Many people do not know the difference between congenital and genetic issues in French Bulldogs. I would say even many breeders out there do not even know the difference between the two words. We want to help you understand the difference. Often having a good set of knowledge will help you better manage your mind if you face either issue. 

So what is the difference between the two? Glad you asked. Genetic means it was passed on from the parents. Some things are dominant meaning they only need one copy to display the characteristic. Others are recessive meaning they receive one copy from the mom and one copy from the dad for a total of two copies to display the characteristic. Coat color examples for this are merle coloring. In order to express merle the puppy needs only one copy of the gene to do so. If they are not merle then they do not carry the gene. In order to be blue the pup much carry two copies of the blue gene to express this characteristic. In breeding when concerned with health, you are mostly concerned with the recessive characteristics that could pop up in your Frenchie puppies. There are 5 of the most common things that can be passed down among Frenchie’s. We are currently working on having testing done on each of our Frenchie’s and awaiting the first set of results from our males.

That being said we have found in the 20+ years we’ve had Frenchie’s that there are more congenital issues (although still rare) then genetic. Congenital means they were born with it and it wasn’t passed down from the parents. Think about thalidomide and how women experiencing nausea who took this had babies with missing limbs. Missing limbs were not passed down from the parents but there was a transcription error in the formation of the baby. Most congenital issues are caused by abnormal genetic coding when building the body in utero such as single gene defects and chromosomal abnormalities. Other ways they can inherit congenital characteristics is via environmental teratogens (chemical exposure) and micronutrient deficiencies (think cleft palate). Technically, a genetic issue they puppy would be born with but I want for you to just understand that there is a difference. Congenital defects are not passed down from parents and may be detected at different times in a pups life. It may be seen at birth, as a young pup, as an adult, in older age, or may never be detected. Some congenital issues can be seen in the heart, gi tract, urinary tract, etc… 

Now you know the difference between genetic and congenital characteristics. DNA testing can help with some of the issues a Frenchie could display but that does not mean your Frenchie will not have a congenital issue that pops up later in life. Loving a Frenchie, a kid, a spouse always comes with a little risk. I’ve always viewed it as at least I had the opportunity to love this person, kiddo, or pet and it is a reminder to love each one just a little more each day because these are things out of our control. Here are a few things we do to keep our pups as healthy as possible: 1. We give multivitamins to all of our Frenchie’s to make sure mom isn’t deficient in anything even before she is pregnant. 2. Each Frenchie gets a cup of cooked fresh food daily instead of just giving kibble. 3. Our males have been genetically tested and we are next working on our females to ensure they are properly matched. 4. We proved a 2 year health guarantee on genetics and congenital defects. 5. We use “clean” cleaning products to prevent the momma being exposed to harmful chemicals. 

Many people ask, “If I live out of state, how will I receive my Frenchie?” We realize you need to figure out the logistics and some of you don’t have time to make a long trip happen.  Let’s go over all of the options you have for receiving your little one. 

Pick-up in Colorado Springs

This option is free of charge and we can arrange pick up at either location. Puppies are always with one of us so no strangers in transporting. You are given the address a few days before your arrival. 

Meet you at the Colorado Springs airport. 

This option is free of charge as well. Confirm your flight plans with us to make sure we can meet you there at the time of arrival. Please note the location of the airport. The Denver airport require transportation fees which must be prearranged before booking. 

Use of a flight nanny. 

A flight nanny can bring your Frenchie to the nearest major airport within the 48 states. Fees for this are typically $800. Your baby will ride in luxury under the seat in the cabin area of the plane. Typically I, Amanda, will bring your baby to you. Arrangements must be made ahead of time and paid ($300) before booking the flight. We allow puppies to be flown at 12 weeks old or later. We can also fly to Alaska and Canada at higher rates.

Drive Part Way

Our Frenchie Care Specialist has some availability to meet you part way. She will travel up to 3 hours one way. The fee for this is $350. 

Specials on transportation

Sometimes we run specials on transportation if we know we are going to be going there anyway. Don’t count on this but feel free to ask.

Yes — and here’s exactly what that means.

Every puppy from French Bulldog of Colorado comes with a two-year genetic health guarantee. Before your puppy goes home with you, we’ll email your health guarantee (which also serves as your receipt). You’ll e-sign it prior to pickup and receive a copy for your records.

Before leaving us, your puppy will have a clean bill of health from our vet. Once home, you have 48 hours to get your puppy to your own vet for a wellness checkup — or 96 hours if you’re picking up over a weekend. This step is important: we want your vet to confirm what ours already saw. If anything comes up at that visit, contact us immediately so we can address it together.

What’s covered

Our guarantee covers genetic conditions — heritable diseases that are not normal to the breed and were not present or foreseeable at the time of purchase.

What’s not covered — and why

French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, which means certain structural traits come with the territory. The following conditions are breed-related and are not covered under our health guarantee:

• Stenotic nares — narrowed nostrils that can restrict airflow
• Elongated soft palate — excess soft tissue at the back of the throat that can affect breathing
• Luxating patellas — kneecaps that slip out of place, common in small breeds
• Hemivertebrae — butterfly-shaped or wedge-shaped vertebrae that are characteristic of the breed’s screw-tail structure
• Cherry eye — prolapse of the third eyelid gland, seen commonly in Bulldogs and other brachycephalic breeds

This is not a fully inclusive list. There are additional breed-related and surgically correctable conditions that may not be covered. Your full health guarantee document outlines all exclusions in detail — please read it carefully and reach out with any questions.

These are conditions that any French Bulldog can have to some degree, regardless of breeder. Many dogs live full, happy lives with mild versions of these. If a dog does need intervention, these are typically surgically correctable. We do everything in our power through health testing and selective breeding to minimize their severity — but they are not something any breeder can guarantee away entirely.

We’ve got you covered from day one

Every puppy goes home with a free month of pet insurance — because we believe in setting you up for success right from the start. After that first month, we strongly recommend every pup parent either continue with an insurance plan or be prepared to self-insure for any unexpected medical needs. Frenchies are worth it, and having a plan in place means you’re never caught off guard.

You also won’t be navigating that first year alone. Every family who takes home a puppy from us receives access to The PAWS Method — our owner education system designed to walk you through everything you need to know about raising a healthy, happy French Bulldog through that critical first year of life.

We don’t just breed puppies — we support the families who love them. 🐾