Why We Built These Standards
When we launched IHeartFrenchies, we heard the same story over and over: families paying $4,000 for a puppy that arrived sick, breeders disappearing after deposits were sent, and health guarantees that dissolved the moment something went wrong. We built this marketplace to fix that—and fixing it meant creating enforceable standards that every listed breeder must meet before their first listing goes live.
These aren't guidelines. They're requirements. Breeders who can't meet them don't get listed. Breeders who stop meeting them get suspended or removed.
Mandatory Health Testing
Every breeder on our platform must complete baseline health testing on all breeding dogs before any litter is listed. We verify documentation directly—we don't accept verbal confirmations or promises to test "next month."
OFA Cardiac Evaluation
French Bulldogs carry genetic predisposition to heart defects, including pulmonic stenosis and mitral valve disease. We require OFA cardiac clearance or board-certified cardiologist evaluation for every breeding dog. Auscultation-only exams don't meet our standard. We need echocardiogram results on file.
Patella Certification
Luxating patellas cause pain, lameness, and expensive surgical correction. All breeding dogs must have OFA patella certification showing normal grade or veterinary documentation of grade status. Dogs with grade 2 or higher luxation are not eligible for breeding under our standards.
CERF Eye Examinations
We require current CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) or OFA eye clearances completed within 12 months of breeding. This screens for hereditary cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and other vision-threatening conditions common in brachycephalic breeds.
BOAS Screening
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome remains one of the most serious welfare concerns in French Bulldogs. We require respiratory function grading using the Cambridge BOAS research protocol or equivalent veterinary respiratory evaluation. Breeders must document nostril stenosis grade, soft palate assessment, and exercise tolerance testing.
DNA Testing Panels
Beyond structural health, we require DNA testing for color dilution alopecia, degenerative myelopathy, hyperuricosuria, juvenile hereditary cataracts, and breed-specific mutations. Breeders working with rare colors (blue, lilac, merle, Isabella) must provide additional genetic screening to document color-linked health markers.
Results must be uploaded to our verification system. We cross-reference against OFA databases and contact testing laboratories when documentation appears inconsistent.
Breeding Frequency Limits
Female French Bulldogs may not produce more than three litters total or one litter per year under our breeding standards. We track this through mandatory reporting—breeders submit whelping dates, litter sizes, and dam recovery documentation after every litter.
Dams must be at least 18 months old at first breeding and retired by age six. We suspend breeders who exceed these limits, and we've removed listings from breeders in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico who tried to cycle dams through back-to-back heat cycles.
Puppy Socialization and Veterinary Care
Puppies must remain with their litter and dam until at least eight weeks of age. Earlier separation results in immediate listing removal. During those eight weeks, we require:
- First vaccine series administered by licensed veterinarian (not breeder-administered)
- Deworming protocol starting at two weeks
- Individual veterinary health examination between six and eight weeks
- Written health certificate at time of placement
- Documented exposure to household sounds, surfaces, and gentle handling
We ask for dated photos, vet invoice copies, and vaccine record documentation. Breeders who can't provide this evidence don't move past our initial verification review.
Transparency Requirements
Every breeder listing must include the breeder's physical city and state, not just "Dallas area" or "near Oklahoma City." We list specific locations—Frisco, TX or Edmond, OK—so families know where puppies are actually raised.
Breeders must disclose their experience level, and we assign public tier badges based on verification depth:
- New Breeder: Less than two years, basic health testing complete
- Trusted Breeder: Two-plus years, full health panel, positive placement references
- Verified Breeder: Background check complete, facility photos submitted, veteran references
- Health Certified: Advanced BOAS screening, genetic diversity documentation, OFA Excellent/Good ratings
- Elite Breeder: Five-plus years, mentorship documented, breed club membership, competition or working titles
- Hall of Fame: Ten-plus years, generational health tracking, alumni family network, published health data
We don't sell these badges. They're earned through documentation review and can be revoked if standards slip.
Communication and Contract Standards
Breeders must respond to inquiries within 48 hours. Three unresponded messages trigger a platform review. We've suspended breeders who ghost families mid-conversation or stop responding after deposits are paid.
Every placement requires a written contract that includes:
- Minimum one-year health guarantee covering genetic/congenital defects
- Refund or replacement terms clearly stated
- Spay/neuter requirements if applicable
- Return policy if the family cannot keep the puppy
- Breeder contact information and commitment to lifetime support
We provide contract templates, but breeders may use their own as long as they meet our minimum guarantee standards. Contracts offering only 72-hour guarantees don't meet our threshold.
Grounds for Suspension or Removal
We suspend or remove breeders who:
- Falsify health testing documentation
- Breed dogs under 18 months or over six years old
- Exceed litter frequency limits
- Refuse to provide veterinary records when requested
- Receive multiple unresolved complaints about sick puppies
- Misrepresent puppy colors, pedigrees, or registration status
- Engage in threatening or unprofessional communication with families
We investigate every complaint. When families report respiratory distress, cherry eye, or severe GI illness within the first two weeks, we contact the breeder and veterinarian directly. Patterns of illness result in immediate suspension pending investigation.
Our Right to Review and Verify
By listing on IHeartFrenchies, breeders grant us ongoing rights to request updated health testing, inspect facilities (virtual or in-person), contact veterinary references, and communicate with puppy families. We audit 15% of breeders quarterly and re-verify all health documentation annually.
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These standards exist because French Bulldog families deserve better than broken promises and sick puppies. We enforce them consistently, and we update them as veterinary science and breeding best practices evolve.