anyone own French Bulldogs
Discussion
Anyone own French bulldogs
Mrs and kids want one, they seem very playfull , we do have two boxers Mum 6 and Son 3 , so guessing would have to separate if we get a pup until its a few months , our male boxer is a big lad and a bit clumsy , they are very good with other dogs , they think everything is there play thing
heard Frenchies overheat easily and don't swim very well , any other advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks
Mrs and kids want one, they seem very playfull , we do have two boxers Mum 6 and Son 3 , so guessing would have to separate if we get a pup until its a few months , our male boxer is a big lad and a bit clumsy , they are very good with other dogs , they think everything is there play thing
heard Frenchies overheat easily and don't swim very well , any other advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks
My household has one. Bought as the runt of the litter...he’s ace but he’s a terrier. So has red mist and small man syndrome. He’s also very territorial and if he doesn’t know someone who visits the house we have to put him in his crate initially. Then let him out on the lead until he used to that person.
He’s brilliant with other dogs but he bullys the Lab something rotten. Takes he ball or toy and she lets him. No issues with food though which I was surprised about.
I think there are way better breeds for a family dog. We have a small fox red lab...much better temperament and a lot more predictable. I’m not bothered if strangers randomly pet her where as I flinch when someone goes near the Frenchie. I have two other friends with a Frenchie and they’re all the same.
I love our little lad but I wouldn’t have another.
ETA - the lab has cost way more than the Frenchie at the vet...however, Freya is £6/month for insurance where as Bruno is £28/month so the clearly have historically more health issues. We must have just got lucky.
Further ETA - yes the can’t swim...he followed Freya into the canal when I took my eye of him and he does depths rather than lengths.
And yes he overheat very quickly. We have to stop his play in summer whereas Freya has no off switch so that can be difficult because he’ll still want to play despite sounding like he’s about to have a heart attack.
Mr Bruno...side on
He has an amazing ability to sleep in odd places...
And just because I think she’s ace...Freya.
He’s brilliant with other dogs but he bullys the Lab something rotten. Takes he ball or toy and she lets him. No issues with food though which I was surprised about.
I think there are way better breeds for a family dog. We have a small fox red lab...much better temperament and a lot more predictable. I’m not bothered if strangers randomly pet her where as I flinch when someone goes near the Frenchie. I have two other friends with a Frenchie and they’re all the same.
I love our little lad but I wouldn’t have another.
ETA - the lab has cost way more than the Frenchie at the vet...however, Freya is £6/month for insurance where as Bruno is £28/month so the clearly have historically more health issues. We must have just got lucky.
Further ETA - yes the can’t swim...he followed Freya into the canal when I took my eye of him and he does depths rather than lengths.
And yes he overheat very quickly. We have to stop his play in summer whereas Freya has no off switch so that can be difficult because he’ll still want to play despite sounding like he’s about to have a heart attack.
Mr Bruno...side on
He has an amazing ability to sleep in odd places...
And just because I think she’s ace...Freya.
Edited by hondafanatic on Tuesday 3rd September 18:36
We don't have one but have friends that do and can only really echo the others on here, not particularly reliable but lovely pets.
We have a Jug (as well as a Schnoodle), which is a Jack Russell x Pug. She is mainly Jack in attitude which makes her huge fun and she is far less likely the pitfalls of a flatfaced breed. Just something to consider
We have a Jug (as well as a Schnoodle), which is a Jack Russell x Pug. She is mainly Jack in attitude which makes her huge fun and she is far less likely the pitfalls of a flatfaced breed. Just something to consider
I've yet to meet a Frenchie which wasn't friendly and playful.
Yes, there have been some unscrupulous breeders who have overbred the little rascals, but those with good pedigrees and normal noses are generally OK.
Their Centres of Gravity and leg length means that they're poor swimmers and their coats don't protect them from the heat. If they get overheated and start panting heavily, you must calm them and cool them as they will be quite stressed.
But they're loyal little 'people' dogs who simply adore their owners!
Yes, there have been some unscrupulous breeders who have overbred the little rascals, but those with good pedigrees and normal noses are generally OK.
Their Centres of Gravity and leg length means that they're poor swimmers and their coats don't protect them from the heat. If they get overheated and start panting heavily, you must calm them and cool them as they will be quite stressed.
But they're loyal little 'people' dogs who simply adore their owners!
I've owned frenchies for many years and can honestly say i've never had one in the vets bar one for a cherry eye. They make me smile everyday. I lost my beautiful mum recently after a year battle with cancer and then a stroke and the hospital let my frenchies in to see my mum and she responded so well to them in her last days. They are an amazing breed and i'll never be without one.
I do not understand how people can make a general assumption they are all unhealthy and need c sections, people have said this about bulldogs for years and baffles me, mine and all people i know with them have no problems.
I'm not saying they do not have health problems far from it as in every breed bad breedings make up for the unhealthy side of things just make sure you buy from health tested lines and see the proof of the health tests. Mine self whelp and are excellent mums.
I've copied and pasted what to look for below
Bronze Level: A thorough veterinary health check including a BOAS respiration test (at rest and after exercise), and grading of nostrils.
Silver Level: In addition ‘Bronze’ health check, the next level includes a series of non-invasive tests:
DNA test HC HSF4 to test for Hereditary Cataracts (clear result required)
DNA test for Degenerative Myelopahy
Gold Level:
To have obtained the Bronze and Silver level certificates
Repeat BOAS test for breathing
Cardiologist Heart Test (normal )
Spine X-ray and evaluation
Results of all these tests are recorded by the breed club for the breed database and holders of certificates are included on the website both as recognition but also as a resource for breeders.
The majority of this very popular breed currently lives without any illness detrimental to their quality of life. This should be the standard and the aim for every single Frenchie to have the opportunity of a healthy, happy and long life.
Don't let a few people put you of and do your research and you will be fine.
I do not understand how people can make a general assumption they are all unhealthy and need c sections, people have said this about bulldogs for years and baffles me, mine and all people i know with them have no problems.
I'm not saying they do not have health problems far from it as in every breed bad breedings make up for the unhealthy side of things just make sure you buy from health tested lines and see the proof of the health tests. Mine self whelp and are excellent mums.
I've copied and pasted what to look for below
Bronze Level: A thorough veterinary health check including a BOAS respiration test (at rest and after exercise), and grading of nostrils.
Silver Level: In addition ‘Bronze’ health check, the next level includes a series of non-invasive tests:
DNA test HC HSF4 to test for Hereditary Cataracts (clear result required)
DNA test for Degenerative Myelopahy
Gold Level:
To have obtained the Bronze and Silver level certificates
Repeat BOAS test for breathing
Cardiologist Heart Test (normal )
Spine X-ray and evaluation
Results of all these tests are recorded by the breed club for the breed database and holders of certificates are included on the website both as recognition but also as a resource for breeders.
The majority of this very popular breed currently lives without any illness detrimental to their quality of life. This should be the standard and the aim for every single Frenchie to have the opportunity of a healthy, happy and long life.
Don't let a few people put you of and do your research and you will be fine.
I have one, a soon to be 7yo deaf female, who we re-homed at a year old.
Lovely dogs, great fun, great personality, full of mischief, not subtle at all, but I wouldn't have another.
We have not had any associated health issues, with the only trips to the vets being yearly jabs and a stomach pump for eating a paracetamol, oh the eye vet was expensive as she has cataracts but they are very mild and I wouldn't put that down to being a breed thing. However she over heats very quickly, even when it doesn't seem that warm so we have to be careful on walks, now she is the wrong side of middle aged she sleeps an awful lot and is very lazy so can go without a walk for a couple of days but she does have odd, random mad moments.
You get good and bad ones, a friend of ours has a 2yo and he can walk for miles without the breathing and over heating issues, we went on holiday with them to Cornwall in August with our 2 Terriers and he was brilliant with his walking, we left the Frenchie at home.
They can suffer also with allergies, skin issues and sensitive stomachs and they can fart to high heaven, ours doesn't but I put that down to her diet; she used to have awful flatulence.
So yes great characters but not again for us, especially after having the 2 Terriers after getting her, they are far hardier and can go out all day with us, will likely live alot longer with no major issues.
Lovely dogs, great fun, great personality, full of mischief, not subtle at all, but I wouldn't have another.
We have not had any associated health issues, with the only trips to the vets being yearly jabs and a stomach pump for eating a paracetamol, oh the eye vet was expensive as she has cataracts but they are very mild and I wouldn't put that down to being a breed thing. However she over heats very quickly, even when it doesn't seem that warm so we have to be careful on walks, now she is the wrong side of middle aged she sleeps an awful lot and is very lazy so can go without a walk for a couple of days but she does have odd, random mad moments.
You get good and bad ones, a friend of ours has a 2yo and he can walk for miles without the breathing and over heating issues, we went on holiday with them to Cornwall in August with our 2 Terriers and he was brilliant with his walking, we left the Frenchie at home.
They can suffer also with allergies, skin issues and sensitive stomachs and they can fart to high heaven, ours doesn't but I put that down to her diet; she used to have awful flatulence.
So yes great characters but not again for us, especially after having the 2 Terriers after getting her, they are far hardier and can go out all day with us, will likely live alot longer with no major issues.
hondafanatic said:
ETA - the lab has cost way more than the Frenchie at the vet...however, Freya is £6/month for insurance where as Bruno is £28/month so the clearly have historically more health issues. We must have just got lucky.
The insurance difference is in part because of the size of the dogs. Generally if a 30kg+ dog gets hit by a car or mauled by another dog It goes to the vet. If a 6kg dog gets the same it usually goes in a bin bag.
Batleyred said:
I've owned frenchies for many years and can honestly say i've never had one in the vets bar one for a cherry eye. They make me smile everyday. I lost my beautiful mum recently after a year battle with cancer and then a stroke and the hospital let my frenchies in to see my mum and she responded so well to them in her last days. They are an amazing breed and i'll never be without one.
I do not understand how people can make a general assumption they are all unhealthy and need c sections, people have said this about bulldogs for years and baffles me, mine and all people i know with them have no problems.
I'm not saying they do not have health problems far from it as in every breed bad breedings make up for the unhealthy side of things just make sure you buy from health tested lines and see the proof of the health tests. Mine self whelp and are excellent mums.
I've copied and pasted what to look for below
Bronze Level: A thorough veterinary health check including a BOAS respiration test (at rest and after exercise), and grading of nostrils.
Silver Level: In addition ‘Bronze’ health check, the next level includes a series of non-invasive tests:
DNA test HC HSF4 to test for Hereditary Cataracts (clear result required)
DNA test for Degenerative Myelopahy
Gold Level:
To have obtained the Bronze and Silver level certificates
Repeat BOAS test for breathing
Cardiologist Heart Test (normal )
Spine X-ray and evaluation
Results of all these tests are recorded by the breed club for the breed database and holders of certificates are included on the website both as recognition but also as a resource for breeders.
The majority of this very popular breed currently lives without any illness detrimental to their quality of life. This should be the standard and the aim for every single Frenchie to have the opportunity of a healthy, happy and long life.
Don't let a few people put you of and do your research and you will be fine.
Thanks for all the comments ..........too late to look back , the wife and kids came back with a lovely little girl , 10 weeks old , great pedigree KC registered , and mum was at home , she was already socialized with children , obviously a little traumatized with new environment ...that soon changed when she met Simba and Luna our boxers , she went mad with excitement , both dogs have been very gentle although we will be constantly supervising to make sure no clumsy paws from Simba , She has a great temperament and really loves her new home ,she hides under simbas legs much to his amusement , great addition to the family.I do not understand how people can make a general assumption they are all unhealthy and need c sections, people have said this about bulldogs for years and baffles me, mine and all people i know with them have no problems.
I'm not saying they do not have health problems far from it as in every breed bad breedings make up for the unhealthy side of things just make sure you buy from health tested lines and see the proof of the health tests. Mine self whelp and are excellent mums.
I've copied and pasted what to look for below
Bronze Level: A thorough veterinary health check including a BOAS respiration test (at rest and after exercise), and grading of nostrils.
Silver Level: In addition ‘Bronze’ health check, the next level includes a series of non-invasive tests:
DNA test HC HSF4 to test for Hereditary Cataracts (clear result required)
DNA test for Degenerative Myelopahy
Gold Level:
To have obtained the Bronze and Silver level certificates
Repeat BOAS test for breathing
Cardiologist Heart Test (normal )
Spine X-ray and evaluation
Results of all these tests are recorded by the breed club for the breed database and holders of certificates are included on the website both as recognition but also as a resource for breeders.
The majority of this very popular breed currently lives without any illness detrimental to their quality of life. This should be the standard and the aim for every single Frenchie to have the opportunity of a healthy, happy and long life.
Don't let a few people put you of and do your research and you will be fine.
looking forward to meeting her myself as I'm stuck at work overseas , will have to make do with video calls for now
meeting Luna
Simba
on way home
Simba's new friend Chanel , named after her mum coco
many thanks
Edited by DBSV8 on Friday 6th September 20:54
I have one , 2 year old boy, For their temperament I think you’re hard pressed to find a better breed. There’s a reason they are popular in the first place , such loyal loving animals . Obviously the health issues are a worry.
Mine loves water but I don’t let him go in deep water , top tip is get a children’s paddling pool for a few quid and fill it for the summer months so they can go for a cool down . Get a cooling coat , and be careful on very hot days . We have aircon at home so it’s fine but a few people in groups I’m in on Facebook lost their dogs on the hottest day and they keep the dogs in and with lots of water etc so be careful
Mine loves water but I don’t let him go in deep water , top tip is get a children’s paddling pool for a few quid and fill it for the summer months so they can go for a cool down . Get a cooling coat , and be careful on very hot days . We have aircon at home so it’s fine but a few people in groups I’m in on Facebook lost their dogs on the hottest day and they keep the dogs in and with lots of water etc so be careful
Thread revival..
https://news.sky.com/story/jack-russell-terriers-l...
Is this the media scare mongering and trying to push the cull of these breeds?
Mine is 4 years old and seems healthy...
This article makes me feel like counting the days...
https://news.sky.com/story/jack-russell-terriers-l...
Is this the media scare mongering and trying to push the cull of these breeds?
Mine is 4 years old and seems healthy...
This article makes me feel like counting the days...
"In comparison, four flat-faced breeds were found to have the shortest life expectancy with French bulldogs expected to live only 4.5 years, followed by English bulldogs at 7.4 years and American bulldogs, 7.8 years."
My daughter is a qualified RVN, working at a well known referral, she does see quite a few poorly bred Frenchie's and Bulldogs, obviously unscrupulous "breeders" jumping on the popularity wagon, she has had less than year old ones either die or have had to be put down, many with heart issues, I should imagine this low life expectancy is due to many dyeing extremely young or having to be PTS extremely young due to these poor breeding issues.
Incidentally our Frenchie (posted about her on this thread) is now 9.5 years old, still going strong, still mad, have noticed she is slowing down though, had an eye ulcer over first lockdown which was expensive, not a breed thing just she scratched her eye on something.
My daughter, when chatting to a vet recently at her work mentioned her, her age, being deaf and albino, said she had, had no breed related issues at all, he was shocked.
I have noticed mummerings in the press recently about banning flat faced breeds, Pugs, French Bull Dogs, Bull dogs etc, not sure if this would actually be workable or how it would be workable, however I do believe there is a country somewhere who has done this.
Problem is there are people out there with more money that sense who will spend £thousands on one of these dogs, without researching the breed or breeder, it is madness.
My daughter is a qualified RVN, working at a well known referral, she does see quite a few poorly bred Frenchie's and Bulldogs, obviously unscrupulous "breeders" jumping on the popularity wagon, she has had less than year old ones either die or have had to be put down, many with heart issues, I should imagine this low life expectancy is due to many dyeing extremely young or having to be PTS extremely young due to these poor breeding issues.
Incidentally our Frenchie (posted about her on this thread) is now 9.5 years old, still going strong, still mad, have noticed she is slowing down though, had an eye ulcer over first lockdown which was expensive, not a breed thing just she scratched her eye on something.
My daughter, when chatting to a vet recently at her work mentioned her, her age, being deaf and albino, said she had, had no breed related issues at all, he was shocked.
I have noticed mummerings in the press recently about banning flat faced breeds, Pugs, French Bull Dogs, Bull dogs etc, not sure if this would actually be workable or how it would be workable, however I do believe there is a country somewhere who has done this.
Problem is there are people out there with more money that sense who will spend £thousands on one of these dogs, without researching the breed or breeder, it is madness.
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 29th April 10:47
p4cks said:
smn159 said:
Bred specifically for their flat faced looks and consequently likely to have serious health issues
Not for me.
This. They're woefully unreliable.Not for me.
Expect big medical bills / high insurance costs.
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