Recently there has been a lot of talk about the most popular dog in America: the French bulldog. This has made many people take to social media to voice their opinions and caused lots of articles, including this one by The American Kennel Club, to be written.

“Frenchies” as they are commonly referred to, should not be the number one dog in the country for many reasons.

1. Health Problems

Because Frenchies are flat faced, they have trouble breathing. The idea of a dog being bred in a way that makes it hard to breathe is arguably cruel. This, paired with the fact that they are very prone to allergies, makes life hard for the dogs and makes owners’ vet bills skyrocket. Southern Cross Veterinary Clinic says “Unfortunately, Frenchies are genetically more susceptible to chronic allergies.”

2. Expensive

On Puppy Spot, a website to buy puppies from breeders, most of the Frenchie puppies are about $5000, while a Labrador retriever (the top dog prior to Frenchies according to American Kennel Club) is $3000. The obvious answer to most would be to adopt a dog, however, this still may not be the best option. Most do research on their breed of dog before they sell it. So if someone has a French bulldog they definitely know how much money it costs and will not be willing to sell it for cheap.

3. Drool

Why would you want a dog that causes you to constantly mop your floor because they can’t keep their saliva in their mouth? Bijou and Co, a dog accessory company, says “French Bulldogs are prone to drooling due to their unique skull shape.” Imagine sitting down with your dog after a long walk, your dog is breathing heavily and its mouth is open. Then, you get up and see a massive puddle on the couch, all because you got a Frenchie. Bulldogs are known for drooling, so why deal with the hassle of constantly cleaning up after them.

4. Protection

If you are in a situation where you need to be protected, a french bulldog is not going to do that for you. Due to their small size and personality, they won’t be able to do much. The American Kennel Club says “The breed can be a little territorial, but that’s where their job ends: don’t expect them to be a guard dog.”

5. Training Difficulty

You could try to make a Frenchie a guard dog, if they were easy to train. PetPlace says “Training a French bulldog can be a little challenging. That’s because Frenchies have a stubborn streak.” There are so many videos out there of dogs opening doors or smiling for pictures and so many other tricks, getting a Frenchie takes some of that fun away. There are two types of training, these are socializing and potty training. PetPlace says “In most cases, socialization training is more difficult.” This is because they are known to be aggressive towards other dogs. This means training  can be a hassle, which could be easily avoided by simply not getting a Frenchie.

6. Other Choices

One good thing about French bulldogs is they shed very little, but using this criteria a Doberman can also be a great option as the breed sheds very little and is a very good guard dog. Frenches also bark less than other dogs, but so does a Boston Terrier. Frenchies are affectionate with family, but so is a Labrador Retriever, who has all the good qualities of a Frenchie and more. If you want a dog for protection I recommend a German shepherd, or really any other big dog. A Golden Retriever is great with kids, families, and is much more playful than a Frenchie.

When it’s time for you to get a dog please strongly consider getting a dog that will bring you joy more than a French bulldog will.