Hi all

I would like some advise please.  I have had a bichion Frise which sadly had to be put to sleep 3 years ago.  It has taken me and my husband this amount of time to come around to getting another dog.

We really like the look and personality of the French Bulldog, alos thinking aboout getting a girl this time, we had a boy before.
Can someone please answer a couple of conserns we have.
1 } How much can you walk them ??? I have read that they shouldent be walked more than a mile when fully grown.  This concerns me a bit as on a sunday we like to go and walk around the local woods and i think its more than 1 mile we walk.
2 } In the summer (when we get it) do you have to keep them out of the sun to stop them over heating ???
3} my sister has a dog, will the Bulldog be able to play with her dog (parsons Terrier) as I have read they get over excited and have difficulty breathing.
4} Also the same goes to Winter, can you not take them out when it gets really cold ie around this time of year when the temperature is 0 or when it snows.

Thankyou so much in advance if you can answer my questions

Hi
I have French Bulldogs as do close family members , I will try and give you honest answers that reflect our experiences.
1 - It depends on what line your pup has come from really , our dogs will walk all day , never tire and don't have problems with their breathing at all . My sister used to walk her boy but he collapsed ( it wasn't in  the heat either ) on a walk once so she is careful and he only gets ten minute walks now.
My mams will also walk all day and is really fit.
Mine love a walk through the woods , most will be able to cope with this IMO. You have to be careful of them jumping when pups as to not do damage to their backs , so no jumping on and off sofas .
2. Mine get to lie in the sun if they want , they are sun worshippers and have never over heated. They will lie in the shade if they want , I always have water available so if they want to cool down and lie in it they can.
3 . Yes they will be able to play , French bulldogs are like bulldozers when playing , they will cope absolutely fine with a JRT , mine play with DDB'S and a Rott .
4. Ours go out in the winter , mine don't wear coats as I think they are fine , my mam has a coat for hers , so it's personal choice,  they do like the warmth of the radiators though and will snuggle up if they feel cold. I have some great photo's of mine running round in the snow :)

I hope this helps you a bit , but please do your research before buying , find a reputable breeder , that health tests , they are in demand at the moment and you will come across poorly bred puppy farmed dogs . You may have to be  placed on a waiting list so be prepared to wait for the right dog . I waited 5 years for one of mine and it was worth it.

Hi

Thanks for your post, I have registered with the kc so they let me know when any pups are ready for sale.  I have been told to look for a pup with a not to short stubby nose aswell as this can be the problem with the breathing.

Do you know if its any good to look on pets for homes as ive been looking and some say they are registered breeders.

If you think of any more advise i would be most greatful.   And any pics of your dogs would be lovely to look at.

Thanks

Donna

Just because they are KC reg doesn't mean they are good specimens.
Make sure you check the breeders out first, their lines and health tests.
Contact the breed club and have a chat with the secretary about the breed too.
Always worth getting to some shows to visit the dogs and breeders to see what you like and don't like. You don't have to be interested in showing yourself but this is often where you find good breeders. Just do your research whether a Frenchie or another breed. No dog whatever the breed should struggle to walk more than a mile, if so then there is to be a huge problem and avoid!!!!

Yes definitely contact the breed clubs , Midland and Northern Counties are always very helpful. I would stay away from pets for homes , you may be lucky and find a good breeder on there but it will be like finding a needle in a haystack . You will have a lot of sorting to do , some will say registered breeders and will actually mean back yard breeder or puppy farmer !!!! A good breeder will answer all your questions , and ask you twice as many in return.
I can't upload my photo's onto this site , sorry . I can't even add an avatar even though I've tried loads of times , I'm not very technical I'm afraid .

Pinkyw, please look on the official website of the French Bulldog Club of England. They can give you advice on every aspect of french bulldog buying and ownership. They will often have puppy lists of puppies from reputable breeders. All puppies of any worth should only be from health tested parents - bronze certificated at the very least - this not only shows that the parents have passed the requirements for that level of health testing, but that the breeder is seeking to maintain or improve the breed itself.
Breathing - some frenchies do suffer from restricted breathing usually from pinched nostrils (nares) or narrowing of the trachea or elongated palate etc. All these things are quite common in most brachycephalic (flat face) breeds. Surgery can sometimes fix some of the problems.
Heat - no frenchies should be walked in the heat of the day in summer. Owners will often have a winter and summer walking routine. Darker frenchies are the ones that tend to overheat - pieds seem to cope really well. Of course, it depends also on how well they breathe! Dogs cool by panting and frenchies with their flat faces cannot cool themselves efficiently - You have to always be aware of heat and cool them if necessary. They all love to sunbathe in the garden though - water and a shaded area must always be provided.
Walks - frenchies with good breathing can walk as much as you like - depending on heat and humidity, fitness and whereabouts in the country you live!
Cold - some frenchies have thicker coats than others - some brindles have very fine, close and short coats that will benefit from wearing a coat or jumper when its cold, as will those that have breathing problems.

As long as you become familliar with all that owning a Frenchie entails - the good, the bad, the health problems, the fun etc, then all will be well

Good luck in your search. I have three as they are so addictive :)

Oh, and pinkyw - do not be tempted into buying a non standard colour! No blues, black and tans, chocolate etc. Do not be fooled by the seller's hype about so called 'rare' colour....or into parting with far more than the usual price! Stick with the recognised colours of brindle, pied and fawn - price usually varies between the sexes, the colour and whether show quality - expect to pay between £1200 and £1800 at the top end. x

Look for a pup with wide nostrils- you don't want one with pinched.

As long as you take walks you can slowly increase the walks as the pup gets older.
My friend has a frenchie and also a boston.

My bostons I gradually increased their walks in the summer & by the end of summer they were able to walk from our house around
the park and back again- they are seniors.Don't think they will be able to do it this summer being 12 & 13 yrs one blind & deaf the other deaf, and there legs don't move like they use to.
I was careful to only do this at the coolest part of the day- if to hot they only went a block or 2, other then that they got play in the yard.

Just have to watch them and try to keep them cool- I found cooling off their feet really help- kids paddling pools work wonders :-)

Thankyou so much for everybodys advise, I will be doing some more research.

Thanks again

Donna

Don't touch pets4homes with a barge pole. Champdogs breed clubs, and getting to dog shows are the best ways to find out of litters by word of mouth.

I have ddbs, frenchies and a pug all 3breeds get on very well and all love rough play. They also are a lot in a little and can withstand a good drop and roll from the big dogs.

I walk what they can handle and they've never not been able to handle any walk we have been on. 5 miles in mild autumn fine. Nice open nostrils is a good thing to look for not poorer example with a long snout. Mine love fetch and a good off lead stretch in the fields daily is a must. Expect to pay 1250 to 1500. 

None of my breeds can handle heat so we sunbathe and they either worship or shade under the trees plenty of water and I wet them fo cool down if needs be.

Worst thing about them is fussyness with food.

>expect to pay between £1200 and £1800 at the top end

I have just seen some 'blue' puppies for sale for a staggering £4000 each - Females £5000

It's because they're 'rare'...oh and their prices jumped from ~£2000 to 4-5k once somebody 'famous' bought one if it's the same breeder I've seen advertised in the past.

I have just seen some 'blue' puppies for sale for a staggering £4000 each - Females £5000
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Just thinking that perhaps I will go cross a Frenchie with a Mini Poodle and see if I can get a French curly coated Poodog - what you reckon £10,000

> It's because they're 'rare'

:( And they're not even healthy if they can't breathe properly :( Most goods cost less if they are faulty :(

> what you reckon £10,000

As Shocking and unlikely as this may seem - this sort of price is being asked, and paid for, for the 'newer' so called 'rare' colours- black and tan or sable carrying specific colour genes or lilac! The 'rare' colours are very big business! Even stud fees for dogs carrying the most wanted colour genes are in their thousands! Blues are old hat now, the market is flooded and the price has dropped drastically. Greeders are loving the French Bulldog breed at the moment and celebs seem to be boosting the desire for the unrecognised colours. The one test that all the greeders are doing is dna colour testing their dogs. Imports from Eastern Europe are through the roof - whole litters are being sent over even :(  Health and conformation, temperament and correct pedigree are all by the wayside for these people. Welfare is picking up the pieces as more and more dogs are put up for rehoming and coming in with health issues.

Who knows where the breed will be in a decade, if not sooner. Thankfully there are still the conscientious breeders - the true lovers of the breed - who will stick around and pick up the pieces when the greeders move onto the next breed!

Started reading this thread and pleased you came along killickhick given you r knowledge and experience. Sorry to any others I just know about kc no offense meant

Yes I agree Killickchick has given great advice . Must say though I wouldn't say they are an unhealthy breed , it is the BYB and the ones in it for money that are producing the poorer specimens in my eyes. The majority of breeders are breeding to better the breed , which is the only way to go in ANY breed. I mainly see well bred french bulldogs at shows , they're few and far between in my area , I only know of one a few miles away who used to go to ringcraft with us , he has had problem after problem , but then again the owner had never had a dog before and jumped straight in and bought from a BYB , he was actually quite pleased with himself as I recall that he had got such a bargain , he even knocked the price down a bit :(

great byb knocked down the price. Bet he has made that up in vets bills !

Yes I know he has paid out in the thousands now  , so he could have had a pup from a decent breeder who health tests and cares about their puppies.

:(