RISE OF THE NOT SO BRITISH BULLDOG
They’re bat-eared and odd-looking but, thanks to their celebrity fans, French bulldogs are set to overtake Labradors as our favourite pooch. So why are vets so worried?
Some people may consider them to be peculiar creatures, but they grace the arms — and dog baskets — of the world’s most beautiful and wealthy people.
Now it has been revealed that the French bulldog, the pet of choice for celebrities from the Beckhams to Lady Gaga and Leonardo DiCaprio, is set to overtake the Labrador retriever as the UK’s most popular dog breed by the end of 2018.
It will be the first time the Labrador has been knocked off the top spot in 27 years.
The French bulldog — or Frenchie, as it’s affectionately known — was only Britain’s third most popular breed in 2015, behind the friendly Lab and the floppy-eared cocker spaniel.
But in the past year alone, there has been a 47 per cent increase in the number of French bulldogs registered with the Kennel Club, which keeps records of Britain’s pedigree dogs.
The Frenchie’s popularity has risen astronomically, with the total number of dogs registered with the Kennel Club soaring tenfold between 2009 and 2015.
There is no denying they are appealing little creatures with, these days, a lot of star power.
Pop singer Lady Gaga’s Frenchie, Asia, has her own Instagram account and was once photographed by legendary lensman Terry Richardson in a custommade Philip Treacy hat.
‘I love her, I’m her mom,’ the besotted star has said — although she did also nickname her ‘batpig’. Victoria Beckham gushed on Twitter about how husband David adores their Frenchie, Scarlett. ‘She’s so cute!’ she wrote.
madonna’s French bulldog, olga, came along to her recent celebration of International Women’s Day, while Hugh Jackman goes jogging with his pooch, Dali, in New York.
With so many celebrity fans, perhaps it’s no wonder a French bulldog puppy can now cost as much as £2,000.
There is another factor affecting that price, however. Typically, French bulldogs have to be bred by artificial insemination, which is both complex and expensive.
That’s because the male dogs, with their extremely slim hips, are pretty hopeless lovers.
The mothers aren’t much better at their job: 80 per cent end up needing a Caesarean section because their hips are too narrow. Still tempted? You should know that many experts fear the craze for Frenchies won’t end well for the dogs — or their owners.
They might look cute in a selfie, but French bulldogs can be a handful. The Kennel Club says they should be bought only after serious consideration.
THEIR sweet, squashed faces results in an awful lot of snorting and snuffling. The unusual shape of their skull makes them noisy and messy eaters, and they swallow a lot of air, which leads to flatulence.
Frenchies also suffer from more serious health issues, especially joint problems, spinal disorders, eye diseases, heart problems and obesity. Their flattened faces put them at risk of debilitating respiratory conditions. And if that isn’t enough, they can be quite stubborn and ‘challenging’ to train. Swimming pool owners must also exercise caution: because of their squat build and heavy head, most Frenchies cannot swim and will drown if they fall into water. Perhaps as a result of these problems — and ill- prepared, uncaring owners — last year the RSPCA reported record numbers of abandoned pugs and French bulldogs. Yet demand grows, resulting in the proliferation of ‘ underground traders’, many dealing in dogs from eastern european puppy farms. These animals may be sick or dying by the time they are delivered to their new homes. many require expensive veterinary treatment or suffer lifelong behavioural problems. others are smuggled into the UK without proper vaccinations — potentially spreading diseases and putting animals’ welfare at risk. Nearly a third of vets believe they have treated puppies who have been unlawfully imported, according to a survey by the British Veterinary Association. So, while the celebrities continue to fawn over their ‘designer dogs’ on social media, the rest of us should think carefully before taking on an ohso-fashionable Frenchie.