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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Boston Terriers or french bulldog

87 replies

Magpiemagpie · 16/05/2017 06:23

We would like to get another dog as our old girl is getting on a bit now and only likes short walks
She is also a huge huge dog so I would like something smaller that won't crush me when they sit on the sofa and take over
Initially I have been researching the French Bulldogs but I have recently met a few BT which I really like . They all seem so friendly and lively which I like but I like the fact that they aren't as squat as the frenchies
Anyone had either of these dogs
Thanks

OP posts:
Magpiemagpie · 16/05/2017 12:45

Mumbod
If you don't mind me asking what sort of problems, vet bills have you had and why wouldn't you get another one

( and thanks to those that actually have these dogs replying it's much appreciated )

OP posts:
MumBod · 16/05/2017 12:59

Just after we got her she came down with pneumonia that nearly killed her. We spent weeks waking in the night to give her medication and do coupage to clear her lungs.

Last summer she collapsed in the garden and had to be rushed to the vets. We don't know to this day what was wrong with her, but her liver and kidney function was affected and we nearly lost her. She's fine now, though.

She's currently on steroids for a cough and cold.

She's just not a very robust little girl, really, despite her thuggish tendencies Wink and I wouldn't get another one because of the problems with the breed.

She was just a happy little accident.

villainousbroodmare · 16/05/2017 13:06

Get a dog that can breathe without distress!

MumBod · 16/05/2017 13:10

Just to be clear, though, my dog has no problem breathing.

Wolfiefan · 16/05/2017 13:12

But so many do. OP are there any other breeds you would consider? What do you like about these breeds?

TisapityshesaGeordie · 16/05/2017 13:20

Bit concerned now. My mum's about to get a Frenchie - she's adopting it rather than buying it - and I'm worried she won't be prepared for the health issues. Her previous dogs are rescue staffies and very robust. One of them just passed away at the grand old age of 18.

sallywiththegoodhurr · 16/05/2017 13:21

OP I have a French bulldog. The only health problem she has had is a uterus infection after her first season resulting in an emergency spay (we were waiting until her first season before we spayed her, on the vets advice Hmm)

She's stubborn as a mule, took forever to toilet train and can't be outside when it's warm let alone hot but we do love her dearly. If we got another dog, I wouldn't get the same breed again because she really does suffer when it's hot etc.

Wolfiefan · 16/05/2017 13:22

Have a chat with her. Look into insurance and what is and isn't covered. Could be expensive.

Magpiemagpie · 16/05/2017 13:30

Mumbod Glad your doggie is now
Sally stubbornness is something I'm used to with my bulldog lol

OP posts:
razzledazzel · 16/05/2017 14:06

I have a frenchie he's 5 now and had no health problems so far. He seems to be more of an athletic build compared to other frenchies we have seen who appear to be more squat, shorter bodies etc. He's a brilliant dog, superb temperament, very robust, loves to go running with me however can be very stubborn at times!

CornflakeHomunculus · 16/05/2017 14:44

The main issue with the extremely brachycephalic breeds is finding a decent breeder who is doing all they can to produce healthy, sound dogs. On top of the usual requirements for a decent breeder (health testing, aiming for low COI, etc., etc.) you need to find someone who is actively breeding away from what the breed is "supposed" to look like.

There's a real problem with the breed clubs being in resolute denial that the shape the members want their dogs to be damns a high proportion of them to various conformation-related health issues, particularly brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. Recent studies have shown that breathing issues in brachycephalic breeds are chronically under-reported by their owners and this is likely the case because the snorting/snoring/noisy breathing/wheezing/low exercise tolerance/low heat tolerance/etc. is presented to them by breeders and breed enthusiasts as being not only acceptable but perfectly normal. Despite the breed being prone to it (as a direct result of their conformation) the breed club currently doesn't even mention hemivertebrae on their health page and there's no push for breeders to start screening their dogs.

There are always some individuals in brachycephalic breeds who manage to dodge the bullet as far as health issues go but the conformation of these breeds massively predisposes them to a range of conformation related health issues and the question really needs to be asked whether it's ethical to continue breeding them as they are when such a high proportion of them have compromised health as a result.

Bostons have the highest rate of litters born by c-section of any breed with a whopping 92%. This is because of dystocia due to foetal-pelvic disproportion i.e. another issue directly related to the shape they've been bred into: the large head and relatively narrow hips. Again, I think we should be asking whether it's ethical to have produced a breed so far removed from normal dog structure that it has almost lost the ability to whelp naturally.

The breed also has a major issue with genetic diversity, the current average inbreeding coefficient is 10% which is almost as high as what would be produced when mating half-siblings (12.5%). The Effective Population Size of the breed is currently dangerously low at only 36.78. An EPS of lower than 50 puts a breed at very high risk of heritable health issues as well as inbreeding depression which causes a general decrease in the health of the breed as well as negatively affecting litter sizes and fertility.

A responsible breeder of Bostons will be going above and beyond as far as health testing goes. They'll be doing everything recommended by the breed club (DNA test for hereditary cataracts, patella grading, BVA eye test) as well as x-raying for signs of hemivertebrae and DNA testing for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. They'll be actively breeding away from the current conformational trends, aiming for longer noses with open nostrils, properly situated eyes, decent hid leg conformation (they've a tendency to be very upright behind) and normal tails. They'll be trying to establish a reliable ability of bitches to self whelp their litters. They'll be paying very close attention to the levels of inbreeding in the lines they're using and be trying to breed litters with COIs of as close to 0% as possible.

Unfortunately breeders like this, if they exist at all, are extremely hard to find. As in many brachy breeds most breeders seem quite content for things to remain just as they are Sad

Magpiemagpie · 16/05/2017 14:59

Cornflakes
Thank you for the above post it's very interesting rather than the usual hysterical responses of "get a different dog " thank you for taking the time to post it .

I am actually looking for a bitch whose puppies have been self whelped and not a C section and one with all the relevant tests as well . I realise the problems that C-sections can cause in any type of dogs

I'm not just going to pick one from the the Internet and rock up with my money and I don't have any interest in buying one to breed from either .i don't need some pocket money of a few thousand pounds .

I'm not in any rush at all to buy one I was more interested in the opinion of people who actually have this type of dog and how they find them .

And it's been interesting to hear from those that do have them as pets

I might have been lucky with my bulldog as she is in good health and is not a typical bulldog with all the slobber and heavy breathing

I do keep her weight down ( most Bulldogs and french Bulldogs that I see out and about seem to be very very overweight) and my vet is always pleased with her weight .
Thanks again for your post

OP posts:
frenchiepup · 16/05/2017 15:12

I have a french bulldog he is 2 and currently has no health problems. He has a great character, was easy to toilet train - although we might have been lucky there! He is however very stubbon but loves everyone and everything. He loves being out, can walk 11 miles no problems. Although when it is hot we are more careful and try and go somewhere with water so he can cool down.

We spent a long time researching the right breeder and eventually found one we trusted. Prices are around 1500-2000.

If your interested in a frenchie look on the french bulldog club of england lots of good information there

Magpiemagpie · 16/05/2017 15:28

Thank you frenchiepup
Glad you have no problems with your frenchie
Our bulldog is the same lots of short walks - excellent for a pub crawl though as lots of sitting down & resting whixh suits my bulldog perfectly

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 16/05/2017 15:31

Yeah you're going to be spending a minimum of £1500 for a well bred self born pup....

Wolfiefan · 16/05/2017 15:45

My dog is a giant breed and was born naturally. But many of the same litter were born by C section. Not sure it's an indicator of anything really.
I do think the weight thing is massive actually. An overweight dog will be more prone to issues.
You still haven't said what pulls you to this breed and whether you would consider anything else. Cornflake's post is fantastic and very informative. But I think you will struggle to find a pedigree breeder who will deliberately try and breed a dog not "true to type" even if the dogs would be healthier.

Magpiemagpie · 16/05/2017 15:59

Soubriquet
Yea I know that's a rough price I've seen prices of BT from £1000 - £2000 and FB around £1500 - £3000 even hight than £3000 for some

Money isn't really the issue for me . The price is the last thing I'm thinking off .
I know that these are expensive dogs to buy and keep
I paid £2500 for my bulldog and that was almost 9 years ago so I expect inflation lol ( wonder how much she is worth now taking inflation into account )

Wofliefan I can't explain why I like this particular type of breed I just do

My bulldog and previous Bulldogs have been fantastic pets and I love them to to bits. There really isn't anything else that I'm interested in as far as getting a new addition to our family .
I would even be open to getting a rescue Boston Terrier not neccesarily a puppy or re -homing one even . I'm not that precious that it has to be a brand new puppy

I would like something a bit smaller though ,and having always had this type of dog so a Boston Terrier I think would be perfect.

I agree that weight on any dog is a issue especially in bulldogs but I am meticulous in keeping my dogs weight spot on . I would never ever let her get overweight .
Her sloppy kisses & big brown eyes don't work magic on me for scraps of food .

OP posts:
MumBod · 16/05/2017 16:08

Have a look here, OP.

Boston Terrier Rescue

Wolfiefan · 16/05/2017 16:10

Haha. You sound like you know exactly what you want. I hope Cornflake's post was helpful and informative. Is there a breed club or society? Worth making contact?

Wolfiefan · 16/05/2017 16:11

Sorry. The haha was in response to the brown eyes not working!

MumBod · 16/05/2017 16:15

Health issues aside, my girl really is a total delight. Honestly, the best personality of any dog I've ever had, and I've had dogs all my life.

She is just a total love.

GinIsIn · 16/05/2017 16:16

Please be mindful of the fact that 9 years old means that it will be very tricky for your dog to adapt to not being an only dog - it's quite late on to be introducing another.

MumBod · 16/05/2017 16:18

Couldn't resist a couple of pics.

Delilah subtly asking for a belly rub, and an experiment with filters Smile

Magpiemagpie · 16/05/2017 16:27

Fenella
We often have my parents dog ( crazy spaniel) when my parent have been on holiday and recently we had her for a month when my mum was in hospital and,y dad was ill
My bulldog just ignored her craziness and snorted and slept even more than usual but had no problems in sharing her bed with her .

She really is a placid old girl nothing ever bothers her in fact if it's raining she looks at me as if to say ."fuck off I'm not going out and getting wet - you do the walk for me ., I'm staying right here on my bed / sofa "

Thank you mum bod I will have a look at the rescue page .

Wolfiefan. Yeah I'm immune to her " I'm starving please feed me looks . They go right over my head lol

OP posts:
Nancy91 · 16/05/2017 17:31

If you don't care about the welfare of dogs I'm not sure you should own one. You are unlikely to be lucky a second time with a genetic mess of a dog. Most of them can't breathe or give birth properly. Also their eyes are liable to have tons of problems. They can't cool down when it's hot. These things drastically affect the dog's quality of life. A couple of anecdotes about a rare healthy Boston Terrier isn't really a reliable way of assessing the health of the breed. You're obviously going to get one from a breeder who sees them as walking money, and I think you're very cruel because of that.

Rant over, best of luck to the poor dog.