They are the result of a cross between Toy Bulldogs imported from England and local ratters in Paris, France, in the 1800s.The breed is popular as a pet; in 2018, they were the most popular registered dog in the United Kingdom, and in the U.S., the fourth-most popular AKC-registered dog breed. They were rated the third-most popular dog in Australia in 2017. The most common colors are brindle, then fawn, with pieds being less common than the other colors. The breed clubs do not recognize any other colors or patterns. This is because some colors come linked with genetic health problems not usually found in the breed.