When considering purchasing a french bulldog, it’s paramount to find reputable french bulldog breeders to avoid a litany of headaches. Bad breeders are immediately guilty of animal mistreatment. Buying from bad breeders perpetuates the exploitation of french bulldogs. Further, buying from a bad breeder can end up costing you lots of money and heartache in the long run.
A healthy french bulldog puppy purchased from a reputable breeder.
It’s easy to spot a bad breeder in the first 60 seconds of a kennel visit. Below, we’ll outline what to look for in reputable french bulldog breeders and how to weed out the bad ones (and report them to the proper authorities). Remember, puppy mills are illegal and there are many, many animal activist groups that will support you in rescuing french bulldogs from a puppy mill.
What to Look for in Reputable French Bulldog Breeders
- Reputable french bulldog breeders always registers their puppies with the AKC (American Kennel Club). It is the only legitimate DNA and pedigree-based canine kennel in America. If you visit a kennel to meet a new litter of puppies and the kennel master does not mention where they register their litters, then pry and insist that they answer. If they say they use the CKC (Continental Kennel Club), leave immediately and report them to the ASPCA, local animal welfare services, and the humane society. They’re running a puppy mill. Note: It is possible that some reputable french bulldog breeders will not register their puppies with any registry due to conflicts of interest regarding breeding lineages. Highly expensive, rare, or highly-decorated french bulldogs are often sold with a clause that includes litigation if the purchasers breed their french bulldog without explicit permission from the owner of the sire and dam.
- Reputable french bulldog breeders will dedicate a LARGE amount of space in their home or an on-site building to breeding french bulldogs. Reputable french bulldog breeders will treat their kennel like a craft and you should immediately ask for a full tour of their breeding facilities and accommodations for their frenchies. A spare bedroom with a kennel in it is not a sign of a good breeder and further, suggests animal mistreatment. Reputable french bulldog breeders will have an air conditioned/heated facility that is either 2-3 rooms in their house dedicated entirely to breeding or a spare insulated, safe building where dams, sires, and puppies play, eat, live, learn, and relax.
- Reputable french bulldog breeders will not confine their french bulldogs to kennels all day long. A reputable breeder will provide a massive fenced in yard complete with places to cool off or stay warm. The diligent french bulldog breeder will allow her dams, sires, and puppies to roam in a dedicated open space while also providing “safe havens” for each individual litter and dog. These safe havens can be as simple as a soft-bedded kennel for a dam and her young to rest to individual room sections divided into cubicle like play areas for their frenchies to sleep and play.
- If you see lots of french bulldogs lined up in small cages or cells similar to those found in humane societies, you’re inside a puppy mill and should immediately report the owners to the ASPCA, local animal welfare authorities, the local humane society, and the police. Puppy mills are illegal in America.
- If you see little to no signs of what you would suspect a breeding facility or converted breeding space to look like, insist that you meet the sire and dam of the litter you’re visiting, as well as a tour of the breeder’s accommodations for her dogs. Seeing too little evidence of an on-site breeding setup suggests that the “breeder” you’re visiting isn’t a breed at all. It’s incredibly common for people to masquerade as breeders by going to puppy mills and buying several litters of french bulldogs for wholesale prices and reselling the french bulldogs as legitimately bred puppies. If you have a suspicion, do not give money for a deposit or purchase a french bulldog without being 100% certain you’re not buying a resale puppy.
- If the breeders you’re visiting from seem young and inexperienced and cannot openly discuss the nuances of french bulldogs, then pry and test their knowledge. A reputable french bulldog breeder will have limitless knowledge of the french bulldog breed, where they came from, their history, their health issues, and on and on ad nauseum. Reputable french bulldog breeders will be able and willing to talk your head off about the breed without hesitation. Breeding french bulldogs is hard, alot harder and more time intensive than breeding many, many other dog breeds. The level of dedication and hard work it takes to adequately breed healthy french bulldogs will shine through a reputable breeder.
- If you see signs of neglected french bulldogs, lots of skin abrasions and sores, dirty or unclean living quarters for the frenchies, and a general lack of sanitation, call the police, the ASPCA, the humane society, and the local animal welfare authorities. You’re in a puppy mill.
- Never allow a breeder to insist that they meet you away from their breeding facility. This suggests that they have something to hide. Always insist that you come to their home or wherever they breed, raise, and welp their french bulldogs in order to get a feel for their process and their accommodations.
Other Signs of Reputable French Bulldog Breeders
- Be weary of breeders who use puppy sales sites like Oodle, Puppy Find, Craigslist, and so on. The French Bulldog Club of America (the AKC sub-club for Frenchies) provides a breeder directory. Use their directory in conjunction with the AKC Breeder Search Tool to find a reputable french bulldog breeder. A good breeder will gladly refer you to another reputable frenchie breeder if you’re desperate to own a frenchie before their next dam is due.
- A reputable french bulldog breeder likely has a waiting list. French bulldogs are rare and hard to come by, so expect to get in line.
- A reputable breeder will be equally inquisitive about you as you are about them. Read this warning from Helene Neer about a disastrous placement of a french bulldog puppy into the home of hoarder. Expect, or even insist, that the breeder visit YOUR home after your initial visit to their home or breeding quarters.
- Follow up. Reputable french bulldog breeders should follow up with you about your puppy to inquire about the health and happiness of the dog. Often, breeders will request photos of the french bulldog as they age, especially for particularly unique frenchies. Often, breeders will ask to use your photos in their website or promotional materials. If you don’t hear from your breeder after 6-10 weeks, ring them up and be sure to let them know how your frenchie is doing. Encourage them to stay involved.
A healthy adult french bulldog that came from a reputable breeder.
Reputable French Bulldog breeders never treat breeding like a business.
Breeding french bulldogs is not profitable. Even further, it is not our place to profit off the natural reproduction of animals. French bulldogs are our companions. A responsible french bulldog breeder should never discuss breeding from the position of financial gain. Breeding french bulldogs is an attempt to perpetuate the breed, improve their overall health and well-being, and ensure that each puppy placed goes to a happy, healthy, clean, and loving home with plenty of room to rest, play, learn, and live. French bulldogs are not mere house pets, they are insanely intelligent companions with social structures and emotions indecipherable to humans unto themselves. Be smart, be responsible, and most of all, be compassionate to the plight of this tiny, chubby breed.
How to Get in Contact with Reputable French Bulldog Breeders
- A good first step is to use the AKC Search Tool listed above and use that to get the contact information for the breeders nearest you.
- Before you call or email the breeders you’re interested in visiting or inquiring about, Google their kennel name or their name, if they don’t have a business name, and look for red flags like complaints from previous buyers, reports of bad conditions for puppies and dogs, and so on. Weigh the gravity of these assertions, if you find any, before contacting the breeder.
- Always be professional and polite when talking with breeders, but be yourself and put your best foot forward. You’re ultimately making a big monetary exchange and you should not be afraid to get your money’s worth: ask lots of questions, ask for copies of pedigrees, ask to visit their kennel or breeding quarters, ask for recommendations if you’re unsure, and ask to speak with previous customers who have purchased French Bulldogs from their kennel.
Do you know of a reputable French Bulldog breeder/rescue in or around New York City or New York State? Thanks in advance.
Hey, your best bet is to look here: http://www.frenchbulldogrescue.org/ or here: http://www.snortrescue.org/
I would recommend calling the animal shelters in your borough or area and asking if they have seen any french bulldogs come in. Also ask about people who rescue in the area or ask for people who run a rescue.
Which breeder did you use for your Frenchies?
Our french bulldogs came from very small boutique breeders located in our state. We commonly work with this breeder: http://derbycityfrenchbulldogs.com/home.html
Hi Jordan,
I was looking at the breeder you use, I couldn’t find anything on them health testing their dogs. Do they health test?
Nita
Which breeder is this? I work with several. If you’re talking about Tony, just call the number on his site. He will provide health testing info, he was happy to for me at least.
Is it customary to breed online for this breed?
I have seen instances of breeders sending nitrogen-frozen sperm and paying a stud fee, all online, but it’s probably more intimate than it is “business-like”.
I am considering adding a new member to my family. I would like to speak to somebody or get a referral for a reputable French Bulldog organization where I can find an AKC French Bulldog. My name is Michael I live in Boise Idaho so far I’ve had no luck finding a list of reputable associations that can provide me contact information about this. Would appreciate any info
I live in a suburb of NYC and am searching for a reputable, AKC registered breeder of French Bulldogs. I do not want to make a mistake. I searched the AKC website and both breeders listed no longer seem to be operating. One in Red Hook, NY and one in White Plains. I just want a healthy Frenchie, not for show or other purpose. Just to take care of as my companion. It seems difficult to sort out the imposters who are breeding for profit. I hope you can recommend some responsible breeders I can drive to.
I saw this website it’s called
Blue mini Frenches.com
Their puppies are only 1250. I’m just wondering if their a reparable Breeder?