French Bulldogs - Why so much negativity on here?

[FrenchieBFan]

Following on from a different thread, I noticed a lot of negativity surrounding French Bulldogs - as a Frenchie Owner (Had my first for 13 Years, now have x2 more aged 3 and 6) ) I have only heard bad things on here. All of ours have been pedigree / KC Registered with long, long bloodline. Never faced any Health issues, my first old girl lived a fantastic long life and our current two are a delight. They're funny, faithful, somewhat lazy and adored by everyone we meet on walks and activities.
Is there really so many horror stories out there surrounding the breeding and health?

If you're keen to be educated rather than have a scrap, why are you only responding to butt heads with people over irrelevant nonsense and ignoring the none "ill-educated", thoughtful and insightful responses you've been given?

I adore Frenchies. They are a joyful, farty house potatoes who bring laughter and snuggles to many homes BUT just look at them.

I despise that type of comment from deluded owners so much. Oh yes, got to adore having a dog that has been bred so deformed they cannot eat properly with their smashed in faces that they swallow excessive air and end up with what must be uncomfortable painful wind every day of their lives. Sooooo cute, so farty!

And their wee awkward deformed bodies, that are in such pain they become such cute, normally overweight, house potatoes because they can barely move and if they can they can't breathe effectively when they do - mostly likely lazy because they are depressed!

It wasn't clear

You've clearly done zero research on the breed if you need to be in any way educated as to why people quite rightly are horrified at what has happened to a once fabulous and healthy breed.

@MonsteraMama Who I have replied to (so far) was with no intention whatsoever, I'm working, opened my email and I clicked on the latest Mumsnet link that said 'you have been mentioned..' which just happened to be someone questioning why I had no yet replied. Again, not that I need to justify the timescale in which I reply whatsoever, I am working. Looking forward to reading and replying to those with genuine interest when I finish.

The vet said people "liking" them online has added to them being popular. Meaning more and more breathing problems and so on,

I can't see how anyone could look at one and feel anything other than a bit disgusted, sad and ashamed on behalf of humans.

Because the poor things have been bred into severe discomfort and ill health with warped facial features no natural dog should have, all for human vanity, and every time someone buys one, it just feeds into the continued creation of these poor little Frankensteins.

I'm not being ridiculous. I'm shocked that someone who has owned 3 of them has so little knowledge on the breed.

I also have a French bulldog. Female 4 years old. She is the most brilliant dog , perfect temperament , loves the kids perfect family pet. However at 11 months she started developing hotspots- we found out she has allergies to wheat , gluten , any meat other than chicken, eggs , dairy- so pretty much everything. It’s been an on going issue and I admit at times I have held her and just cried- because I feel so helpless for her , a tiny crumb from making the kids toast in the morning can make her have a huge flare up. She’s been on steroid tablets for 99% of her life, which makes her lose weight. I don’t even like taking her for walks because honestly she looks like she’s been burnt in a fire and I don’t feed her. If she wasn’t my dog and I saw her in the street I would just think what are they doing to that poor dog. So I don’t blame people for the looks and stares because I would too She gets skin infections , really bad yeast infections, bad ears , just sore everywhere. We’ve tried different vets , different food , absolutely everything nothing can help. At times when she’s really bad I have even thought about giving her up but I just couldn’t do it. She’s a part of my family - but definitely gives me the most arseache and the most expensive lol. But she’s my dog

Somewhat off-topic but I'm surprised and also sad to see Beagles on this list. I have a Beagle cross and it never occurred to me that she could be short lived :(

My merci-moo before the problems began vs now with all the problems. Poor baby

I agree- just looking at them makes me feel so sad. They look so uncomfortable and deformed.

Gosh she looks bloody miserable! 😔 Strong opinion and not at all meant towards you but honestly yours isn't alone in suffering so much. The few I know their quality of life is so poor I have to wonder if it's sometimes crueller to keep them alive, euthenising them would be kinder all round I feel.

I have a relative who is a vet at a referral hospital. His bread and butter work is French bulldogs. They have ear problems and often need surgery, they have breathing issues that require surgery, they have spinal problems, they have skin issues. Often they are snappy, probably because the pain they are in.
He jokes that if they weren't around he would be out of business.

Awful when you put it like that. Poor dogs. The things we do to pretty much every animal we can get our grubby human hands on😞

Sorry!

Did a quick google and it appears at 16% they have a much higher than average death rate due to trauma (eg. hit by car, hurt during activities) - so maybe partly avoidable! (always knew beagles were trouble makers!)

@SeemsSoUnfair Hah, when you put it like that is actually makes total sense. My beagle is a total liability and we have to watch her like a hawk.

Because they are becoming more extreme, basically. As they became more popular and dozy bastards who have zero knowledge regarding dog breeding jumped on the money making band wagon and bred what made the money.

Unfortunately this meant they wanted shorter bodies, bigger heads, flatter faces, more skin folds etc etc etc all the things that contribute to serious health issues!! The same goes for the English Bull dog as well. Ones I have met recently are all freaks of nature with a myriad of man made health issues. These breeds have become caricatures of themselves.

Ear infections, Breathing difficulties, jaw deformities, the mortality rate giving birth, skin allergies, I could go on. I don't think there's a breed out there that could potentially have so many conditions.

My friend has one who has 4 of the conditions I've mentioned and he's only 5 years old. He's had 3 surgeries in the last 18 months.

They just aren't a good looking dog.
You can always hear when there's one being walked behind you, huffing and puffing.
Feel so sorry for them.

Sweet little things but they are breed to have short distressing lives for the sake of fashion.

I could not buy a dog that I knew was going to suffer throughout its short life. It’s not fair on anyone.

@SeemsSoUnfair and @allfurcoatnoknickers I have beagles, I’m not surprised at the average age. Ours have death wishes. Our eldest is 14 but has cheated death on many occasions (running away, chasing cars, eating stuff that shouldn’t be eaten).

I like all dogs, even the vicious thugs, but if I were choosing a pet, I would make Frenchies one of my last choices. Too prone to illness.

I have 3 French bulldogs all of which came from different mothers and all of which were self whelped.

Exactly.
It's disgusting.