French Bulldog Price: How Much Do French Bulldog Puppies Cost?

french-bulldog-price

Everyone knows the French Bulldog! They are the fourth most popular breed in the world.

Their adorable faces, compact size, loving personalities, and family-friendly nature means they have rapidly gained popularity over the past ten years.

Frenchies are associated with luxury and have a price tag to match.

The most expensive French Bulldog on record is called Micro. He is worth over $100,000 because of his blue color and orange eyes.

Purchasing a Frenchie can be confusing because of the large price variance. Luckily, it is not difficult to understand why the cost of a French Bulldog puppy can vary.

In this article, we share what factors influence a French Bulldog’s price and how much you should expect to spend.

French Bulldog Price

The price of a French Bulldog puppy will range from $1,500 and $3,000 USD. Bulldogs with orange eyes or isabella fur are the most expensive. The typical sale price is $2,200 for a purebred Frenchie that has been health checked.

Why Is A French Bulldog So Expensive?

The price of French Bulldogs is more than other dog breeds because of five reasons:

  1. Small litter sizes.
  2. C-Section birthing.
  3. Color.
  4. Recent popularity increase.
  5. Parents’ pedigree status.

One of the main reasons why the French bulldog price is higher than most breeds is because they cannot conceive naturally.

Their triangular body shape means they cannot reproduce naturally. Because of this many breeders resort to artificial insemination.

In addition, when giving birth females struggle to safely birth puppies due to their narrow hips. Over 80% of French Bulldog Puppies are born via cesarean section.

Females will only come into season once or twice per year and will only birth one or two puppies at a time. This means they can only produce two to four puppies each year. This is much lower than the six to twelve puppies each year for most breeds.

Another reason you may see a higher French bulldog price is because of color.

Fawn and brindle account for over 60% of Frenchies.

Some coat colors such as the blue French bulldog or piebald are much rarer. As a result, breeders will charge more for puppies with this coloring.

When purchasing a rare color be careful as most Kennel clubs do not recognize them. As a result, if you wish to purchase a blue, piebald, or Isabella colored pooch then you will have to search very hard to find an ethical breeder.

Another factor that determines their high-price tag is due to their recent popularity.

Their rise to popularity over the past ten years means that many breeders charge more because of a shortage in supply.

It is important to remember that puppy mills or unethical breeders will try to lure you in with cheap pricing.

Good breeders check for health conditions such as hip dysplasia and brachycephalic syndrome in their breeding stock. These health tests incur fees for a breeder.

They will also temperament test the parents and allow you to visit and meet them before purchasing a puppy.

Two Expensive French Bulldog Puppies
Piebald color Frenchies (pictured left) are more expensive than their fawn-colored siblings (pictured right)

French Bulldog Puppy Cost

When purchasing a puppy you should expect it to cost $2,000 to $3,000 USD. The french bulldog price tag can be upwards of $7,000 if you buy from a famous pedigree bloodline.

If you are looking to adopt a pedigree puppy the best place to start is with the American Kennel Club’s registered breeders.

Every breeder on the American Kennel Club’s marketplace is approved and must meet their ethical breeding standards in order to be able to list their puppies.

The best breeders will typically have waiting lists and reserve lists so you should expect it to take a few months to find a breeder.

Breeders will often be able to provide health certifications for both parents and should be happy to answer your questions about the breed, their bloodlines, and puppies.

Typically you will be allowed to first visit a puppy at around four weeks of age. This may seem like a long wait but the first few weeks of your puppy’s life are crucial. It is important that he spends them with his mother and his or her littermates to learn crucial skills.

Puppies need to stay with their mother until at least eight weeks after giving birth.

A good breeder will take their puppies for health checks and vaccines before eight weeks. A puppy should have its hips, eyes, ears, and respiratory system checked by a vet.

French Bulldog Cost

A full-grown french bulldog price is slightly more affordable than a puppy. An adult will cost $1,000 to $2,000 USD. The advantage of purchasing a full-grown dog is that most of the training and socializing has been done.

Older dogs are normally housebroken, crate trained and they may have even started on some basic obedience.

Adults tend to be much more relaxed than puppies and so can settle into your life faster.

Unlike puppies, there are no recognized marketplaces or kennel club-approved breeders for senior dogs. Because of this, you might struggle to purchase a pedigree adult.

If you do find a breeder then you should ask for a full health check. It is important to verify they are fit and healthy to ensure there are no ongoing health issues.

It may be easier and cheaper to rescue a French Bulldog complete with their papers.

What Color French Bulldog Is Most Expensive?

Merle, Isabella, and lilac French Bulldogs cost more than fawn, white, and brindle Frenchies. The most expensive color is Isabella ($10,000) and Merle ($8,000). The rarer the color the higher the cost. This is illustrated in the table below:

Color
($ USD)
White, Cream, Fawn, Tan, Black and Pied 2,000 – 3,000
Brindle, Black and Tan 2,500 – 3,500
Blue 1,500 – 3,000
Lilac, Brindle and Tan, Lilac and Tan 5,000 – 6,000
Merle 6,000 – 8,000
Isabella 8,000 – 10,000

There are five officially recognized colors, each as cute as the next! White, cream, tan, brindle, and fawn coloring are recognized by the American Kennel Club. Any pure black color is disqualified.

The coloring of the puppy combined with their pedigree status can increase their price from $3,000 to upwards of $8,000.

If you are looking to find a rare colored puppy such as merle or isabella then you must be prepared to pay the fee difference. You will also need to put in more time and effort to find a responsible breeder too.

Adopting a Senior French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are one of the most popular dogs in the USA – they are now the most popular breed in New York City!

Because of their expensive health-care (see table below) many Frenchies are surrendered to local rescue shelters. However, because of their popularity, it is quite common for them to find new homes quickly.

There are also several breed-specific rescues in the USA. The largest is the French Bulldog Rescue Network, but others like the French Bulldog Village exist too.

Adopting a French Bulldog will cost between $550 and $900 USD depending on the age of the dog. The rescue fee for each dog is different.

White French Bulldog Puppy

How Much Should I Pay For A French Bulldog?

Every dog breed has its initial purchase fee and ongoing costs. A French Bulldog’s cost is typically $1,500 to $3,000 USD with the typical sale price of $2,200. Their lifetime costs can range from $5,800 to $12,00.

Owners will need to remember to factor in things such as food, toys, and health care into their monthly budget.

Before purchasing this breed it is important that you are able to provide for them financially. It is one of the main reasons they are surrendered to shelters.

These little dogs will need new equipment at every stage of their life and are subject to many expensive health issues. Some owners have spent upwards of $12,00 on this breed over their 14 years lifespan.

Below is a chart that discusses or the lifetime costs of a French Bulldog. It should help you to better answer the question How Much Should I Pay For A French Bulldog!

Once Off Costs

Item
$ (USD)
Harness and lead 50 – 150
Toys 100
Food and water bowls 10
Puppy Vaccinations 75-200
Neutering 55-300
Microchipping 20-25
Brushes 10-30
Car Restraint 20-100
Crate 25-100
Puppy Classes 180-500
Coat (Raincoat and/or Cooling) 50-200
Total700 – 2,100
Once Off Costs

Item
$ (USD)
Harness and lead 50 – 150
Toys 100
Food and water bowls 10
Puppy Vaccinations 75-200
Neutering 55-300
Microchipping 20-25
Brushes 10-30
Car Restraint 20-100
Crate 25-100
Puppy Classes 180-500
Coat (Raincoat and/or Cooling) 50-200
Total700 – 2,100
Annual Costs
Item
$ (USD)
Insurance 500 – 1,000
Yearly Boosters 30 – 70
Vet and dental work 300 – 500
Total830 – 1,570

Purchasing a French bulldog is just the first cost associated with owning this breed.

On-going costs for this dog can become significant as they are at risk of respiratory issues.

When purchasing walking equipment for your Frenchie a harness is essential.

This breed is at risk of respiratory issues and added pressure on their necks via a collar can result in damage. Walking them on a Y-shaped front harness will help to redistribute their weight around their chest and body.

You will also need to set aside money for toys and enrichment activities.

Your puppy is going to be very energetic for the first few months. Providing lots of activities within the house to entertain them is essential. Mental stimulation is very tiring for puppies so brain games, puzzle feeders, and trick training are important to keep their minds stimulated.

Another large cost to consider will be vet and dental care. This can be $500/year and in cases of emergency treatment can easily cost thousands. If you chose not to take out pet insurance then you must make sure you can afford to cover the cost of your dog’s health care. You will also need to set aside money for dental work, spaying or neutering, and flea and worming treatment.

Luckily as French Bulldogs have short straight coats they do not have large grooming costs like Poodles.

However, they do need regular brushing. It is a good idea to purchase a rubber grooming brush for your French Bulldog – they are low-cost when it comes to grooming.

Summary

Fawn French Bulldog

The cost of a French Bulldog puppy is normally $2,200 with prices ranging from $1,500 and $3,000. Senior Frenchies are less expensive than puppies and cost $1,000 to adopt.

Micro is the most expensive French Bulldog in the world. He is valued at over $100,000 because of his rare blue color and orange eyes.

If you are looking to adopt this breed you need to think about not just the financial cost of purchasing but also the long-term care costs.

They are loving, adaptable, and very cute but they also suffer from many expensive health issues. They are well suited to anyone and adapt well to both apartment and suburban life.

Let us know how much you paid for your French Bulldog in the comments below.

About John Woods 300 Articles
John Woods is the founder of All Things Dogs, member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, graduate in Animal Behavior & Welfare and recognized author by the Dog Writers Association of America.

6 Comments

  1. I know I paid way too much for the dog. They made sure my granddaughter was attached before they would tell her a price. Then they said $5000. I resolved myself to being taken and when I arrived at the store with my grandchild, they said they were mistaken, it was $6000 and tax, etc ran it to $7000. To top that off it had giardia which we treated for six weeks and suspected ringworm which had to be cleared. I could go on and on but basically we were royally overcharged at PetLand and I completely believe it was intentional. We are of course in love with the Frenchie but it was a expensive lesson in dog selling. I had always had rescue dogs.

  2. French Bulldogs CAN conceive naturally and can give birth without having a C-section. I know this for a fact. My Frenchie came out without needing C-section and no AI was done. Fact.

  3. My Frenchie is 4,5 YO and was given to me free of cost. She needed a new home with no other animals and I had lost my beloved companion dog some time previously. We are a great match!

    • Ooh thats wonderful to hear!! Its seems all to often these days that people are more concerned with how much they can make versus the life of a precious animal… I myself would love to foster or adopt but it’s not an option in my area…and I don’t 5000 at the ready…

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