The Pros and Cons of Owning a French Bulldog

I get mixed reactions when I’m out with my French Bulldog pup, Pepper.

Some people don’t understand what she is, some think she’s ‘pretty weird-looking’, and others can’t keep their hands off her squishy little face! Most people from the latter party usually say something along the lines of, “I’m seriously thinking about getting a Frenchie!” or “I’m either going to get a Frenchie, a Boston Terrier or a Pug…there’s something about those squished faces!”

I love that people are enthusiastic about the breed, and obviously I personally love French Bulldogs to bits! But we did a whole lotta research before we decided to get a French Bulldog as our first ever doggy companion, and I wish I could spend the time outlining the pros and cons of the breed to each person I meet!

I think it’s incredibly important to understand all aspects of the breed you’re seriously thinking of getting, so that you can make an informed decision and be prepared:

Pros of French Bulldogs:

• Frenchies have the hugely popular & cute ‘squishy look’
  Loved by many, but some people aren’t a fan of this…each to their own!
• They are extremely loving
  They’re known for being ultra soppy – if you want a cuddly dog, a French Bulldog is perfect!
• You will never stop laughing
  They are clown dogs and have the most hilarious facial expressions!
• They ‘re ‘not too small’ & ‘not too big’
  Obviously this is preference, but because of their small/medium size they make a great, manageable first dog!
• They are very quiet dogs
  For the most part, Frenchies will only bark when there are visitors at the house, and not at other dogs etc. However, we have been super lucky with Pepper – she doesn’t bark at all! Perfect for terraced houses or flats.
• There is a great community of Frenchie owners out there!
  When we were first doing research into the breed, we joined several Facebook groups where French Bulldog owners hang out and share photos, advice & stories. We learnt so much, and these communities have been such great help throughout Pepper’s puppyhood! 
• Did I mention their cute squishy faces?
  It never gets old.

Cons of French Bulldogs

• They’re expensive!
  I’m not even just talking about the initial cost of buying a French Bulldog (if you are planning to buy rather than adopt, although I’d always promote adopting vs. buying!) – the ongoing costs of having a Frenchie is rather high due to more expensive insurance premiums.
• Frenchies tend to fart… a lot
  Yikes – there’s something about their squished faces which means they tend to inhale a lot of air when they eat or drink, which leads to (you guessed it!) a rather fun amount of gas!
• They require daily ‘cleaning’
  Whilst they are shorthaired dogs so don’t need a whole lot of attention with regards to grooming, their smooshed faces require daily cleaning within the creases to stop bacteria from causing issues in those folds. Also their big bat ears are kind of like buckets, so things can get stuck in there and it’s important to keep them clean too.
• French Bulldogs can have health issues
  Sadly (as with any pedigree breed) Frenchies can be more affected by certain health problems. Breathing issues is a common one for them, due to their flat noses, but also things like dermatitis and skin conditions can cause problems too. Always be sure to check with the breeder about any potential inherited problems and ensure they’re responsible… which brings me onto my next point:
• Irresponsible breeding is very common :(
  Unfortunately because French Bulldogs are so popular, this leads to inexperienced breeders wanting to make a ‘quick buck’ out of breeding their dog and selling puppies, without really knowing what they’re doing. This can be really dangerous and lead to very unhealthy puppies, so please be careful if you’re planning to buy a Frenchie.

As I say, I think it’s so important to be aware of the negatives as well as the positives when you’re getting a dog. It’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement of adding a new furry family member to your squad!

Are you thinking about getting a French Bulldog, or do you have one already? Share your funny Frenchie stories below!