How to Pick a Puppy?
My best advice is to go with the puppy that is drawn to you. My standard strategy in selecting a pup has always been to sit a little apart from a litter and let one of the dogs come to me. My late father was, in his own way, a “dog whisperer.” He taught me this trick for picking puppies and it’s never let me down.
I’ve had dogs in my life since childhood and enjoyed a special connection with them all. I will say that often the dog that comes to me isn’t the one I might have chosen — but I still consistently rely on this method.
Beyond that, I suggest that you interact with your dog with a clear understanding that each one is an individual with unique traits. It is not so much a matter of learning about all French Bulldogs, but rather of learning about YOUR French Bulldog. You will want to choose a puppy with a friendly, easy-going temperament, and your breeder should be able to help you with your selection. Also ask the breeder about the temperament and personalities of the puppy’s parents and if they have socialized the puppies.
Always be certain to ask if a French Bulldog puppy you are interested in has displayed any signs of aggression or fear, because if this is happening at such an early age, you may experience behavioral troubles as the puppy becomes older. Some people immediately turn into mush when they come face to face with cute little puppies, and still others become very emotional when choosing a puppy, which can lead to being attracted to those who display extremes in behavior.
Take a deep breath, calm yourself, and get back in touch with your common sense. Take the time to choose wisely.
People who choose a dog that is not compatible with their energy and lifestyle will inevitably end up with a cascade of troubles, starting with an unhappy dog, which leads to behavioral issues, which will then lead to an unhappy family and an unhappy neighborhood.
Check Puppy Social Skills:
When choosing a puppy out of a litter, look for one that is friendly and outgoing, rather than one who is overly aggressive or fearful.
Puppies who demonstrate good social skills with their litter mates are much more likely to develop into easy-going, happy adult dogs that play well with others. Observe all the puppies together and take notice: Which puppies are comfortable both on top and on the bottom when play fighting and wrestling with their litter mates, and which puppies seem to only like being on top? Which puppies try to keep the toys away from the other puppies, and which puppies share?
Which puppies seem to like the company of their litter mates, and which ones seem to be loners? Puppies that ease up or stop rough play when another puppy yelps or cries are more likely to respond appropriately when they play too roughly as adults. Is the puppy sociable with humans? If they will not come to you, or display fear toward strangers, this could develop into a problem later in their life.
Is the puppy relaxed about being handled? If they are not, they may become difficult with adults and children during daily interactions, during grooming, or visits to the veterinarian’s office.
Check Puppy’s Health:
Ask to see veterinarian reports to satisfy yourself that the puppy is as healthy as possible, and then once you make your decision to share your life with a particular puppy, make an appointment with your own veterinarian for a complete examination.
Before making your final pick of the litter, check for general signs of good health, including the following: Breathing: will be quiet, without coughing or sneezing, and there will be no crusting or discharge around their nostrils. Body: will look round and well-fed, with an obvious layer of fat over their rib cage. Coat: will be soft with no dandruff or bald spots. Energy: a well-rested puppy should be alert and energetic.
Genitals: no discharge visible in or around their genital or anal region. Mobility: they will walk and run normally without wobbling, limping, or seeming to be stiff or sore. Vision: bright, clear eyes with no crust or discharge.
How to Choose a Breeder:
Since I am not an advocate of shipping live animals and this practice is strongly discouraged with Frenchies due to their issues with temperature extremes, look for a local breeder. Talk to your vet, get in touch with your local kennel club, or attend a local or regional dog show. Going to a dog show is my favorite method for locating breeders because it gives you the chance to see examples of the kennel’s dogs. You won’t be arranging an adoption at the show, but you can collect business cards and pick kennels you’d like to visit.
After you have a short list of breeders with whom you’re interested in discussing a potential adoption, plan to visit every one of the kennels in person. The best facilities are those that grant visitors full access. By really getting a good look around, you’ll be able to make sure the dogs living there have enough space, that their areas are clean and free of odors, and that the animals are obviously cared for appropriately and well.
You should feel that you are part of a free exchange of information. You want a breeder who will talk about both the positives and the negatives of the breed. What to Expect from a Good Breeder
Responsible breeders will do several things to help you pick a puppy and to make both sides in the transaction feel good about the adoption. The welfare of the dog should always be the central focus of all discussions.
When you are working with a good breeder: You should always have the chance to see the puppy with the mother and its littermates (and if possible, the father). This is extremely important because it will give you an opportunity to judge the temperament of one or both parents, and to get a better sense of the puppy’s eventual size and body conformation.
Note: Since almost all French Bulldogs are born after artificial insemination, it is likely the sire won’t be resident at the kennel.
In the case of this breed, seeing the mother (dam) is sufficient. Rather than just seeing one puppy, a good breeder will let you see and handle all the puppies. Breeders are responsible for registering the litter with the governing kennel club and for choosing the dog’s official name.
Initially, each puppy will be registered in the breeder’s name, so a part of the adoption process involves the transfer of the dog’s registration, which requires the breeder’s signature. The process of transferring the registration should be fully explained to you. The breeder should be able to describe to you how the puppy has been socialized and offer advice on how to continue this process after you get the dog home.
Good breeders want to know where their puppies are going and what their lives will be like with their new masters. You should be prepared to answer questions about your home and schedule, your family, and any other animals with whom you live. Don’t take this as the breeder being nosy, but rather as an excellent sign of just how much they have invested in the placement of their dogs. If a breeder does NOT ask questions along these lines, be concerned.
What the Breeder Should Provide to You:
The breeder should supply all of the following to you and answer any questions you have about these items. You should receive a contract of sale that details the responsibilities of both parties in the adoption of the dog. The document should also explain how the puppy’s registration papers will be transferred to you. There should be a written packet of information that offers advice on feeding, training, and exercise as well as necessary health procedures like worming and vaccinations.
The breeder should include a pedigree of the dog’s ancestry either in handwriting or an official copy from the governing kennel club. Make sure that you receive copies of all health records for the puppy (and parents), in particular what vaccinations the dog has received and the required schedule for booster shots. Good breeders also offer full disclosure of any potential genetic conditions associated with the breed, and are willing to discuss any testing that has been done to screen for these issues.
You should also receive a guarantee of the puppy’s health at the time of adoption, which you will likely be asked to confirm, for the safety of both parties, by taking the animal to a vet for evaluation. There should also be a detailed explanation of recompense in the event that a health condition does arise within a set period of time.
Identification Systems for Pedigree Dogs:
When you adopt a pedigree dog, the animal may or may not have a means of permanent identification on its body. Systems used with pedigree dogs vary with each governing organization.
The American Kennel Club recommends permanent identification as a “common sense” practice, with the preferred methods being tattoos or microchips.
In the United Kingdom, the Kennel Club is the only organization accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to certify dog breeders through the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme. Under this program, breeders are required to permanently identify their breeding stock by microchip, tattoo, or DNA profile.
Any dogs that will be traveling to or returning to the UK from another country can do so under the Pet Passport system, for which microchipping is a requirement. For more information see www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad. All dogs registered with the Canadian Kennel Club must be permanently identified with either a tattoo or a microchip.