The truth about French bulldogs

[Muminabun]

I just wanted to share my experience for anyone thinking of getting a frenchie as they are one of the popular breeds at the moment.

I got my puppy from rescue centre. I have had lots of other dog breeds in my life but not frenchies. When I researched the breed I feel the info is out of date as it is pre the breeds intense popularity and therefore intense breeding of the breed, which I believe has led it to collapsing.

Frenchies used to be quite a sturdy healthy breed but now I would say the number one issue that owners experience is that of chronic, long term, multiple allergies, needing ongoing medication (apoquel, cytopoint injections monthly £75) special diet, cotton bedding, supplements, pet friendly cleaning
, medicated shampoo (malaseb bath is £40 prescription only from the vet) etc etc.
The ear infections can also lead to the need for Teca surgery (inner ear ablation). I know a lot of frenchie owners and pretty much all of them are itchy and have recurrent ear infections.

The insurance costs me £123 per month, nuff said...

The breathing issues they have can often be solved by Boas surgery however this sometimes doesn’t work and it is major painful surgery for the dog and very expensive.

Lots of frenchies are not reliable on housetraining due to being a stubborn breed and many of them have spinal issues which not only gives them an uneven gait (which means jumping is not recommended) but also means they don’t always get clear warning when they need to go so accidents are inevitable.

They have poor temperature control which means you basically live with a reptile who needs a constant temperature in a narrow range. Cool mats in the summer, coats in the mildest winter weather.

Frenchies can play rough with other dogs and children, couple this with their stubborn personality and the fact that they are spoiled and you can get a lot of frenchies that are explosive and bite. They are not easy to train so a lot are coming into rescue very reactive to other dogs and unreliable around children.

The separation anxiety is normally quite bad. I am a home body and I do the school run twice a day. If I leave him I need to make sure he is enclosed and has no access to chew anything.
They tend to be lifelong chewers.

Frenchies are very slow to mature typically being fully mature between 2 -3 years old. This means that an outwardly healthy puppy will not show signs of back and disc issues until they are older, allergies, breathing issues etc.

They are also heavy shedders.

If you have deep pockets, home a lot and dog experience and you are rescue minded I would encourage you to rescue one of these dogs. They are very cute and adorable but the above is sadly a reality for this breed now.

So sad to read this - your wee friend is lucky to have you xx

Very realistic and honest OP. People are paying £000s to buy these poor wee messes too.

Agree 100% OP - the overbreeding of these breeds are awful! The amount coming from puppy farms etc just now and selling for thousands isn't helping!

How sad! My boy may be a Frenchie cross and has a lot of these issues.

He's also showing his age- he's only 8, and I'd hoped a crossbreed would have a longer life expectancy. He's slowed right down, doesn't enjoy a brisk walk anymore.

Awful! Human beings are a fucking disgrace (not you, OP, obviously; you're kindly taking on the results of other people's greed and irresponsibility).

Couldn't agree more OP.

I really really really do not understand why they're such a popular breed?!

Thanks for being so honest OP.

These poor animals that have been made this way by humans & suffer so much just because humans think they look cute.

Breeding them should be considered abuse, but I have no idea how it can be addressed.

And of course not just Frenchies, all the brachycephalic breeds, in fact all the breeds with extreme features that lead to suffering, whether that be long backs, excess skin or heads too tiny for brains 🥵🤬

Sadly, I think some breeds just need to be banned now, for their own sake. The OP doesn't mention whether this breed suffers from particularly painful health conditions, but my parents have had two Cavaliers and both had a terrible quality of life because of genetic features caused by extreme breeding.

Thanks for the replies. I think they are popular because people think they are sort of a smaller cuter version of a staffie but without the high energy needs. Maybe ten or often years ago this was the case but no longer. They are high maintenance in every way. If you have one you also generally need to find a frenchie expert vet and travel to that vet. Some months you will be at the vets each week. Another thing I forgot to mention was that it is not uncommon for the dog to suddenly swell up with an allergic reaction and need emergency vet care and also eyes are an issue as they protrude and are prone to injury and infection. To be honest the list is endless and does lead to the dog spending a lot of time in discomfort and pain and at the vets. I don’t know what the answer is. Perhaps the kennel club need to de register the breed.

I think it's great you have honestly shared this. Unfortunately most who jump on the bandwagon wont take it on board.

I just don’t understand brachycephalic breeds. I went to a Frenchie event with a group of about 10 Frenchies and the collective breathing noise was unreal! It sounded like such hard work for them.

This is really sad, but doesn’t totally surprise me. Mankind has a lot to answer for, breeding in this case, dogs, to suit themselves with little or no consideration for the breed going forward.

Dogs should have noses. How is this kind of breeding legal, I just don't know.,

@GCAcademic

Sadly, I think some breeds just need to be banned now, for their own sake. The OP doesn't mention whether this breed suffers from particularly painful health conditions, but my parents have had two Cavaliers and both had a terrible quality of life because of genetic features caused by extreme breeding.

I completely agree. I quite often see or more to the point hear, Frenchies and similar breeds in my local streets and I think it's so unethical to breed animals like this in the knowledge that they'll have a poor quality of live. I feel so sorry for them.

I don’t think this is a recent thing. A friend had one when I was a teenager 30 years ago and he couldn’t breath, wouldn’t walk anywhere as he got too hot and messed all over the house. He had a lovely personality but an awful, ruined body.

People who breed or buy brachycephalic puppies are not dog lovers.

My son's girlfriend has a Frenchie. He is gorgeous. extremely boisterous with my pug and strong - so strong he almost bowls me over if I get in the way, but other than the farting which is the worst smell I have ever experienced ( and I've been to Leeds) :) in the whole of my life - he is just damn perfect

We had a frenchie before they were as popular as they are now and we didn’t know much about them to be honest, we were very naive. The first thing people said to me when they met my lovely boy was oh I really want one, and I answered every time “I hope if you get a Frenchie you have deep pockets and like spending time at the vet”

My boy in lots of ways was great: was very fit and strong (pull the arms off you) loved running with me and happily did 5k, never ever had accidents in the house, was amazing with my kids and people, but had:

• severe allergies - was on a special diet and apoquel (as noted in the OP)
• 2 operations on his ears due to the intense itching he suffered, he could rub his head up and down the sofa till his ears filled with blood
• 2 operations on his eyes for ulcers leaving him pretty much blind in one eye (nearly lost his eye twice due to infections)
• was the most stubborn creature ever created, he had no recall whatsoever despite us working with a behaviouralist
• the farts OMG the smell....

He was gorgeous and lived to a ripe old age for a frenchie (nearly 11, my vet said he’d never seen one older than 8). It broke my heart when he was PTS, he had a bleed in his brain.

We worked out over his lifetime we spent 20k on vet bills. I have a huge soft spot for the breed, but my next dog is a crossbreed who has been extensively health tested.

All of what you said OP, and now also the horrific trend for breeding Merle or double Merle, as if this breed doesn’t have enough issues already.

I think there shouid be a new circle of hell for those who breed in a way that can produce double merle

We have a 4 year old Frenchie who we were given by a friend who did not have the time to look after him properly. He is absolutely perfect other than the farts. He is great with kids and people who are new to him. He is very energetic and loves going on long walks but is equally happy cuddled up on the sofa. He is much taller than other Frenchies and has a longer nose which seems to be akin to the more traditional French bulldog and seems to help a lot with the breathing. We absolutely love him and I think the dangers come with over breeding popular dogs. I would also be very wary of cross breeds as you don't know what you're getting.

Stella in "Modern Family" has made the breed even more popular. Who can resist Stella

I have a FB who I got last year in April
I met his mum dad and sister and he is KC reg
I got him as my old dog passed away in February and I wanted a smaller dog .

He has no allergies, no health issues, no breathing problems he’s very fit and healthy he is a more leaner and talkers then a typical FB . He’s only been to the vets for his jabs
He is very well trained both on and off the lead he doesn’t chew or destroy stuff and he’s been house trained pretty much from about 3 months old
My insurance for 7k lifetime is 44 month
He’s not fussy about his food
He doesn’t mind being left alone if we go out for a few hours - he’s just farts and sleeps

He is a total knobhead though 😂
In fact I don’t actually think he’s a french bulldog because apart from his farts he’s nothing like the ones I read about .

I have commented before that three French bulldogs who went missing locally were found drowned in lakes and the canal. It was reported that they are just about the only breed of dog that can’t swim due to having heavy heads and short noses.

Some time back I heard a Vet on the radio who wants to ban the breeding of such dogs.

He said when they're anaesthetised their gums turn pink, from the usual dark colour, because they're getting enough oxygen, presumably they don't normally, hence the dark gums.

Poor dogs. I'm sure the flat faced breeding will be made illegal in time just as tail docking has been.