Please note: *Look-a-likes* (mongrels/crossbreeds) are being offered that piggyback on the name *French Bulldog*. These dogs obviously DON’T have a worldwide recognised pedigree but a fake pedigree that is for sale everywhere on the internet.

These mongrels resemble hunting dogs with pointed ears and the same long nose, and some even have a long tail. There are also *look-a-likes* that resemble a French bulldog, but with prohibited colors that can lead to health problems. These dogs are all bred from crossbreeds and don’t have an official Worldwide recognized pedigree, but an unrecognized pedigree that is widely available! They don’t want to import fresh blood because it’s too expensive, and crossbreeding quickly becomes a lucrative business!

A “look-a-like” is a dog that resembles a purebred dog but doesn’t have a recognized pedigree because it’s not a purebred. But because you don’t know how, where, why, or what was bred into it, we call it a “look-a-like.” Of course, a mongrel or a dog that resembles a purebred can be just as sweet as a purebred, and of course, a pedigree doesn’t say anything about the fun you can have with your dog. But a pedigree does say something about the care with which the dog was bred.

DNA BREED TESTS (UNRELIABLE)

Years ago, I saw a so-called blue “French Bulldog” that looked like a small American Staffordshire terrier, with the same type of head, nose, and long tail. The DNA breed test, however, said “French Bulldog” (the breed test was performed at Feragen Laboratory).

I thought something was wrong because that dog didn’t look anything like a “French Bulldog,” and a “French Bulldog” genetically doesn’t have a tail, so it can never have one. So I started looking into that a long time ago.

I’ve contacted Feragen Laboratory, which I’ve emailed. They perform breed tests but indicate they can only look back three generations. If the same breed had been used for three generations, the result would be purebred. However, they also clearly state that they don’t know what kind of dogs were used for those three generations.

I’ve also contacted many other well-known laboratories, and they indicate that a breed test is impossible and unreliable!

Example:

For example, a so-called *Merle French Bulldog* cannot be a French Bulldog because the color doesn’t occur in French Bulldogs. The color originates from crossing a French Bulldog with dog breeds that carry the merle gene (such as the Chihuahua, Dachshund, or Pomeranian).
If, after crossing, you breed back to the purebred French Bulldog for three generations, the DNA result will be a French Bulldog.

Some people fall for this and think they have a purebred dog that is actually a mongrel. And of course, a mongrel can be just as sweet, but it’s all about honesty.
If a breeder sells you a purebred dog, you expect a purebred.

“Look-a-likes” determine research outcomes

Some breeds have relatively many “look-a-likes”; with other breeds this is less. We also see this in the results of scientific research conducted into the health of purebred dogs.

For example, the study ‘Incidence of harmful breed characteristics and hereditary defects in companion animal populations’, which was recently commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (and for which more dog breeds will be studied in the future), showed that a large proportion of the investigated dogs was not a purebred dog at all. Almost all dogs examined in this study were “look-a-likes”.

In the first part of this study, three breeds were examined, namely the Chihuahua, the French Bulldog and the Labrador Retriever. Of the Labradors examined, only twenty percent had a pedigree, of the French Bulldog this was twelve percent and of the Chihuahuas this was an overwhelmingly low six percent. To be clear: with Chihuahuas this means that 94 percent of the dogs examined are a “look-a-like”. A dog that has been bred without any requirements being placed on its parents in terms of health, well-being and social behavior. This large group of “look-alikes” therefore determines the image that emerges from the research.

Please note: The only worldwide recognized pedigrees are (FCI) (more than 100 countries are members of the FCI) And then you have the AKC (AMERICA) Canada (CKC) and UNITED KENNELCLUB (ENGLAND) they operate independently.Non-recognized FCI colors are unfortunately allowed in America (AKC), Canada (CKC) and England (UK) because money is more important than health there.

It is important that potential puppy buyers understand that dogs of disqualifying color do occur from time to time, but breeders who breed to the breed standard do not deliberately set out to produce them. They may be the result of recessive traits that only emerge when puppies inherit a recessive gene from each parent or be traits that go back to earlier ancestors. Regardless of the mode of inheritance, out of respect for our breed standard, puppies and dogs that exhibit or carry disqualifying traits should be spayed or neutered and serve as companion animals as valuable as other companion animals but no more valuable financially.

Colors that may cause health problems in the French Bulldog:

Merle Color: (originated from crossing a French Bulldog with dog breeds carrying the merle gene (such as the Chihuahua, Dachshund, or Pomeranian)

One of the most common problems is genetic malformations. Because this dog has a unique genetic condition, it can lead to stunted limbs, blindness or deafness. Numerous Merle French bulldogs also suffer from allergies, immune disorders, heart murmurs and hip dysplasia and do not grow old. Also keep in mind that because they have such light-colored eyes, they may have eye defects. Some of the common problems include one eye being larger than the other, one eye being covered with a nictitating membrane, cataracts and coloboma (a congenital condition that causes a hole in the iris of the eye)

Color Blue or Mouse Gray (all variations thereof such as blue-brindle, blue-pied, blue-fawn, lilac, chocolate, etc.)

Blue is a dilution of black (a weak color) and can lead to mange, alopecia, immune disorders, neurological disorders, allergies, heart disease, and cataracts. This color carries a genetic condition that can cause dry, flaky skin and hair loss. While this may not be evident in a puppy, the problems can develop as the dog ages. Healthy dogs live longer and cause less stress. Setting yourself up for a lifetime of heartache at the expense of your beloved pup isn’t worth a designer color or a trending fad.

Black & Tan and Black without brindle.

Other colors that are considered rare in French Bulldogs are the black/tan color like a Doberman (black & Tan) and the black completely without a trace of brindle. These colors are so dominant that when breeding they outshine all other colors in the bloodline. It would indeed be sad to lose healthy Fawns, brindles, creams, etc. because a handful of unethical and uneducated people wanted blacks and black and brown.

Do your research before purchasing a dog of a particular breed.

Sacrificing your pet’s future health, or contributing to the eventual decline of your favorite breed, isn’t worth bragging about if you have a rare dog. These are living beings who suffer from our stupidity – not a handbag that we throw away when it gets worn out. Be a responsible owner and enjoy your dog’s long healthy years.

Since February 1, 2016, French Bulldogs with the unrecognized colors blue, Blue Merle, Chocolate Brown and Black & Tan can no longer be used for breeding. There is a suspicion that these colors cause health problems.

This means that these unrecognized colors can still appear in pedigrees published before February 1, 2016.

Black & Tan

(blue pied brindle)

(Blue/Gray/Mouse color)

(Blue & Tan)

(Blue Fawn)

(Blue pied)

(Choco/Pied)

(Blue/Fawn/Mouse color)

(Choco/Fawn)

Lilac/Tan

(Blue Brindle)

(Chocolate)

(Choco/Lever)

Merle

Lilac