The Frenchie becomes a favorite — and a dog-show contender

By JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — French bulldogs are ranked as the United States’ favorite dog breed, yet none has ever won the nation’s pre-eminent dog show. But this year, a Frenchie named Winston is a finalist at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. After coming in second at the show last year and winning another major event in November, he made it through two rounds of judging Monday for a shot at the top prize Tuesday. Frenchies have undergone a stunning surge in popularity in the U.S. over the last 30 years. But their rise has been dogged by concerns about their health and debate over the ethics of breeding them.