Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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No. FBDFA is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on French Bulldog health and transparency. We are not affiliated with any parent club and do not operate a referral or advertising service.

As of July 1, 2026, there is an application fee for the Verified Breeder Program to help cover administrative costs. This is not a fee for endorsement or advertising.

 View our privacy policy.

The Legacy of Health (LOH) Program is FBDFA’s voluntary recognition system for French Bulldogs that complete extensive, verifiable health evaluations. It is designed to support breed advancement and welfare by encouraging transparency, reducing genetic risks, and guiding ethical breeding decisions.

The program is inclusive of all French Bulldogs regardless of coat color or traits. Participation is free, and awards can be granted posthumously. LOH designations are based on documented health testing and are provided for educational purposes only — they are not endorsements, guarantees of health, or certifications of breeding quality.

Dogs are included in the Legacy of Health (LOH) Program when verifiable health testing results (typically from OFA or equivalent sources) meet the requirements for one of the LOH levels. Inclusion may come from a voluntary application submitted by the owner or from publicly available records.

LOH listings are provided for educational and research purposes only. They are not endorsements, recommendations, or guarantees of a dog’s health, quality, or suitability for breeding.

Yes! Submit verifiable OFA/CHIC normals via the online Legacy of Health application with public record links and/or upload your test results , such as proof of spine test, preliminary hips/elbows, and DNA results for JHC or Cystinuria Type 3. 

No. Participation in the FBDFA Legacy of Health (LOH) Program is free.

• This is our independently vetted list of French Bulldog breeders who have met our strict criteria for full transparency, including verifiable public OFA  certifications for recommended health tests (hips, patellas, cardiac, eyes.). We focus on ethics and health, awarding a "Verified" seal only after confirming compliance via public databases. 
• Breeders can apply directly to us for inclusion and provide documention that may not be available to the public, such as Preliminary OFA certifications.
• As of July 1, 2026, there is an application fee for the Verified Breeder Program. The fee helps support verification work and program administration. Details are provided on the application page.

Both designations indicate that a breeder has demonstrated compliance with the health testing, documentation, and transparency requirements of the FBDFA Legacy of Health (LOH) Program. The difference is how that compliance was established:

• Verified Breeder - The breeder submitted a formal application to FBDFA (which includes an application fee as of July 1, 2026) and provided documentation showing they meet the LOH Program requirements. This is an active, application-based verification.
• Verified Breeder ~Public~ Parent Club Referral - The breeder was identified through publicly available records (such as those listed on a parent club referral page) and was found to meet the same LOH health testing and transparency standards based on that public information. No formal application to FBDFA was required for this designation.

In both cases, verification is based on a review of Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) evaluations and other materials that are publicly available or voluntarily submitted. Listings are provided for educational and transparency purposes only and are not endorsements, recommendations, or warranties of any breeder or their dogs.

No. All listings are for educational and transparency purposes only and are not endorsements or warranties.

 FBDFA believes it is important to recognize all breeders who meet the health testing and transparency standards of the Legacy of Health Program, regardless of whether they are affiliated with FBDFA, a parent club, or neither.

Our focus is on verifiable health practices and public transparency—not club membership or politics. When a breeder demonstrates compliance with the required health evaluations through public records or voluntary documentation, that information is shared for educational purposes.

Yes. As of July 1, 2026, an application fee applies. The fee supports the administrative and verification work of the program.

The FBDFA Parent Club Audit is an independent review designed to fact-check the compliance of parent clubs (such as the French Bulldog Club of America or similar organizations) with their publicly stated advertisements, guidelines, and commitments related to breed health, breeding practices, and referrals. This audit is not an advertisement, referral service, or endorsement program.  All information utilized in the audit comes from public domain sources or voluntary actions and submissions by the owners themselves, such as public club directories, health test registries, or self-reported data.

 This report is on the French Bull Dog Club of America's (FBDCA) public referrals, the AKC-recognized parent club. We add our independent verification notes (e.g., "Partial Verification" if records are incomplete or not public). All info is publicly sourced from their site at https://frenchbulldogclub.org/breeders/. This helps highlight where FBDCA-listed breeders align (or don't) with their own stated policy for referral and public health transparency standards.

• Must obtain OFA CHIC (Orthopedic Foundation For Animals - The Canine Health Information Center) certification, being screened for every disease recommended by the French Bull Dog Club of America, for dogs and bitches used as breeding stock.
• Must submit all required tests to OFA and all those tests must be verifiable in their public database.

*Quoted FBDCA Policy as of 12-16-2025

Our Verified Lists highlight breeders who've passed our full checks, emphasizing public records for consumer trust. The Parent Club Breeder Referral List Audit provides analysis on their publicly advertised list without endorsement, noting gaps like unverifiable tests. We prioritize the dog's health over club politics.

The FBDFA Parent Club Audit is an independent review designed to fact-check the compliance of parent clubs (such as the French Bulldog Club of America or similar organizations) with their publicly stated advertisements, guidelines, and commitments related to breed health, breeding practices, and referrals. This audit is not an advertisement, referral service, or endorsement program. All information utilized in the audit comes from public domain sources or voluntary actions and submissions by the owners themselves, such as public club directories, health test registries, or self-reported data. 

 We respect privacy concerns and provide a straightforward process for removal requests. If you believe your information should not be included or wish to opt out, please review our full Removal Policy for detailed instructions. In summary: 

• Step 1: Contact the parent club (e.g., FBDCA) directly to request removal from their public referral lists or directories, as our audit references these sources.
• Step 2: Submit a formal request to FBDFA via email at fbdfoundationamerica@gmail.com, including your name, the specific information to remove, and proof of your request to the parent club.
• Step 3: Our team will review and process the request within 30 days, updating the audit accordingly if it aligns with our policy on public data.

Note: Removals are handled on a case-by-case basis. Since the audit uses public or voluntarily shared data, complete removal may require addressing the original source. We have successfully assisted others with similar objections by guiding them through this process, emphasizing our independent, non-commercial nature.

Verification means FBDFA has reviewed available health testing records (primarily public OFA results or documentation voluntarily submitted) and confirmed that a breeder or dog meets the stated requirements of the Legacy of Health Program. It is a factual check of documentation only.

Endorsement would mean FBDFA is recommending, approving, or guaranteeing a breeder, their practices, or the dogs they produce. FBDFA does not endorse any breeder or dog.

Verification is limited to confirming that certain health testing and transparency criteria appear to have been met. It is not a recommendation, seal of approval, or warranty of any kind.