Getting a French Bulldog? Here's Everything You Need to Know

Animals are affectionate and emotional beings. Regardless of whether domestic or wild beings, animals have a natural tendency to leave us humans in awe of their appearance and personality.

A discussion about affectionate animals without everyone’s favorite dogs is impossible. Dogs come with an emotional level that can leave you amazed. Every dog breed has a unique personality and fascinating facts. Let’s talk about French Bulldogs since they are extremely cute, affectionate, and loyal fur babies. These small-sized bulldogs are adorable, loyal, and intelligent, which makes them one of the best breeds to own as a pet dog.

If you are planning to get yourself a Frenchie, then you have landed just at the right place. Here, you can learn about French Bulldogs, including traits, price, and health concerns.

Know Your French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are not only adorable but also come bearing gifts in the form of their emotional capabilities and playful nature. They are mini versions of the original Bulldog you must have seen. French Bulldogs were native to England and were later brought to France by the English. It is in France where they get their name “Frenchie” or “French Bulldogs.”

French Bulldogs have a playful nature and are social, making them a great choice for your home.

1. Appearance

French Bulldogs are almost identical to Bulldogs except for their size. Miniature versions of their ancestor, Frenchies, appear even more adorable because of their size. The compact body has a chubby face you will never get enough of.
A square and large face with heavily rolled skin and a cute little nose is what best defines Frenchies.
Their ears stand apart from the original Bulldog as the latter has erect “bar ears,” and the former has a rather round shape at the ear’s top.
French Bulldogs come in varying colors, including beige-black, brown-black or reddish-brown. The color variation often impacts the price as it serves as an indication of their parents.

2. Personality

Temperament: French Bulldogs are not aggressive dogs and often have a “chilled-out” temperament. Their calm and composed personality has made them extremely popular dogs amongst dog lovers.
Social: If you bring a Frenchie home, remember that you are bringing an extremely social fur baby. They love playing and interacting with their owners. Additionally, they can easily gel along with other pets.
Free Thinkers: French Bulldogs are independent and free thinkers, which makes them more sensible and intelligent compared to other dog breeds. However, this can also lead to a situation of you dealing with their stubborn nature.
Living needs: Frenchies can easily live in small spaces. Yes, your Frenchie does not require lavish living and can live a happy life in your apartment’s living room.

3. Health and Lifespan

A French bulldog has an average lifespan of 10-12 years if given the right diet and living conditions.
While some dogs are more prone to health issues, you do not have to worry much about Frenchies. They are not at high risk of diseases and rarely carry hereditary disorders.
However, this does not mean that they are immune, and you would have to look out for certain infections and dysplasia while raising your French bulldog.

French Bulldog: Pricing and Other Costs to Consider

Now that you know the overall personality of French Bulldogs and have made up your mind to bring them home, it is important you evaluate all the financial requirements you would have to fulfill as a dog parent.

Getting a Frenchie and raising it is often regarded as an expensive journey, so before you set your heart on these fur babies, read these pricing evaluations we have done for you.

1. Average Price

If you are planning to get a French Bulldog in the US, then it would cost you anything between $1,500 to $3,000. This is the average cost of common Frenchies, so if you are looking for a breeder with a high reputation, then the price can touch five figures, as well.

2. Ongoing Price

Looking for a French Bulldog in the US can be a tiring journey, given the wide availability of breeders.
There are high chances that you might come across breeders who offer you French Bulldogs at a price lower than the base price- $1,500. It would be best if you avoided getting fooled by them, as the lower price is either an indication of unfit Frenchies or unethical breeding practices.
Depending on the fur coat, breeder, and health, you can get yourself a French Bulldog for a price anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000.
Most of the reputed breeders in the US will offer you a high-quality frenchie for $5,000.

3. Additional Costs

Apart from getting a French Bulldog home, there are several additional cost that goes behind their upbringing. Once you bring your fur baby home, you would want to give the best possible life for them, which means additional cost. Let’s evaluate the basics of monthly and periodic costs that you should keep in mind-

Toys and Supplies: Once your Frenchie is at home, you will create a comfortable and entertaining setup for them. Buying age-appropriate toys and supplies, beds and supplies including pee-pads and feeding bowls. You are most likely to spend at least $70 for these supplies.
Diet: Raising a Frenchie is like raising a baby. The major cost goes behind their diet. A French Bulldog needs a protein, fiber, and vitamin-rich diet. Additionally, they are extremely fond of meat, which increases the price of their diet. Also, the price of their diet keeps fluctuating depending on their age.
Collar: Can you even raise a dog without a dog collar? Probably not. Collars are now available with amazing features, which makes you want to pick the best. If you go for electric collars, then this would cost you more than regular straps. You can find dog collars for $20- $70.
Training: You must get your dog trained. Training includes multiple costs, such as equipment, toys, and trainers, if needed. You might also need training fences or a leash if your pup wanders. Depending on the training needs, the cost keeps fluctuating, but you can expect around $150-$200.
Grooming: Grooming your fur baby with the help of a trimmer will become a priority when you bring them home. Grooming is not just about making them look adorable and presentable. Untrimmed fur coats or nails can pave for numerous infections that you would want to protect your Frenchie from. However, you can be relaxed as a French Bulldog is not high-maintenance in their grooming session. A single grooming session would cost you around $50-$120.
Vet Visits: When you bring a puppy home, the initial few months would include getting them vaccinations. On average, it would cost you anything between $150- $250. In addition, your dog is going to need monthly checkups to protect them from infections and diseases. If, under any unfortunate event, they fall sick, there comes the cost of treatment and surgeries.

What Makes French Bulldogs So Expensive

Now that you know the cost of raising a French Bulldog, you might wonder what makes it expensive, especially compared to other dog breeds. Since French Bulldogs are bred carefully and require special circumstances, their price gets higher.

There are essentially two factors that make them expensive dog breeds-

Breeding Price: Breeding a Frenchie is not a walk in the park. Since they have short legs and narrow hips, it often becomes difficult for male Frenchies to mate with the female. This leads to breeders turning towards artificial breeding methods like inseminating female Frenchies. These methods are often expensive, especially for breeders who do not belong to the inner circle of breeders.
High Demand: French Bulldogs have become one of the most popular dog breeds in the US, directly impacting the price. The simple market formula drives this- The higher the demand, the higher the price. If you go to a reputed breeder, there are high chances of them quoting higher prices. This is because the demand is high, and they focus on not compromising the health of Frenchies.

Factors Affecting the French Bulldog Price

If you have explored breeders who sell different dog breeds, you must have noticed that there are varying prices for dogs belonging to the same breed. The same applies to French Bulldogs. What is it that affects their price? Take a look at these points-

1. Breeder

By now, you must have realized that different breeders offer different prices. This is simply because of the breeding methods they have used, the money they have spent on dog’s health, and permissions to sell dogs. You will find varying prices of Frenchies depending on the breeder.

Additional Tip: While you might not want to spend much money at the most expensive breeder, avoid those who quote shockingly lower prices.

2. Colour

This is a well-known fact that the colors of a dog affect their price. The rule applies to all dog breeds, including your favorite Frenchie. They are available in different colors, and while all look equally adorable, unfortunately, the price isn’t the same.

If you are going for common colors, then you can find French bulldogs under $5000, and for rare colors, you can expect prices to go up to $7000-$8000.

Additionally, frenchies are born with blue eyes, which eventually change to light brown or dark brown with age. However, there are rare Frenchies who have blue eyes forever, which affects the cost. So, a blue-eyed French Bulldog would be expensive. On average, the prices go up to $500 per eye.

3. Age

Most dog lovers prefer bringing a newborn home as it makes the adjustment easier for dogs and grooming easier for pet parents. The price of a French bulldog varies depending on their age. If you bring a dog below the age of 1 year, the prices are usually the highest. Their prices keep going down with increasing age.

4. Gender

Yes, you heard it right. The price of getting a French bulldog is highly affected by their gender. You can pay less and get a high-quality male Frenchie easily. If you want a female Frenchie, you will have to spend an extra few dollars. This is simply because females can produce puppies in the future.

5. Country/State

Every state has varying demands for dog breeds. If you are looking for a French Bulldog in the US or UK, there are high chances of increased prices. This is backed by the fact that Frenchies have seen a booming demand in the last few years, making it difficult for breeders to meet the demand. Hence, the increase in price in your state.

Possible Health Concerns of French Bulldogs

As a pet parent, you will be hyperactive and alert about your pet’s health. French Bulldogs are a rare breed because of their tough breeding methods. They often undergo unethical breeding methods that make them more prone to health conditions than others. This does not mean that you have to panic.

All you want to do is look out for these common health issues that French bulldogs face-

1. Heat Stroke

French Bulldogs have a thin coat with light colors. While this adds to their appearance, making them even more adorable, the same becomes a reason for heat stroke. A light-colored coat with a thin layer increases the chance of heat stroke. A recent study suggests that French Bulldogs are at the highest risk of heat stroke.

You can look for symptoms such as vomiting, drooling, weakness, burnt skin, or stumbling.

The easiest way to protect them from heat stroke is to focus on keeping them away from the direct sun. Create a playing space inside your home and go for walks either early in the morning or late in the evening.

2. BOAS

BOAS stands for Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. French Bulldogs are a Brachycephalic breed, which increases their chances of BOAS. In simple words, this is a type of respiratory disorder that often becomes deadly for fur babies. If your Frenchie has moderate to extremely narrow nostrils, they are more likely to be affected by BOAS.

Symptoms often include heavy breathing, sensitivity to sun and dust, collapsing episodes, and sleep apnea. You would want to get BOAS checked and treated as soon as you observe any of the above mentioned symptoms.

3. Eye Issues

Your Frenchie has large eyes and small muzzles that put them at risk for eye issues. French Bulldogs are prone to dry eye and Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. These are often regarded as heretical issues, but lack of grooming can also pave the way for eye infections.

You can trace these infections at an early stage by observing symptoms such as swollen or red eyes.

4. Ear Issues

You probably find your Frenchies’ big ears the most striking feature of them. However, this paves the way for numerous infections to get in. If you notice your dog scratching their ears, foul odor, or any discharge from their ears, there are high chances of ear infection.

This can be easily treated at an initial stage, but if you leave it untreated, the infection can grow into rather serious health concerns, including neurological issues and extreme pain.

5. Skin Infection

Like any other dog breed, your French Bulldog is also at risk of skin infection. What adds to the chance is their folded/rolled skin, which becomes the hot spot for infections to grow. You would want to check their nose, tail, and vulva area to find any yeast development.

6. Dysplasia

Since Frenchies are extremely active and playful babies, they are at risk of hip or elbow dysplasia. Dysplasia is a condition where the ball and socket joint get displaced. While such issues are common in bigger dogs, Frenchie, being a smaller one, also faces the problem.

It would be best to look for symptoms such as abnormal walking, pain, or immobility in your dog. Although Dysplasia is a serious health condition, there are easy surgeries and treatments available as well.

Summing Up

French Bulldogs make for an amazing dog for your home. They are gorgeous, sensible, playful dogs who love socializing with their owners and other pets. A rather expensive breed, you do not want to compromise their health by going for an unhealthy diet or training practices.

Now that you know the price of Frenchies and the factors affecting it, you are less likely to be fooled by a breeder who goes for unethical breeding methods. In addition, make sure to be alert about your pup’s behavioral changes to catch health issues at an early age.

A Frenchie will bring happiness and serve as a ray of sunshine to your life in ways you have never imagined. Here’s to hoping you find the right breeder and welcome your puppy home soon.