A Complete Price Guide for the French Bulldog
Source © Shutterstock
The French Bulldog is a breed that has been a companion animal for centuries. In fact, it was accepted into the American Kennel Club way back in 1898. Though they’ve been around for decades, it’s only recently that this breed has experienced a spike in popularity.
Not only are they adorable, but they are the perfect apartment dog, as they take to the couch potato lifestyle very well, are good with kids and other pets and get along well with people in general.
Low maintenance, easy to feed and house are other factors which add to their desirability. When it comes down to French Bulldog price, know that this breed is one of the most expensive on the market. So, if you’re in the mood to purchase one, then your choice merits some research, to find out if this is indeed the dog for you.
Brief Overview of the French Bulldog
The French Bulldog, or “Frenchie” as it’s known to enthusiasts, is a joy to behold. Standing around 11 inches at the shoulder and weighing in at 20 pounds or so, these little dogs are full of life, with a charged, personable and adorable personality.
Though they are playful, they aren’t athletic, so may need a few brisk walks to help them stay trim. Easy to entertain, a simple ball will do in a pinch. Their coat is short and easy to maintain with a soft brush.
Though they can be active little clowns, and are just as at home sitting next to you, being your TV binging buddy as they are playing ball. Friendly, good with kids and other pets, they are known to search for rodents from time to time, so socialize them early if you have pet rodents.
As for life expectancy, it’s approximately 10 to 12 years if properly cared for. Stubborn, yet sweet, the Frenchie will enhance the home of those who love him. Easy to train if goodies are provided, they do have some uncomfortable traits.
One of those traits is the untimely passing of gas. As they have short faces like Boxers and Boston Terriers, you can expect snorting and slobbering from time to time. Finally, don’t leave your Frenchie unattended in a full tub of water or pool, as they are not good swimmers and drown easily.
Price of Preparation: Getting Puppy Ready
Congratulations! You’ve decided that it’s time to add a little buddy to your life, and it’s a Frenchie. Before you bring your little friend home, you’ll need to make your home ready for its arrival.
This means stocking up on supplies. The supplies you purchase will depend on whether it’s an adult dog or puppy. For now, we’ll assume you’re bringing a puppy into the home. Below is a list of some basic supplies for your new companion:
- House training pads
- Puppy food and treats
- Bowls
- Toys
- Collar and leash
- Brush
- Grooming supplies
- Dog Bed
- ID tags
Finally, please don’t forget to puppy-proof your home.
Puppy Starter Kits: $30 – $400
Puppy starter kits are a recent addition to the world of puppydom. These kits help you get a handle on just what to get when you purchase a puppy, which is terribly helpful for those of you first-time dog owners.
There are many different type of kits available. Some center on puppy foods and treats, others on training, grooming and toys. Once you are aware of the different types of kits, your next consideration would be what size to purchase.
There’s no one rule here. Simply examine the kits available and purchase the one, or ones that suit your expectations. However, if you are a first time dog owner, it may be best to give more consideration to purchase kits that are made up of basic needs items first.
Commonly known as essential puppy starter kits, they hold a variety of items every first time dog owner needs. Later, you can supplement them with a kit centering on toys, food, etc.
Puppy or Dog Shower: Saves You Money
To keep those new puppy/dog costs down, consider throwing a puppy shower. That’s right, people have been throwing puppy showers for quite some time.
Showers are not only a fun social event for you and your friends and relations, they’re also a way of saving money on supplies, food, grooming and training aides. Puppy showers not only serve as a fun way to save money, but they are also a good way to help socialize your new companion.
Dollar Stores: $10 – $30
Dollar stores are a great way to save money when it comes to your pets. The items in dollar stores are usually $1 a piece, or more, but not much more. This is particularly true with puppies, as puppies will soon outgrow their puppy-sized collars, so it makes little sense to purchase expensive puppy collars, toys and so on, as they’ll outgrow them soon enough.
Take Dollar tree, they have basic snacks and supplies for $1.25 each. Family Dollar is another store. Items are more than $1 each, but are still below prices you see in many supermarkets. One final note: Don’t buy puppies toys with squeakers that can detach from the toy, as they are a choking hazard. There are toys with squeakers integrated into the toy, where it’s all one piece.
The Price of Your French Bulldog: $250 – $10,000 or More
Let’s get one thing straight now, Frenchies are in demand so they’re not cheap. However, if all you want is a companion, you can score a pup or adult dog for around $250, if you’re shopping for pet quality on Craigslist.
Just be aware that cheap Frenchies might be ill or have behavior issues, as this breed is rarely this cheap. On the contrary, show quality will cost you much, much more. Another thing which influences price is color. Currently, the blue and lilac Frenchies are in vogue, so you can bet they will cost more than a standard fawn color. Factors that influence the price of a French Bulldog are:
- Color
- Pedigree
- Show quality vs. pet quality dogs
- Age
How to Find a Good Breeder
One of the first stops to make in your journey, is the American Kennel Club’s online marketplace. Here, you’ll find well over 2000 Frenchie litters available from which to choose.
Though no group or organization can unequivocally state the breeders they list are not without fault, you’ve a better chance avoiding the pitfalls of puppy mills and backyard breeders by going there first.
The French Bulldog Club of America is another list to try. Locating a good breeder is paramount when it comes to getting a first class, healthy French Bulldog pup. In order to find a good breeder, you’ll have to do some research.
This is imperative so you can avoid purchasing from a back yard breeder or puppy mill. These establishments attract buyers of puppies by baiting them with a cheap price. Beware, if you purchase from one of these breeders, you risk ending up with a sick, badly socialized puppy. Remember, there’s a reason people want to put back yard breeders and puppy mills out of business.
We’ll help set you on the straight and narrow when it comes to finding an excellent breeder. A good breeder is open to questions, have a clean environment, and guarantee the puppies. They’ll also ask you a ton of questions. After all, they love their little Frenchies and wish to make certain that they all end up in good homes. In fact, they’ll provide you with a sales contract where you will agree to meet their standards, or no deal.
The Fluffy Frenchie
The Fluffy Frenchie is singled out here, due to their cost. A Fluffy Frenchie is a regular Frenchie, except it has long, fluffy hair. Now, care to guess how much a Fluffy is? Hold onto your hats folks, because these little darlings can go for as much as $13,000!
Now that we’ve picked you up back up from the floor, if you’re into the idea of owning one of these super adorable Frenchies, here’s a list of Fluffy Frenchie breeders:
- REO Ranch Carmel Valley, CA kathy@reoranch.com
- Beantown Frenchies Andover, MA beantownfrenchies@gmail.com
- Francoeur French Bulldogs Southern CA francoeurfrenchies@yahoo.com
- FrenchieClassifieds.com
- TatosFrenchies.com West Palm Beach, FL 561-806-4818
Adoption: $150 – $250
When it comes to spreading love, adopting pets that are waiting to be re-homed is a fantastic place to start. First of all, know that there are more places to adopt a Frenchie from than a shelter. There are also Frenchie Rescue Organizations. To get you started, we’ve taken the Frenchie Rescue Organizations listed on the AKC page:
- French Bull Dog Club of America: Pat Kosinar, pkosinar@sunflower.com
- French Bulldog Rescue Network: Ruth Chiger, jschiger@aol.com, 305-935-6106
- Chicago French Bulldog Rescue: Mary Scheffke, mary@frenchieporvous.org
- Indiana Bulldog Rescue: Serving Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky: Nikki Schoolcraft – Foster/Adoption Coordinator 317-645-7966, Email: Nikki.schoolcraft@indianabulldogrescue.com
Fees requested by the shelter or rescue service vary and are affected by a number of factors:
- Age
- Spay/Neutering
- Vet visits
- Any medications required
Feeding Time: $16 to $30 Per Month
Feeding your little Frenchies shouldn’t be a complex matter unless they suffer from a medical condition. These are short, stocky dogs that shouldn’t go over 30 pounds.
The best way to deal with the type of food and amount is to check with your vet, this takes any guessing out of the equation. When you take your Frenchie for a checkup, specifically target the weight and type of food. Your vet will give you a clear cut answer, and also show you how to weigh your dog at home.
A simple way to weigh a Frenchie who won’t stand still on a scale, is to weigh yourself first, then weigh yourself again, holding your Frenchie. You take the difference between both weights and this will be your Frenchie’s weight.
As for food costs, you can purchase a bag of dog food at the supermarket for around $16. If you go for the natural, organic foods, expect to pay more. Include treats in the budget. If you’re in the mind to make your dog home made food, ask your vet for recipes. In the end, you can expect food and treats for your Frenchie to cost around $16 to $30 per month.
Anti-Theft Protection: $20 – $4,000
We’re living in dangerous times when it comes to dog theft. Skimping on security for your beloved companions is a mistake regretted by thousands of dog owners each year. Dogs are stolen from their owners for a variety of reasons:
To resell as pets, to sell to experimental labs, to be used as fodder in dog fights. The fact that Frenchies are so small, cute, and in demand, make them a big target for dognappers.
As such, you must start by getting your puppy microchipped. This isn’t expensive, and depending on the vet, will cost anywhere between $20 to $50. Next, it’s time to work on back yard security. The first deterrent is you. In other words, don’t let your Frenchie outside alone. Dognappers will usually scope out a neighborhood to find homes with dogs they’re interested in.
Once they scout out the homes, they start by trying steal the dog. Some will wait until nightfall, come to your home and open the gate. They then sit in a vehicle, waiting for you to let your best friend out for their morning business.
Most dogs will inadvertently wander out of the yard, and into the arms of a professional dognapper. Therefore, never let your dog outside alone. Always take them out on a leash, even if you have a fenced in yard.
Deterrent
Speaking of fences, it’s also a good deterrent to place locks on your gate. These can be anything from a $5 padlock, to a $300 latch. If you’d rather have your dog spend more time in the sun, then consider a fully enclosed, chain-link fence dog run or kennel.
Prices can run from the hundreds to the thousands, depending on construction and size of the kennel. Other anti-theft protection items include backyard, motion detection lighting and cameras. Costs can range from $20 to $4000 or more.
Another option are lockable leashes. Unfortunately leashes are not really given a second thought when it comes to keeping your Frenchie safe, but they are very important.
A cheap leash may break during a walk, and if your Frenchie isn’t properly trained to come when called, it may become lost for good. Lockable leashes come with a carabiner which has a lock attached, and usually go for $25. However, if your Frenchie does manage to get out of the yard, a GPS collar may help you to locate it.
When it comes to cost, prepare on spending $40 to $200 for a good one. If all of this sounds a bit much, consider the anguish it will solve. As stated, there are many dog owners who will never know what became of their beloved companions stolen by thieves. Here, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pain, anguish, and regret.
Health Issues of the French Bulldog: $250 to $340 Per Month
The Frenchie is a healthy breed, however they do have certain issues. More often than not, these health issues are usually the result of decades of breeding for the sake of appearances.
After all, this is what sells the Frenchie. People love their compact, strong bodies. However, know this: As a result of these health issues, the price of owning a Frenchie can cost you in the long run, so pay attention before you buy or you may have to give your Frenchie away if you can’t afford any possible vet bills.
According to the director of Oregon State University’s Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital, “We are actively selecting for an appearance that is interfering with the welfare of the animal. That to me is a problem. I think we should reverse that trend”. In other words, people are not breeding to weed out genetic defects, just for ‘cuteness’, which should be stopped.
To help with any possible vet bills, it might be a good idea to look into pet insurance. Popular pet insurance companies include:
- Healthy Paws
- Trupanion
- Pets Best
- Emrace Pet Insurance
- ASPCA Pet Insurance
- PetFirst Pet Insurance
- Figo
- Petplan
- Nationwide
The Most Common Health Issues
- Hip Dysplasia
- Allergies
- Pinkeye
- Cataracts
- Cleft Palate
- Patellar Luxation
- Stenotic Nares
- Thyroid
- Tracheal Collapse
- Deafness Elongated Soft Palate
- Cherry Eye
Final Thoughts
As previously stated, the French Bulldog is in high demand. It’s also one of the most expensive pure bred dogs to purchase, both in initial costs and possible medical costs.
A low maintenance dog, they will be no need for professional groomers or bags and bags of food. However, due to years of bad breeding practices, these dogs do often suffer from genetic illnesses and will need medication.
That being said, these are sweet, adorable and cuddly pups, and for those who can afford them, make an excellent companion. Perfect for those who live in small spaces, have kids and other pets, this lovable clown will fulfill all the friendship needs you could ask for from a beloved pet.
