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If you buy a French bulldog, be sure to meet its mother If you buy a French bulldog, be sure to meet its mother
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As a nation we're easy to seduce – from red jeans to Apple computers, it's clear we are weak when it comes to fashionable whims. Dogs are not excluded from this tendency and over the years I have seen breeds rise and fall in popularity. It is undoubted that we live in the moment of the French bulldog. They have become ubiquitous – it's rare to walk three metres down a UK high street without becoming tangled in the lead of a "Frenchie".As a nation we're easy to seduce – from red jeans to Apple computers, it's clear we are weak when it comes to fashionable whims. Dogs are not excluded from this tendency and over the years I have seen breeds rise and fall in popularity. It is undoubted that we live in the moment of the French bulldog. They have become ubiquitous – it's rare to walk three metres down a UK high street without becoming tangled in the lead of a "Frenchie".
It's easy to understand why a product like the French bulldog captures our imagination: they are small, yet are called bulldogs; and they look upset but are incongruously cute and delightful. And aren't we still slightly in awe of anything that renders us a little more continental? But next time your colleague talks about dog diets, or your friend sits his furry companion on the dinner table, it's worth asking if they ever met their dog's mother.It's easy to understand why a product like the French bulldog captures our imagination: they are small, yet are called bulldogs; and they look upset but are incongruously cute and delightful. And aren't we still slightly in awe of anything that renders us a little more continental? But next time your colleague talks about dog diets, or your friend sits his furry companion on the dinner table, it's worth asking if they ever met their dog's mother.
Yes, it's a strange question. It's more likely you'd be interested in your friend's mother and even then perhaps not that much. But this has become the key question for all popular-pup owners to answer.Yes, it's a strange question. It's more likely you'd be interested in your friend's mother and even then perhaps not that much. But this has become the key question for all popular-pup owners to answer.
Popular dog breeding is one of the UK's growing industries, and although licensed by rural councils it is little, if at all, regulated. I refer to French bulldogs as products as they are now manufactured in exactly the same way as your red jeans. Save the stretch denim, there is very little difference between the way some cheap clothes and popular dogs have been produced.Popular dog breeding is one of the UK's growing industries, and although licensed by rural councils it is little, if at all, regulated. I refer to French bulldogs as products as they are now manufactured in exactly the same way as your red jeans. Save the stretch denim, there is very little difference between the way some cheap clothes and popular dogs have been produced.
Working conditions for breeding dogs bear striking similarities to the images we see of sweatshop labour on the subcontinent: dogs pop out their litters in low-lit barns, sitting in production lines. The pups are taken away far too early, having barely tasted their mother's milk. These puppies go on to become the fluffy numbers that play in department stores and the lonesome pups in baskets that implore children to stare dolefully into pet shop windows.Working conditions for breeding dogs bear striking similarities to the images we see of sweatshop labour on the subcontinent: dogs pop out their litters in low-lit barns, sitting in production lines. The pups are taken away far too early, having barely tasted their mother's milk. These puppies go on to become the fluffy numbers that play in department stores and the lonesome pups in baskets that implore children to stare dolefully into pet shop windows.
What's the big deal? A French bulldog is a French bulldog, right? Unfortunately not. Dogs that have been bred without sufficient mother's milk, or invaluable time interacting with her, will grow into sick animals. They are unlikely to be cute for long. Much as jeans that are produced quickly might come apart at the seams, a French bulldog battery-farmed in this way will be plagued with health difficulties both medically and behaviourally. It will be prone to bone problems, have little immunity to diseases and suffer impossible temperament issues. Between the huge vet bills, it will undoubtedly bring some pleasure to its owner, but it will be a life of almost constant suffering and pain for the dog.What's the big deal? A French bulldog is a French bulldog, right? Unfortunately not. Dogs that have been bred without sufficient mother's milk, or invaluable time interacting with her, will grow into sick animals. They are unlikely to be cute for long. Much as jeans that are produced quickly might come apart at the seams, a French bulldog battery-farmed in this way will be plagued with health difficulties both medically and behaviourally. It will be prone to bone problems, have little immunity to diseases and suffer impossible temperament issues. Between the huge vet bills, it will undoubtedly bring some pleasure to its owner, but it will be a life of almost constant suffering and pain for the dog.
Suffering is the key word here. The red jeans we buy don't feel anything when they fall apart, unlike our furry "friends". Dogs are sentient, after all, as are the producers of the product – other dogs. Trend has a sad relationship with exploitation, but whether the need for wealth comes before the suffering of the product itself seems not even worth discussing. As a nation, we would not publicly and legally advocate the overt torture of humans for wealth, so why animals?Suffering is the key word here. The red jeans we buy don't feel anything when they fall apart, unlike our furry "friends". Dogs are sentient, after all, as are the producers of the product – other dogs. Trend has a sad relationship with exploitation, but whether the need for wealth comes before the suffering of the product itself seems not even worth discussing. As a nation, we would not publicly and legally advocate the overt torture of humans for wealth, so why animals?
A pet can be one of the most wonderful additions to life – a dog can save us from loneliness, give us meaning and teach younger generations how to look after the life around us. One of the key aspects of animal ownership is the responsibility for an animal, and the prevention of its suffering. This starts by checking your French bulldog pup is being sold while interacting with its mother, and is the first and most important hallmark of responsible pet ownership.A pet can be one of the most wonderful additions to life – a dog can save us from loneliness, give us meaning and teach younger generations how to look after the life around us. One of the key aspects of animal ownership is the responsibility for an animal, and the prevention of its suffering. This starts by checking your French bulldog pup is being sold while interacting with its mother, and is the first and most important hallmark of responsible pet ownership.
If we abandon the industry, there will be cutbacks on the mass producing of animals in this way. Or there should be. It's fair to say that blackmarket dog breeding will always exist in some form or other. What we really need to do is stand up and say that the mass production of Frenchies, and other popular dogs, is cruel and should be outlawed.If we abandon the industry, there will be cutbacks on the mass producing of animals in this way. Or there should be. It's fair to say that blackmarket dog breeding will always exist in some form or other. What we really need to do is stand up and say that the mass production of Frenchies, and other popular dogs, is cruel and should be outlawed.
Several cities in the US have already outlawed the selling of puppies and kittens in pet shops, ie, without their mothers present, thus hugely stopping demand and supply of mass-produced animals from puppy farms. There isn't any reason why we shouldn't do the same here in the UK. More than 70,000 people already agree (if you want to join them, you can add your name here). A puppy sold without its mother is merely a product and not a pet. It's a cruel undertaking. And it's high time British law recognised the harm in this practice.Several cities in the US have already outlawed the selling of puppies and kittens in pet shops, ie, without their mothers present, thus hugely stopping demand and supply of mass-produced animals from puppy farms. There isn't any reason why we shouldn't do the same here in the UK. More than 70,000 people already agree (if you want to join them, you can add your name here). A puppy sold without its mother is merely a product and not a pet. It's a cruel undertaking. And it's high time British law recognised the harm in this practice.
So, where is your "Frenchie" from?So, where is your "Frenchie" from?
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