Breed overview
The French Bulldog appeared in the 19th century: miniature English Bulldogs were brought to France by lace workers, where the breed acquired its characteristic upright “bat” ears and turned finally into a companion dog.
This is a small dog of 8–14 kg with a massive head, a short muzzle and a muscular body. The standard colours are brindle, fawn and pied. Rare colours (blue, merle, chocolate, lilac) cost more but are not recognised by the FCI and are often linked to health problems.
In Moldova the “Frenchie” is one of the most expensive mainstream breeds. The reason is simple: almost every litter is born by caesarean section and matings are frequently done artificially, which sharply raises the cost of a puppy.
Temperament
The French Bulldog is a companion in the purest sense. It is calm, affectionate, likes sleeping next to its owner and does not demand mile-long walks. Of all the popular breeds it is one of the most convenient for someone with a busy schedule and a small flat.
The breed copes very badly with being alone: without its person the dog frets, whines and damages things. With children, though, the Frenchie is patient and almost never shows aggression.
There is stubbornness, but it is manageable: the dog responds excellently to treats and dislikes pressure. Raising your voice is pointless — the bulldog will simply lie down and stop working.
Care and health
The coat needs almost no care: once a week with a rubber mitt. What is essential is daily care of the facial folds — they are wiped with a cloth and dried, otherwise dermatitis develops.
The main problem of the breed is brachycephalic syndrome: narrow nostrils and an elongated soft palate obstruct breathing. The dog snores and copes poorly with heat and exertion. On a hot day a walk at 30 degrees can end in heatstroke — walk early in the morning and late in the evening.
Other risks are spinal problems, allergies and conjunctivitis. French Bulldogs cannot swim: the heavy head pulls them under, so a pool or a river without a life jacket is dangerous.
Keeping
The ideal setup is a flat with air conditioning and two short walks of 30–40 minutes. In a Moldovan summer this is critical: anything above 25 degrees is already dangerous for a brachycephalic dog.
The dog must not be flown in the cargo hold — most airlines explicitly ban the carriage of brachycephalic breeds because of the risk of suffocation.
Price in Moldova
A French Bulldog puppy in Moldova costs 4,000–16,000 MDL. This is the breed with the widest price spread: without papers you will find offers from 4,000 MDL, a standard colour with an RKF registration runs 7,000–11,000 MDL, and rare colours (blue, merle, lilac) 12,000–16,000 MDL.
A suspiciously cheap offer is almost always a puppy without papers from a mating with no thought given to pairing. Such a dog carries a higher risk of breathing and spinal problems, and treating them costs more than the price difference.
