Exploring the price of french bulldogs
Acquiring a French Bulldog is truly invaluable, but how much should you budget to bring home one of these cherished dogs? In this comprehensive guide, we will address things such as the average price of a French Bulldog, the reasons behind their higher cost compared to other breeds, what sets us apart from other breeders and provide detailed information on average prices as well as our puppies’ pricing with all the included services you can expect from HDFrenchies.
The price of a French Bulldog depends on factors like color, gender, and age. Normal prices range from $4,000 to $12,000 while HDFrenchie prices go up to $18k because of the incredibly rare, world's smallest, Itty-Bitty Frenchies. The more unique the color and more rare the size, the more you can expect to pay for Frenchies. The average price from a reputable breeder is around $5,000. I charged $3000 for standard colored Frenchies for 20 years, but with covid vet prices doubled or even tripled and they never went down again, so now my prices start at $4000.
BE WARY OF INEXPENSIVE FRENCHIES
When researching breeders, be wary of considerably cheaper offers. Scammers may trick buyers with non-existent puppies. There are lots of scammers out there who use these fantastic, cheap prices to trick people into buying a puppy that doesn’t even exist. People tell me all the time they have been scammed before finding me, some even multiple times. Further ethical concerns arise with breeders who prioritize profit over puppy welfare. They may provide inadequate care, resulting in health issues. Or cross-breed without care for their health and only a focus on producing a merle color. The influx of new breeders breeding the merle color filled the Frenchie rescues with the ignorantly bred horrible results. Unethical breeders have no problem lying about a puppy being purebred or who the actual parents are in order to register them with the AKC. Registration doesn't automatically mean they are purebred, obviously since merle is a new color resulting from cross breeding. There are even people that steal Frenchies and sell to unsuspecting buyers. The French Bulldog mother club accepting the merle color proves they don't care about cross-breeding. Choosing a cheap puppy initially will lead to higher vet costs and stress or even loss in the future.
WHY ARE FRENCH BULLDOGS SO EXPENSIVE?
Breeding and raising difficulties plus expense. I’ve already pointed out that breeding French Bulldogs is definitely not easy: it requires special methods, knowledge and practices by experienced breeders. Because of their short legs and narrow hips, Frenchies rarely mate naturally so the females need to be artificially inseminated. The breeder also needs to make sure both parents are healthy, with good structure, conformation and temperaments.
When it comes to breeding French Bulldogs, there are a few additional factors to consider. One, the selective breeding process is crucial in ensuring desirable traits and maintaining the breed's standards. This means breeders need to carefully choose the right match for their dogs, taking into account not only physical attributes but also temperament and genetic health. It's a complex process that requires experience, knowing the breed standard, an eye for perfection, and knowledge of the parents' history for several generations. A breeder should always selectively choose who they breed, with the goal of improving the breed and their breeding program with every mating. No breeder should be breeding "Pet quality" puppies. A breeder's goal should be to produce only the highest-quality of puppies who are healthier, more gorgeous and better than the parents. If they are dedicated to only breeding high-quality and healthy French Bulldog puppies, they will ask for more, usually starting at $4,000.
Moreover, the costs associated with breeding French Bulldogs can quickly add up with Csections alone starting at $1800 and going all the way up to $8000 if after hours. From veterinary expenses, to missed matings, or when catastrophe hits and a litter is lost or even the dam is lost which still includes the prohibitively expensive vet bills with no puppies to show for them. As a result breeders need to be financially prepared for heavy losses. Additionally, for breeders who are just starting out or do not have an established reputation, the competition within the market can be fierce. Building a reputable name and finding potential buyers who are willing to invest in top-quality French Bulldogs can be an ongoing challenge.
WHY DO SOME COLORS COST MORE?
Why does coat color influence price? If you’re familiar with Frenchies, you know that this amazing breed comes in a variety of colors. Colors that are considered common for the breed like black, fawn, cream have the lowest prices ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 USD, while colors or patterns which are more unique and harder to produce come at a higher price like dilute colors or merle pattern. For example, a solid lilac Frenchie puppy would be around $7k while a lilac merle would be $8k. The rarest and most expensive colors like platinum are hardest to breed for and get, so cost a bit more. In 20 years I've only produced 2 platinums. It's insulting to tell a breeder it's no more difficult to breed rarer colors than it is to breed standard colors. We have to invest to get these colors. I spent $32,000 in 2023 to bring in new colors using a small inheritance from my parents passing away. I breed new traits into my bloodlines from time to time and then rehome them to keep my own bloodlines strong, healthy and show quality. Colors require both parents be that color or carry that color. Merle being the exception. Only one parent needs to be merle. It is an expensive investment for any breeder which is why we charge more for rare colors.
WHAT SETS HDFRENCHIES APART FROM OTHER BREEDERS?
HDFrenchies' health guarantee is incomparable. My goal is to raise the healthiest Frenchies possible and to help new owners in this endeavor. With that goal in mind, I invented the items in the BullyBaum Kit, everything you need to care for your new French Bulldog puppy from daily supplements and grooming to items to items to treat common issues like loose stools and prevent IVDD, and even everything to treat any emergency for the lifetime of your Frenchie whether it's poison, aspirated pneumonia or even several things to treat a deadly virus which vets have nothing for. Kits also contain a daily vitamin to prevent IVDD later and a Homeopathic alternative for the DAPP vaccine to build a natural strong immunity without unnecessary repeated vaccinations. They also come with a free membership to the HD Mighty Network and the HDFrenchie Puppy Packet to answer any questions on how to raise your Holistic Dog with minimal vet intervention if any at all. My goal as a Homeopath and Naturopath is to breed incredible puppies and keep them that way by not giving all the vaccinations which lead to immune issues like allergies, cancers and other health issues, but also behavioral problems like aggression, fear, separation anxiety, etc. When you stop damaging their health by over vaccinating, the biggest risk to any dogs life becomes vets with their unnecessary surgeries, harmful prescriptions and all their side effects and their over vaccinating protocols. And worst of all, when they don't know what to do, they recommend "putting down" a Frenchie unnecessarily. To aid in keeping my puppies from exposure to disease in a vets office and their health damaging practices, I'm available 24/7 for all my puppy owners for the lifetime of their Frenchie. A vaccine can last for generations and cause health and behavioral problems for succeeding generations, especially the neurological damaging rabies vaccine. When bringing a new family member into your home, you want the healthiest, most beautiful puppy, with the highest chance of living a long and healthy life. Rest assured in the security of knowing this breeder is dedicated to providing that and supporting you in your goal to raise the healthiest, long lived Frenchie with little or no veterinary or harmful prescription drug intervention.
Why do Pockets and Itty-Bitty Pockets cost so much?
Pockets and Itty-Bittys are of course my own invention as the only breeder in the world breeding these incredibly small sizes to my knowledge. I always breed to the AKC breed standard, other than rare colors which can't be shown, but my small sizes CAN be shown and they do quite well in the show ring as I have a wall and drawer full of ribbons to prove. Please don't let ignorant people who don't know the breed standard tell you any differently. Size also has absolutely no baring on health unless they are a runt from Frenchies which aren't small or carefully selected to breed down size, slowly and healthily as I have done for over 20 years. I originally started breeding down size because lifting a 28 pnd Frenchie to show or for any other reason was too painful for me to do with a bad back. As you can see on my home page, I have no problem lifting or showing my smaller sized Frenchies. Frenchies originally had two weight classes; heavyweight and lightweight until they decided to combine the two classes with no MINIMUM size and 28 pound maximum. Interestingly, I've found the most vocal people against my small sizes are proud owners of Frenchies far above the size limit of the breed standard. I do NOT cross breed and have not taken any shortcuts of breeding to undesirable breeds to get the sizes I do. Mine are all show quality from show lines even if they aren't a color that can be shown. As you can see from a few of my pedigrees below, my bloodlines are founded on some of the best bloodlines in the world. In red are champions, many are multiple champions.
These smaller sizes cost more because they are such a challenge to raise and VERY time consuming. Unlike larger sizes where the Mom does most of the work, these small sizes are completely hand raised. They are taken out of a special incubator I designed for them and placed on Mom under sharp scrutiny to nurse and then pottied and placed back in the incubator. This is done every two hours and since I am single, I pay someone I have to train and trust to come in and watch over them when I need to catch a few hours of sleep nearby in case I'm needed. It is a 24 hour job and even still I sometimes lose one due to an internal injury. They are so tiny at birth, it requires really knowing what you're doing to raise them. The slightest mistake and it risks their life. They have to be raises separate from bigger puppies who would be too rough with them and I have to keep them until big enough to rehome which is 3-4 months old. THIS is why I charge so much more for my tiny Frenchies. As you can imagine with all the extra care and handling, I get especially attached to each and every one.
People often make the mistake of thinking Frenchie size has an influence on life span. It doesn't. It's breeding healthy dogs and feeding healthy food, but most importantly not giving all those poisonous vaccines, flea/tick/heartworm, antibiotics, and other prescriptions constantly throughout life that makes a longer lived and healthier Frenchie. Did you know that there are only a little over 1% cases of heartworm a year? Did you know that wild Coyotes and wolves don't get it or if they do, their bodies manage it and they don't die from it. They also don't get poisonous, Immune damaging heartworm meds, vaccines, antibiotics. Average lifespan for Frenchies is 10-12 years. Average for mine is 12 years and they die from old age, not illness. I hope to change that in the near future when I start feeding them all HDBullyGreen dog food. I know it will lengthen their lifespan, I just don't know how much yet. I'm very excited to find out!
*You know I'm moving to Tennessee, with a high rate of heartworm AND I have three ponds on my new property, so I've already ordered the herbs to make a worming, heartworm, protozoa formula. I already have homeopathic for heartworm and worming.
AS I'M SURE YOU'VE COME TO REALIZE FRENCHIES ARE MY WORLD AND HELPING OTHERS THROUGH MY BULLYBAUM PRODUCTS TO RAISE HEALTHY FUR BABIES IS MY PASSION.
Return policy Store Products: Return within 30 days from day order was placed for a full refund. Items must be unused and unopened. Buyer pays return shipping and 15% restocking fee. Call Stephanie at 775-267-7197 for any assistance.
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