1º, frenchie owner here. I’ve had my now almost 5 year old frenchie, Bodhi, since he was 10 weeks old. I also have an American Bulldog & an Olde English Bulldog. Fortunately, Bodhi has not had any health issues at all. However, even healthy frenchies aren’t for everyone. They can be quirky, temperamental, neurotic, and INCREDIBLY high maintenance. Don’t get me wrong, I love that dog with my entire existence and I’d do anything for him…but I don’t see myself owning another one in the future. Bodhi is adorable, cuddly, sweet, very well behaved, and funny, but he is also super particular about literally everything. He hates being picked up or being held, car rides, chew toys, and going for walks. If you touch his feet, he acts like you just tried to chop his leg off. If I sneeze, he acts like I did it intentionally to try and scare him. He hides when we fold laundry, or change the garbage bag but goes crazy trying to get at the vacuum, duster, or broom. He won’t get on or off our low sitting couch without using stairs. He loves adults but won’t come anywhere near a child. If we have a guest come in our home, he loves them but outside our home, he won’t let that same person come anywhere near him. I once got him a new food & water bowl and he wouldn’t even come in the kitchen until I picked them back up. He also won’t eat his food if I walk on the left side of the table instead of the right, when going to fill the bowl. We make constant adjustments to our behavior & routine in order to keep a harmonious balance in our house. My other 2 dogs are the complete opposite of him. They are completely chill and not bothered by anything, but they all still interact & get along perfectly. Bodhi is a very, very strange dog, but I still love that little weirdo.
2º*adopt or... do your homework,, and research, and pay the $$$ it costs to buy from a reputable and ethical breeder of a breed that matches your lifestyle.
Understand that you will not be selecting your puppy, and you will likely be on a waiting list for a bit depending on breed up to a couple years.
Make sure the breeder is doing all the appropriate health testing on the parents and raising the puppies appropriately.
There are VERY ethical breeders out there, and we should be supporting them if we choose to buy a dog. Or adopt. But don't buy from bybs
3ºI have 2 franchise their Zoomies are nothing like I have seen in any breed,,,,,, they may not bring back live rabbits (thank the lord) all lives matter,,,,, but they will bring you any piece of plastic or stones back into the house remodelled of course(its like running over a rocky beach with no shoes on), they can demolish a football in .3 seconds...... they will chase the hoover like its a live rabbit and the gas they produce in an hour is probably as much as a field full of cows and equally the same amount of poo as a cow....... best part is they behave like toddlers all the time which gives you endless entertainment..... as for loyalty and loving they can not be beaten.... Amazing little creatures
4ºMarina Matocha I don’t believe i am missing the point. This article is about purebred dogs and the annual registration rankings with AKC. Her comment is about adopting shelter dogs o er purchasing a dog. I even stated shelter dogs are great if you read my posts. It’s about choice. You want to adopt-cool! If you want to purchase a dog-cool! That’s how it should be.
But, having the freedom of choice is not something supported by some adoption advocates. People who do choose to purchase a purebred or breed them are vilified by them. And a lot of their “facts” are not true in all circumstances, if at all. People can purchase good tempered healthy purebreds if they do the research and find reputable, responsible breeders. Yes-there are folks who have no business breeding dogs period. And they sicken me as much as anyone else. But, to throw purebred dogs, responsible owners, and breeders under the bus is BS and doesn’t even come close to the truth of the matter of dogs in this country.
5ºKelly Doscher Absolutely. It's not just overbreeding. (Begin rant.) It's breeding that pushes toward increased brachycephalic structure (squished faces). This causes tremendous problems with skin infections (all those folds), dental disease (teeth don't fit the jaw properly or are misaligned), protruding eyes (causing prolapse and easily infected; plus blindness is a concern), breathing/sinus/lung problems, and breeding/birth risks. There are more issues, I'm sure, but those are the ones I know. So many dogs of these breeds live miserable lives with extensive (and expensive) vet care needed. I'm not alone in believing that it's not humane to continue breeding dogs who are essentially born to suffer in order to fit an unrealistic and unhealthy "cute" human standard. It's become such a severe and worldwide problem that some countries have started banning the breeding of all brachycephaic dogs. (I think Norway or Sweden were first, but I'm not positive.) So I must disagree with Todd Harrison. "To each their own" shouldn't apply here because it is the innocent dogs who suffer. (Rant finished.)
6ºMel Blain HaileSelassie Good for you!
At first I scoffed at the idea, but, at out home, I figured average of $90 x 3 dogs, every 6 weeks is over $2400 a year. So $700 investment and many additional side benefits was pretty much a no brainer. So, we got good clippers, scissors etc which make the job much easier. Oh, and a small dedicated vacuum, haha!
One thing that is sort of a side benefit, is that, sort of liek periodically washing and waxing your car, you have another avenue in which to keep track of your dog's health. Bloating belly, sore legs bumps, sensitive areas, whatever, so you can promptly address it. And its another way of bonding with your dog.
7ºKim Barron Sure, home grooming is not for everyone. One dog is not a big deal.
One thing I learned from the beginning, it that dogs don't complain if you hack their haircut all up! Haha We also have a Dremel and file their nails.
So its turned into regular hygiene maintenance like we brush our own teeth and hair.
Every morning after their walks in wet grass etc we do a daily foot rinse and eye rinse and wipe n dry. Keeps them smelling nice and no mud on the couch and beds!
but I get it, its not for everyone, you need space for it too. We just happen to have an area that works well.
8ºEmily Morris ya. But the French bulldog of 100 years ago could conceive without AI and give birth naturally, and this sad thing has less to do with backyard breeders than it does with all breeders breeding to meet the extremes of a "breed standard" set by the Kennel Clubs. The border collie breeders resisted for years being accepted by the Kennel Club because they bred true working dogs and didn't want to lose the herding ability and soundness by breeding for the show ring. I was a believer in all things CKC once upon a time but have a lot less conviction now when I see what show ring standards and popularity has done to some beautiful dog breeds. And not just dogs, but horses too.
9ºHeather C. Tackitt
Andrea Mason
Would luv to rescue/adopt, but rescues have gotten out of control snobbish. I was turned down a number of times because I live in apartment, no yard.
I had, at one time, an amazing healthy, happy 125lb choc lab, who got a lot of exercise, as did I. Spk with many who said turned down for same.
So, though I would prefer and adult dog to gv a happy home to, but can't, I will go to shop and get a young bff, let one pick me, sign a couple of papers, pay and tk my new bff home. Pups in shops, not their fault, need saving also.
And much less time, no calls to friends, no invasion of privacy, no 2-5+ days wait, no filling out pages and pages of applications. Seems much better to me.
No guilt
10ºNancy Heffernan Shea
Andrea Mason
Would luv to rescue/adopt, but rescues have gotten out of control snobbish. I was turned down a number of times because I live in apartment, no yard.
I had, at one time, an amazing healthy, happy 125lb choc lab, who got a lot of exercise, as did I. Spk with many who said turned down for same.
So, though I would prefer and adult dog to gv a happy home to, but can't, I will go to shop and get a young bff, let one pick me, sign a couple of papers, pay and tk my new bff home. Pups in shops, not their fault, need saving also.
And much less time, no calls to friends, no invasion of privacy, no 2-5+ days wait, no filling out pages and pages of applications. Seems much better to me.
No guilt