Choosing a Breeder
Why It Matters
Before we embarked on this journey to breed Frenchies, like many families, ours had always adopted our canine companions. We always thought it was the best way to go about finding a pet. What we didn’t know is that by solely supporting rescues and shelters and not good breeders we were also supporting the irresponsible breeding practices that led to those dogs being there. Unethical breeders and puppy mills exist because they're funded by the market. There's a demand for cheap puppies fueled by an uneducated public, and only raising our standards not just as breeders, but also as buyers is what will put an end to the practices that perpetuate animal suffering.
It is a sad fact that poor breeding practices are a major contributor to the growing numbers of unwanted animals. There are many breeders that over breed as well as abandon their breeding stock once they have exhausted their usefulness, breeders who breed unhealthy, unsound animals that are soon discarded by their owners, and irresponsible owners who surrender pups from unplanned, unwanted pregnancies. As responsible breeders, we at PEERLESS vow to be part of the solution to the problem. We seek to breed better Frenchies for our own program - not solely to meet the demand for pets. We whelp no more than 2 litters per year or skip some years entirely, and our females are bred only 3 times or less. This means that we produce far less animals than other breeders. It also means that we are able to dedicate more time and resources to those few dogs we have to ensure the highest quality. At PEERLESS we are dedicated to finding our pups the best permanent homes possible - the Frenchies we produce will NEVER be allowed to go to shelters or rescues. Breeders who take back dogs their pet homes can't keep are the quickest and best way to make rescue obsolete!
Being aware of the issues facing the pet market and how where you get your pet makes an impact is important. We want our puppy families to be informed and to realize that supporting good breeders is essential to the well-being of all our furry friends. While shelter and rescue animals need homes too, they should not be the only option available. Whatever your needs, the best practice is “adopt AND shop responsibly". For those interested in learning about the difference between categories of breeders, please continue reading below.
Why isnt PEERLESS a member of the FBDCA?
FBDCA VS FBDFA
The French Bulldog Club of America (FBDCA) is the oldest club in the world dedicated to the French Bulldog breed and is responsible for setting the breed standard that must be adhered to at American Kennel Club conformation shows.
The breed standard does not currently recognize the recessive colors we sometimes produce like they once did in the original breed standard. While these colors have always been present in the breed, changes to the standard happen based on the political climate in the breed club. Until the next political shift takes place, we won't be able to join the FBDCA so long as we continue to breed without color predjudice.
Peerless French Bulldogs is, however, a member of a far more valuable organization: the French Bulldog Foundation of America (FBDFA). The French Bulldog Foundation of America has made it its mission to provide valuable information and resources not just in the form of education but also hosting health testing clinics and outreach to the benefit of both breeders and French Bulldog owners alike. They do not discriminate based upon the color of the dogs; their motto is "Include, Improve, Inspire."
The breed club is meant to be responsible for all of the breed, not just those of a certain color. They have chosen the path of exclusion and alienated what is now the majority of the breed. AKC registrations from FBDCA members account for only 1% of all French Bulldog registrations annually. The French Bulldog is the most popular breed multiple years running now, the majority of which are non-breed standard/non-recognized colors. The FBDCA has no tolerance for, guidance to offer, or connection with the majority of the breed, and therfore, no hope of managing it or improving it in any meaningful way.
The French Bulldog Foundation of America excels where the FBDCA falls short. They have chosen to embrace the entire breed, regardless of color, and shepherd this breed towards improvement and longevity. We strongly support their advocacy for ethical breeding and are proud to be a member of an organization that truly prioritizes breed health free from color bias.
Puppy Mill
A puppy mill is what the Humane Society accurately describes as an "inhumane high-volume dog breeding facility that churns out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers." Dogs from puppy mills are often sick and unsocialized. Sadly, puppies in pet stores are almost exclusively from puppy mills. Their breeding stock are mistreated and neglected their entire lives and the pups will come with no sort of health guarantee or any health testing. A reputable breeder will NEVER sell a puppy to a pet store. Puppy Mills make headlines from time to time when they are shut down and the severe overcrowding and filthy living conditions of the poor animals that have been caged their entire lives are exposed.
Backyard Breeder
Backyard breeders are only a small step above puppy mills. They typically don't have the overcrowding issues, but their animals fare little better in terms of health. Backyard breeders have little to no knowledge of the breed standard, no interest in health testing or showing, do not conduct thorough interviews, don't care to improve the breed, and do not make conscientious choices in their breeding. No thought is given to their dog's breeding worthiness, health, temperament, and least of all conformation and structure.
Ultimately, Backyard Breeders are breeding for the wrong reasons. Examples would be: individuals that breed animals because they want their female dog to "experience motherhood"; those with the "oops" litters made by their intact pets mating; or "color chasing" breeders who make their decisions based on specific colors they want to produce.
"Fad Breeders", A.K.A "Greeders" are also a type of Backyard Breeder. Their motivation is purely financial. They will often follow whatever fad promises higher prices, enging in unethical mixing and forging pedigrees (i.e. "Hairless", "Floodles", "Wire Hair" Frenchies, "Big Rope", "Velvet", "Koi", etc.). They also often irresponsibly sell breeding rights to further increase profit.
Their ignorance/disregard for correct conformation and/or health is easy to spot - this manifests as "extreme" body types such as muzzles/legs/backs that are too short to be functional or so long that the dog is no longer easily recognizable as the breed that it is. The "overdone" extreme tends to ignore obvious health issues like BOAS, limb deformities, hydrocephalus or serious faults like wry mouth or severe strabismus (wall eye), whereas the "lacking type" extreme may health test with good results but show a serious departure from all traits that define and distinguish this breed from others.
Commercial Kennel
Commercial kennels can often be high quality facilities. Animals from a commercial kennel are usually healthy and kept in hygienic conditions, groomed, well fed and receive regular veterinary care. Breeders running these kennels are usually experienced and knowledgeable and do breed quality animals. Where commercial kennels fall short is with the dog's environment. Their dogs are usually kenneled the majority of their lives and receive little human interaction beyond occasional grooming and handling for conformation shows. Working/Sporting breeds may have staff dedicated to regular training. The commercial kennel environment, however, is a far cry from the home life and love dogs in the care of a hobby breeder receive. Not being raised underfoot can lead to temperament issues. At the end of the day, the breeding stock of kennels are property and assets first NOT family.
Hobby Breeder
This is the category PEERLESS French Bulldogs is proud to say we belong to. As the term "hobby" suggests, they do not depend on breeding as a main source of income; Hobby breeders breed as a passion. Why is this significant? Because we don't have to make compromises and are never forced to breed just to pay the bills. Hobby breeders are free to breed only under the right conditions and for the right reasons.
These breeders take the time to gain an intimate knowledge of their dog's pedigrees and the breed standard. Great care is taken to stick to the "blueprint" of how the breed should behave, function, and look like, with no feature standing out above the others, but rather with all traits in harmony with one another resulting in a BALANCED specimen.
Hobby breeders don't house large numbers of dogs since they typically (as we do) keep their dogs in their own homes. A good hobby breeder will offer health guarantees and contracts with their buyers to protect the well-being of the pups they produce.
At PEERLESS we offer a 1 year health guarantee against conditions that have a severe impact on quality of life and life-threatening congenital defects and diseases. We are thorough with our interviews for pet homes, however, should any of the outstanding homes we choose for our Frenchies find themselves in a situation where they are no longer able to keep their Frenchie, we require that they return pups to us so that we can place them in another excellent home. We encourage our buyers to maintain contact and provide us with regular updates for the life of their Frenchies. At PEERLESS we strive not only to produce the highest quality Frenchies we can, but to provide lifelong support to those who join our family by taking home one of our pups.
Do Certain Colors Make Breeders Unethical?
Although we do agree that breeding for color as the priority is unethical, we do not share the view that producing and/or breeding a dog of a color that is naturally occurring in the breed but outside the current standard makes a breeder inherenty "unethical". That view is narrow minded and not in service of the breed. Ethics require that we give health the priority.
It is foolish to allow exemplary specimens and animals that can make valuable contributions to the betterment of the breed to be discarded based solely on their coat color - a trait that has no bearing on health in this breed and can be easily "corrected" in a single generation.
Coat color is part of breed politics; the standard has changed many times in this area and will continue to adapt. It is the least consequential trait and should never be the priority or, indeed, an obstacle to breed preservation.
Although we sometimes produce colors outside of the standard, color is never a consideration and does not deter us from producing the healthiest and best possible French Bulldogs we can.
