Throughout the years french bulldogs have made their mark and become not only one of the most popular dogs in the US, but the world.
This breed can be considered arguably as one of the first choices for families looking for a new dog.
I mean who can blame you with their cute miniature frame and their signature bat like ears make it a trademark feature for them.
They are really popular among city dwellers.
With all these reasons it’s important for any new dog owner to be inquisitive about what they should know about this breed from their temperament to any health issues they suffer from.
Therefore we will go over everything you need to know about a french bulldog before owning one.
After your done you will be more confident in your decision to owning your very own frenchie.
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Are French Bulldogs Good Pets To Own?
So the first question that arises when first embarking looking for a french bulldog is “are they good pets to own?”.
You wanna know the facts and every detail that can possible come up.
Well the first thing you should look into is their temperament.
A french bulldog’s temperament
A french bulldog’s temperament can be described as adaptable, playful, and smart.
This loving dog wants and needs to spend a lot of time around people especially his own.
Considered as a fun and lovable freethinker, the french bulldog is no headache for house training.
If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t bark much then your definitely in luck since they are a breed of few words.
However, they have a keen sense of alertness which makes them excellent for watch dogs.
Their adaptability makes it easy to fall right into place with families whether it be singles, couples or larger families and awesome for small apartments since they don’t require much exercise.
Did we mention they were very sociable and they get along with others and most importantly they love to make new friends.
I know know you want to stop reading and go and get one right now, but wait there’s more we want to let you know about before you make your final decision…
don’t worry its still all good đ.
Are french bulldog puppies hard to train?
As we mentioned earlier french bulldogs are freethinkers, but that doesn’t mean they are not intelligent.
As with training any dog there can be hurdles to jump over, but with the french bulldog it makes it relatively easier unlike these other breeds.
If you make dog training fun and interesting, like a game, then you can overcome their stubbornness with love and patience to creating a well trained frenchie.
Why Is the French Bulldog so expensive?
Ok so this is the question everyone asks when it comes to buying a french bulldog and we’re going to highlight some of the reasons why these breeds can cost such a premium price.
For purebreds they can range up to $8,000.
Yes you are not seeing things that was $8,000, but thats nothing there are breeders that sell french bulldogs up to $100k.
However, the high prices come into play within the breeding process and the expenses that come along with it.
It takes a lot more care and attention when it comes to breeding a french bulldog.
First of all to breed a french bulldog it requires artificial insemination and c-section due to their frame and size so it makes it difficult for them to deliver naturally.
With the care and attention of these measures it can cost the breeder up to $3000 for those procedures.
Yet that is not the case for all breeders since some are out just to make a buck on someone and are not intentionally taking great care of the pups.
So be weary of breeders who may try to swindle you based on “rare” colors therefore I urge you to do your research.
You can find more info on why french bulldogs are expensive at frenchwiki.
How much is a French bulldog puppy?
So now you know why french bulldogs can be expensive, but that is not the case for all of them.
There are many resources where you can find cheaper options for a french bulldog.
As a precaution be mindful that some breeders might sell you a cheaper frenchie due to some health complications, which we will discuss later, and they don’t want to relay that information.
French bulldog price
Ok to get to the price, the average cost for a french bulldog ranges from $1500 – $3000, so if you’re looking to buy from a breeder you can expect to pay around this much.
Where to find cheap french bulldog puppies for sale
Other alternatives for finding cheap french bulldog puppies are through adoption centers, but as mentioned be aware that health conditions may come along with that.
Frenchies are prone to genetic problems since they have been cross bred several times so if you can find the health of their parents you can have a better chance of a healthy pup.
Do French Bulldogs Have Health Problems?
Now its not a guarantee that all french bulldogs will develop these diseases but as a new dog owner it is always good to know the risk that your dog may be prone to.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a condition that is hereditary where the femur does not quite fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint.
A frenchie can have hip dysplasia and not show any physical signs that they have it, but in some cases they can exhibit pain in one leg, or both, which can develop into a gait (abnormal walk) or lameness.
This is not good because as they age this can cause arthritis.
It is important to know that dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred, so always check the history.
Brachycephalic Syndrome
French bulldogs are from the family of Brachycephalic which means shortned head.
Along with their short head and flat face this come with complications from their narrowed nostrils.
This can cause many breathing issues for them which can be seen with them snuffling and snorting.
With Brachycephalic Syndrome it can cause an obstruction to their airways giving them trouble breathing and for more severe cases a total collapse of their airway.
For the more severe cases treatment includes oxygen therapy as well as surgery to widen their nostrils.
Patellar Luxation
A common problem within small dogs this health risk is known as “slipped stifles”.
This occurs when the patella (or knee cap), which actually has 3 parts: the femur, the knee cap, and the tibia (calf), slip in and out of place.
In other words it dislocates.
This causes a gait (abnormal walk) and is usually developed at birth, but the misalignment does not happen until much later.
They’re 4 grades of patellar luxation (dislocation) and can cause temporary lameness in the dog.
Severe cases when the tibia cannot be realigned manually can cause bowlegged appearance and may need surgical attention.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
IVDD happens when a disc ruptures or herniates and pushes up into the spinal cord.
This movement of the disc into the spinal cord is never a good thing and causes nerve damage.
There are many ways IVDD can take place like aging, trauma or as simple as jumping off the sofa.
A ruptured disc can lead to weakness and even paralysis.
Treatments such as massages and electrical simulation are available.
However…
It’s best to eliminate your frenchie from jumping off high furniture, that is if you’re okay with them on your furniture.
If so investing into a good set of dog stairs are a good way of helping to reduce the cause of injuries.
Von Willebrand’s Disease
A weird name we know, but this disease came about from the reduction of “Von Willebrand” factor in the blood resulting in blood clotting .
Yes this is a blood disease and does not only affect french bulldogs, but humans too.
Signs of this in your pup are nose bleeds, bleeding gums, or prolonged bleeding after heat cycles.
The disease can screened as early between the ages of 6-8 weeks in pups and unfortunately cannot be cured.
Yet it can be managed with specialized treatments and avoiding specific medications.
These are only a few health issues that may come up, but If you would like to learn more health related conditions check out frenchiewiki.
Fun French Bulldog Facts You Didnât Know About
So if your interested in the french bulldog, which you probably are if you made it this far, than here are some fun facts all about this adorable miniature pooch.
But before we get to the fun stuff let’s go over the basics of what to expect from a fully grown french bulldog.
A French Bulldog will reach a height of 11-13 inches with a life expectancy of 10-12 years and an average weight of 28 lbs.
When it comes to a frenchie’s weight though they are prone to obesity so its important to watch their calorie intake as well as the kinds of foods you give them.
High quality dog food for your frenchie will supply them with the proper nutrition for growing a strong pup.
Now when it comes giving them dog treats just be sure its in moderation.
Now onto the fun facts.
1. French bulldogs did not originate from france?
Did you know the french bulldog actually originated from England?
Well there weren’t known as french bulldogs yet but they were actually “toy” sized bulldogs.
These “toy” sized bulldogs became known as the mascot for lace makers in late 1800s during the Industrial Revolution.
Lace makers then moved and settled into France where they brought the little “toy” dogs.
As they became popular among the french countrymen they were crossed with other breeds, most likely pugs and terriers, and they were then called Bouledogue Français thus the term “French Bulldog” was born.
2. French bulldogs hate the heat
Well they may not hate the heat, but they sure don’t do well in it.
Meaning they are not able to regulate their body temperature as normally other dog can due to the fact that they have a small nose and airway.
Therefore be sure to monitor them closely and keep them cool so they won’t overexert themselves.
If you see at any time your pup having trouble breathing like from playing in the heat immediately take them to a cool place.
A good way to regulate their temperature is with a cooling mat.
This brings us to our next fact.
3. Frenchies don’t need much exercise
This is why french bulldogs make the perfect dog for small apartments.
They do not require a lot of exercise.
This does not mean they don’t like to run around in the house, but if you were to rate the amount of exercise a french bulldog needs from 1-10 compared to other breeds they would fall under 1.
This comes into the fact of their health problems we discussed earlier and their breathing problems.
Too much exercise can cause breathing issues for them.
4. Frenchies aren’t the cleanest
How clean do you expect your dog to be besides the occasional peeing and pooping accidents during training?
Well frenchies may not shed as much as dogs with thicker coats, but they do do this one thing thats kind of funny but can be nasty to some…
They drool lol.
If that bothers you then we have something else that might take your mind off of their drool…
They’re flatulent.
For those who are not up on scientific terms it simply means they fart a lot.
5. French bulldogs are great with children
French bulldogs love to play with children so no worries of leaving them with you children.
Yet, you should be worried if you leave your children with your pup lol.
It’s more likely you will have to train your child how to be around your frenchie because if they become too rough then they will become nervous and threatened and might bite them, the dog not your child.
So just be mindful of how your children play with their new pal.
6. They can’t swim
Seriously, they can’t.
It’s not their fault, its the way they were built and their short torsos won’t allow them to.
That is why it is important to keep an eye on them whenever your around any water because it’s not that safe for them.
One way you can help feel more secure is purchasing a life jacket (like this one)
or a swim vest, but this won’t guarantee 100% their safety.
As a dog owner always keep an eye on your pup.
7. Frenchies don’t do well being alone
Some dogs are ok being left alone for hours, but not frenchies.
They live and breathe for companionship and you are like their whole world.
Being left for hours they can suffer from separation anxiety and they just don’t do well from it.
Other health issues will arise as well as destructive behavior so it’s important to deal with that head on and house train them early on.
If you must be absent for hours at a time then you will have to figure out what you will do, like hire a sitter.
French Bulldog Colors and Breeds
How many different breeds really exist?
Ok so we just wrapped up the interesting facts section about french bulldogs that you probably didn’t know about, but have you seen the different colors and breeds these pups come in.
They really are a unique and beautiful breed.
There are several standard colors they come in, lol they sound like a special collectors edition, but no really when you see the different variations you can’t help but to say “Awwww” and “WOW” at the same time.
The french bulldog can range up to 20 different variations all deriving from: fawn, cream, and various shades of brindle.
Brindle (as you can see in the image above) is a speckled coat pattern with streaks of light and dark markings.
French bulldogs can come in any color except black, liver (solid reddish brown), mouse (light steel gray) ,or black with white or tan.
I know as we say this it sounds contradictory because when you do see images they look they do.
Anyways…
Be careful when you hear a breeder say they have a rare color and it is worth much more, always do your research before buying.
Fawn french bulldog
The fawn french bulldog is recognized as one of the AKC (American Kennel Club) breeding standards.
The term fawn describes the color itself, which means light tan brown or light beige color.
When describing the french bulldog it usually refers to the solid fawn coat that can range from a series of colors:
- cream
- light tan
- golden tan or
- reddish tan
Fawn french bulldogs can also range in two different colors in the form of patches also known as fawn pied.
Two rare colors amongst the fawn frenchies are the blue fawn and the chocolate fawn which are not accepted as AKC standards, but are in much demand, and why wouldn’t they be they look amazing.
What is a mini french bulldog?
The mini french bulldog is a french bulldog except it is half the size of a normal sized french bulldog.
There is no “official” mini french bulldog, but to get a mini french bulldog it is usually a cross breed with a french bulldog and usually a smaller breed to achieve a smaller (dwarf sized) version of this frenchie.
Technically the term frenchie is referred to these pint sized pups, but if you thought the french bulldog had some health issues then these adorable mini french bulldogs definitely can run into some health issues as well due to their small size.
For example dwarfism is a skeletal disorder and causes malformed bones which can lead to chronic pain for them.
Therefore it is not suggested to intentional breed these mini frenchies.
Did you know another name for these small frenchies are called teacup frenchies.
The french bulldog colors
We mentioned earlier the french bulldog comes in various colors: fawn, cream, and various shades of brindle and below we will just highlight a few more as well as a special edition.
Black french bulldog
Sorry to inform you new dog owners, but there is no solid black french bulldog only brindled or pied (spotted patches).
So when you see a dark coated frenchie if you look really close you will see that they are actually brindled.
Blue french bulldog
The Blue french bulldog or better know as the blue fawn french bulldog is the beautiful coated frenchie bulldog.
They get that name because their coat looks like a light tinted blue, but in reality it’s a faded out black grayish color.
Regardless of what the AKC standards register them as (gray) they are still adorable to look at and will continue to be called blue fawn, in our opinion.
Merle french bulldog
Now the merle french bulldog looks like a rare breed doesn’t it?
As a matter of fact it is.
The term merle derives its name from the french word “mĂ©lange” which means mix or an assortment of colors.
These mixture of colors or patches in this case come in a variety of odd colors where originally these similar coats come from the dog breeds such as great danes, border colliers and others.
For the record merle types are not purebreds so the french bulldog does not carry the merle gene.
Actually chihuahuas are generally the breed that carry the merle gene so french bulldogs are cross bred with them.
Even more rare finds of the merle french bulldog are the blue merl, black merle, and lilac merle.
Conclusion
Wow!
I know if you went through this whole article give yourself a pat on the back and take a second to breathe lol.
That was a lot, but now you should know everything you need to know before buying your own french bulldog.
We hope this was very informative for you and it answered some the nagging questions you had about french bulldogs.
If you are serious about getting a new dog then check out our article on what every new owner needs before bringing home a puppy.
It even comes with a free puppy checklist!
If you enjoyed this article then please share it with a friend or someone who may enjoys this.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means that we will receive a commission if you decide to purchase through our links. This is at no additional cost to you, and it helps us continue to offer free content on our blog.
