The French Bulldogs are without doubt one of the cutest breeds out there. With their distinctive wrinkled faces, friendly personalities, and amazing cuddles, what’s not to love?
In this article, we’ll go through the different French Bulldog costs associated with the purchase and ongoing care of French Bulldogs, as well as how you can be the best owner possible.
Whilst these dogs do fall on the more expensive side, anyone who has one will tell you just how worth it, they are!
Although most people tend to focus on simply the initial cost of purchasing a French Bulldog, there are others to consider. These include veterinary bills, food costs, toys, and other equipment, training, and pet insurance (should you want cover).
Despite these costs, however, French Bulldogs have exploded in popularity in recent years. According to Wag!, they are the 4th most popular breed in the U.S. in 2020. This is likely due to how gentle, sweet, and cuddly they are – historically, they were bred specifically as companion dogs!
After being bred as miniature Bulldogs in England, they traveled to France with English lacemakers (this is where the ‘French’ part of their name comes from!).
Whilst they were also bred to be ratters as well as good companions, their role is now focused on being amazing family dogs and cuddle-buddies.
Initial Cost – How Much For A Puppy?
Just as the popularity of French Bulldogs has seen an increase in recent years, so has their price. This cost changes according to many different factors, including the color, age, location of the breeder, and others.
On average, you can expect to pay between $1500 – $3000, but on the higher end, French Bulldog pups can sell for an excess of $8000.
The reason why these dogs have a reasonably high initial cost is that they typically cannot mate naturally.
This means that other processes like artificial insemination (which involves enormous sets of pre-testing) must be used to breed them, which drives the price up.
However, buying a puppy from a breeder isn’t your only choice when looking for a French Bulldog. Before making a decision you should also look into adopting one.
Usually, the costs of adopting are around $350-$550, which includes registration and vaccine costs. This is really a great option, as you are giving a home to a dog that really needs one.
That being said, if you find French Bulldogs that are being sold for very low prices and not by official adoption agencies, you should probably steer clear. These dogs likely come from puppy farms or unethical breeders, which causes a lot of problems.
Price Of Food
Over time, feeding your dog often adds up to be one of the most expensive parts of taking care of your new pet. Although each individual purchase may not be significant, they do add up fast and are unavoidable.
There are many different options for what you can feed your French Bulldog – kibble, wet food, or even home-cooked dog food. The type of dog food and the quality of it that you choose will both affect how much it costs.
I also have another article here on what’s safe for your french bulldog to eat and foods to avoid here.
According to Spruce Pets, you can expect to be paying anywhere between $20-$60 a month, ($250-$700) a year. However, remember if your dog needs to start a special vet-ordered diet, these costs can skyrocket up to $100+ a month.
Remember, you’ll also want some yummy treats for your pet. These will likely cost $5-$1o, but should last some months for your small dog.
Vet Expenses
Unfortunately, French Bulldogs do have a number of common health issues that make their vet bills a little higher than the average dog.
There are three main health issues that you should be aware of before you commit to a Frenchie, including issues with breeding, eye infections, and hip and spine problems.
They are a brachycephalic breed, which means their skulls are shorter and flatter than normal (giving them their adorable ‘squished’ faces). Unfortunately, this trait can lead to some fairly significant breathing issues.
Whilst the risk of these can be reduced by preventing them from strenuously exercising (especially in the heat), keeping your home cool and air-conditioned, and keeping them at a healthy weight, the chances of them developing issues at some point in their lives are still high.
Another common complication for French Bulldogs has to do with their eyes. They need at least weekly, if not daily, care and cleaning. Even with this extra attention, they are prone to developing cherry eye, (a prolapsed gland of the eyelid), dry eye, and corneal ulcers.
Finally, another common problem for the breed is to do with difficulties with their hips and spines. They are prone to hemivertebra (a misshaping of the vertebrae), intervertebral disc disease, (a crowding of vertebrae that can lead to paralysis), as well as hip dysplasia.
These are all difficult and expensive to correct, as well as difficult to prevent as they are mostly due to genetic factors.
Operations to fix many of these issues, (especially issues in the hips and spine), can cost in excess of $7000. Whilst they may not be necessary, they are still incredibly common and it is not unlikely that your pet will require surgery at some point.
It is important to note that this cost is on top of regular vet bills, which usually amount to a few hundred dollars a year.
It is for this reason that pet insurance is a very good option if you are interested in becoming the owner of a French Bulldog.
The monthly premium ranges from a low $10 to over $100, but most owners pay between $30-$50 a month. Whilst this may seem a lot, it will probably save you money in the long run.
Other Costs To Consider
Apart from the initial costs, food, and veterinary or insurance bills, there are still some other smaller aspects to owning a dog to consider. Training, grooming, and supplies, although they may start cheap, can add up quite quickly.
French Bulldogs are typically very easygoing and intelligent, and train well and quickly. However, it is still definitely worth investing a little in a training course for your new pup, as the results will be well worth it and make both of your lives easier.
Usually, group training lessons range from $50-$125 for 4-8 weeks of classes (in one hour sessions). You may find group classes being run at a groomer, a pet store, a rescue center, or other dedicated dog training areas, and so the classes and cost can vary greatly.
Fortunately, French Bulldogs are not a difficult breed to groom, given their short hair. By giving them a brush, a bath, and a nail trim reasonably often, you can essentially do it all yourself. Alternatively, you can have a professional do it for a small cost (usually around $10-$30).
Finally, there’s the cost of toys, beds, and other equipment.
Click Here for an insight into the top french bulldog toys of 2020
It can be very tempting to go all out, and buy your new furry friend absolutely everything you can get your hands on. However, it’s important to show just a little restraint, as the price tags will add up rather quickly. You can follow the new dog checklist here to make sure you don’t miss out on anything. Overall, you should expect to be spending about $100-$300 a year on these extras.
The Best Parts Of French Bulldogs
Although they are a little on the expensive side, French Bulldogs really do have so much to love.
They are very, very, affectionate, and known to get along with anyone. Honestly, the only thing they want is a nice warm cuddle.
They are also very adaptable to a range of different environments, friendly towards most strangers, and intelligent and easy to please, which makes them highly trainable. They also do not require as much exercise as more active dogs, a short walk most days will be fine, which makes them even easier to take care of.
All things considered, the French Bulldog is a charming, adorable, easy-going pet that just wants a little affection. Just as any owner will tell you, they are well worth the price!
