The purpose of these questions is not to catch anyone out. A genuinely good breeder will enjoy answering them, because they have spent money and years on the answers and rarely get asked. The questions that matter are the specific ones.
Health testing — the non-negotiables
1. What Respiratory Function Grading Scheme grades do both parents hold? You want Grade 0 or 1, with certificates. 'They breathe fine' is not an answer — the whole point of the scheme is that owner assessment is unreliable.
2. Can I see the RFG certificates? They should be produced without hesitation.
3. Have both parents been hip scored under the BVA/KC scheme?
4. Have both parents had their patellae graded?
5. What DNA panel have the parents had, and can I see the results? A modern panel covers SOD1 (degenerative myelopathy), the dilution locus, cocoa, and hereditary cataract among others.
6. Have the parents been spine radiographed for hemivertebrae?
7. What is the coefficient of inbreeding for this mating? A breeder who does not know what this means has not calculated it.
The colour questions
8. What colour genetics do both parents carry?
9. If this is a diluted colour, are you aware of the colour dilution alopecia risk, and how do you discuss it with buyers? The answer tells you whether they are informing buyers or selling to them.
10. Has this line ever produced a merle puppy?
11. Is the puppy Kennel Club registered, and if not, why not?
The breeding practice questions
12. How many litters has this bitch had, and how many in the last twelve months?
13. How old is she, and how old was she at her first litter?
14. Was this litter delivered by caesarean, and how many caesareans has she had? Repeated caesareans have a practical limit, and a breeder pushing past it is prioritising the wrong thing.
15. Do you hold a local authority breeding licence? Can I see it? Required in England for three or more litters in twelve months, or for breeding as a business.
16. How many breeds do you breed? Several concurrent breeds is a commercial operation.
Seeing the dogs
17. Can I see the puppy with its mother, in the place they live? This is the law under Lucy's Law, not a favour. If the mother is unavailable for any reason, walk away — there is no acceptable version of this excuse.
18. Can I visit more than once before collection?
19. Can I meet the father, or see video and his health certificates?
20. Where do the puppies sleep, and where do they spend the day?
The puppy itself
21. Has the puppy been examined by a vet, and what did the vet record? Ask specifically what was written, because whatever was written may be excluded by your insurer.
22. Has it been microchipped and vaccinated? Can I see the paperwork?
23. Have the puppies been checked for cleft palate and for umbilical hernia?
24. Have you observed any regurgitation in this puppy?
25. Does this puppy have a tail pocket?
26. What socialisation have the puppies had — household noise, other people, car travel?
After you take the puppy home
27. What are you feeding, and will you provide a few days of the same food?
28. Do you provide free insurance cover from collection day? Many do, and activating it that day is important.
29. What does your contract say about health guarantees?
30. Will you take the dog back at any point in its life if I cannot keep it? A yes here is one of the strongest signals of a good breeder.
31. Can I contact you with questions in a year? In five years?
32. Can you put me in touch with someone who bought a puppy from a previous litter?
33. What would make you refuse to sell me a puppy? A breeder with no answer is not screening buyers, which tells you how the puppies are being placed.
The answers that should end the conversation
- The mother is 'at the vet', 'at my sister's' or otherwise unavailable to see
- Meeting in a car park, service station or at your home instead of theirs
- No health test certificates, or 'the vet says they're healthy' offered instead
- Pressure to decide today, or a deposit demanded before you have seen the puppy
- Several litters of several breeds available simultaneously
- Unwillingness to answer questions, or irritation at being asked
- A price far below the market for a supposedly rare colour
- Puppies offered below eight weeks old
What we would actually buy
Confirms dilution and cocoa status, and screens for degenerative myelopathy via SOD1 among other conditions. Useful if you are buying at a colour premium and want to verify what you actually bought.
Best for:Verifying a rare-colour purchase, or screening before breeding
Check current priceLifetime cover with generous limits, and free four-week cover frequently offered through breeders at the point of collection — which is exactly the moment to start a policy.
Best for:New puppy owners activating cover on collection day
Check current priceAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We earn a commission if you take out a policy through this link. It does not affect what you pay.
Common questions
What health tests should French Bulldog parents have?
As a minimum: Respiratory Function Grading Scheme grades for both parents, BVA/KC hip scores, patella grading, and a DNA panel covering SOD1 for degenerative myelopathy plus the colour loci. Spinal radiography for hemivertebrae is a strong additional signal.
Is it illegal to sell a puppy without the mother present?
Under Lucy's Law in England, licensed sellers must show puppies with their mother in the place they were born, and third-party sales of puppies are banned. A seller who cannot show you the mother is either breaking the law or not the breeder.
How much should a French Bulldog puppy cost in the UK?
A well-bred, health-tested puppy in a standard colour typically costs £1,800 to £3,000. Non-standard colours run considerably higher, though the premium reflects fashion rather than any health or temperament advantage.
What is a coefficient of inbreeding and why does it matter?
It expresses how closely related the parents are, and therefore how much genetic diversity the puppies will have. Lower is better. Colour-led breeding programmes tend to produce higher figures because the pool of dogs carrying the required recessives is small.
Related reading
General information for UK buyers, not veterinary or financial advice. Always obtain a written insurance quote for your specific dog before purchase.