![]() ![]() Lorna Grande of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, a professional group affiliated with the Humane Society of the United States. “A lot of the breed characteristics that are bred into these dogs, they’re for looks, not necessarily health and welfare, and Frenchies are probably one of the most exaggerated examples of that,” said Dr. To animal rights and welfare activists, the French bulldog frenzy puts a snorting, panting face on problems with dog breeding in general. The Netherlands has prohibited breeding very short-snouted dogs, and the country’s agriculture minister aims to outlaw even owning them. The British Veterinary Association has urged people not to buy flat-faced breeds, such as Frenchies. The breed’s popularity is sharpening debate over whether there’s anything healthy about propagating dogs prone to breathing, spinal, eye, and skin conditions. There’s concern that demand, plus the premium that some buyers will pay for “exotic” coat colors and textures, is engendering quick-buck breeders and unhealthy dogs. The buzzy little bulldogs have been targeted in thefts, including last month’s fatal shooting of a 76-year-old South Carolina breeder and the 2021 shooting of a California dog walker who was squiring singer Lady Gaga’s pets. Yet the Frenchie’s dizzying rise - it wasn’t even a top-75 breed a quarter-century ago - worries its fans, to say nothing of its critics. City-friendly, with modest grooming and exercise needs, she says, “they offer a lot in a small package.” ![]() “They’re comical, friendly, loving little dogs,” says French Bull Dog Club of America spokesperson Patty Sosa. ![]()
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