French Bulldog Price: Why Do These Pups Cost So Much Money?

Last Updated on April 19, 2023

French Bulldog Price Guide

The absolutely adorable and super sweet French Bulldog is one of the most popular dog breeds around. But what exactly does it cost to get one of these puppies, and what are you looking at spending when it comes to raising a French Bulldog? Keep reading for a clearer idea of what French Bulldogs cost and where you can get one.

How Much Do French Bulldogs Cost?

While an expensive breed, the exact cost of a French Bulldog puppy will vary depending on the parent dogs, the breeder’s reputation, location, color, and various other factors.

These pups are among the most expensive dogs you can buy, with puppies sitting in a price range of between $1,500 and $3,500

When getting any dog, you also need to consider that the puppy price is just the initial expense. There are lots of additional costs that come with pet ownership, such as training, food, toys, and vet bills. 

Should you buy a Frenchie puppy or an older dog?

Most people want puppies, so supply and demand will make buying a puppy more expensive than getting an older dog.

The advantage to buying a puppy is that you can train and socialize your pet early on to ensure that no bad habits form.

On the other hand, older dogs may already have some obedience training, be crate trained, and be housebroken.

However, finding a purebred French Bulldog can be challenging, and those available at shelters may already exhibit several health problems.

Are small Frenchies more expensive than large ones?

Frenchies are already small dogs, but you might find some breeders advertising Miniature French Bulldogs. These animals are not a different breed, just smaller versions of Frenchies.

These dogs generally only grow to about 11 inches (28 cm) tall and don’t weigh more than around 28 pounds (13 kg)

These teacup French Bulldogs are generally more expensive than standard French Bulldogs due to the extreme difficulty in breeding them.

Meet Cafe, a cute mini Frenchie in this video:

How Much Do French Bulldogs Cost From a Breeder?

The average price of a French Bulldog from a breeder is around $1,500 to $3,500 Dogs that come from exceptional parents with a proven breeding history will cost more.

The very best championship French Bulldogs have a price tag of between $5,500 and $10,000

 

A French Bulldog lying on its stomach, smiling, on a white background
A cute French Bulldog

How to find a reputable French Bulldog breeder?

One straightforward way to see if a breeder is reputable or not is to have a look at the litter size they are advertising. Ethical breeders will likely only produce two or three healthy Frenchie puppies per litter rather than six or seven. 

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of these dogs, irresponsible breeders and puppy mills are increasingly common. These places care more about profit than the health of their dogs.

Always be sure to check the reviews of a French Bulldog breeder before buying a puppy from them. 

Reputable breeders will also be able to provide you with registration papers for the parent dogs and will have performed several health tests that will clear your French Bulldog from some common health concerns.

What Does It Cost to Rescue a French Bulldog?

A white French Bulldog looking up
Source: @miss.ivy.the.frenchie / IG

You can rescue a French Bulldog for significantly less than it costs to buy one from a breeder. Adopting a dog will set you back between $250 and $500, which usually also includes all the vaccinations and registrations.

You can also rest easy knowing you have given a dog in need a second chance at life.

Most of the time, when rescuing a French Bulldog, you will be looking at an older dog rather than a puppy. You might also find it easier to come across a French Bulldog mix looking for a home rather than a purebred Frenchie. 

Be sure to check out breed-specific French Bulldog rescue organizations to find a dog looking for a home. The largest is the French Bulldog Rescue Network.

French Bulldog Price Factors to Consider

A smiling French Bulldog standing on the grass, under the sun
Source: @theadventuresofnara / IG

These unique dogs are expensive, with several factors influencing the cost of a French Bulldog puppy. These include the following:

1. Age 

French Bulldog puppies are going to cost more than adult dogs. The reason puppies from this breed are so expensive is because French Bulldogs can’t mate naturally due to their short legs and oddly shaped hips. Thus to create French Bulldog puppies, the female parent has to undergo artificial insemination.

French Bulldog puppies also need to be delivered by c-section, which is an expensive process. This is because the birth canal of these dogs isn’t wide enough to safely deliver the big head and broad shoulders of the puppies naturally. 

2. Size

Size is of a premium when it comes to buying French Bulldogs. Typically the smaller the dog, the more expensive he will be.

The most expensive French Bulldog, Micro Machine, costs $100,000. This famous Frenchie is a celebrity in his own right and is owned by Brad Degraff or Brad’s Bullies Kennels.

3. Purebred or mixed French Bulldog

In order for Frenchie puppies to be classified as purebred, both the bitch (female parent) and the stud (male parent) need to have registration papers.

Frenchies are also frequently bred with other breeds, like Chihuahuas to create smaller dogs or ones with different colored coats which can actually be more expensive.

4. Bloodline

A pup from a champion bloodline is going to fetch a high price. Famous pedigree bloodlines typically produce puppies in excess of $7,000.

If you don’t plan to breed or show your pet then you don’t need to buy a pup from one of these award-winning bloodlines.

5. Dog Registration

The American Kennel Club has a list of AKC registered breeders. While buying a dog from one of these approved breeders can be more expensive, they have been approved to meet certain ethical standards so you can rest easy knowing you are buying from a reputable breeder. 

6. Gender

Female French Bulldogs tend to be more expensive than male Frenchie dogs because of their breeding potential. Female dogs can also have calmer personalities and not be as stubborn as their male counterparts. 

7. Color Differences

French Bulldogs come in a range of coat colors. Rarer colors like lilac, merle, chocolate, and blue Frenchies are more expensive than your black or white French Bulldogs.

However, these rare colors are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), so you will not be able to show these dogs in competitions.

Fawn and brindle French Bulldogs are the most common, account for 60% of all dogs from this breed, and are the cheapest.

Read our article here to learn more about the different French Bulldog colors.

8. Breeder’s Location

Your location, the demand in your area, and the number of breeders and available puppies will influence the supply and demand and thus the price of Frenchie puppies.

Before buying a puppy, try and visit the breeder’s facility so you can meet the parent dogs and see the condition of the puppies.

What Does a Frenchie Cost After You Get Him Home?

A French Bulldog eating a treat while lying on the bed
Source: @cecethefrenchie.x / IG

Frenchies cannot effectively regulate their body temperatures and so owners need to be careful when keeping these dogs in extremely hot or cold conditions.

French Bulldogs need to stay out of the heat which means you may need to invest in air-conditioning if you live somewhere warm. For cold conditions, you will need a heater and a sweater for your dog. 

How much are vet expenses for a French Bulldog?

Health care with French Bulldogs can be quite expensive. These dogs are prone to developing a number of health issues throughout their ten to twelve-year lifespan.

Most of these relate to the fact that the squashed face of the French Bulldog makes this a brachycephalic breed with a short and flat skull. 

Brachycephalic dogs like Pugs, Boston Terriers, English Bulldogs, Pekinese, Shih Tzus, and French Bulldogs tend to suffer from breathing issues.

French Bulldogs also commonly suffer from skin conditions and allergies. In order to minimize these, you need to ensure you keep their wrinkles and skin folds clean and dry. 

Due to their bulging eyes, French Bulldogs also occasionally suffer from eye conditions such as cataracts, entropion, and cherry eye. To treat entropion, an abnormality in which the eyelid rolls inward, you are looking at a cost of between $300 and $1,500. 

Deafness is also common among French Bulldogs; however, vets can perform a BAER test to detect deafness in French Bulldogs when they are still puppies.

Other spinal ailments like hip dysplasia cost between $1,500 and $6,000 to treat while treating intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) will set you back between $2,500 and $7,000. 

When buying a French Bulldog puppy, be sure to get one that comes with health clearance certificates that clear the parent dogs from common potential health problems. 

Food: The cost of feeding a French Bulldog

Food is one of those necessary recurring monthly expenses that come along with pet ownership.

Thankfully, French Bulldogs are small, so feeding this pooch won’t break the bank. These dogs consume between one and a half and two and a half cups of dry dog food each day. 

A bag of high-quality dog food will set you back around $55 for a 30-pound bag. This 30-pound bag should give you about 120 cups of dog food, which amounts to about 60 days of food.

So, in essence, you can budget on food costing around $22.50 a month for your Frenchie. If you want to throw in some tasty treats for your pet, you will probably spend an extra $5 to $10 a month.

Don’t miss out: Best Dog Food for French Bulldog

French Bulldog Dog Supplies

A French Bulldog standing indoors, holding a popsicle-shaped stuffed toy between its teeth

Your French Bulldog will need a dog bed, collar, leash, harness, brush, water and food bowls, and some toys. French Bulldogs do like to play, so investing in some good quality chew toys will go a long way. 

While there are numerous cute options to choose from at the pet store or online at Amazon, you might also be able to find some of these items second-hand or at a pet charity store.

You may also want to consider buying a dog crate to housetrain your puppy and provide somewhere safe to keep your pet during travel.

Consider Investing in Pet Insurance

If you are worried about the myriad of health conditions that plague the Frenchies, then pet insurance is a good investment. There are numerous different types of pet insurance policies to pick from, including the following:

Accident-Only Policies: This is the cheapest available policy that will only cover emergency illnesses and accidents.

Time-Limited Policies: These cheaper policies generally have limits regarding how much or how long the policy will pay out for depending on the ailment.

Maximum Benefit Policies: These policies have maximum payouts for vet visits, hospitalization, etc. Once you have reached the maximum payout, these policies will not pay any more claims. 

Lifetime Policies: These comprehensive policies are the most expensive option but offer complete peace of mind. While you will typically have a set amount you can claim annually, your Frenchie will be covered for various disorders throughout his lifetime.

Additional costs to consider for your Frenchie

A French Bulldog puppy on a bathtub
Source: @meeko_finn_thefrenchie / IG

Several other things are going to cost money when it comes to pet ownership. These include:

Grooming: French Bulldogs shed, so you don’t need to worry about taking this dog to the parlor for a haircut as you would a Poodle or Schnauzer.

An occasional bath and a weekly brush are sufficient for this breed, while the nails need to be trimmed every second week. 

With the right brush and nail clippers, you can do this yourself at home or get it done by a professional for as little as $10.

Training: While training the French Bulldog is relatively easy, they can have a stubborn streak so you will want to start training and obedience classes early.

For a one-hour group lesson once a week for a month or two, you can expect to spend between $50 and $125. 

Thankfully, these dogs aren’t highly energetic, so you don’t need to stress about investing a lot in agility training or sporting classes. 

Others: French Bulldogs can suffer from separation anxiety. Thus you may need to hire a dog sitter or send your pup off to a doggy daycare if you can’t be with him at home during the day.

If you travel a lot, you also need to budget for the cost of a house and pet sitter or boarding kennels for when you can’t take your furry friend along on your adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

A black, brindle French Bulldog standing on the grass, smiling with its tongue out
Source: @herbalaire / IG

How much is the cheapest French Bulldog?

While it is possible to find French Bulldogs at breeders for as little as $500, you need to question what type of puppy you are getting for such a low price. 

Be careful of puppies at a price that sounds too good to be true. The parent dogs might suffer from health issues, the puppy might not be a purebred Frenchie, or the operator could be running a puppy mill operation with little care for their dogs.

If you want to minimize the risk that your French Bulldog will develop health issues like hip dysplasia, deafness, and respiratory problems, then be sure only to get a puppy from a reputable breeder. Severe, chronic illnesses will only end up costing you more over your dog’s lifetime.

What are the yearly and monthly costs for a French Bulldog?

As mentioned, there is the initial cost of buying a French Bulldog, plus the ongoing monthly costs.

Alongside the one-off cost of buying your pet, you can expect to spend between $700 and $2,100 on setting your dog up in the first year of life. 

This money will go towards microchipping and sterilizing your dog, getting your pup vaccinated, and participating in puppy classes. It will also cover buying your pet’s bowls, bed, toys, crate, and various accessories.

After the first year, you can expect to pay between $120 and $300 a month for food, grooming, toys, tick, flea, and worming treatments. All in all, during your pet’s lifetime, you can expect to spend between $5,800 and $12,000. 

Who are the celebrities with French Bulldogs

When it comes to French Bulldogs owned by celebrities, Koji is the pet of Laga Gaga, Madonna’s Frenchie named Gypsy Rosa, and the Rock’s Frenchies, Hobbs, and Brutus. 

A French Bulldog named Gamin de Pycomb was also brought on the Titanic by a 27-year-old banker from Virginia named Robert Williams Daniel. The banker bought his dog for $150 then which is the equivalent of $17,000 in today’s terms. 

What are great names for a French Bulldog?

Are you ready to welcome a French Bulldog into your home? Then you may need a little help picking out the perfect name for your pet. Click here for a comprehensive list of our favorite names for your French Bulldog.

You might choose a name inspired by your pet’s tiny size, loving demeanor, or French ancestry. 

Conclusion: Are French Bulldogs Worth the Cost?

Three French Bulldogs standing on a wooden table, looking up and smiling
Source: @penny.thefrenchy / IG

French Bulldogs are a unique breed that you just can’t help falling in love with. Their wrinkly faces, huge bat-like ears, short nose and legs, and compact body make them one of the most sought-after dog breeds around.

Along with being adorable, they also have a winning personality, dolling out doses of affection for anyone that pays them some attention.

The Frenchie dogs get along wonderfully with kids and adults, and no doubt will be an excellent addition to your family if you can afford one.

Just remember when buying a new puppy, that many costs go into owning a dog, besides just the initial purchase price. And due to their many health issues, the French Bulldog can set you back quite a bit at the vet. 

Are you a French Bulldog owner? We would love to know all about your furry friend. Please regale us with the tails of your pooch in the comment section below.

Further reading: The Cost of Your Favorite Dog Breeds

 

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