Sister-in-law is getting a french bulldog puppy and am feeling very judgemental about it!

[Playmat]

From all I’ve read, this breed is riddled with health problems. And the mothers can’t give birth, they have to have c-sections.

I think my sister-in-law is being superficial to get such a breed. I think she likes them because celebrities have them.

I’m being a judgey cow, aren’t I? But who would get such a breed? It must be a vanity thing, right?

a reputable breeder will make you sign a contract to neuter / spay your pet. I did this with both my pugs. Such breeders do it as a vocation and out of a love for the breed, they don't earn money from it

I think I disagree.
I find the endorsements are often more about possessiveness and keeping your own 'line' preserved.

Although some breeders are happy to lift them with good reason many won't, if a dog excels in the required health tests like hip scans, DNA swabs for inherited diseases etc, has a good solid temperament, nice conformation etc why shouldn't it be bred from exactly if the new owner wants to?

Generally I look down worse on people who don't neuter/spay than those who have pedigree dogs (or cats, I had Persians in the past too)

Well, I have a female dog who is spayed because current evidence suggests that is best for her.

My puppy will be male and assuming there is no sex aggression or inappropriate marking he will be staying entire.
Not because I want to stud him but because current evidence suggests that neutering can cause or worsen nervousness in male dogs and done too early it increases the risk of bone cancer and joint problems in big dogs (new puppy is a large breed)

I really would not at all

Too soon.

I really would not be impressed at all to be judged for not neutering when I have done it believing it to be in the best interests of the dog.

The eye placement means other dogs can misinterpret friendly expression as 'staring', the build of the body can make them appear to have a confrontational stance, the curled or practically non existent tails mean a vital visual barometer of mood is lost etc

This is so interesting. My dog always gives flat face dogs a wide birth. This must be why.

Absolutely agree @frostedviolets. My boy will be staying entire. No reason to neuter him and so many reasons not to.

Well, I have a female dog who is spayed because current evidence suggests that is best for her.

Both my bitches are spayed - I like them to have a couple of seasons first (this is a personal preference) because I like to think that they are fully mature physically and emotionally before neutering but I would always spay a bitch. The chances of pyometra, and of uterine or mammary cancer are hugely increased in a unneutered bitch - and of course, there's always the risk of pregnancy, no matter how careful you are with her when she's in season.

My springer was spayed at 17 months having has two seasons. My cocker was spayed at 16 months even though she hadn't had even one, because I and my vet were concerned that she might be having "silent" heats (no obvious visible signs, but still releases a pheromone which attracts male dogs, and can still get pregnant). I didn't want to risk this as puppies are a huge responsibility. She was from a litter of 11, and while I could possibly feel confident of getting good permanent homes for three or four puppies (not that you can ever be really sure), I wouldn't want to risk getting left with that many puppies because I didn't trust the people coming to view them.

My puppy will be male and assuming there is no sex aggression or inappropriate marking he will be staying entire.

Same here. We've left our male dog entire, and he will stay entire unless he starts to make a nuisance of himself by running away for lady dogs, or random shagging of cushions, people's legs, the cats etc.

Testicular cancer isn't such a risk; and I wanted him to become fully physically mature - and as a PP has pointed out, that means good strong bones and joints. He's 22 months now, and has gone through his teenage "shagging the vicar's leg" phase and is settling nicely.

Our spaniels are a working springer and two working cockers.. There are many breeds where he buyer has the option of show-type or working-type, not just spaniels. (eg labradors, GSDs, viszlas).

Personally I would always go for the working-type, from a good reliable breeder. Why? Because there isn't the pressure to conform to a "standard" with regard to appearance, at the expense of health or temperament.

A working dog needs to be healthy, sweet-natured, easy to train and biddable - so that's what they breed for. If one pops up which is physically a dream, then that's a bonus.

However all of mine are bloody gorgeous, bright, good-natured and well-trained (well, the dog's a bit of a cheeky bugger - but I like a bit of mischief).

I think flat-faced breeds are very cute to look at, but I wouldn't have one because of the health problems previously mentioned. It's cruel. Simple as that.

I have young children and worked with a greyhound rescue to find two retired dogs who needed a home and could cope with kids.

Nice one Tatiebee, such lovely dogs. Miss mine very much (as huffy as she could be :) )

Yeah you're being abit judgey.

They are small dogs so are ideal for a small family/ children. They are a popular breed and most dogs have some sort of health problems.
It's alive so someone's got to have it, not like she's breeding other dogs to get that one if that makes sense.

most dogs have some sort of health problems

To some extend. But breeding someone for looks and at the same time hurting the dogs is just wrong.

It is not a minor health problem in a breed when they can't breathe, can't give birth, can't lay down normally.

I don't consider it a minor health problem when anyone because of looks is bred to have its eyes pop out, and they do on some of the shortnosed breeds.

Look at German Shepherds, their hips and hind legs.
The bernese, they are haunted by cancer.
West Highland terriers with their allergies and skin problems.

Isn't it time that vets (I know they are trying), breeders and the more knowledge dog people campaigned to get the breeding standards changed. As long as it is looks mostly and to horrid standards nothing is going to change and the 'fashion' dog owners (or inexperienced ones) will still think "well they are bred this way, it must be okay then'.

Yes I think you're being a bit judgy, it all depends on if she's done any research on the breed. Anyone that plans to take on a dog should research first. Any dog breed can be prone to various health problems.
I've got 2 frenchies, one was rescued at 14 weeks old, she was an illegal import and if I didn't take her she would have died. She has numerous health problems and has had 3 major surgeries. My other frenchie, also a rescue at 10 weeks old, he's now 9 months and apart from a pigeon chest is a super intelligent healthy boy.
Would you be so judgy if it was a different breed of dog?

KedaandKovu14 but she isn’t rescuing like you did. She’s buying the puppy and the breed is known for its health problems - plus what the mother will have gone through to have the puppy.

I wouldn’t be judgy if it were a different (healthier) breed at all, no. I wouldn’t be even slightly judgy if she were rescuing a Frenchie.

I have two rescue pugs who have been used and abused for breeding then discarded when they were no longer needed and could no longer make money for their breeders. Like French Bulldogs pugs have many health problems as a result of breeding to make them look a certain way. Dogs are not fashion accessories. They are living beings which suffer greatly just because people want a pet which looks a particular way. If people would stop buying these breeds the breeders would be forced to stop. Rescue centres are now full of pugs/frenchies etc and we are starting to get daschunds coming in now, they have been very fashionable lately and are being bred with longer bodies and shorter legs because they are perceived as being 'cute'. They are suffering from spinal problems and many owners can't afford veterinary treatment so are giving them up. Please don't dismiss rescue dogs. People assume that because they have been given up for adoption they must have behavioural issues and this is so often not the case. I have always had rescues and after a little time and patience have been rewarded with wonderful, loving companions.

anything from a rescue centre

Think your just being a bit judgey tbh. Yes they are a designer breed but it’s not really any of your business

I have to admit I’d be a bit judgy.. Maybe a touchy subject for me just now though as my ex just bought our ds a “designer” puppy that’s a well known aggressive breed, to add to a household with already two dogs and two cats, from what sounds like a dodgy breeder.

Yuk! They say owners look like their pets. Is sister in law that ugly?

My best friend has several French bulldogs - they are all wonderfully healthy and she has lost 2 over time, one died of old age and the other was sadly hit by a car. She has had 4 litters from 3 dogs. Not one has needed a c section and years later no health issues have been reported from any of her puppies. (To be honest she’s kept a large portion of them or they are with family) They all have the most amazing characters. Like any animal if she’s done her homework the dog could be perfectly healthy and a great pet. They aren’t all as you describe.

You're being rightfully judgemental and I would be too.
I don't see how anyone can justify keeping a brachycephalic breed unless it's a rescue.

I’m rolling my judgie eyes at the thought of another tit buying a frenchie,it’s poor vanity better off with a rescue dog like a lovely Staffie voted the uk’s favourite dogs!!

YANBU people that continue to ignore the fact these types of dogs are deformed are just plain idiots

I have a pug. We got her as a puppy and saw her mum and dad.. They were family pets. We did extensive research on different breeds as we had a 2 year old at the time and pugs were supposed to be great with kids. Our pug is now 9, has never had any breathing difficulties and the only procedure she's had is having a few teeth removed. She is the best dog I could imagine having around small kids and we love her... She does snore though when she's in a deep sleep 😂

As long as she gets her puppy from a reputable breeder who has health checked her dogs. Any Puppies may well be healthy. I have 2 Dachshunds bought long before they became trendy. As long as she knows about the breed and what she’s doing they are great dogs to have.

Any dog breed can have some problems but brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldog may struggle for breath every second of their life because of Extremely long palate and narrow nostrils and some urgently need surgeries to widen their nose holes and shorten the palate. Yes, bred for our vanity and not fair IMO!

Wish more people would adopt from rescues :/ I did get a tiny bit judgemental when in the middle of us being checked out to see if we were a suitable family to adopt a rescued cat, my friend was helping me look at kittens and cats that were in the rescues and she then went and bought a 5 week old kitten and took it home the same day? She said that seeing all the kittens in the rescue had made her desperate for one. Okay... So adopt one of the many that were there instead of going to a non reputable breeder who let you take home a kitten that was too young to be taken away from its mother?

YANBU any dogs with very short snouts tend to have many breathing related issues down the line. They do seem to have good temperaments though. That being said many pure breed dogs come with health issues. I rescued a 4yr old Pomeranian last year, he had basically been kept in a shed his whole life. No vaccines since he was a puppy (when the breeder attempted to sell him) after that he was kept for breeding and then discarded. His fur was a mess. He stunk, had fleas and his teeth were in a rotting state! After I got him the vets had to remove 6 of his teeth under GA. He had terrible issues with Colitis and numerous UTI’s. He’s now a new dog and you wouldn’t recognize him! It’s always best to give a rescue dog a loving home IMO.

I think we should all stop judging. I had to rescue from abroad as rescues would not let me adopt as I work ( not full time and I have a dog walker) . My dogs are perfect no aggression no behavioural problems and are cheap to insure and are brilliant with my grandchildren. A member of my family paid thousands for a designer breed and they have young children . It turned out to have severe aggression and guarding problems , I think through bad breeding . They spent a lot of money on behaviourists and trainers . He ending up biting them as well . Luckily they found a home for the dog , and he is only biting adults now 🙄. I have family members who have daschunds ( brilliant dogs ) rescued and bred . Guess which one is a problem . It’s not the rescue. And also my friend has an English bulldog which is thin and fit and no health problems . Research is the key . A lot of research . And very good insurance.