The French Bulldog has risen in popularity over the years, and why not?
A lively and sweet companion, the Frenchie is a dog breed fit for many families and can adapt to different environments.
Little wonder they moved up fast on the American Kennel Club rankings. As of 2020, Frenchies became the 2nd most popular dog breed, Behind the Labrador Retriever.
With these achievements, it makes sense that many people are asking questions like “How much does it cost to buy a French bulldog for sale?”
Then again, this popularity can quickly make the real cost of buying a French Bulldog tricky, including other purebred dogs.
Before you get on your gadget to locate the closest French Bulldog breeders, you need to read this first.
This article looks into 10 French Bulldog facts that may come as a surprise.
The decision to shop for a French Bulldog will be yours in the end, but it must be a decision made with clear eyes, not sentimentality.
10 French Bulldog Facts You Should Know – Before You Get One
There are so many concerns as to whether it remains ethical to breed and shop the French Bulldog.
Is it cruel to buy a French Bulldog?
Similar to other purebred dogs, breeders usually have profit in mind when breeding, which results in cute dogs with genetic problems.
With that in mind, the following are facts you should know before you consider shopping for a Frenchie puppy.
1. French Bulldogs are genetically modified
Inbreeding occurs when a breeder copulates two closely related dogs to get a particular trait.
It is considered dangerous because it helps spread out some recessive genetic diseases.
The popularity of the Frenchie makes inbreeding more common, which leads to several health deficits.
2. French Bulldogs are artificially inseminated
French Bulldogs have a structure that makes it impractical for them to mate. Their hips being too narrow, mating isn’t a strong possibility.
The only way to get French Bulldog puppies is through artificial insemination, a method that is often done forcefully.
3. Frenchies are not born naturally
The narrow hips of the mother and the big head of the french bulldog puppy make it hard for the former to give birth through biological means.
French Bulldog moms have to go through a C-section before giving birth, and some lose their lives in the process.
4. They are a good target for dognappers
Another disadvantage of popularity is the risk of French Bulldogs being stolen.
Other highly popular dogs like the Labrador Retriever and the German Shepherd don’t have this issue because of their bigger sizes.
The Frenchie is a small dog and can easily fit into a bag. These dognappers can then pose as ‘breeders’ and sell off their loots.
5. French Bulldogs banned from airlines—and for good reasons
French bulldogs are the worst dogs to get on an airplane with because of their short noses.
The nose makes vulnerable to breathing difficulties, the most notable being brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome.
Flying with a Frenchie is risky, which led to airlines banning them for their safety. Other dogs with this issue are Pugs and Pekingese dog breeds.
6. French Bulldog health problems are so many
The breeding processes employed to get the Frenchie puppy can make it vulnerable to several health issues, and we don’t just mean breathing problems.
Adorable as they might seem, Frenchies are susceptible to conjunctivitis, ear infections, diarrhea, and skin problems. All of these can lead to unforeseen vet expenses.
Other common illnesses French Bulldogs are vulnerable to include Hip Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, Hemivertebrae, Invertebral disc disease (IDD), Cleft Palate.
7. They are prone to separation anxiety
This dutiful companion has a behavioral problem many small purebred companions have. It is vulnerable to separation anxiety, which means it always needs your attention.
This could become a problem if you have a demanding job.
8. Frenchies are intolerant to both heat and cold
The brachycephalic issues French Bulldogs get make it hard for them to cope with both the heat and cold.
This makes them high maintenance and in need of constant care. It also gets worse when they are poorly bred.
9. There’s the flatulence to consider
If you are fastidious and love a clean environment, you’d have a hard time with French Bulldogs.
They have a sensitive stomach (again, because of how they are bred) which means they fart constantly. You’d have to pay attention to their diet to curb the habit.
10. And then, the price
Due to their popularity and other factors like the artificial insemination method, the French Bulldog is highly expensive to buy. You’d need a high budget to shop for one.
How Much Does a French Bulldog Cost?
In money worth, the French Bulldog’s price range falls between $1,500 and $8,000. That’s for the initial cost alone.
Taking care of the Frenchie and covering medical costs pushes the price to a level that would make many potential pet parents despair.
What’s more, the cost goes beyond green paper. Animal shelters are known to take in over 6 million dogs yearly.
This only accounts for 10% of the dogs left homeless, many of which are French Bulldogs whose pet parents can no longer handle.
Sadly, some of those that end up in animal shelters get euthanized because there are no homes for them.
The phenomenon—tagged the companion animal overpopulation crisis—is now concerning.
With around 70 million cats and dogs out in the streets, do we need more breeding?
So, when you buy a Frenchie, you deprive others of getting home and inadvertently contribute to the rising canine overpopulation.
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Buy a French Bulldog for Sale
What Experts Say
Irrespective of the growing popularity of the French Bulldog especially amongst celebrities, experts highly discourage its ownership.
The breeding practices employed to maintain standards have left the Frenchie in the bad books of these experts.
“There is no doubting that many humans love the feeling of owning their special French Bulldog, we have to consider the full extent of the serious health issues affecting these dogs.”
Dr. Dan O’Neill, a senior lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
The study, which had as participants some French Bulldogs and other non-French Bulldogs, revealed that Frenchies are more likely to contact 20 out of 43 disorders that were used for the research.
Adopt a French Bulldog
With the previously mentioned issues in mind, we recommend that you adopt a French Bulldog rather than shop.
This isn’t a ploy to put breeders out of business, but a move towards sustaining the Frenchie pups we already have.
If we could focus on giving abandoned dogs home, we could create space for more homeless pooches to find their way to shelters, thus ensuring their safety.
It would also curb unethical breeding practices as a drop in demand would hinder breeders from pushing more poorly bred Frenchies into the market.
To find suitable French Bulldog rescues, below are great sites to find available French Bulldogs in your area:
Commonly Asked Questions
Are French bulldogs high maintenance?
Though French Bulldogs have a short coat, they are high shedders and also vulnerable to many medical issues. The Frenchie is a high-maintenance dog breed.
Are French Bulldogs aggressive?
French Bulldogs are not known to be aggressive, but some factors can make them so. Improper socialization can make a Frenchie aggressive.
It is also territorial and can get fierce when guarding food or its favorite toys.
Can you leave French Bulldogs alone?
French Bulldogs are vulnerable to separation anxiety, which means they shouldn’t be left alone.
If you own a French Bulldog, it shouldn’t be left without human company. You can get a dog sitter if you are too busy to spend time with your pooch.
Is buying a French Bulldog worth it?
The French Bulldog is a good household pet with many family-friendly qualities. It is also good for kids and can adapt to many environments.
However, because of the health issues and high cost, it is better to adopt than to shop.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re interested in a long-term commitment to taking care of a French Bulldog, you have to consider if shopping for this breed is worth it.
With numerous concerns over breeding practices to meet some ‘traits’ at the expense of the pup itself, the dog industry needs some changes.
Furthermore, there are many Frenchies in rescue shelters that need good homes, as well as homeless ones that can’t be taken in and are left vulnerable to many dangers.
Adopting a dog helps combat this issue, and you get to give an abandoned pooch a home.
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