Are you interested in adding a cute French Bulldog to your family? Frenchies are agreeable and sweet dogs that many people want. However, they can be pricey. But how much does a French Bulldog cost?
Keep reading for a full breakdown and explanation of the expected French Bulldog price.
How Much Does a French Bulldog Cost?
Generally, French Bulldogs cost between $1,500 and $3,000, but many factors affect the price. This price range is the standard for French Bulldogs in the US. However, certain breeders may charge five figures for a purebred French Bulldog, as much as $50,000.
Why is the French Bulldog price so high? As mentioned, many factors go into this high price, but one of the biggest is that French Bulldogs are very difficult to breed and require a lot of assistance.
French Bulldogs are popular because of their adorable and somewhat awkward appearance. However, this funky body shape makes it incredibly hard for French Bulldogs to breed independently. French bulldogs have narrow hips and weak back legs and are very top-heavy dogs.
These physical attributes make it hard for French Bulldogs to breed, as balancing and mounting are nearly impossible. For this reason, the only way to breed French bulldogs is with artificial insemination, requiring more equipment, effort, and expertise for the breeder.
In addition to their inability to breed naturally, their heavy head and narrow hips make giving birth exponentially harder. Most French Bulldog mothers require C-sections. These breeding requirements allow breeders to charge more, as the breeding process is more intensive than other dog breeds.
Sections below will dive deeper into the factors that can increase the cost of a French Bulldog, but here is a brief overview of what can increase the price:
- The investment a breeder puts into the breeding process
- The breeding environment
- Their health
- The coat color
- The coat pattern
- The eye color
- The age
- The size
- Proximity to breed standards
How Much Is a French Bulldog Puppy?
How much is a French Bulldog puppy? Most French Bulldogs are sold or adopted as puppies, so the cost and considerations above apply to puppies and adults. Younger dogs will likely cost more because people prefer to bring puppies into their homes for several reasons.
Puppies are cuter and easier to train, and owners get more time with them because they are younger. Most breeders will not sell puppies until they are at least eight weeks old because they need to spend their first two months of life with their mother.
So the youngest you can usually get a French Bulldog is eight to ten weeks. An eight-week-old French Bulldog will cost more than a six-month-old French Bulldog simply because there is a higher demand for very young puppies.
Factors That Impact the Cost of a French Bulldog
Many factors will contribute to a French Bulldog's price, the most prominent being the coat color. Learn about the top factors that increase the price of a Frenchie below.
Colors and Patterns
The color is possibly the most important factor in the cost of a French Bulldog. There are several coat color options, and some are rarer and more sought after than others.
Sable: Sable is a light brown, beige-ish color. Sable is one of the most common colors in French Bulldogs, so sable dogs are not typically more expensive or sought after. The color is the same as a fawn, except their snout and sometimes the tip of their tail are black.
Blue French Bulldog: Blue dogs are popular among celebrities and the extremely wealthy, boosting. The color is a cool-toned dark gray, almost a soft blue. The gray is comparable to slate gray. They need two dilution genes to create this color, which can lead to some coat-related health problems like alopecia. Despite the potential health problems, people pay high prices for blue Frenchies.
Chocolate: Surprisingly, chocolate Frenchies are very rare. The chocolate color requires two recessive chocolate genes but is not associated with health problems. Chocolate Frenchies can be dark, deep brown, or soft brown. Aside from the delicious coat color, chocolate Frenchies are popular because they often have unique eye colors, like green, gold, bright yellow, and even orange.
Lilac French Bulldog: Like blue Frenchies, lilac Frenchies are rare and in high demand among famous and wealthy people. The color typically requires two chocolate genes and two blue genes, which are both rare. Other unusual gene combinations can result in the lilac color. They can suffer from the same health problems as blue dogs, but they cost twice as much. Isabella Frenchies are lilac dogs with a proven genetic code for the color.
Cream: Cream Frenchies have an eggshell or cream-colored coat. Their coat has a subtle tan tint, and they often have dark-colored snouts. Their features are typically black, unlike white bulldogs with lighter, pinker features.
White: White Frenchies are a bit more common than cream Frenchies, and they have a much brighter, lighter white coat. As mentioned above, they often have light features, like pink eye rims, bright pink ears, and sometimes a pink nose.
Pure Black: Pure black Frenchies are surprisingly rare. Black genes are not rare, but the lack of genes for any markings can be hard to cultivate. Most Frenchies with black genes are merle or have tan markings, so pure black coats are harder to find. The black coat is not associated with any health problems, but 100% black Frenchies are almost as rare as blue and lilac dogs.
Black and Tan: Black and tan Frenchies are rarer than you may expect, but not nearly as hard to find as blue, cream, white, pure black, or lilac dogs. Many breeders specialize in black and tan dogs, so they can be pretty expensive. They are typically mostly black with tan marketing on their chest, face, and paws, but can also be mostly tan with black markings.
Black and White: Black and white Frenchies are just as common as black and tan, but will almost always be primarily black with white chests or necks. There are also Piebald Frenchies, which are technically a different coat color and are primarily white (not cream) with large black spots on their backsides and rear.
Merle: Merle French Bulldogs are different because this coat pattern is unnatural in their genetic code. People suspect it was introduced by breeding a Chihuahua into the French Bulldog’s pedigree. Merle dogs have spots and patches, usually black and gray. Dogs with this coat often have health issues like eye and ear problems. Merle dogs are rare but not as sought after as other colors.
Blue Fawn: Blue fawn Frenchies have the fawn and dilution genes, creating a soft, blueish-brown coat. Sometimes, their snouts have a lilac or blue color, and their eyes are usually a lighter color, like blue or violet. They’re rare and expensive, comparable to blue and lilac dogs, thanks to their exotic and charming appearance.
Bloodline and Purity
Bloodline and purity are typically the top factors that affect the price after color. Many people who buy Frenchies from breeders expect to get a purebred Frenchie. Purebred Frenchies will cost more than mixed breeds, but the bloodline is important too.
People want dogs with strong bloodlines and little to no genetic disorders or diseases. Breeders charge more when they can prove not only the health of the dog for sale, but the health of their siblings, parents, and grandparents. Genetic tests and health records that show that their lineage is healthy will substantially increase the price.
Breeder Reputation
The breeder's reputation will increase the price too. As breeders become more reputable and highly rated, they will likely increase their prices because they can. Also, the best breeders often only produce a handful of litters a year, so they need to charge more for each puppy to make their investment back.
Some breeders may produce only one or two litters, but the best usually produce no more than three in one year. Reputable breeders offer DNA tests, genetic information, lineage history, and other things that guarantee a healthy and genetically pure Frenchie, so they charge more.
Estimated Size
The Frenchie puppy’s estimated size will play a role in the price, but not nearly as much as the factors above. Frenchies typically weigh between 16 and 28 pounds and stand about 12 inches tall. Most people seek smaller Frenchies because they are likely to live longer, so a Frenchie expected to be 15 pounds will be more expensive than one expected to be 30 pounds.
French Bulldogs Can Be Expensive; Protect Your Pup With Fi’s GPS Tracking Dog Collar
When you invest so much in a French Bulldog, financially and emotionally, it’s unbelievably heartbreaking to lose them because of a hole in a fence or a fraying leash.
Something as simple as a high-quality GPS tracking collar ensures you can always find your sweet Frenchie, no matter how far they run. Protect your pup with the Fi GPS tracking color, so no matter what happens you can always find them and bring them home.
French Bulldog Breed Guide
If you’re still considering what breed is right for you, this quick guide to the French Bulldog breed will help you decide.
Personality
One of the reasons people love Frenchies is their charming personalities. They are typically very good with other dogs, bark sparingly, are easy to train, and have moderate energy levels that are manageable. They’re extremely affectionate toward their family, especially young children. Frenchies are playful but still protective, and are usually friendly enough with strangers, making them easy and fun dogs to love and care for.
Size and Weight
As mentioned, French Bulldogs weigh between 16 and 28 pounds and are around 12 inches tall at the shoulder. So they’re small but stocky dogs.
Average Lifespan
The average lifespan of a healthy French Bulldog is between 11 and 15 years, which is standard for smaller breeds. While some coat colors are associated with health problems, none of these problems are fatal (eye, ear, skin, fur problems).
Lifestyle and Activity Level
Frenchies are very playful and they love toys, so they’re fun to be around. Unlike light, athletically-built dogs, Frenchies have low endurance and moderate energy. While their funny bodies are adorable, they’re not agile or athletic, so they tire quickly, which is excellent for owners who don’t want hyperactive dogs that can be hard to tucker out.
Approximate Lifetime Care Costs
The cost of owning a dog can range widely depending on how you take care of them, like the quality of food you give them, how often you take them to the vet, and if you invest in training. Most French Bulldog owners spend between $15,000 and $20,000, including the initial purchase cost.
How Can I Lower the Cost of a French Bulldog?
How much is a French Bulldog puppy? Expensive. How much is a French Bulldog as a lifetime pet? Also expensive. So, how can you lower these costs?
The top way to keep the cost of your Frenchie down is to be open to all coat colors and sizes, as choosing a common coat color can save you thousands. Buying a slightly older Frenchie can also save you money. Also, many Frenchies can be adopted from shelters and rescues, which often cost as little as $150.
As far as lifetime costs, you can save money by training at home, buying affordable food, using pet insurance, grooming at home, and having friends or family pet sit instead of boarding can all make owning a Frenchie cheaper.
Conclusion: The Cost of Owning a French Bulldog
The cost of buying and owning a cute French Bulldog is high, but worth it. These sweet, cheerful dogs make for wonderful companions and family members, although they’re a hefty investment.
Remember, you don’t have to pay $50,000 for a wonderful Frenchie, so consider how much you’re willing to spend and consider the price factors discussed in this article.
When you do get your beloved pup, make sure you protect them with a Fi GPS Tracking Dog Collar, so if they ever get lost, you can find them easily.
For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi.com.
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