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July 2012 Weddings
littlemoments324
member
k8888!!! Puppy dog question....
FI & I have been thinking about getting a French Bulldog...what are your experiences with them? Has yours had a lot of health problems?
Pretty much...tell me about your furbaby
Pretty much...tell me about your furbaby
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Re: k8888!!! Puppy dog question....
I apologize in advance, because this is going to be really long...
I fell in love with French Bulldogs in 2005. I was sitting in a gazebo in a park having lunch with a coworker, when this funny little dog and his owner come strolling past where we were sitting. You could hear the dog snorting and snarfing from a mile away. As the dog walks past us, he decides he wants to sit in the shady gazebo with us, so he makes his way in and plops his little butt right at my feet and looks up at me as if he can't believe I'm not already petting him. That's a typical Frenchie.
As PP mentioned, they are most definitely not for everyone.
They are not a "naturally occurring" breed, which means they were genetically engineered and bred by man. They do not give birth naturally (C-section only), which means they are incredibly expensive to breed... therefore expensive to purchase. Expect to pay between $2-5k for a healthy, well-bred Frenchie puppy. But goddamn are they CUTEEEE.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't consider buying a frenchie, or any other type of bully breed, from a pet shop, puppy mill, or non-reputable/experienced breeder (I'm sure you already know this, but I still have to say it). They have health issues that are only made worse by improper breeding. (Mini bulldogs are just runts, btw, not a real breed)
Frenchies and all brachycephalic (short-nosed) dogs have breathing issues. They have elongated soft palates and can choke on their own throats if they become dangerously overheated. Therefore, they must be kept in a cool climate during hot summer months. THEY CAN'T SWIM!! (obvi). More info here (clicky)
Frenchies are people dogs. Most of them think they ARE people. If you sit on the couch, expect a Frenchie in your lap within 5 seconds. They become your shadow and will follow you EVERYWHERE. They are the ultimate companion dogs. They're sweet, funny, silly, and love to play. If you take them out anywhere they will steal the show. I can't take my dog out anywhere without being stopped... people love Frenchies. My dog thinks everyone wants to be her friend, so walking her is difficult as we MUST stop and say hi to everyone that we pass. Frenchies don't require extensive exercising anyway, but a quick walk is always good. They're perfect apartment dogs.
Now the bad news....
Frenchies have a ton of health issues. They are prone to spine deformities/issues, hip dysplasia, skin/allergy issues, food allergies, hot spots, and if not socialized correctly, can be aggressive (not common, though). Their ears and face folds need to be cleaned often.
Lucky for me, my dog has most of these issues (sarcasm). She has advanced hip dysplasia in both hips, so she's on a cocktail of meds for the rest of her life to deal with the pain and inflammation, as she's not a candidate for surgery. She also has severe allergies that have to be maintained with medicated baths, brushing, and a special diet. She's on a high-quality, 100% natural dry dog food (brand: Orijen). All Frenchies should be fed a high-quality, natural dog food anyway. She's allergic to the fillers in regular dog food and treats. I forget the specific name for it, but 2 of the discs in her spine are f*ed up. She's not allowed to jump on/off the couches or else her spine could snap. FI bought her little pet stairs hahaha.
I got her when she was 2 years old from a breeder who purchased her from another breeder. Apparently the original breeder did not disclose these issues to the last breeder, so her real condition was not known until I got her and the symptoms starting coming out. Weird, right? Be very thorough when selecting a breeder... I was too hasty. But I would have gotten her anyway, health issues or not.
Also, Frenchies.fart.so.bad. Their noxious fumes can clear a room in no time. They snore. They snort. They make the most unbelievable noises. I LOVE IT. They also tend to be couch potatoes. As PP has mentioned, they can be very difficult to train due to bully stubborness. My dog still has peeing in the house issues once in a while, but I think it has something to do with a separation anxiety issue (she's excessively clingy to me), so that's something we constantly are working on. If you get one as a puppy, be very diligent with training. They ARE very smart (when they want to be).
In conclusion (haha), do your research, be very selective when looking for a breeder - visit their home, meet the dog parents, ask to see the dogs' pedigrees and health records. A good breeder should be readily willing to show you all of the above. A well-bred Frenchie should have minimal health issues, but it's always good to just be aware of what can develop. Find a vet that is knowledgable on bully breeds, too. You have dog experience so you're already ahead of the game. I wouldn't get a rescue Frenchie as a first dog, as they normally come with issues.
I love my Frenchie more than anything and anyone else who meets her falls in love with her, too. Hope this was somewhat helpful and if you have any other questions or anything please let me know!!!
Some helpful links:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/french_bulldog/
http://frenchbulldogclub.org/
http://frenchbulldogclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/FB-Resources.pdf
http://www.frenchbulldogrescue.org/
And your reward for reading through all of that:
She LOVES car rides (the mess is my FI's haha):
GOOD LUCK!!! Keep me updated!!