The French Bulldog is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world today. With their adorable bat ears, chunky bodies and squashy faces, the French Bulldog is just adorable, with a personality to match.
If you had your heart set on getting a French Bulldog, only to have a heart attack when you found out how much a puppy costs, you might be wondering why French Bulldogs are so expensive. While it may seem like breeders are just getting greedy, there are solid reasons why French Bulldogs are more expensive than many other dog breeds, and this article will explore these reasons.
5 Reasons Why French Bulldogs are Expensive
1. French Bulldogs may need artificial insemination
While many French Bulldogs are able to conceive on their own, some have difficulty conceiving depending on their body type – this is a more common issue with English Bulldogs.
Males have difficulty mounting females due to their size and the size of the female. Because of this difficulty, French Bulldogs often fail when attempting to mate naturally. To ensure successful mating, veterinarians often perform artificial insemination. The veterinarian will take a sample of semen from the male and insert it into the female to fertilize her eggs.
Artificial insemination is a fairly costly procedure and each dog needs to be health and fertility tested before the procedure can begin, which can also be costly.
The price of semen alone ranges from $500 to $2,000 depending on the quality and imprint of the semen. Artificial insemination costs between $200 and $500, but can cost more in some cases.
Additionally, artificial insemination pregnancies often result in fewer puppies being born, meaning fewer puppies for you to pay for.
2. Female French Bulldogs require Caesarean sections
French Bulldog puppies have very large skulls and the female’s birth canal is very narrow, making it very difficult for the puppies to pass naturally through the female’s body, which can lead to various complications during birth, including the death of the puppies and the mother.
To reduce risk, French Bulldogs will almost always require a Caesarean section to deliver their puppies.
On average, a C-section for a dog can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000. Ultimately, if a dog is artificially inseminated in addition to a C-section, it can cost upwards of $7,000 for just one to three puppies per litter. Because of this, breeders need to break even somehow.
This means that each puppy will sell for a significantly higher price than a dog that could be bred naturally.
3. French bulldogs are very popular
French Bulldogs are a very popular breed – so popular that some people may be on a waiting list for years to get one, especially if they’re after a rare color.
Plus, their size is an attractive factor, allowing them to fit into the limitations of most apartments, condos, and other shared living spaces. French Bulldogs can grow up to 35 pounds, but typically have a maximum weight limit of 20 to 28 pounds.
And like anything that’s in demand, asking prices always go up.
4. The price of a French Bulldog depends on its pattern and color.
When you see a French Bulldog for one price and one for several thousand dollars less, you might wonder what the difference is. A French Bulldog’s price is often determined by their pattern. For example, rare colored French Bulldogs can average over $5,000, but can sometimes sell for $10,000. Extensive breeding is required to achieve these desirable colors, so breeders compensate with the price.
Some rare colors include:
- lilac
- Blue
- Merle
- Black Brindle
- Blue and tan
- Chocolate and Tan
5. French Bulldogs need a thorough medical check-up
French Bulldogs have more health problems than normal dogs, and there are several reasons for this, including the fact that their brachycephalic facial structure and the fact that these dogs have been intensively bred for appearance rather than health and function, can lead to a variety of health problems.
Some of the problems your French Bulldog may face include:
French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, which puts them at higher risk for respiratory disease and heat intolerance. The most common cause of respiratory disease in French Bulldogs is Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.
Ways to reduce breathing problems include keeping your French Bulldog at a healthy weight and avoiding constricting collars to reduce the risk of airway obstruction.
Frenchies have a compact build and angular legs that can lead to joint problems in old age. A common joint problem in Frenchies is called hip dysplasia, where the joint doesn’t fit properly into the socket, causing severe pain.
They also suffer from spinal and spinal column problems.
French Bulldogs are prone to skin allergies that can be triggered by the environment, food, or both, and you may need to have your dog undergo food and/or skin testing to pinpoint the exact cause of your dog’s skin allergies.
Because of these issues, veterinary care for specialty breeds tends to be more expensive, so if you’re worried about being able to afford vet bills, you probably don’t want to bring this dog home.
5 Fun Facts About French Bulldogs
There are a lot of interesting and fun facts about the French Bulldog. Although this dog is not for everyone, there is no doubt that everyone can enjoy it. Let’s tell you some things you may not know about the French Bulldog.
1. French bulldogs are bad swimmers
Bulldogs simply aren’t built to do well in the water – their rigid body and facial structure means they’re not good at being strong in the water.
2. French bulldogs’ cute snoring is not good for you
It’s adorable, but not very positive, if your French Bulldog constantly snorts or makes a variety of funny noises while sleeping. This trait is very common in brachycephalic dogs and is a sign of a blocked airway.
3. French Bulldogs make excellent guard dogs
French Bulldogs are great guard dogs. They notice the smallest things and warn you accordingly. They may not be fierce and tough enough to take down an intruder, but they will definitely let you know if something is wrong in your home.
4. French Bulldogs don’t come from France
Despite its name, the French Bulldog isn’t native to France. It’s actually a small breed that originated in Ancient Greece by crossing a pug-like dog with various terrier breeds.
By the mid-1860s, the Miniature Bulldog weighed between 16 and 27 pounds and was most commonly found around England, but eventually made its way to France, where it became popular with upper-class ladies, hence the Bulldog’s popularity and name.
5. French Bulldogs are very emotionally sensitive
French Bulldogs are very sensitive. They are very attuned to human emotions and are easily hurt. If you raise your voice in any way, the whole situation will be very hurtful to your French Bulldog.
This situation doesn’t just apply to them feeling wronged. They are equally emotionally sensitive when it comes to giving lots of love and affection. These dogs are some of the most cuddly and huggable dogs out there and enjoy every moment they spend with their owners.
Conclusion
Now you can see that French Bulldogs are expensive not just for profit reasons. These dogs have a hard time breeding naturally and require constant veterinary help throughout the insemination and whelping process.
Next time you see a French Bulldog for sale, remember that the price reflects the overall veterinary care it will need before coming to you, and that although French Bulldogs are adorable, they will likely need veterinary care after they come to you.
Do your research and find a breeder who focuses on restoring healthier physical characteristics to the breed, rather than unusual colors or patterns. The healthier the dog, the less it will cost you to raise a puppy, which will ultimately result in a lower puppy price.
And if you really want to add a French Bulldog to your family without spending a lot of money, why not look for French Bulldogs in need of a loving home from animal shelters with much lower adoption fees?
Featured image credit: Lined Photo, Shutterstock
