![]() ![]() Many struggle to give birth naturally due to the mismatch between their narrow pelvises and their offspring’s large heads and, as Perkes discovered, can suffer breathing issues. However, the same features which owners find aesthetically pleasing can cause some problems in some cases. Every few months, she has to take them to the vet, which means hefty bills that start at £45 and rapidly rise.īrachycephalic dogs are characterised by their small frames, short snouts and bulbous eyes. She had heard that French bulldogs have breathing issues because of their short snouts but until she experienced their distress, overheating and panting, she “didn’t know how bad it was”. The couple were so smitten that they added the other three French bulldogs to their household. “He was well-trained, well-behaved, great entertainment, great with kids, friendly and lovable,” she says. She bought Frank in 2013, for £1,500, from a local breeder with a good reputation. “It feels harsh but until we stop the issues are just going to get worse, so yes, I’d support a ban on them here too,” she says. Perkes, a small-business owner from Hertfordshire, sees the logic. In 2014, the country outlawed the breeding of brachycephalic (short-snouted) dogs such as French bulldogs, but the proposed legislation would ban owning the dogs entirely. Last month, plans were announced there to make the ownership of designer pets including pugs and French bulldogs illegal. But in Perkes’s experience, they have caused no end of trauma – in the Netherlands, they are about to be banned. On paper, they should be ideal pets – not too big with a gentle temperament. In fact, she is painfully aware that her dogs could be about to be cancelled.įrench bulldog ownership is up, with more than 54,000 registered in 2021. But Perkes would never buy another French bulldog. They look adorable too and they are gentle. They snort loudly and choke on their own tongues, they’re expensive and, most tragically of all, they make her sad.įrank, Dolly, Poppy and Tiger sound sweet. “No, no, no, I wouldn’t recommend one,” says Laura Perkes, the owner of four French bulldogs.
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