Why are Bulldogs so Expensive?
I guess one of the most frequently asked questions is, "Why do Bulldogs cost so much more than other dog breeds?” To be honest, one would be hard pressed to find a "cheap" dog of any breed in today's economy, unless it is from a shelter, a rescue organization, or from unethical sources.
We cannot tell you how many times we have had phone call enquiries stating, "We really want to buy a Bulldog so badly, but all we have to spend is R3000''. It is sad that these individuals do not understand just what it takes to get any well bred dog up to the age which it can be placed into a loving home. Granted, some breeds are much less expensive than the Bulldog, but Bulldogs are at the top of the price range when it comes to purchasing a nice pup that is sound in body and mind. Here, we have listed not all, but most of the reasons why Bulldogs are so expensive:
1. Currently, there are 39 KNOWN inherited diseases, disorders, faults and health problems within the Bulldog breed. This does not include the numerous abnormalities that are still being researched. The known health problems range from mild to severe allergies, to heart diseases and cancer. The Bulldog is called a "high maintenance" breed because it is, basically, a man-made breed. If one cannot afford the purchase price of a Bulldog, 9 out of 10 times, they definitely cannot afford the special care that is required to keep their Bulldog healthy.
2. Bulldogs require special care in extreme climates. You cannot purchase a Bulldog and just let it out into your backyard. First and foremost, you are letting the poor little girl or boy fend, more or less, for itself. Like most breeds of dogs, Bulldogs have a burning desire to be with their owner at all times, and when these emotional needs are not met, they can become frustrated, physically unwell and mentally distraught. This, in turn, can turn a perfectly stable Bulldog into a terror. Or even worse, your little girl or boy will eventually die from the lack of good companionship she/he so richly deserves!!!
A Bulldog can die of heat stroke, if left out in the hot sun, no matter how much shade and water is provided. A Bulldog can also die from hypothermia if left out in the cold of winter, regardless of the type of dog house or how many blankets you provide. All Bulldogs must be kept indoors with their families at a moderate and constant, comfortable temperature -just the same as their owners enjoy.
3. The good ethical breeders search nationwide and worldwide to find the very best brood bitches they can possibly afford. The prices for exceptional quality females from the UK average around ZAR 60,000, freight costs etc. included. Likewise, they purchase stud dogs that are excellent examples of the breed and these lovely males do not come cheap by any means! You will not find your best breeders of Bulldogs purchasing any breeding stock for the least expensive price. These females and males will be the foundation for a specific breeding program to produce the very best Buldogs possible! More often than not, the males and females are campaigned to their championship. When you get into showing dogs, it can cost you at least R75 to R80 per dog show plus travelling and accommodation costs etc. Hiring a professional handler can be most expensive! Your good, honest breeders only want the best and realize to get the best they have to pay a higher price. It is, more or less, like comparing prices between a Rolls Royce and a Chevy.
4. The average cost of breeding and whelping pups, in 2004, was as much as ZAR 5000 - 6000, and that’s if there were no complications with the mum or any of her pups. If problems arose, costs could exceed well over ZAR R8000. This does not include the stud fee for the insurance of the pups, nor the overwhelming extra amount of progesterone testing required for some brood bitches with irregular heat cycles.
All females are inseminated at a veterinarian's office by artificial insemination. On average, this can cost from R3000 - R4000 depending upon the individual vet's fees. There is a risk involved in allowing the stud and bitch to breed naturally... both can become over heated, but especially so with the stud dog that could cause possible heat stroke. Artificial insemination (Al) is done more often here now than in the past. In fact, it is against the rules and regulations of the Kennel Club of England to breed Bulldogs using artificial insemination. Some breeders have excellent expertise performing their own Al's, but artificial insemination can injure both the stud and the bitch, possibly rendering them sterile for the remainder of their lives.
5. Female Bulldogs cannot and must not be allowed to whelp pups naturally, in most cases. There are some females that have no problems at all, while others have died from trying to whelp just one pup. It is very risky for the health and well-being of the mum and the pups. Here the brood bitch is taken to the veterinary surgeon, when her time for whelping is near. She is given anesthesia and the pups are delivered by Caesarian section, very much in the same manner as with humans. The Caesarian section does not secure the safety of the mum, by any means! There have been many lovely brood bitches who have died on the veterinary surgeon's operating table, either from the wrong type of anesthesia given, or too much, or due to unknown health problems with the bitch.
6. But, before any of the breeding can take place, both the prospective stud dog and the brood bitch must undergo several health screenings. All of these are extremely expensive.
Progesterone testing for the brood bitch, alone, can cost as much as R800 per test. Some females requiring 4-6 preliminary tests before the first test proves the bitch is ready to be mated.
7. After the pups are born, they are usually kept in an incubator. Most of the animal incubators are exactly like the ones used for human babies. A simple and relatively inexpensive incubator can be made by purchasing the right supplies and knowing how to assemble it properly. The pups can spend as much as 2-4 weeks in the incubator before they are ready for the normal whelping box. This equipment and all the other supplies needed to keep the pups healthy and safe in the earliest stages of their little lives, adds up to quite a sum!
8. When the pups are ready to join their mum in the whelping box, the mum can only be allowed to stay with the pups during nursing time. To leave the mum alone with the pups, unattended, is only asking for trouble. It is not that the mum is mean or vicious. It is that all Bulldog mums are so clumsy, they can accidentally step upon, lie down on, or otherwise unknowingly injury a pup or pups severely, even causing the pups to die from these injuries. Therefore, the breeder must monitor the pups and their mum at all times when the mum is in the nest with her babies.
This often times requires the breeder to take a temporary leave of absence from his/her job in order to stay at home during the first 4-6 weeks of the pups' lives. Not to mention the fact that there are often times pups who are not as robust as their siblings, requiring supplemental feedings with special formula suckled through baby bottles, or sometimes all the pups seem to need at least one to two supplementary feedings during the day. Due to the average wage earner's salary, there is no way to properly calculate this expense, although I am sure it is not cheap, by any stretch of the imagination.
9. The best of breeders breed only when there is the best of reasons to do so. The reputable breeders are not breeding just to create pups to sale. They are conscientious, caring and concerned about all their stud dogs and brood bitches and about any pups they may produce. Each pup must be placed in forever, loving homes. Do not attempt a breeding only to discover later, there are not enough good homes available for the pups to live out their lives in peace and happiness.
Very careful screening of potential buyers must also take place to ensure the pups have the best homes possible. Again, this takes a great deal of time and time is money!
So, the next time, you wonder why Bulldogs are so expensive, maybe these few reasons mentioned here will help you understand that breeding Bulldogs and raising pups is not for the faint of heart! A good breeder is dedicated to producing the very best pups possible, simply because these breeders are focused on making the next litter better than the preceding litter. Most breeders are breeding for the next Champion dog/bitch. And, if they had all the money in the world, they would probably never sell any of their companion quality pups... they would spay or neuter them and let them live out their lives on their sofa.
If you cannot afford the purchase price of any breed of dog, please consider an aquarium, or adopting a needy pet from your local shelter or rescue organization. You must always remember that cats and dogs from shelters and rescue organizations also require considerable love, patience and understanding. Most of these pets have been either severely abused, or neglected or both. They will require special attention until they have settled in your home. Some have never been lead broken nor house broken. Some have destructive behavior, whether it be digging in the yard, or chewing up your best furniture, while others are escape artists, requiring constant supervision just to keep them from bolting out your front door or the backyard gate.
We think that loving dogs is an admirable trait and do not believe we would want to be around people who are not devoted dog lovers. But loving dogs also requires extreme responsibility for those dogs we love so dearly. Be Patient! Be Kind! But Most of all... Be a responsible pet owner!