Are French Bulldogs Good Pets?

All dogs are amazing, and I have loved and bonded with every single one of the dogs I have owned, but I have never found another breed to be so emotional, human-like, and humorous as I do my French Bulldog.

So as you have probably guessed, my answer to the question,

“Are French Bulldogs good pets?”

But rather than just telling you how amazing I think my dog is for the rest of the day, why don’t we delve deeper into the realm of French Bulldogs to learn more about their temperament, and whether they are the right breed for you?

Here are some of the topics we will cover:

• What is the typical French Bulldog Temperament?
• Are French Bulldogs easily trainable?
• What health concerns do French Bulldogs have?
• Why do French Bulldogs cost so much?
• Do French Bulldogs love us?

French Bulldog Temperament

French Bulldog require a great deal of attention and affection throughout the day and prefer to be lap dogs if you will let them.

Having said that, because they are so firmly attached to their owners, they may experience separation anxiety while their owners are at work or away.

For this reason, French Bulldogs may require crate training at a young age to avoid any destruction to property.

While the Frenchie bonds intensely with their owner, they also won’t hesitate to seek out love from a stranger.

French Bulldogs are very friendly and will be excited to see any stranger that walks in the house.

For this reason, they don’t make good guard dogs. They do, however, make excellent companions, are doing very well with small children, other dogs, and cats.

The French Bulldog is a very intelligent breed of dog and often surprises its owners with its strong internal instincts.

In terms of personality, the French Bulldog can range greatly from dog to dog.

Some Frenchies are extremely outgoing, active, and adventurous, while others prefer to sit back and observe.

With that being said, the French Bulldog tends to be much more active as a puppy and may lose a lot of their energy as they age.

As mentioned previously, French Bulldogs are a very smart breed of dog.

They learn quickly, and because they are so eager to please and gain affection from their owner, they can be very easy to train.

Having said that, French Bulldogs also have a stubborn streak and require an owner that can establish themselves as pack leader while the dog is young.

French Bulldogs are also referred to by many of their owners as “comedians.”

They have strong, fun, personalities that often come off as human-like. When you own a Frenchie, there will never be a  day that goes by that they don’t make you laugh.

Are French Bulldogs Hard To Train?

When it comes to ease of training, French Bulldogs fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

As mentioned under the temperament portion of this article, French Bulldogs are very intelligent and eager to please their owner, but can also be very stubborn.

The key to training the French Bulldog, then, is to have fun while doing it. Don’t let the Bulldog catch on that they are in “training.” Rather, make a game out of it.

French Bulldogs respond best to training when it comes in the form of games and running.

For best results, training sessions should be kept short, as many French Bulldogs may lose interest if they go on for too long. Also, be sure to shower your Frenchie with a lot of praise when they perform the behavior you are looking for.

As mentioned before, Frenchies crave love and affection, so you can use praise to your advantage when training.

Also, keep in mind that the French Bulldog responds best to positive reinforcement.

Punishing or yelling at your Frenchie during training will only create frustration, and won’t generate the results you are looking for.

Do French Bulldogs Have Health Problems?

French Bulldogs can make well-tempered, friendly, loving companions.

Sadly, however, they also come with a long list of health concerns.

Their adorable faces with their short muzzles and wide prominent eyes are some of the biggest contributors to their popularity, but unfortunately, they are also some of the biggest contributors to their health concerns.

Common Health Issues Faced By French Bulldogs:

• Respiratory problems: Because of their short muzzles and flat faces, the French Bulldogs are prone to respiratory concerns. The flat face of the Frenchie is what causes snorting and snoring, but more seriously, it can also affect their ability to breathe. For this reason, Frenchies are prone to “Brachycephalic syndrome,” which can refer to a multitude of conditions that affect breathing.
• Allergies: Unfortunately, respiratory issues aren’t the only health concerns associated with Brachycephalic (Flat faced) breeds. These breeds of dog are also more prone to developing allergies. Allergies can be environmental or can be related to drugs or certain foods. The most common allergies among French Bulldogs include food allergies (chicken, pork, beef, eggs soy, etc.), tree, grass, or weed pollen, mold spores, cigarette smoke, and prescription drugs (to name a few).
• Cherry eye: Though many of us don’t know it, our dogs actually have a third eyelid that helps to protect the eye from things like debris and infection. When this third eyelid pops out of position, it’s referred to as “Cherry eye.” This condition is more common among French Bulldog puppies but can occur at any time throughout their lives. Though it’s not usually serious, if it’s not handled properly, it can lead to vision loss.
• Stenotic Nares: A stenotic nare is a more professional term for “pinched nostrils.” Many flat-faced dogs suffer from this condition that can lead to breathing difficulties. Dogs with Stenotic noses often snort and snore, and may show intolerance to heat and exercise. This condition is hereditary, and can only be treated with surgery.
• Tracheal Collapse: Because French Bulldogs are prone to respiratory disease, they are also subject to tracheal collapse. This is a progressive disease of the windpipe that can lead to a honking cough and labored breathing. Medical procedures or surgery may be necessary for treatment.

Sadly, these are just a few of the many health concerns that come along with owning a French Bulldog.

Frenchies may also be subject to Hemivertebrae, tail pocket problems, heart disease, skin disease, blood clotting, and deafness.

So, if you want all of the benefits that come along with owning a French Bulldog, you also have to be prepared to pay the vet bills.

In other words, Frenchies are not for the finically faint of heart – but they are worth every penny.

Why Are French Bulldogs So Expensive?

Not only are French Bulldogs expensive to own, but they’re also costly to buy.

The average cost of a well-bred French bulldog is $7000. But why are they so much more expensive than other breeds?

The simple answer is that French Bulldogs cost a lot because there is a lot of work that goes into reproduction.

Here are some of the reasons why French Bulldogs are so expensive:

Reason #1: They Cannot Breed Naturally

Because French Bulldogs have such narrow hips, the majority of them cannot breed naturally.

The way the hips of the bulldog are formed makes it difficult for the male to mount the female properly.

In return, breeders must artificially inseminate their females. The average cost of artificial insemination is approximately $500, and even then, it doesn’t guarantee success.

The success rate of artificial insemination is far from perfect and ranges between 50-80 percent.

Reason #2: Females Cannot Deliver Their Puppies Naturally

Artificial insemination isn’t the only cost for French Bulldog breeders because Frenchie females cannot deliver their babies naturally either.

French Bulldog puppies are born with large heads that are too big to fit through the birth canal.

If the puppy were to get stuck during labor, this could result in the death of the puppy, the mother, or both.

In return, natural births are too risky, and all French Bulldog puppies must be delivered by Caesarean section.

When completed by a professional, C-sections can cost upwards of $2000 for the breeder.

Reason #3: French Bulldogs Often Have Small Litters

The average litter of puppies for a French Bulldog is four, but it’s not uncommon for a female Frenchie to have only one or two puppies.

When this happens, the breeder needs to offset the cost of the insemination and surgery by raising the price of the puppies.

Reason #4: French Bulldog Puppies Require A Lot Of Hands-On Care

Taking care of a litter of French Bulldog puppies requires 24/7 attention.

Newborn puppies need to be fed every 3 hours, and for the first few days after delivery, should not be left alone with the mother.

Though Frenchies make excellent moms and would never intentionally hurt their puppies, it wouldn’t take much for them to roll over and inadvertently smother one.

In return, raising Frenchie puppies is a lot of work and a 24-hour job. When raising a litter, the breeder can’t work, and the puppies become their full-time career.

When you consider these four factors, it starts to make sense as to why a French Bulldog puppy is so expensive to buy.

Factor in immunizations, checkups, toys, comfort items, and other necessities, and you can easily see that it costs the breeder a lot to raise a litter.

In return, they need to charge high prices to make the breeding worthwhile.

As a word of caution, be cautious about prices that seem too good to be true.

There are many puppy mills out there that run with inexperienced and irresponsible breeders.

And sadly, its the quality of life for the Frenchie puppies that suffer in these cases.

Purchasing your Frenchie from a reputable breeder can significantly minimize the health risks to your dog, as well as the financial costs to you over time.

Do French Bulldogs Love Their Owners?

If you’ve ever owned a dog before, you probably wouldn’t have a hard time agreeing that your dog loved you just based on their behaviors.

And if behaviors are tell-all, then French Bulldogs love their owners. They are cuddly, affectionate, playful, and love to give kisses – all telltale signs that they love you.

But now, understanding whether or not our dogs love us or not is more than just a guessing game – it’s actually been backed by science.

According to a scientific research study from Emory University, dogs became more excited by the scent of their owners than any other stimulus.

The study was conducted by placing trained dogs into MRI machines to measure brain activity, and the results were conclusive – dogs definitely love their owners, and French Bulldogs are no exception.

So how can you tell if your dog loves you? Here are signs to look for:

• Tail Wagging
• Snuggles
• Kisses
• Cuddles in bed
• Bringing your toys
• Eye contact
• Leaning against you

Conclusion:

In summary, here are the 9 reasons why French Bulldogs make good pets-

They are:

• intelligent
• easy to train
• friendly
• sociable
• loving
• affectionate,
• playful
• adaptable to all situations and scenarios.
• strong, fun personalities

With that being said, the French Bulldog isn’t suited to all individuals.

While they make excellent family dogs, they also cost a lot of money, not just to purchase, but also throughout their lives.

But if you can keep up with their bills, French Bulldogs are worth every penny and will provide you with hours upon hours of entertainment and love at home.

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