Do French Bulldogs and Pugs need health testing?

Yes. French Bulldogs and Pugs are brachycephalic breeds, which means they have short-faced anatomy and some breed-specific health considerations. Responsible breeding should include both DNA testing and physical health assessment, including breathing, movement, patellas, spine, eyes, heart, skin, body condition and reproductive soundness.

What is the difference between DNA testing and physical health testing?

DNA testing looks at inherited disease markers, carrier status, parentage, colour and coat genetics, and genetic diversity where available. Physical health testing looks at how the dog functions in real life. A dog can have good DNA results and still have a physical concern, so both layers matter.

What is BOAS in French Bulldogs and Pugs?

BOAS stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. It refers to breathing restriction caused by airway structure in short-faced breeds. BOAS can affect breathing comfort, sleep, activity, heat tolerance and recovery after exercise. It cannot be properly assessed by DNA testing alone.

Do snoring and snuffling mean a French Bulldog or Pug needs airway surgery?

Not necessarily. French Bulldogs and Pugs can make snuffly, grumbly and expressive noises as part of normal breed character. The concern is not noise alone, but signs such as difficulty breathing at rest, open-mouth breathing while resting, collapse, blue or pale gums, severe heat intolerance, poor recovery after mild activity, or obvious respiratory distress. Surgery should only be considered after proper veterinary assessment, preferably with a vet experienced in brachycephalic breeds.

What are hemivertebrae?

Hemivertebrae are malformed vertebrae that can affect spinal alignment. Some are incidental and may never cause obvious symptoms. Others can contribute to spinal curvature, pain, weakness, abnormal movement or neurological signs. Spine health should be assessed through movement observation, veterinary assessment and imaging where appropriate.

Can young puppies be accurately graded for patella luxation?

Young puppies can be checked for obvious patella concerns, but early grading is not always definitive. Puppies are still developing, and their joints, bones and soft tissues are still maturing. If a vet raises a concern, it is sensible to ask whether formal grading, monitoring or later reassessment is recommended. Higher-grade findings, especially Grade 3 or Grade 4, require more serious veterinary guidance.

Why does natural mating and whelping matter?

Natural mating and natural whelping are part of functional breeding health. They give breeders information about fertility, structure, pelvic function, pregnancy comfort, labour, maternal ability and recovery. Veterinary intervention can be necessary and appropriate, but repeated dependence on intervention should be treated as a health signal, not ignored.

Can a breeder guarantee a perfectly healthy puppy?

No breeder can honestly guarantee perfect lifelong health. Dogs are living animals, and French Bulldogs and Pugs have known breed risks. What a responsible breeder can do is reduce risk through careful selection, DNA testing, physical assessment, veterinary care, honest disclosure, record keeping and ongoing review of breeding outcomes.

Does Le Epitome Kennels stand behind its puppy buyers?

Yes. Le Epitome Kennels stands behind its puppy buyers and respects their consumer rights. If a genuine concern arises, our approach is to communicate clearly, review the information, consider veterinary evidence, and work through the matter fairly and professionally. Responsible breeding does not end when a puppy leaves our care.

Le Epitome Kennels - Premier French Bulldog & Pug Breeder in Waikato, NZ

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Le Epitome Kennels is a Waikato-based French Bulldog and Pug breeder offering family-raised puppies to carefully selected homes across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and throughout New Zealand. With more than 30 years of breeding experience, our programme focuses on producing confident, well-socialised companion dogs, with health, breathing, temperament, structure, movement and character at the heart of every breeding decision.

Olivia and Alistair Potter with Le Epitome Kennels coloured French Bulldogs and Pugs at Auckland Botanic Gardens.

Quick Facts About Le Epitome Kennels

What we offer: Family-raised French Bulldog and Pug puppies for carefully selected companion homes.
Breeding focus: Health, breathing, temperament, structure, movement, genetic diversity and suitability for family life.
Experience and credentials: More than 30 years of hands-on breeding experience, a Dogs New Zealand registered kennel and MDBA Member #17877.
Service area: Based in Waikato and placing puppies throughout New Zealand, including Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. International puppy transport may also be arranged for approved homes in Australia, Singapore and Tahiti.
Rearing: Puppies are raised in our family home, handled regularly and raw-fed from weaning.
Health programme: DNA testing considered alongside BOAS Respiratory Function Grading, patella grading, hip and spine assessment , temperament, movement and structure.

About Le Epitome Kennels

Le Epitome Kennels Limited is a registered French Bulldog and Pug breeder based in Waikato, New Zealand. We work with carefully selected homes throughout New Zealand and provide practical support to families before and after their puppy joins them.

Our breeding programme is led by Olivia Potter, who has more than 30 years of hands-on experience breeding brachycephalic dogs. Olivia first registered her kennel with the New Zealand Kennel Club, now Dogs New Zealand, in 1997. The kennel operated under the name Le Epitomy Kennels before becoming Le Epitome Kennels in 2020, when Le Epitome Kennels Limited was incorporated on the New Zealand Companies Register.

You can learn more about Le Epitome Kennels, Olivia’s breeding experience and our kennel history on our full About page.

Our Rearing and Reproductive Philosophy

Our puppies are raised in our family home and raw-fed from weaning. Where safe and appropriate, we favour natural mating and natural whelping because these provide useful functional information about reproductive health, physical capability and maternal performance.

These observations form one part of our wider breeding and health assessment programme , alongside DNA testing, BOAS Respiratory Function Grading, patella grading, hip and spine assessment, temperament, structure and movement.

Our French Bulldog and Pug Health Programme

DNA testing is an important part of responsible breeding, but it cannot assess every aspect of a dog’s health. We therefore consider DNA results alongside physical examination, respiratory function, patella stability, hips, spine, movement, structure, temperament and reproductive history.

DNA testing: Disease-marker testing, colour and coat genetics, parentage information and genetic diversity where available.
BOAS Respiratory Function Grading: Formal assessment of breathing function alongside observations of airway noise, nostril openness, exercise tolerance and recovery.
Patella grading: Veterinary assessment of kneecap stability and tracking.
Hip assessment: Physical and radiographic evaluation of hip structure and joint soundness as dogs mature.
Spine assessment: Structural examination and spinal imaging to identify vertebral abnormalities and inform breeding decisions.

No breeder can guarantee that a living animal will never experience a health problem. Our responsibility is to gather meaningful information, make careful breeding decisions, maintain accurate records and support the families who own the dogs we breed. More detail is available in our French Bulldog and Pug health-testing guide .

Puppy Transport Throughout New Zealand and Beyond

Le Epitome puppies have joined carefully selected homes across New Zealand, including Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Timaru, the South Island, and selected overseas homes. Where collection in person is not practical, we can help buyers understand safe transport options using experienced third-party pet transport providers.

Transport is arranged with the puppy’s welfare, timing, weather, and safe handover in mind.

What an amazing breeder to buy our beautiful rojo and tan frenchie from. We flew Rusty down to Nelson with no issue and he has blended into our family home immediately and we are so so thankful for him, he is calm, toilet trained at 8weeks of age and is perfect, he also has so much spunk in him
- Catherine Doidge Nelson (NZ)

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Raw-Fed French Bulldog and Pug Puppies Raised with Care

Our French Bulldog and Pug puppies grow up as part of daily family life, with regular handling, household noise, outdoor play, and steady exposure to the world around them. From the beginning, our dogs are raised on a raw-fed diet and given the time, structure, and attention they need to become curious, confident, well-rounded companions.

View Upcoming & Available Litters

Looking for a French Bulldog or Pug puppy? View our current and upcoming litters, or contact Olivia to discuss which puppy may be the right fit for your home.

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A group of coloured French Bulldog and Pug puppies from Le Epitome Kennels resting together on blankets, used for the Upcoming and Available Litters section for puppies for sale in Waikato, Auckland and throughout New Zealand.

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Follow Le Epitome Kennels on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates from our French Bulldogs, Pugs, puppies, breeding dogs, and much-loved Le Epitome dogs living with families across New Zealand and overseas. Our social pages give you a closer look at daily life with our dogs, upcoming and available litters, puppy updates, owner photos, and the personalities behind our Waikato-based breeding programme.