French bulldogs, targets with £7k tag

FRENCH bulldogs have become one of the main targets for dognappers because they can fetch up to £7,000 each.

The demand has been fuelled by their cute features and their popularity among A-list celebrities such as the Beckhams, Reese Witherspoon and Madonna.

French bulldogs cost roughly £1,000 to £2,000 a time, though pure breed puppies can cost five times that.

The demand for dogs during lockdown has prompted an unprecedented spike in dog thefts in the UK – including several cases targeting ‘Frenchies’. One survey said thefts had risen 170 per cent. Simon Powell of Animal Search UK said the breed is one of the most sought after ‘whether it’s an organised gang or loner with the opportunity to get quick money, by simply stealing a dog and breeding’.

He added: ‘When you breed a dog, it can potentially have a litter of six to eight puppies.’

In 2015, the French bulldog was the third most popular breed in Britain, according to the Kennel Club. Their average lifespan is ten to 12 years and they are typically 11in to 1ft tall at the shoulder.

Their short nose, which is their most well-known feature apart from their ‘bat ears’, can cause them to have breathing problems. They are also less tolerant of heat, exercise and stress than other breeds but they have a mild-mannered demeanour and like human contact.

French bulldogs are descendants of the now-extinct bullen-beisser, a working dog bred solely for bull-baiting.

Despite their name, they originated in the UK and were especially popular among lace makers in Nottingham who loved them for their diminutive size.

The Frenchie became famous in Europe in the 19th century after being adopted by fashionable Parisians. Edgar Degas and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec depicted the dog in their paintings of the Paris demi-monde.