The top asked question in my dms when I post Sky is who was her breeder. The next question is how did you find a french bulldog breeder you trusted. I won’t sugar coat, it took me over 6 months of research on not only breeders but the breed itself to find someone I trusted.
French Bulldogs are a unique breed and can have a lot of health issues if they are bred incorrectly. You are spending so much money already on your puppy. It’s crucial to make sure you can avoid major genetic issues as well as some physical ones as well.
I’m going to share with you my thought process in picking a breeder but not the breeder itself. Unfortunately they are no longer breeding but I also think you need to find a breeder on your own. Recommendations are great but honestly there’s a lot at stake when choosing your French Bulldog breeder.
Facial Features
This is probably my top tip and something I didn’t realize until after I got her. Frenchie’s can have major breathing problems due to their smooshed faces but so far we haven’t seen that with Sky. Her nose is actually much further out on her face and I think that’s why.
I’ve noticed the dogs how have the super smooshed faces seem to be the snorters and the ones that breath super heavy. Sky has minimal breathing like that but seriously not that bad. When going to pick out your Frenchie, I would look for breeders who have dogs with longer snouts because that just means more air and room for air for your pet.
Health Info
This one is pretty obvious but you need to have a breeder who’s willing to give you info on the health of all of their dogs. Not just the parents of your puppy but also the other dogs in their care. I was able to actually meet her parents and look at them as well as get their health info written out.
They didn’t have anything that would’ve been a warning sign or indicator of hereditary health issues that they could give to Sky. I wanted to also meet some of their other dogs because it gives you an idea of how well they take care of their pets and if they have any health issues.
Vibe of the Breeder
I can’t tell you how many breeders I talked to that were way too pushy. If I’m reaching out about a dog, clearly I want one but not just the first dog you have. I also was turned off by breeders who had insanely strict contracts for vaccines and spaying/neutering.
When I take home my puppy, I want to be able to make decisions for it that I have researched and feel is best, not anyone else. I get why breeders have contracts to preserve their line of dogs but I wanted a breeder who would guide me, not decide for me. Sky’s breeders were super laid back and answered any questions I had in the early months of having her.
Social Media Tags
This is one that I think a lot of people don’t think to do. My breeder had an instagram account and I found it super helpful to go to their tagged pictures and see how their dogs were doing now. This gives you an better idea of their health problems that maybe a breeder wouldn’t want to tell you.
Through social media, I was also connected with some of Sky’s siblings to talk about the dogs and how they’re doing. This was just so helpful to see happy and healthy older dogs because it gives you an idea of what you’re getting.
What does your puppy come with
After talking to a bunch of breeders, it’s common to have dogs come with other health tests done. I think the more health testing your breeder can offer the better because then you know what you’re getting.
Some dogs also need vaccines so it’s important to make sure your pup comes up to date with those. Some breeders send home other things like collars or toys. I don’t find that as important as getting those health tests that you would want.
Obviously price and color come into play but these 5 things were at the top of my mind. You are trusting this person to give you a healthy dog that’s very expensive. Research is essential and taking the time to choose is necessary.
My top tip is just start emailing your local french bulldog breeder or breeders at a distance you’re comfortable in going to. Honestly, building a relationship with the breeder and getting to know their dogs is my top tip.
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