French Bulldog and Pug Puppy FAQ

Le Epitome Kennels is a family-run French Bulldog and Pug breeding programme owned and operated by Olivia and Alistair Potter at our rural home in Waikato, New Zealand.

Olivia has more than 30 years of breeding experience. Our puppies are raised within our family environment with daily handling, outdoor experiences, early learning, raw feeding, veterinary care and preparation for life as family companions.

Learn more about Olivia, Alistair and Le Epitome Kennels .

Yes. Le Epitome Kennels Limited is a registered New Zealand company, and our breeding programme is registered with Dogs New Zealand and the Master Dog Breeders and Associates.

Registration is only one part of responsible breeding. We also believe breeders should raise puppies properly, maintain records, assess homes carefully, use written agreements and remain accountable after handover.

Our official website is www.leepitomekennels.co.nz . Copied photographs, breeder details and misleading websites do exist, so prospective buyers should confirm that the telephone number and contact details they are using match those published on this website before paying any money.

Suitable prospective buyers are welcome to visit our Waikato home by appointment. Where practical, visitors can meet available puppies, see their environment and meet some of our adult dogs.

Visits must fit around the welfare, safety and routine of the dogs. Very young puppies may not be available for handling, and not every adult dog will necessarily be on site at the time of a visit.

Please contact Olivia to discuss appointment availability.

A responsible breeder should not rely on DNA testing alone. DNA can identify certain inherited variants, parentage, colour and coat traits, but it cannot show how comfortably a dog breathes, moves, recovers from activity, tolerates heat or functions in everyday life.

Assessment of French Bulldogs and Pugs should also consider breathing and airway function, patellas, hips, spine, movement, eyes, skin, ears, teeth, bite, temperament, reproductive function and health information from related dogs.

At Le Epitome Kennels, we combine available DNA information with physical observation, veterinary findings, breeding records and feedback from owners. Our formal testing programme continues to be strengthened as dogs mature and enter breeding consideration.

Read about our French Bulldog and Pug health-screening approach .

DNA testing examines selected genetic markers. Depending on the laboratory and test panel, it may identify whether a dog is clear, a carrier or at increased genetic risk for a known inherited condition. It can also provide information about parentage, colour, coat type, relatedness and genetic diversity.

Physical and functional assessment examines the actual dog. This includes breathing, movement, patellas, hips, spine, eyes, skin, teeth, bite, body condition, temperament, heat tolerance and reproductive soundness.

Both types of information matter. A clear DNA report does not prove that a dog is physically sound or suitable for breeding.

Learn more about our use of DNA and genetic information .

BOAS stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. It describes breathing impairment associated with the shortened skull and upper-airway structures of brachycephalic breeds.

BOAS cannot be cleared through a DNA test. It requires physical and functional assessment. Warning signs that warrant veterinary attention may include persistent heavy airway noise, open-mouth breathing at rest, poor heat tolerance, slow recovery after mild activity, blue gums or tongue, collapse or obvious respiratory distress.

Some French Bulldogs and Pugs make expressive snuffles and grumbles, but persistent noise, discomfort or reduced function should not simply be dismissed as normal for the breed.

French Bulldogs and Pugs are compact companion breeds, so skeletal structure, joint stability and movement can have a significant effect on comfort, mobility and long-term quality of life.

Patella luxation, weak rear movement, hip problems and spinal abnormalities may affect how a dog walks, plays, climbs, exercises and ages.

We consider movement, patellas, hips, spine, rear-end strength and general function as part of our wider breeding assessment.

No. Testing and careful selection can reduce known risks, but no breeder can guarantee that a living animal will never become unwell or require veterinary care.

Buyers should instead consider whether a breeder assesses health seriously, keeps records, discloses known information, uses written agreements, responds properly if a genuine concern arises and uses owner feedback to improve future breeding decisions.

We stand behind the puppies we breed and remain available to our owners after collection.

Yes. Before handover, each puppy receives age-appropriate veterinary care, worming, vaccination, microchipping and a pre-sale veterinary examination.

Veterinary records and microchip information are provided at handover. Our Sale and Purchase Agreement also requires the new owner to arrange an independent veterinary examination shortly after collection.

Our puppies are raised within a real family environment. They experience people, children, adult dogs, household sounds, visitors, outdoor areas, changing surfaces, gentle handling and age-appropriate supervised exploration.

We focus on calm, positive exposure rather than overwhelming puppies. We also introduce environmental toilet conditioning from a very young age by arranging the puppies’ space so that toileting in the appropriate area is the natural and easy choice.

Puppies leave us familiar with basic household routines, feeding structure, pens or crates, human interaction and a consistent toileting environment. Continued learning, repetition and supervision remain essential after they move home.

Our puppies are raised on a carefully managed raw-food diet. Raw feeding has been part of our kennel practice for more than 20 years and across more than ten generations of dogs.

New owners receive practical guidance about what their puppy has been eating, feeding frequency, safe storage, hygiene and maintaining dietary consistency during the settling-in period.

Our recommendations reflect our long-term kennel practice and observations. Individual dogs may still have different nutritional or veterinary needs.

Availability changes throughout the year depending on current litters, planned matings, retained puppies and existing reservations.

The best place to begin is our upcoming and available French Bulldog and Pug puppies page. Not every puppy shown will necessarily be available, because some may already be reserved, placed or still being assessed.

We do not allocate puppies purely on a first-click basis. We consider the puppy’s temperament and needs alongside the applicant’s household, experience, expectations and ability to provide a suitable long-term home.

Where we do not currently have the right puppy, committed applicants may apply to join the Le Epitome Kennels waiting list .

Yes. Our puppies have travelled to homes throughout New Zealand and overseas. Depending on the destination and circumstances, we can discuss suitable third-party road or air transport providers.

Transport decisions take account of the puppy’s age, vaccination status, health, weather, journey length and the safety of the proposed collection or handover.

Read more about puppy transport and collection arrangements .

Yes. Our relationship with an owner does not end at handover. We remain available for practical guidance as the puppy settles in, including questions about feeding, toileting, routines, early learning and general adjustment.

The first weeks with a puppy can be exciting, tiring and occasionally chaotic. We want owners to feel informed, prepared and able to ask sensible questions as their puppy grows.

Many owners also join the Le Epitome Family Facebook group to share updates and connect with owners of related dogs.

Prospective owners can contact us through our website enquiry form, email or telephone. We welcome suitable enquiries from Waikato, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, wider New Zealand and selected overseas locations.

Because we are selective about where our puppies go, we prefer to speak directly with prospective owners. This allows us to answer questions properly and assess whether a particular puppy and household may be a suitable match.

Visit the Le Epitome Kennels contact page to speak with Olivia.