Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | French Bulldog | Poodle |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $29,367 | $53,397 |
| First year | $7,995 | $7,295 |
| Monthly average | $250 | $318 |
| Puppy price | $2,000 to $6,500 | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,371 | $3,421 |
| Documented conditions | 25 | 29 |
| Median lifespan | 9.8 yrs | 14 yrs |
| Adult weight | 20 to 28 lb | 45 to 70 lb |
| Daily food | 1.8 cups | 3.4 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $184 | $965 |
| Risk profile | High, early onset | Moderate |
| Biggest single risk | Hip dysplasia | Skin disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | 33%screened dogs | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Periodontal disease | 22%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Skin disease | 18%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 17%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Ear disease | 16%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Ear infection (otitis externa) | 14%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Upper respiratory disease, including BOAS | 13%1-yr clinical | $422–$1,136 |
| Periodontal disease | 13%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Eye disease | 11%1-yr clinical | $449–$1,209 |
| Intervertebral disc disease | 8%lifetime, owner | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 8%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Diarrhea | 8%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Patellar luxation | 7%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS) | 5%owner survey | $1,784–$4,802 |
| Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder | 5%owner survey | $629–$1,694 |
| Otitis media | 4%owner survey | $100–$270 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 4%screened dogs | not priced |
| Conjunctivitis | 3%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Persistent vomiting | 3%owner survey | not priced |
| Skin fold dermatitis | 3%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Food Allergy | 3%owner survey | $378–$1,017 |
| Intervertebral disc disorder | 3%owner survey | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Patellar luxation/Slipping kneecap | 3%owner survey | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Chronic Itching | 2%owner survey | $629–$1,694 |
| Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome | 2%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Stenotic nares | 2%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 0.4%screened dogs | $169–$455 |
| Spinal disease including IVDD | n/a | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Pyometra | 33% | not priced |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Periodontal disease | 29%1-yr clinical | not priced |
| Dental calculus (US) | 18%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Mammary tumor | 15% | not priced |
| Ear Infection (US) | 12%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Hip dysplasia | 12%screened dogs | not priced |
| Extracted teeth (US) | 11%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dog bite (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Sebaceous cysts (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Giardia (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Cataracts (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Murmur (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Chocolate toxicity | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 5%owner survey | not priced |
| Conjunctivitis (US) | 5%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 3%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Patellar luxation | 3%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Lipoma | 2%owner survey | not priced |
| Otitis externa | 2%owner survey | $100–$270 |
| Addison's disease (primary hypoadrenocorticism) | 2%owner survey | $1,420–$3,822 |
| Conjunctivitis | 2%owner survey | $224–$604 |
| Unspecified tumor/cancer | 2%owner survey | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 2%screened dogs | $169–$455 |
| Ear mite infestation | 2%owner survey | not priced |
| Entropion | 2%owner survey | $449–$1,209 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0.4%screened dogs | not priced |
| Congenital heart disease | 0.1%screened dogs | $534–$1,438 |
| Dental disease | n/a | $246–$663 |
| Hip dysplasia | n/a | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Addison's disease | n/a | $1,420–$3,822 |
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Expected vet costs are $0 for the French Bulldog and $0 for the Poodle. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
Common questions
Is a French Bulldog or a Poodle more expensive?
The French Bulldog is cheaper by about $24,030 over a lifetime. French Bulldog: $29,367. Poodle: $53,397. Health costs are not inside either figure. They are documented separately below, in the units each study used.
Which lives longer, a French Bulldog or a Poodle?
The Poodle has the longer typical lifespan. French Bulldog: 9.8 years. Poodle: 14 years.
Which is healthier, a French Bulldog or a Poodle?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The French Bulldog's biggest single risk is hip dysplasia, seen in 33% of the breed. For the Poodle it is skin disease, at 36%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.