Breed standard of the French Bulldog
The breed standard is set by the FCI and has been changed in 2014. Some characteristics have been aggravated to health problems. These include the limitation of body size, the required short neck and a nose-length of 1/6 of the skull.
We do therefore distance ourselves from the current breed standard and believe that despite all the problems we can breed a dog which is still recognizable a bulldog, but which has clear characteristics of a canid. Deviations from the Standard, which do not limit the dog in his efficiency and his well-being, are tolerated and as far as justifiable, considered in the mating.
To illustrate this, here is an extract of our breeding regulations:
Breeding goal for the French Bulldog in the Gesunde Bulldoggen e.V. is a healthy, vital, efficient, friendly and stable molossoid companion and family dog, based on the breed standard of the FCI, which does not represent "Qualzucht" torment breeding in the sense of the German animal protection law.
We have thankfully a transparent exchange between committed and willing breeders, no matter if breeding within FCI or outside (dissidence).
We were the first to sign the "Dortmunder Appell" (initiative for a better health for pets), we are still following its guidelines. But not every dog with a disease-value-relevant finding is eliminated for breeding by us - in keeping with the motto: if it doesn't hurt the dog, it is not a fault at the moment. Every inherited fault can be improved! Carefully planned mating, coupled with strictly controlled offspring examinations is our way of doing this.
Interested? We are looking for dog lovers with hearts and minds, who are responsive to the needs of carefully reared dogs and consider the Frenchie as a full-fledged dog and not as fashion accessory. It is vital that puppy buyers and breeders support us in the tremendously important offspring studies.
Our breeding dogs have at least been tested for:
Heart diseases by ECG and heart ultrasound
Brachycephal respiratory distress syndrome by computed tomography or laryngoscopy from 18 months on
Deformations and stenoses of the vertebral bodies as well as flow through the spinal canal by computer tomography or magnetic resonance tomography from 18 months of age
patella luxation
hip dysplasia
eye examination, at least for entropion, ectropion, distichiasis and cataract
dental status
dilution test
DNA screening Embark or Feragen incl. DM (degenerative myelopathy)
The examinations are evaluated by a specialist veterinarian in radiology and a GRSK expert.
The breeding age is set at 18 months for females and 24 months for males.
It is at least as important that the fallen litters are examined for hereditary diseases in order to get information about the quality of our breeding dogs. The puppy buyers are supported by our breeders regarding these points.
This is the second generation from CT-scanned parents with tail.
We only use dogs with mild findings for breeding. We submit ourselves to strict breeding rules, which have clear boundaries if it comes to respiration, vertebral body and hip.
Our mating results confirm predominantly healthy dogs! But of course we are no rulers over nature and genetics and also our breeders have to take setbacks. These cases are not concealed, but used for knowledge of hereditary strength, evaluations and pedigrees.
Nobodys perfect!
The breed has its problems, recognize and analyse the problems and work on them!
