Who knows about French Bulldogs?

[sugarplumfairy28]

So a little bit of background. I have had dogs before, a Westie and a miniature Dachshund. My sausage was a typical sausage, stubborn, difficult to train, high prey drive, took forever to toilet train him, in comparison my Westie was easy. My Westie died nearly 4 years ago, and my sausage died last year. Aged 13 and 14 respectively.

We do have cats, and children, and our daughter has special needs. I miss having the dogs, and I feel like I have fallen into a depression without them. I feel stupid going for a walk alone, I don't like talking to myself and I miss that unconditional love. The dogs were my escape, my 'excuse' for me time.

We did a huge amount of research for a new dog, something friendly, trainable, good with other animals, family dog. We came up with a Bernese Mountain Dog. We found a breeder who said all the right things, and we went and got him. Honestly it was a nightmare. This poor puppy had never lived around people, never lived inside, and he was so incredibly stressed. He was biting us and not in a playful way, bit our daughters face twice, would grab her hair and not let go, he was incredibly destructive, the only time he was happy was outside in a kennel on his own, he became aggressive towards my husband and was snarling at him. The only thing we could do was return him to the breeder, which was heart breaking.

Now, we still want a dog but are still taken aback by what happened earlier this year. Our first instinct is to go back to a smaller dog, and we have done a ton of research and a French Bulldog keeps coming out on top. Family dogs, low grooming needs, smart enough for basic training, good with kids and other animals and affectionate. Does anyone have any real life experience? Can anyone give me an insight on what reality looks like with a Frenchie? I know about the health risks, but in a practical sense what do you look for?

One of the reasons we got the berner was for our daughter, she responds so incredibly well to big dogs. Her therapist has 3 Swiss Shepards and is completely comfortable giving our daughter complete control of 2 of them at a time to roam the grounds alone, our daughter is 11. She loves the pressure of a big dog cuddle, it really helps calm her down, and she needs the exercise and energy/'stress' relief just as much as a more energetic dog.

Honestly I'm amazed staffies are banned but you would be allowed to have a poor flat faced Frenchie.

As an aside, just in case you do continue on this track even with all the very sensible advice above ...

I don't know the puppy buying environment in Germany, but certainly in the UK 'paying top dollar' for a French Bulldog pup would actually get you the very WORST of the breed, not the best. Don't assume that a high price brings benefits in puppy buying, as the opposite is true in many breeds. Only certified health benefits through approved health schemes actually have any value.

I'll add another voice to the advice though - getting a breed that is statistically virtually guaranteed to have major health issues and is stubborn and intractable to boot would be madness, particularly with a child there to be upset when the dog may die very young.

In hindsight you are right, we did go visit him several times and he was outside in a puppy run with his parents and siblings and their other dog. At the time they told us it was just easy for viewings as there was more space. Every video we got was him playing outside, with siblings and parents, it was only after bringing him home I realised we had never seen him indoors. We asked so many questions, and the answers all related or connected to being indoors were flat out lies.

I might be biased as I'm sat snuggling my 7 month golide.. But honestly they are the best. I did so much research into dogs and I struggled to find much about aggression in golden retrievers which sold me on them. All the goldens I've met just want to be best friends with everyone they meet.

We rescued a frenchie. I'd never buy one, that just enables breeders to carry on. Constant skin issues, hypoallergenic food. Cautious about long walks, very careful in the heat. She's a wonderful dog but if you are looking to buy you need to be looking at another breed.

Its a bit odd, different states have different laws, in some states the Doberman! is a banned breed. Germany has quite strict dog laws, with every dog being required to be registered, larger breeds owners have to pass knowledge tests and prove basic training has been completed. Of course Germany has breed revised standards and guidelines etc like everywhere else, but like everywhere else there is bound to be backyard breeders too. I have seen lots of puppies with longer noses and claim to be 'free breathers' but it's not just their noses. In fact in all the time I have been looking I have only seen 2 questionable litters, but this is why I am asking for real life experience, trying to make an informed decision.

Genuine question from a non-dog person; why don’t people have mongrels anymore? Is it fashion? When I was a child, that’s what people had in the main.

@IsThePopeCatholic · Today 12:52
Genuine question from a non-dog person; why don’t people have mongrels anymore? Is it fashion? When I was a child, that’s what people had in the main.

There are mongrels out there but if you think about the dogs we see nowadays - the crosses.. aren't they all mongrels with a hefty price tag ?

LOL

@sugarplumfairy28 if
you are into bulldog types have a look a Leavitt Bulldogs.... might be the perfect compromise!

I have an 18 year old mongrel. Getting a bit doddery now but has always had excellent health.

Do not perpetuate the existence of these poor dogs by getting one. They are a chimera dog, bred by stupid humans. They are mostly artificially inseminated and then birth by CS - so in essence they shouldn't naturally exist. They are beset with horrible medical issues and for every person that states their Frenchie has no issues there will be ten who have plenty issues. Please consider getting a rescue, a small breed if that's what you are used to. If you've had a Westie before why wouldn't you consider one again? To go from such small breeds to such a massive one is curious. Just go to your local dog pound and rescue one who needs a loving forever home.

22 months old and a big, calm and chilled cuddly bear

I have a Boston terrier and she’s often mistaken for a Frenchie but her nose is longer and she’s slimmer and more leggy. She’s incredibly fit, fast and strong but she’s been so easy!
extremely affectionate but energetic. Loves racing round a field and woods but will sleep and cuddle happily for hours. Rarely barks- maybe once every couple of weeks. So easy to train- she’ll do anything for half a dog treat. Bags of personality and amazing round children. Really recommend. Just make sure you choose carefully.

There are plenty of mongrels out there, and in some ways they are better! They tend to live longer, don't have long lists of congenital conditions. Having said that pure breeds are meant to have a more consistent temperaments, needs and are meant to be more predictable. For example, my sausage dog was the breed description to the letter. For me, at this point in my life, while I want a dog very much, I am looking for certain qualities to ensure we can keep them for life.

Adorable!

Why would you even consider a Frenchie knowing all the potential health issues?

^^ this.

Also you have already experienced how difficult it is to get the truth from breeders and considering a breed that is riddled with poor breeding and people happy to breed with no thought to the damage they are doing to the dogs.

Please do not think you will be the "lucky" one who gets a healthy frenchie - non of them are healthy.

If the demand for the breed drops less unhealthy dogs will be breed simple.

You will be actively helping in creating an unhealthy dog by getting a Frenchie. A dog that will be suffering 24/7.

As a dog lover that is not something I would want to be party to.

I hate French bull dogs. The look of them, the way they breathe, the way they try to bite other dogs and the way other dogs react to their distorted faces. What made them come up top of your list?

I'd get a Westie again if you like those, or a cairn or border terrier or a minature schnauzer.

I know basically nothing about dogs but I know that French Bulldogs are ridiculously overbred and have problems. My friend's mum had two, one died very young due to it. The other had to have an eye removed because it kept popping out, although not 100% certain that was breed-specific.

Labradors are used as dogs for the blind so are obviously very trainable and biddable, get one of those?

I think this is a very serious and valid point. 'Not as bad as the rest of them' does not necessarily equal a healthy, comfortable dog.

I think long-term owners do become a bit institutionalised and think their dogs seem healthy enough, where they seem anything but in comparison to more moderate breeds. I've certainly been told by owners that their Bulldog/Frenchie is very fit and healthy, when they are puffing and panting along a flat easy walk on a cool day.

It's usually Golden Retrievers who are guide dogs for the blind x

I have a French Bulldog and would definitely recommend them. Mine only ever barks when the doorbell goes, doesn't shed much and hasn't had any major health issues. She has a lovable, cuddly personality. She has quite a snout for a Frenchie so no breathing /snoring issues, I do see some very flat faced Frenchies who wheeze when they walk so perhaps avoid those without a bit of a nose. I used to have a pug who was a very noisy breather and snored he also had lots of eye infections I haven't had any of those issue with my Frenchie who is 8.5 years old.

Yes, I have experience.

They look cute. If that's your priority then go ahead. But Westies are cute too.

They are mulishly stubborn, excitable, strong, and selectively deaf. You'll spend a fortune on veterinary insurance. Insurance companies know all about their health problems, and sadly they can experience shorter than average lifespans.

Get another Westie.

Or go and get a rescue dog. You can try one out before you commit.