“How much is that doggie in the window? The one with the waggly tail.
How much is that doggie in the window? I do hope that doggie’s for sale.” – Patti Page
This excerpt you just read is from “(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window,” a lovely song by Patti Page from 1953 that talks about wanting to buy an adorable puppy from a store. A nice and pretty convenient concept, right?
In theory, yes. You go to the store, look around a little bit, and choose the puppy you like the most. It’s simple and easy, just like buying a car, for example. However, the problem is that puppies are not objects. They are real creatures that have feelings and deserve a lot more.
There is a lot more that happens behind the scenes of pet stores, which makes the puppy buying process much more controversial. If you consider your puppy as a member of your family, you should be a lot more concerned about its origins and well-being.
So, should you buy Frenchies from pet shops? I would not recommend it to anyone, not only for French Bulldogs, but all other breeds of dog as well.
Stay tuned to learn more about pet shops, Frenchies, and safe buying options.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Frenchies From Pet Shops
The state of New York decided in December 2022 to prohibit pet shops from selling puppies, cats, and rabbits that come from breeding facilities that subject pets to inhumane conditions. Hopefully, in 2024, the ban will be enacted.
This is huge news, and it is unquestionably a positive step toward making things a little bit better. Hopefully, other states and countries will follow this example very soon.
Why are pet shops so bad? Don’t get me wrong; I should also mention that not all of them are that bad. There are some pet shops that sell exclusively rescue dogs, and they definitely deserve all of our support.
On the other side of the coin, most pet shops are the innocent-looking public faces of a very cruel industry. There are some shady things that you should definitely know about concerning these places. Let’s look at why buying a Frenchie from a pet shop is not actually a good idea.
Puppy Mill Background
Unfortunately, most puppies in pet stores come from inhumane organizations that breed dogs purely for profit. This includes Frenchies as well. These large, commercial dog breeding operations are called puppy mills.
What are puppy mills?
According to Kathleen Summers, the director of the stopping puppy mills campaign at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), puppy mills are large breeding operations that keep hundreds of breeding dogs in stacked wire cages without proper care and conditions.
These poor dogs are treated so badly that they often have many health issues. They are often denied healthy food and water, kept in dirty places, and bred constantly without proper genetic screening. All in all… these are truly inhumane conditions!
According to the campaign, more than 2.6 million puppies from puppy mills are sold each year, and approximately 500,000 dogs are solely kept in puppy mills for breeding purposes.
Related: How Many Puppies Can A French Bulldog Have In A Litter?
These are truly devastating numbers. Often, you will find that a pet shop states that their dogs come from “responsible breeders”, and that they have “zero tolerance” for cruel breeding, which is sadly almost never true.
All of this is done in order to deceive you and make you buy a puppy from them, so please be careful and try to refrain from buying your Frenchie from a pet shop.
Behavioral And Health Issues
In 2017, the Humane Society did an undercover investigation of a New York City pet store that revealed puppies with wounds, high fevers, respiratory distress, and seizures.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case, but a rather common occurrence, which only proves that most puppies from pet stores suffer from serious behavioral and health issues.
Because they are a brachycephalic dog breed, Frenchies are prone to a variety of health issues such as skin diseases, breathing issues, and mobility problems. The awful upbringing, stress, and lack of proper socialization can only increase the possibility of health issues.
It is not uncommon to find pet stores that claim to have puppies from USDA-inspected and AKC-registered breeders. Unfortunately, these claims often mean absolutely nothing, and are not proof of a healthy and high-quality puppy.
Expensive Puppies
Frenchies from pet stores are often more expensive than those from breeders or shelters. The reason for this is that these shops operate as businesses, and are mostly looking to make a profit off of these dogs.
Additionally, many of these French Bulldog puppies suffer from various health issues due to their poor breeding practices and upbringing. This means that it is highly likely that you’ll need to spend more money on veterinary care than you would on other puppies.
A lot of pet stores use pet leasing agreements in order to bypass high pet prices and offload their puppies quickly. This is a rather absurd idea that is frequently applied to the purchase of real estate and other items, but it should not be applied to the purchase of puppies.
By using this leasing agreement, pet stores are able to charge a much higher price for a puppy than it originally was supposed to be. Not to mention that you are not the real owner of the puppy until the lease is up.
Related: How Much Are French Bulldogs – Can You Afford This Cutie?
Where Can You Buy A French Bulldog?
We have discussed whether you should buy Frenchies from pet shops, and why not, but now it is time to give you some safe options that will provide you with the wonderful furry friend that you’ve been dreaming of.
Adopt, Don’t Shop!
The most honorable way to get a new dog is definitely through adoption. There are so many dogs that desperately need rescuing, so by doing this, you’ll not only be getting a wonderful dog, but also saving a life.
There are so many rescue centers all over the country where you could find French Bulldogs. You can look at Petfinder, Adopt a Pet, or the National French Bulldog Rescue listings.
Read also: French Bulldog Adoption Vs. Breeding: Pros And Cons
Reputable Ethical Breeders
If you’re looking to purchase a Frenchie from a breeder, make sure that you choose a reputable and ethical French Bulldog breeder who truly loves and cares about their dogs.
Look for breeders who have completed all necessary screening tests, health checks, vaccinations, and socialization programs, and are able to provide valid certificates.
Ethical breeders strictly follow the breed standard and code of ethics. To find the list of ethical breeders in your area, start with the national breed club because they usually maintain the list of good-standing breeders.
We have also compiled a list of French Bulldog breeders you can trust.
How Much Should You Pay For A Frenchie?
French Bulldogs are small dogs, but their price is definitely not measured by their size. For a small dog, they are pretty costly. Usually, you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $2,000; however, some Frenchie puppies can cost around $3,000 or even more.
The main reason why these pups cost a lot is because of the difficult breeding process. Due to their unique physical characteristics, they require very specialized breeding. Be aware of unusually low prices because this is usually a sign of faulty breeding practices and puppy mills.
Related: Male Vs Female French Bulldog: Which One Would You Choose?
Is A French Bulldog A Good Pet For You?
The French Bulldog ranks among the top five most popular dog breeds in the United States. They are very loving and cute pups, known for their laid-back personalities; however, they are not always the right breed for everyone.
Before you decide to get a Frenchie as your next furry companion, please make sure that you do the proper research about the breed, and that you’re 100% convinced it is the right breed for you and your lifestyle.
The main advantages of this breed are its lovely personality, adaptability, ability to be a great family dog, to be loving and affectionate, and to be an excellent watchdog.
The main disadvantages include a lot of snoring and snorting, various health issues, separation anxiety, and a lot of high expenses.
They can make awesome pets in the right household, and with the right family that knows how to properly take care of them.
What do you think about pet shops and their practices? Would you buy a dog from them or not?
Read next: Fawn French Bulldog: Is This The Prettiest Frenchie Color?