Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Bulldog | French Bulldog |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $30,783 | $28,769 |
| First year | $7,915 | $7,485 |
| Monthly average | $262 | $245 |
| Puppy price | $2,500 to $5,500 | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,541 | $2,361 |
| Expected health cost | $0 | $0 |
| Documented conditions | 16 | 18 |
| Median lifespan | 9.8 yrs | 9.8 yrs |
| Adult weight | 40 to 50 lb | 20 to 28 lb |
| Daily food | 2.8 cups | 1.8 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $220 | $180 |
| Risk profile | High, early onset | High, early onset |
| Biggest single risk | Elbow dysplasia | Hip dysplasia |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Elbow dysplasia | 40% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Prolapsed third eyelid gland (Cherry eye) | 14% | $662–$1,782 |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Patellar luxation | 6% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Distichiasis | 5% | $662–$1,782 |
| Entropion | 4% | $449–$1,209 |
| Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder | 4% | $629–$1,694 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 4% | not priced |
| Dermatitis | 3% | $252–$679 |
| Alopecia/Baldness | 3% | not priced |
| Pyoderma | 3% | $252–$679 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 1% | $169–$455 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 1% | not priced |
| Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome | n/a | $1,784–$4,802 |
| Skin fold dermatitis | n/a | $252–$679 |
| Hip dysplasia | n/a | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | 33% | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Skin disease | 18% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 17% | $354–$954 |
| Ear disease | 16% | $100–$270 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Upper respiratory disease, including BOAS | 13% | $422–$1,136 |
| Eye disease | 11% | $449–$1,209 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 8% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Patellar luxation | 7% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS) | 5% | $1,784–$4,802 |
| Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder | 5% | $629–$1,694 |
| Otitis media | 4% | $100–$270 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 4% | not priced |
| Persistent vomiting | 3% | not priced |
| Food Allergy | 3% | $378–$1,017 |
| Intervertebral disc disorder | 3% | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Patellar luxation/Slipping kneecap | 3% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Chronic Itching | 2% | $629–$1,694 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 0% | $169–$455 |
| Spinal disease including IVDD | n/a | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
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Expected vet costs are $0 for the Bulldog and $0 for the French Bulldog. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
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Common questions
Is a Bulldog or a French Bulldog more expensive?
The French Bulldog is cheaper by about $2,014 over a lifetime. Bulldog: $30,783. French Bulldog: $28,769. The gap comes mostly from health costs rather than routine care.
Which lives longer, a Bulldog or a French Bulldog?
The Bulldog has the longer typical lifespan. Bulldog: 9.8 years. French Bulldog: 9.8 years.
Which is healthier, a Bulldog or a French Bulldog?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Bulldog's biggest single risk is elbow dysplasia, seen in 40% of the breed. For the French Bulldog it is hip dysplasia, at 33%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.