by Troyon dated 1854, which is found in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris; in English we call it “the Game Keeper” but its French name is Garde-Chasse Arrete Pres de Ses Chiens.” "Game Keeper stopped near his dogs."
A beautiful painting showing the relationship between man and his dogs and Nature~

Yes indeed, the French of all ages have a love affair with their dogs….

{Paul & His Dog, Nadar (Gaspard Felix Tournachon) 1854}

Of France’s 8.1 million dogs, it seems many provide steady companionship to their owners rather than hunting or other utility functions~

{La Poet Jacques Prevert au Gueridon, Robert Doisneau 1955}

Does it seem that when life is tough, as it was post-War,
people cling to their beloved dogs for some cheer?~

{Avenue de Clichy, Edouard Boubat 1948}

One thing that can surely be said for the French, they have a low tolerance for ill-behaved dogs or children. Why does it seem that the dogs in France are much less hyper and more calm than many other places in the world? Even this little Jack Russell for sale at the Marche in Louhans last year, 9 months old and calm and sweet as could be…~

With dogs as with children, there is a certain social pressure that guides the French; keep your children and dogs under control, or you get nasty glaring looks from those around you. Are the French dogs bred to be calm, or do they just not tolerate any squirrely dogs?? There are very strict laws for any dogs showing sign of aggression; otherwise, dogs are allowed just about everywhere, in cafes, on the Metro. But not in the Louvre. And technically not in some food stores, though that is not strictly enforced as long as the dog behaves~

{Restaurant; David Seymour 1952}

To be sure, the French love to promenade with their dogs,
usually in style~

{Fevrier, Paris, Avenue du Bois du Boulogne, le Matin; Jacques Henri Lartigue 1912}

Laws regarding dogs on the street have started to change. In 1992 France instituted a Poop Law, requiring you to pick up after your dog. Plainclothes sanitation officers fanned out over the city, issuing citations. The French paid about as much attention to the law as they do to the parking regulations (that is, very little attention) and today you still see sanitation workers on their motorcyles ("motos") with suction hoses attached.
Et voila! Pas de Poop! Merde or crotte in French.

In Paris though you still see the signs; this one means Keep your Dog off the Sidewalk. At least if the dogs poop in the gutter, the motos or the street cleaners can get to it before someone steps in it~

This sign means "No Dogs, Even on a Leash."
You frequently see this on playgrounds or in some parks~

But do French dogs, which are informally called “toutou” ~ sort of like our word “doggy,” bark with a French accent? Bien Sur! A French dog does not say Woof Woof it says Wouah Wouah. A French cat by the way does not say Meow Meow it says Miam-Miam. And while we are on the vocabulary, a puppy is called a Chiot and a kitten is called a Chaton. Regardless of what they are called and what language they speak,
you can't help but love the personality of many French dogs!

{Donio, Dresseur du Chien, Robert Doisneau 1946}

Most of the photos from this post are from a sweet little 8" square book called Les Chiens de Paris by Barnaby Conrad III. As a treat, we are offering a copy of this book to one of our Amis who leave a comment on this post.
What could be more French than a pair of French Bulldogs with fur collars?~

{Simone avec Lily et Zett, Avril 1913, Jacques Henri Lartigue}

You will love the cover alone;
a perfect French poodle again, ready for cafe~

{A La Terrasse des Deux Magots, Edouard Boubat, 1955}

Winner will be chosen by Random Number one week from today, next Friday; last entries midnight Thursday. To enter, please leave a comment on this post; you can comment on French dogs or tell us about your own dogs. Multiple entries are fine and will each be counted.

Bonne chance a tous~

Linking to:

Tuesdays Show and Tails