French Bulldogs - Do they make good pets?
Welcome to the first of my “breed spotlight” blog posts, where I share some information about a popular breed, and discuss their pros and cons. I will provide some scientific data and my personal experiences in working with the dog breed, so you can have a better understanding of whether they are the right dog breed to add to your family.
Pros of the French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are a popular breed in the Bay Area for a variety of reasons—beyond just being super cute dogs! One reason why people in the Bay Area think French Bulldogs make good pets is because their size allows them to more comfortably fit in apartment living and satisfy dog size limitations of rental properties.
French Bulldogs have a short coat, so they have minimal grooming requirements, which is a pro for a busy dog owner. French Bulldogs have a lot of personality, tenacity, and often, energy. For an active dog-owner who likes to go hiking in the Bay Area or take their dog for multiple walks a day, this is a plus. As a general idea, one might think small dogs would be less expensive than a large dog over the course of their life—they require less food, and for some vet care procedures, like those requiring sedation, they may be less expensive because they require less sedation and or medication.
While French Bulldogs notoriously struggle with reactivity issues, which can be especially difficult in more urban Bay Area living, where dog ownership is high, they are often eager to train and do well in dog training programs that offer a balanced dog training style—Dog training programs that offer both rewards and punishments are essential for French Bulldogs, as they can have a lot of predatory instincts and intensity, be strong-willed, and thrive with clear communication around what kind of behavior is acceptable and unacceptable.
“Zeus” the French Bulldog, who came to be for training camp to work on leash walking reactivity.
Cons of the French Bulldog
Bay Area dog owners, or those considering adopting a dog, should be aware that French Bulldogs, like other brachycephalic dogs (dogs who have short noses, wide heads, and large eyes), are prone to a lot of health problems. The Humane Society says that flat-faced dogs, like French Bulldogs, frequently have breathing problems, skin-fold infections, eye problems, allergies, heat intolerance, and are also prone to back, hip and elbow problems.
The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Alliance says that “their inability to breathe normally is considered the greatest impediment to their welfare,” and actually reduces their average lifespan compared to other dog breeds—their average lifespan being about 8.6 years, compared with 12.7 for all other breeds.
Because the French Bulldog struggles with breathing problems, it’s especially important to keep them at a healthy weight, because obesity exacerbates breathing difficulty. In fact, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Alliance says that obese dogs are twice as likely to show signs of “Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.” So, even though you may be spending less money on food with a French Bulldog, you may be spending more money on medical care throughout their life.
I myself have an approximately 2 year old English Bulldog, “Penny,” and while she has pretty mild allergy issues and breathing problems, she is on a strict, special diet, receives multiple eye drops daily, takes a daily allergy pill, and I wipe down her feet and face daily with hypoallergenic wipes. I’ve been taking her to an ophthalmologist at PETS Referral Center in Berkeley to address eye blinking and watery eyes, and our Dr. there has advised us to develop a relationship with a dermatologist, because her skin conditions will likely worsen as she gets older. I’m doing everything I can to keep Penny in healthy condition, to minimize the health problems I know will plague her throughout her life.
“Penny” the English Bulldog, enjoying a romp at the park. While I absolutely love my English Bulldog, I acquired her under special circumstances, and would not have normally purchased a brachycephalic dog breed, because of their numerous health issues.
