How Much Does a French Bulldog Cost? Price Guide 2024
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The fancy, fun, French Bulldog is who you want by your side as a loyal companion. Despite their name, these dogs aren’t French and were bred in England from the English Bulldog. Their small size and quirky personalities draw pet lovers to them, but the financial commitment isn’t one that most people prefer to make.
If you’re concerned about affording your dream dog breed, some careful financial planning may be able to afford you a French bulldog with a healthy bloodline.
French Bulldog Price: One-Time Costs
One of the few one-time costs is the initial cost of the dog. Aside from spaying or neutering and microchips, you’ll have to continue to pay continuously for other necessities like vet visits, food, and grooming. However, many people already factor those costs into their lives before committing, so the upfront price is what they’re mainly concerned with.
Free French Bulldogs
It isn’t likely that you’d be able to get a French Bulldog for free unless you’re taking in a pet for somebody who can no longer care for them. If confronted with a situation where you’re taking in an unwanted dog, be cautious that you’re not getting the dog from a complete stranger and ask as many questions about their history as possible. Going as far as asking for their medical history from their vet or taking them in for a checkup before committing is also advised.
French Bulldog Adoption
- $250–$500
Pet adoption is something that more and more people are turning to. The prices associated with adoption are more affordable, and the fees usually include spaying/neutering and initial vaccine costs. Expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $500 to adopt a French Bulldog. This price could change depending on your location and if they have knowledge of the dog’s history.
French Bulldog Breeders
- $1,500–$3,000
Unless you’re buying a French Bulldog from a highly reputable breeder with a remarkable breeding history, the price of these dogs is pricey but not so much that it’s out of reach. On average, the price of a French Bulldog puppy costs between $1,500 and $3,000. This is more than some people expect to pay, but again, you’re likely saving money in the long run since dogs that come from bad breeders usually have more health issues in the future that could have you dishing out a lot of cash.
French Bulldog Price: Initial Setup and Supplies
- $95–$150
Dogs don’t require too much setup in order to bring them home. High-quality dog food is the first thing you’ll want to have on hand, and most cost $2 to $3 per pound, meaning a 30-pound bag is going to cost you around $55. You’ll want to purchase a bed for them to sleep on if you don’t want them on your furniture. Dog beds cost anywhere from $20 to $40. Grab a couple of food and water bowls for them, around $10, and a collar and leash, approximately $10 to $20.
List of French Bulldog Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar | $20 |
| Spay/Neuter | $145 |
| Microchip | $50 |
| Teeth Cleaning | $150–$300 |
| Bed | $20–$40 |
| Nail Clipper | $10 |
| Brush | $10 |
| Bathroom Bags | $8 |
| Pooper Scoop | $12 |
| Toys | $30 |
| Cage | $40 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $10 |
How Much Does a French Bulldog Cost Per Month?
- $270–$810 per month
There are a lot of factors to consider when taking care of a French Bulldog. Aside from the initial costs, you have to consider that they are an added monthly expense. Expect to buy a 30-pound bag of dog food every month. They’ll have to be groomed at least once a month as well. With medications and trips to the vet, as well as those who purchase pet insurance, this could add up to a larger number than what you’re comfortable with.
French Bulldog Health Care Costs
- $165–$680 per month
The health of your pet should always be a top priority in your life. If you cannot afford the vet bills, food, grooming, and other costs, you should consider getting a dog with lower monthly fees and fewer health problems. Here are just some of the factors for you to add to your monthly bills:
French Bulldog Food Costs
- $45–$55 per month
French Bulldogs are a smaller breed and won’t be eating as much as large breeds, but they are relatively active and still eat a healthy amount of food. Most dogs in this breed eat about 30 pounds of food every month. Depending on the brand name you buy, this costs $45 to $55 every month.
French Bulldog Grooming Costs
- $40–$75 per month
These short-haired dogs don’t require a ton of grooming, but they do benefit from a bath and nail trimming once per month. Depending on where you currently live, this could range from $40 to $75. Stay on top of this so they always smell clean and their nails don’t get so long that it hurts them.
French Bulldog Medications and Vet Visits
- $35–$500 per month
Unless your dog has some serious health concerns, the monthly vet bill shouldn’t be too astronomical. They’ll require some flea and tick treatments. Most places give you six months of tablets for around $60, costing you somewhere around $10 every month, but this could range depending on your vet and the brand they suggest.
If your French Bulldog has underlying conditions, this price could be a lot higher. They suffer from hip dysplasia, entropion, and intervertebral disc disease, with yearly treatments costing anywhere from $300 to $7,000. This is why buying from reputable breeds is so crucial at the beginning of the process.
French Bulldog Pet Insurance Costs
- $45–$50 per month
Some people prefer to buy pet insurance if they believe they have a breed that is going to take a lot of trips to the vet. This is a smart investment and helps keep your monthly price fairly stable if anything significant were to happen with the animal. Even if you don’t suspect that they’ll have serious health problems, it helps you relax knowing that they’re covered if anything were to go wrong.
If you are interested in getting health insurance for your new pet, Lemonade offers customizable insurance plans and responsive customer service.
French Bulldog Environment Maintenance Costs
- $10–$15 per month
Dogs are such great companions to have by your side, and an added bonus is that they don’t require too many environmental supplies in order for them to be happy. The two things that you’ll have to spend money on repeatedly are plastic poo bags and a new bed every year. For this price, we took the average cost of a new yearly bed and divided it by 12 to calculate how much money this would be per month.
| Bathroom Bags | $8/month |
| Dog Bed | $4/month |
French Bulldog Entertainment Costs
- $40–$60 per month
Even though dogs don’t need a lot to be happy, they do enjoy having toys and going for walks. A leash is going to cost you around $20, and their toys could be as cheap or as expensive as you desire. If you really feel like spoiling your dog, you could get them a monthly subscription that sends them new toys and products every month. The average price of these is around $40 each month. If you’re not able to pay that, then run to your local pet store and pick up a few items that they’ll love for cheaper. Make sure that the toys are suitable for their size and aren’t going to cause choking hazards or get easily chewed apart.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a French Bulldog
- $270–$810 per month
It’s clear that the monthly cost of owning a French Bulldog has a large range, and it depends on a number of essential factors, some of which are in your control and some that aren’t. If you’re really desperate to bring home a French Bulldog, there are ways that you can comfortably fit them into your family, but you also have to be prepared for the fact that it might be more expensive than you expected, especially when unforeseen circumstances come up.
Additional Costs to Factor In
You never know what’s going to happen when you welcome a dog into the family. If you plan to go on a long vacation without the dog, you might have to pay for a pet sitter to come and care for them. There could be a number of different emergency situations that arise and cause you to spend extra money that wasn’t factored in. If they aren’t well-behaved or still in training, you might have to replace damage to furniture or flooring in your home. It’s best to consider everything that could go wrong before making the commitment to them.
Owning a French Bulldog on a Budget
French Bulldogs are all the rage, and we understand why you want to have one as your new best friend. Even though they’re expensive, there are ways to penny-pinch and fit them and their needs into your budget. The most significant way to save some cash is to adopt instead of buy. Adoption is great because you can bring in an older dog in need of a home, and a lot of the initial costs are already taken care of within the adoption fee. However, this won’t always allow you to budget in the future.
Saving Money on French Bulldog Care
There are a couple of ways for you to save money on your French Bulldog if you’ve already set your goal to have one. Instead of taking them to the groomer, wash them and trim their nails yourself. Ask your vets for good-quality food that doesn’t cost as much as some other brands. Take them into their yearly checkups so that you catch any problems sooner rather than later.
Conclusion: French Bulldog Price
Despite these dogs having a reputation for being expensive, there are ways for you to fit the cost of them into your budget. By adopting and bargain shopping, initial costs for these dogs could be as low as $300 or as high as $3,500. The monthly costs could stay low, around $200, or soar to over $800 per month. As long as you’re giving them food, water, love, and health care, there are ways to have a French Bulldog as a pet without breaking the bank completely.
Featured Image Credit: ivanovgood, Pixabay
