AWWW! These pictures are absolutely ADORABLE!
People are entitled to their own opinions, of course, and doubtless there are those who find something appealing about French Bulldogs.
But for people to continue to breed such structurally faulty creatures--consigning them to short, unhappy lives of respiratory misery and the chronic pain that comes from any number of congenital, skeletal and joint problems as well as the myriad other health problems with which these tragically misbegotten pygmies are burdened--is both selfish and cruel.
My Frenchie is 100% perfectly healthy, has absolutely no skeletal, joint or breathing problems, has absolutely no allergies and is one of the absolute happiest dogs I've ever seen. His relatives going back have lived upwards of 16 years and were absolutely healthy.
You got very lucky--your experience is far from typical.
I don't think so, actually. There's a ton of Frenchie's in HK and they're all pretty darn healthy. I know 1 that has really bad allergies, but I know ten times as many other dogs that have allergies or joint problems, etc. I think Frenchies are just one of the breeds that you hear about it a lot, but other breeds/mixes are just as prone to the same things.
Interesting.
I have known maybe a dozen Frenchies and their Humans over my years in NYC dog runs, and I can't honestly think of one that didn't exhibit some combination of the problems to which I alluded earlier.
Heaven knows I don't wish suffering on them, and I'm delighted to hear that your dog is happy and healthy.
J'espère que vous aurez beaucoup de plaisir ans ensemble.
Love them. I love French Bulldogs, but I love my little mutt better. But, that's probably only because she's mine.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
If you want a dog, go to an animal shelter and get a mutt. He/she deserves to be rescued and will live longer and have fewer medical issues because of genetic diversity and you will have fewer vet bills.
Unless you don't mind an invasion of privacy, don't go through one of the pet adoption agencies (the ones run by the crazy cat and dog ladies) who want to do a home visit and want about a dozen references from other pet owners. I highly recommend the North Shore Animal League, the staff and volunteers there are absolutely amazing!
Updated On: 2/17/13 at 12:29 AM
I much prefer English ones.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
The various genetic problems Frenchies often deal with are not exclusive to Frenchies. It's the result of irresponsible breeding and people looking to make what they think is a quick and easy buck. Unfortunately any time a breed gains a sudden upsurge in popularity, often based around that breed suddenly being featured in a movie or television show, people with no idea what they are actually doing grab the two closest male and female pair that they can get their hands on and basically set up their own private puppy mills.
It is very possible to get a healthy purebred dog. You just need to actually do your homework, find a responsible breeder, and know that you might be waiting for some time to actually get a puppy.
Liking a particular breed doesn't ban you from shelters. There are pure breeds in shelters all over the place. I love my beagle more than words. I think we were meant to find her because someone else might have expected a hunting dog. She is not in touch with those traits. lol
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
That's very true about the shelters, JerseyGirl. There are also the breed specific rescue groups, though I'm guessing that most of those would involve the home visits/approvals and what not that not everybody might be willing to go through.
Oh, Addison, don't be such a pill all the time!
Sometimes, the better part of valor is to respond, "How cute!"--or not to respond at all.
As Marianne Williamson might ask you, "What does it serve the universe for you to come into a thread like this--a thread obviously borne out of the unabashed love of a boy for his dog!--and point out what you rightly or wrongly believe to be the congenital musculo-skeletal problems of overbreeding?"
And calling someone's pet a "tragically misbegotten pygmy" itself is "both selfish and cruel."
I mean, really!
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