Why are French Bulldogs so Expensive?

There are a number of reasons why French Bulldogs are so expensive, including;

• An inability to breed naturally

• A series of pricey tests and procedures during the breeding process

• Costly check-ups, shots once born

• The time invested in breeding

• Other associated costs including small litter sizes and possibly health issues

Not to mention, vet bills, high-quality food & supplements (probiotics, goats’ milk & tripe for more vitamins) for the puppies and the mother, and housing just adds to the cost of breeding Frenchies.

Cost can be contributed on how much each of the parents cost, also testing that has gone into each and every adult frenchie.

Let’s look at each of these in more depth.

Inability to Breed Naturally

Natural mating is usually not an option for Frenchies. Both males and females possess anatomy features which make normal reproduction very difficult – even dangerous.

Males

French Bulldog males have a hard time reaching the critical part of the female, which is positioned rather high on the body. They can easily become overheated or injured while trying. Their narrow hips make it difficult to successfully breed as well. There can be stud fees involved which can cost from $1,500 up to $5,000.

Females

The females don’t have much in the way of hips or “handles” for the males to grip when attempting to mate. Those slender hips also make natural birth nearly impossible. The large heads and broad shoulders of the puppies would get stuck, resulting in the loss of the litter and injury or death of the mother.

Tests and Procedures

In order to produce these wildly popular puppies, breeders must intervene with a series of costly procedures.

Progesterone Testing

Progesterone tests are required to determine when exactly the female is ovulating. Blood tests are also needed to ensure that the future mother is healthy and strong enough to carry a litter.

Artificial Insemination

When the time is right, the female is then artificially inseminated. The cost can vary based on the sire’s pedigree, but it is not cheap. Pregnancy tests are next, ultrasound, followed by prenatal care, which includes check-ups, supplements, and possibly a special diet. The costs quickly add up.

Cesarean Section

Because of those slender hips, a c-section is almost always necessary. They are, of course, not free, and the bill can skyrocket if a trip to an emergency vet if an unscheduled c-section occurs.

Breeding can cost as much as $7,000 per litter. And often, the litters are quite small. Most litters average 3-5 puppies each.

Check-ups and Immunizations

The costs continue to rise after the pups are delivered safely. A trip back to the vet occurs a few days after birth to ensure that the mother is recovering normally and that the pups are healthy and free of defects. Around eight weeks of age, it’s back to the vet for puppy shots, micro-chip and a fecal smearing, to clear pups of any parasites.

Time Invested

Often a new mother’s instincts do not kick in right away and the breeder must provide the litter with constant care. Up every 2 hours for the first 2 weeks to make sure babies are latching. If they aren’t jobs like bottle feeding, stimulating the puppies to relieve themselves, and making sure that the mother does not accidentally smother the pups all take time and effort.

Sure, no tests can absolutely guarantee that your French Bulldog will be free of any health issues throughout its lifetime though, but they can surely ease your mind when looking for a new puppy.

Understanding why French Bulldogs are expensive should give you a new appreciation for the breeders and all of the time, effort, and money that goes into producing these puppies. Yes, they can be expensive, but the joy of owning one of these dogs is absolutely priceless!