FINDING A PUPPY
 

There are less than 350 French Bulldog puppies born per year in the UK, so usually you must expect to wait 6-12 months before you acquire a puppy from a reputable breeder.

Before you purchase your puppy contact either the French Bulldog Club of England or the Midland & Northern Counties French Bulldog Club. They will advise you of reputable breeders who may have puppies for sale. It is strongly recommended that you join The French Bulldog Club. Even if you cannot attend the Club Shows, Meetings or Fun Events, you can get a lot of help from the Club and its members living in your area.

The worst possible way to purchase your puppy is through a pet shop, a puppy farm, the internet or from one of the free newspapers.

Most reputable breeders do not advertise, they strive to produce good health, good temperament, and good conformation. they usually have a waiting list for their puppies. This is the kind of breeder who has very likely put a great deal of time and effort into breeding and raising quality French Bulldogs and will want to give them the very best of homes. It's best to be colour-blind and more interested in good temperament, healthy long-lived lines, and sound structure, rather than what colour your would like your puppy to be. Remember the old saying: A good horse cannot be a bad colour.

If you're interested in an adult French Bulldog, some breeders may have an individual available, or you can ask if your name may be added to the French Bulldog Club of England Welfare Trust which is the rescue network although very few Frenchies end up in welfare.

The best way to acquire a puppy is to be placed on a reputable breeders waiting list and the best way to get on to a waiting list is to come to a Club event or show and meet the breeders. Don't expect to simply call a good breeder and be greeted with cries of joy and an immediate invitation to come on over and pick any puppy you want.

Point of Contact List

The Point of Contact list is a compilation of Club Members / Breeders that are prepared to be contacted for unbiased help and advice on how to find a puppy from a reputable breeder. All have been a member of the Club for at least 5 years. It is hoped that this may well discourage people from buying Frenchie pups from the internet by giving them access to recognised breeders and the chance to put their name on a waiting list for a puppy. Members on the list are there at the discretion of the FBCE committee and no reason need be given for inclusion or exclusion from the list

DISCLAIMER Whilst the French Bulldog Club of England encourages good breeding practices it does not endorse or rate any individual breeders or their stock. Neither can they take any legal responsibility or provide any support for agreements entered into between a buyer and a breeder. No responsibility for quality, health or temperament or honesty is expressed or implied. The individuals must satisfy themselves as a purchaser and any guarantees or promises are between the buyer and seller.

A reputable breeder will -

Ask many questions and most likely want references.

Expect you to ask him/her many questions as well

Expect you to have researched a little about the breed.

Will want to meet you and may want a home check carried out

Will probably have a sales contract and will explain everything to you in full before you agree on the purchase of a puppy. It may say something like - That you're buying a pet quality puppy, not show or breeding quality. That you'll take good care of the puppy and look after her,. That you won't sell her or give her to anyone else without contacting the breeder first. and that the breeder will have first right of refusal

Will probably have endorsements on the puppy’s Kennel Club registration certificate. Endorsed Registration means the French Bulldog is registered with the Kennel Club but her papers will specify that she cannot be bred. If you breed her, the Kennel Club won't register her puppies. Endorsed Registration can always be changed to Full Registration later ,if the breeder agrees.

May want you to have your own vet check the puppy within the first seven days that it is in it’s new home

Will normally charge you the average price of a puppy which appears to be approximately £950. – 1200

Will expect you to keep in touch at least once a year

Will be happy to provide you with references about themselves.

Will be a member of the either of the French Bulldog clubs in the UK as they will appreciate that contact with other experienced breeders /owners is invaluable.

In return you can expect

A healthy vet checked puppy (many breeders provide a veterinary health certificate)

A first vaccination certificate and written proof of regular worming

A guarantee with a full refund or the offer of another puppy if you need to return the puppy should your vet find anything wrong with it within an agreed time

All the relevant Kennel Club documents to be handed over at the time of the sale

The puppy to be insured for the first six weeks.

Friendly help and advice if you should need it

Help throughout your dogs life should you ever find yourself in a situation in witch you can no longer keep your Frenchie The breeder should be willing to take your Frenchie back any time and either keep her or find another home for her. ( this doesn't mean you get your money back if you bring her back in five years what it does mean that if something unfortunate happens, your little one will have a place to go.)

A little about joint ownership

This means you and the breeder would both own him or her. Joint-ownership's are good and bad. Make sure you have a contract and ask a lot of questions, put it in BLACK AND WHITE. Know your breeder and make sure you want to deal with this person for the life for your French Bulldog. You may be required to breed the dog, or let the breeder do it. You may have to breed her once or twice and give the breeder a puppy(ies), or you have to provide free stud service for the breeders bitches. Do not enter into a joint-ownership if you think you may change your mind about what you agreed to in the beginning, the breeder may not be understanding If you can't breed or show him or her you may have to send him or her to the breeder, do you want to lose the dog for weeks or months? What if he/she develops a problem or an unsuitable temperament for breeding? These questions should be addressed and put in the contract before the dog leaves for his or her new home. Think very carefully before joint-owning a dog, put it in black and white.

Loan Agreements

Some breeders will only sell you a bitch puppy if you agree to loan your Frenchie (when she is old enough) back to them in order that he/she (the breeder) can have a litter from her. However, this type of agreement is not common practice in our breed. The Kennel Club approved loan agreement is valid for no less than a six month period which means that the breeder can keep your Frenchie for that amount of time. It might seem a nice idea at the time to allow your Frenchie to have puppies but remember that pregnancy and whelping in the French Bulldog may be difficult and in some cases can result in complications, as many Frenchies do not give birth naturally and require a Caesarean operation. The anaesthetic can pose a serious risk and may in the most extreme cases result in the death of your Frenchie and the pups. .

Be very cautious about entering into this type of agreement, make sure you understand all the implications, consider the mental and physical stress your pet will suffer whilst she is away from you and do not forget that all of your Frenchies puppies will belong to the breeder, not you!

There are people who simply bred together any male and any female and produced puppies. They do no research, so they don't know the incidence of deformities, health problems or poor temperament in their lines. When you buy from these people, you are essentially buying generic little dogs with unknown genes. Their Kennel Club registration papers say French Bulldog only because the parents were registered with the Kennel Club as French Bulldogs, that is no guarantee about structure, health, or temperament. These people just take your money and do not want to know if you need help or anything goes wrong

Remember that your decision to acquire a French Bulldog from a particular breeder will affect you (and your French Bulldog) for the next 1 to 14 years.

If you keep in touch with the FBCE Hon Secretary on a regular basis she will be able to let you know of any puppies that may be available. If you should find a suitable puppy in the mean time, please let her know, and please do not hesitate to call or email if you need help or advice.