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?

RTFT

nobody else’s business what anyone else does. As long as it’s not hurting you directly then you need to keep your opinions to yourself !

Do you say that about all issues that don't affect you directly? Really?

German shepherds have lots of health problems but are still very popular and used in the police force despite the fact they will be in severe pain with there back legs and spines as most of them get older

The police use working line German Shepherds.
They are very very different to the sloped back Shepherds you are referring to.

The police Shepherds are straight backed, short coated, they only come in black or sable usually and their temperaments are worlds away from the modern sloped back German Shepherd.
They are what German Shepherds were originally bred to look and behave like

poster Radarrooney- I’ve tried to make my way through your post. Sorry, but without paragraphs it is hard to read. I think, however, you have hit the nail on the head to some extent.

The problem with all the ‘trendy’ dogs which currently are French bulldogs and pugs is that their very popularity and high cost means they do fall victim to unscrupulous breeders and puppy farmers. These people are very clever. I worked for a vet some thirty years ago and puppy farming was beginning to be a big problem then. In those days it was Rottweillers and Dobermans which were the ‘trendy’ dog to have. If I had a pound for every Rotty pup which came in called ‘Rocky’ I’d be very wealthy! Of course the Sylvester Stallone movies were showing everywhere at that time.

Then, of course, the 101 Dalmatian films generated an explosion in long legged spotty dogs - without anyone taking on board that these are carriage dogs who need to run for miles every day!

Frenchies and pugs command high prices so they are currently top of the puppy farmer’s list. The uninitiated won’t be aware that the lovely little puppy they fell in love with has come in, often from Ireland, having been bred in appalling conditions and removed from his mum far too young. The puppy farmer will use a residential address and often, have an adult female purporting to be the mother, when in fact there is no relationship between the dogs.

By the time the unsuspecting buyer has parted with a couple of thousand pounds and their lovely little puppy becomes desperately ill, the gang will have scarpered and there will be no way of tracing them. Cue, heartbreak.

These cocky wocky doodle dogs - Sorry, there are too many variations on the theme that I honestly can’t remember them all! - are yet another example of clever marketing. Mixing a breed with a poodle does NOT, common to popular belief, produce a ‘hypoallergenic’ dog! Even poodles give off a certain amount of dander. Not as much as my big hairy golden retriever for sure, but enough to generate an allergic response in anyone who suffers from that particular problem.

It’s sad that there are people who feed off other people’s desire to have a particular type of dog but there it is. I would never judge anyone on their choice of dog. Each to their own, but I would urge anyone determined to have a trendy dog to really invest time in doing their homework first. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when you’ve got a gorgeous wriggly puppy in your arms and even worse if you have children with you who fall instantly in love.

Al, reputable breeders will be KC registered (much as I dislike the KC) and most breeds have breed societies and a lot have Facebook groups as well where sound advice can be found.

And if you really want a low maintenance, lazy couch potato dog, seriously consider a greyhound! Most retired racers make brilliant family pets and they really are the laziest dogs on earth!

reputable breeders will be KC registered (much as I dislike the KC) and most breeds have breed societies and a lot have Facebook groups as well where sound advice can be found

Not necessarily.
Plenty of excellent collie breeders will be ISDS registered for example.

None of the breeders currently using outcross to try and fix doomed breeds, penny lane cavaliers for example if they are still going, will be KC registered either.

@Lincolnfield I largely agree with your points and agree that whilst not put across very well the PP did generally get it right.

All in all people need to become more responsible owners. Take the time and expense to research KC assured breeders which generally only produce a litter once every few years, and buy from them if they want a pedigree dog. Yes this is more costly and time consuming but it pays to be picky.

This would, hopefully encourage more breeders to get their act together and get the certification if they are serious about breeding, if not then I guess less pugs to go around but as a whole less with bad breeding so not a bad thing.

But to see the loss of such beautiful breeds as some posters on this thread have suggested would be a damn shame as there really is so much that certain breeds can offer which others simply cannot. And I'm not talking about their Instagramability as contrary to popular belief not all pug/frenchie owners are vapid thickos.

Also a working dog is not the solution for every family.

Radarooney

The paragraph is your friend.

Also a working dog is not the solution for every family.

I agree iswhois, and if that's the case, perhaps the family should be looking at a breed that is suited to their circumstances, rather than choosing one for their looks, or because they've seen it on a film, or in a "slebs" handbag.

There are well bred dogs - pedigree dogs - of many types with differing exercise needs (you can spare an hour a day - don't get a dalmation), coat types (you haven't got time to spend grooming a dog, or can't afford a professional job every 8 weeks - get a short-haired breed even if you like the look of a long-haired one), and of course, need for family contact. Some breeds are quite happy to be left for a few hours on their own in the house - others suffer dreadful separation anxiety; some can live outside (and may prefer it), others need to be indoors.

If you properly research the types of dog available, then the chances are that you will find one that suits your family and lifestyle. But sadly, many people look at a breed and this "oooh - is luvverley - gonna get one of those" without a thought for what the dog needs.

I hate, hate hate over-sentimental films like "Marley and Me" that prod people to get a dog "just like that one". As a PP mentioned, "101 Dalmations" caused a massive demand for these beautiful and good-natured, but large, energetic and not-very-easy-to-train dogs - so the bad breeders churned them out, health problems and all, and the rescues ended up full of sad, abandoned (often deaf) dogs that didn't know why their families had disappeared.

These are living, breathing, sensitive creatures with deep emotional lives. They depend on their owners for everything food, shelter, love. They give so much and ask so little in return.

Is it too much to ask that we treat them as generously as they treat us?

Also a working dog is not the solution for every family.

Of course not, but that doesn't mean the only other option is an unhealthy breed like a pug or a Frenchie. There are lots of dogs that are healthy, happy and capable of walking miles but that don't necessary fall into the category of working dogs.

Or maybe people shouldn't get dogs unless they're willing and able to buy a healthy breed and to give them the stimulation and exercise they need. People shouldn't be going down the road of buying unhealthy dogs just so they have a pet that they don't need to walk everyday.

As a PP mentioned, "101 Dalmations" caused a massive demand for these beautiful and good-natured, but large, energetic and not-very-easy-to-train dogs - so the bad breeders churned them out, health problems and all, and the rescues ended up full of sad, abandoned (often deaf) dogs that didn't know why their families had disappeared.

Exactly. I remember an episode of "It's Me or the Dog" where a family adopted a young Dalmatian and only walked it three times a week, and then wondered why it was so poorly behaved

Also a working dog is not the solution for every family

People should be picking dogs with traits that 'fit' their lifestyle.
And I don't believe that that includes dogs whose traits are a direct result of disability.
Low exercise requirement in a pug for example.

All breeds have different traits, just because say a working border collie might be a bad fit for a certain family, that doesn't mean a working cocker for example would be.

Every litter will have puppies of differing 'drive' aswell, lower drive puppies are better placed with families.

No decent breeder would put a 'high drive' worker with someone who wants a nice family pet.

Any good and decent working breeder (of course as with anything there will be bad working breeders out there) will be breeding for a stable temperament and good health.
Pick the breed with the traits that fit and theres no reason why they shouldn't make nice family pets.

Also, lets not forget the lovely greyhound, so frequently recommended on here is a working dog....

It's a sighthound remember and the ex racers have been deliberately bred for the track. A working dog!

In fact, the overwhelming majority of dogs are working breeds.

Boy has the Kennel Club done a great job in brainwashing us to believe all working breeds are hyperactive nutjobs.

@ SchadenfreudePersonified - so the bad breeders churned them out, health problems and all, and the rescues ended up full of sad, abandoned (often deaf) dogs that didn't know why their families had disappeared.

You made me weep with this comment. People abandoning dogs never fails to get to me. I’ve always said once you have a dog it’s forever. They’re so trusting and they really do give you their heart. Nobody loves you like your dog, big, small, working dog, lap dog, pedigree, mutt, their devotion is second to none.

You’re so right. The world would be a much better place if we were all more dog.

You are very judgemental! To say she is buying a breed because of celebrities having them is crazy. She's a grown woman, not a 12 year old! To say it's encouraging pupoy farming is also ridiculous. Turniptracker, you don't know the full story, you have no idea where the puppy is coming from. I have a friend who breeds French Bulldogs and she is very caring and conscientious. Her pups are born and brought up in her home, with other pets and children and lots of love. It's not really your business anyway. I suspect the real reason is a dislike for your SIL and a need to criticise what she does. Get a life!

CravingCheese 🤔 Generally yes .. too many over opinionated people in this world sadly . So unless it’s actually going to effect me or my immediate family personally then why should I stress over it . This person should perhaps do the same .

@T0tallyFuckedUpFamily yeh I have. they have experience with the breed previously and were recommended.

As an aside, there's differing views on the steps/jumping thing - there's one view that they need to be allowed to do these things in moderation to build up muscle/strength. It's impossible to stop a dog that size from jumping at all ever, so it's important they aren't so weak that if they ever do to a jump, they don't do themselves loads of damage. We're not sure yet how we're going to go about it, but maybe something else to consider

The thing about rescue v pure breed puppy, a puppy will need house training , it will chew everyone's stuff ( parents dogs ate the walls ) , go through a nippy stage , need lots of short walks initially , will go through a stroppy teenage phase, will need neutering, will need someone around most of the time until you can build up the amount of time it will be left gradually.

Yes I see the paragraphs would be my friend I have a broken hand so I'm having to do voice to text so please forgive me and my rambling and after rereading my post I get the criticism.
Holy hell what was that rambling ? It was the opinion of someone just passionate about dogs as you are, And you make my point beautifully you criticize without knowing my whole story it's hard to type with the broken hand.
Here in the United States with the exception of the pitbull the amount of labrador retrievers is disproportionate .My mother raises guy dogs and service dogs And they use a lot of Labradors because once they've settled down they're excellent service dogs but I'm telling you the research is there . My point was more this, again people don't fully reaearch the dog that they're getti g or they're not truly ready for a dog And that's the problem. When I got my first French bulldog I had to lie to my family I could never tell them what I paid for that dog I had to have a garage sale in borrow money from my dad we were a family of rescues, but I promise you I've never spent that kind of money in a better way before or since.
but I quickly learned a bit about the personality the French bulldog the first time I left him alone in the bathroom with the door closed any other complete meltdown I called the breeder like what is wrong with this it's a dog I realize that I had to become more informed about the French bulldog. And someone said something about a puppy chewing everything up My mother used to say he didn't get those shoes out of the closet to chew them up and often times it's a sign of anxiety and that is the owner's fault. we create situations where the puppy thinks they are the pack leader and every time we leave they are anxious.
Why arent we concerned that dogs are actually living shorter lives today than longer lives? due to what we feed them and being over vaccinated and I find it to be criminal. I believe everyone is entitled of their opinion and I'm a big supporter of rescue. I'm a responsible educated pet owner and I don't want to be I'm just saying I don't want to be judged because of the dog I have. Trust me there's plenty of other things you can judge me about .my punctuation and grammar for instance. With all the humility I can muster I live in a country where my president has let it be widely known that If you can you should no matter what the cost and if you want to go ahead. And if people don't like it too bad .And people are running wild with that. It's terrifying to be living in this country it's embarrassing so I don't want to have to apologize for owning a French bulldog I've got bigger things to apologize for like my president. But I will make this point to me the rescue versus breeder is almost like the right to chose debate.most are there to save the fetus but can't be bothered to save the child follow up . Peace love and French bulldogs from the US

He’s not a prancing poodle.

That's offensive to poodles, who under the hair are proper dogs. Not one of the freak breeds that people love so much.

@SchadenfreudePersonified That is why I have always had and always will have pugs. Their personalities and temperaments suit me down to the ground and I honestly feel a closer connection to them than any other dogs. They are by my side 24/7.

I have never known one to have health issues and support healthier breeding of them to prevent such problems, but would be deeply saddened to see the loss of the gorgeous breed.

Have never known such vitriol against dogs as on this thread

There has been nothing but concern for the dogs on this thread, no vitriol. All the vitriol is for irresponsible breeders and selfish buyers.

I yearn for the days of medium sized, whippy-tailed, tan and white dogs with no discernible breed; skinny, flopped over ears and a long, happy, healthy life. I had one as a child, I rescued one who lives a happy life now. He runs with me but isn't fussed either way. Chilled the rest of the time. Mongrels are great.

There has been nothing but concern for the dogs on this thread, no vitriol. All the vitriol is for irresponsible breeders and selfish buyers.

And breeding standards.

Thank you, well said.

Yup. Again, the British Veterinary Association are against the sale of branchycephalic dogs, on the basis of animal welfare. They also cite evidence that the majority of people who have branchycephalic dogs, that suffer from BOAC, wrongly believe their dogs to be healthy because they think that symptoms of illness and distress are normal behaviours for the breed.

Similarly, posters in this thread, who have listened to the experts, are concerned for the welfare of the animals.

There is no vitriol against dogs in here, just against irresponsible breeders and those who purchase from them.

@Lessthanzero He’s not a prancing poodle. -Apologies! You're right. Poodles treated properly are fabulous dogs and the standards in particular have the heart of a lion. It's just that the show mob give them these ridiculous haircuts that must have the poor dog thinking 'God help me'!

This breed of dog can have breathing problems due to short nose. Make sure you see mother. My mom has just lost her boy after 11 years, he was a loyal and fantastic pet. They are very sensitive to noise. Should not be in house with lots of noise or children, they can get annoyed if kiddies keep bothering them. My mom has a girl, and now another girl pup, they are good in twos. My mom would never have any other breed.x