Are you looking for a new French Bulldog family member, but don’t know where to start? Finding the right breeder is crucial for ensuring you get a healthy and well-socialized puppy. Doing your research can also sort out the legit breeders from the scammers (either no puppies or puppy mills). Here are some key things to look for when searching for a reputable breeder:
- Health Testing: A responsible breeder will conduct health tests on their breeding dogs to screen for genetic conditions common in that breed. The most common health testing is genetic DNA tests through companies such as Animal Genetics, UC Davis, Embark, Wisdom Panel, etc. These tests are what people refer to when they say 4 or 6 panel clear. See my article on DNA Health testing for more information on current DNA tests for French Bulldogs. More in-depth health testing such as hip dysplasia, eyes, cardiac (heart), patellar luxation, and brachycephalic syndrome is always a plus! However, just remember with these physical tests it’s a snapshot of the parent’s confirmation, not their offspring. It does not mean your puppy won’t have any of these issues. However, breeding exceptional parents can drastically reduce the possibility of passing undesired traits.
- Clean and Caring Environment: Visit the breeder's home/facility if possible or ask for photos/videos/facetime. Some breeders (especially with French Bulldogs) are reluctant to have you visit the home due to safety and disease transfer. However, almost everyone has the ability to facetime these days! It might not be the most comfortable, but DO IT! It can give you either piece of mind meeting your breeder or might save you heartache later. See the puppies and the environment they’re living in. Is there lots of social/environmental interaction opportunities? Where do the adult dogs (mom and dad) live? The environment should be clean, well-maintained, and the dogs should appear healthy and well-cared for. Puppies should be raised indoors with plenty of human interaction.
- Health Guarantee: A reputable breeder absolutely will offer a health guarantee for their puppies, typically covering genetic health issues for a certain period after purchase. Standard is at least one, but even better is two years of age. Make sure to carefully read and understand the terms of the health guarantee. Ask any questions prior to taking your puppy home. Normal requirements are for the new owners to take their puppy within the first week to their vet to confirm health. Typical health guarantees cover heath problems outside of what’s common for the breed or environmental health issues. These may or may not be genetically passed on from parents and usually life threatening or hindering to the puppy. Common, non-covered issues for French Bulldogs are usually nare/pallet issues, allergies, eye issues (cherry eye), IVDD (unless it was due to a genetically short spine), skin fold dermatitis and patellar luxation. Know your breed and know the possible heath concerns before committing to a new pup.
- Vet Visit/Vaccines/Microchip: A reputable breeder will have their puppies examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to going to new homes. Their puppies will also have the appropriate vaccines for their age. The Distemper/Parvo vaccine is given starting at 6-8 weeks old and is the first in the series of boosters puppies are given. Depending on the age your puppy goes home, make sure they have been appropriately vaccinated to prevent bringing home a sick puppy. Parvo is one of the most important vaccines due to how deadly it is to puppies and how easy it is to transfer. Some breeders do their own vaccines which is OK as long as they don’t use outdated vaccines, properly store them refrigerated and can tell you exactly which vaccine was given and when. Best practice is to have the vet vaccinate puppies. The veterinarian will properly document the exact vaccine given on the exact day while also insuring proper storage and expiration dates. When you take your new puppy to your vet, they want to see this information so they know where your puppy is on their vaccine series and when the next vaccine needs to be given. Lastly, it’s a huge benefit to have your puppy microchipped! I microchip all of my puppies and give a prepaid registration to all owners. Puppies can quickly slip away from owners in new environments or be stolen. A microchip can really help with protection and reuniting.
- Puppy Contract: A reputable breeder will have a contract detailing their health guarantee, which puppy you’ve selected, puppy parentage, what is expected of new owners and what should be expected of the breeder. Make sure its detailed and read carefully before sending a deposit or picking up your puppy. If you wait to read it while you have a puppy in your hands, it will be hard to concentrate on the paperwork and be even harder to say no if things don’t seem right. Don’t assume anything, always ask if you have a question, even if it seems silly. Remember, not all breeding programs are created equal.
- Knowledgeable and Transparent: The breeder should be knowledgeable about the breed, willing to answer any questions you have, and provide information about the lineage and health history of the puppies' parents. As a breeder myself I am obsessed with French Bulldogs. Most true breeders are obsessed with whatever breed they choose. We can answer your questions from experience, other breeders experience, from our vets and LOTS of research. Any breeder that can’t/won’t answer your questions either, doesn't care enough and isn’t going to be there for you after you make the puppy purchase or hasn’t been breeding for very long. If you feel like the person doesn’t care enough or you get a weird answer that doesn't make sense, RUN! They might not be a breeder at all, but a scammer. For the breeder that hasn’t been breeding very long, everyone starts somewhere. New breeders might not be a good match for a person new to owning French Bulldogs, but for a more experienced owner, it might be just fine. That is as long as the new breeder is following good breeding practices, has a mentor and is taking the time to learn and research. As long as they reach out to their vet or mentor to get your question answered, they are probably a good one.
- Breeding Practices: Avoid breeders who prioritize profit over the welfare of the dogs. They should not engage in practices like excessive breeding, inbreeding, or breeding unhealthy dogs. Responsible breeders have a genuine love for the breed and strive to improve it with each generation. Make sure your puppy is coming from a loving home and not a puppy mill!
- Socialization: Puppies should be well-socialized from an early age, exposed to different environments, people, and animals to help them grow into well-adjusted adults. Ask the breeder about their socialization practices. Socializing your puppy is one of the most important things a breeder can do and is often overlooked by families. In the first 8 weeks of life, your puppy takes in an exorbitant amount of information from its mom, litter mates and caretakers. Seemingly small things like getting puppies use to the TV, vacuum, other animals, kids, both men and woman, change in environments and toys just to name a few can make a huge difference in behavior as puppies grow and develop.
- Reputation and References: Look for breeders with a good reputation within the French Bulldog community. Ask for references from previous puppy buyers and consider joining online forums or social media groups dedicated to French Bulldogs to get recommendations. Pick several breeders and follow their social media for a while to see what they post. You can tell a lot about a breeding program by seeing their dogs, puppies they produce and comments by prior adopters.
- Registration and Documentation: The breeder should provide proper registration papers and documentation for the puppy, including health records, vaccination history, and any applicable pedigrees at the time of transfer to the new owners. Don’t ever let a breeder tell you they will mail them later. You will never see any paperwork from someone that says that. The breeder has had plenty of time to get themselves organized for puppy pick up. They should have everything ready for you at that time. It is extremely normal and recommended by AKC that breeders only give out limited AKC registration to none breeding families. You should question a breeder giving full AKC breeding right with every puppy they home. When you give breeding rights, it means you are willing to mentor someone, if needed, during the breeding and whelping process. This can be extremely time consuming and I don't know anyone that could do that properly with every puppy they home. Limited registration means they are registerable with AKC (parents are AKC fully registered), but don’t have breeding rights. Puppies should not be produced from a limited dog. As reputable breeders we need to ensure any puppy leaving our home with intention for breeding is going to a home with the understanding of how intense, time/money consuming and important breeding and raising puppies is. I love breeding, however it’s not for everyone.
- Lifestyle Match: A good breeder will also want to ensure that their puppies are going to suitable homes. They may ask you questions about your lifestyle, living situation, and experience with dogs to ensure that their puppies are placed in the right environment. Don’t take offense to a breeder asking questions. We just want to make sure you’ve thought about your decision, answer any questions it might bring up and ensure the best puppy match. Breeders often have applications for potential owners to fill out.
- Ongoing Support: A reputable breeder will offer ongoing support and advice for the lifetime of the dog. They should be available to answer questions, provide guidance, and offer assistance if any issues arise. In the unforeseen situation you can no longer care for your dog, they will either take back the dog or help find an appropriate new home. A reputable breeder never wants to see one of their puppies relinquished to a rescue, mill, dog pound, etc.
Remember to take your time and do thorough research when choosing a breeder. French Bulldogs have become extremely popular over the last few years. This is wonderful for frenchie lovers, but can also be a detriment to potential new owner and the puppies themselves, if breeders are taking short cuts. With increase popularity we are seeing scams, puppy mills and low-quality breeding. It's worth the effort to find a responsible breeder who prioritizes the health and well-being of their dogs.
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