At Noé Retro Frenchies, we believe it is important to look beyond the basics. Although there are now regulations regarding the breeding of brachycephalic breeds, such as the so-called short muzzle protocol, we see this mainly as a first step.

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This protocol mainly focuses on external characteristics, such as muzzle length (CFR), the nostrils, and a general assessment of appearance. This provides an indication, but says little about how a dog actually functions and what it looks like internally.

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A dog may be assessed as “suitable” based on these measurements, while underlying health issues may still be present. That is why we believe it is important to look much further than just this basic assessment.

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For us, health is not only about what you see on the outside, but especially about how the body functions on the inside. That is why we have our dogs thoroughly examined before they are used for breeding.

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To get as complete a picture of health as possible, we carry out various examinations. We start with breathing, where we assess, among other things, the nostrils, the airways, and any abnormal sounds. The CFR (muzzle length) is also measured as part of the evaluation.

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In addition, the general condition of the skin and coat is checked, and the ear canals on both sides are assessed. The eyes are examined through an official ECVO eye examination, carried out by a specialist.

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We also have the heart examined by a specialist using an echocardiogram (Doppler examination). This allows the function of the heart to be assessed and any abnormalities to be detected at an early stage.

Furthermore, the joints are thoroughly checked. This includes the knees (patellar luxation), hips (HD), and elbows (ED).

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An important part of the examination is the throat inspection. This includes assessing the soft palate, its thickness, the size of the tonsils, and the passage of the trachea. This gives a clear picture of how freely a dog can actually breathe.

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In addition, the entire spine is evaluated, from the cervical vertebrae to the tail. We look for possible abnormalities, such as hemivertebrae or other changes in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which may cause problems later in life.

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Finally, we have our dogs extensively DNA tested through Embark and Laboklin. These tests screen for a large number of hereditary conditions (more than 250), allowing us to take this into account in our breeding combinations and keep the risk of certain conditions as low as possible.

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In this way, we aim to obtain as complete a picture of health as possible, both internally and externally. Click here to view the testing protocol we use.

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By making conscious combinations and using extensive health testing, we can prevent many hereditary conditions. At the same time, it is important to realize that genetics are constantly evolving and that new (spontaneous) mutations can always arise.

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Despite all examinations and efforts, it remains important to understand that new or unexpected issues can always occur. Health testing does not guarantee a perfect dog (in fact, this does not exist), but it does make it possible to minimize risks and exclude a large number of hereditary conditions.

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Transparency is extremely important to us. That is why the results of the health tests for each dog can be found on our website under the parent dogs, so that everyone can gain insight into the health and background of our dogs.