Held Hostage by Tradition: How AKC and FBDCA Stall Progress for Health-First French Bulldog Breeders

By: Vicki Schuerger, Frenchie Kings, LLC

As a French Bulldog breeder who prioritizes full OFA health certifications, DNA testing, and ethical practices, I find myself and many others caught in a loop of bureaucratic deflection between the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the French Bull Dog Club of America (FBDCA). While the breed continues to soar in popularity, responsible breeders are penalized for trying to advance health, color diversity, and science-based improvements. Why? Because the institutions shaping the future of our breed are stuck in the past.

Who Controls Breed Standards? Here’s where the confusion begins:

- The FBDCA, as the AKC’s recognized "parent club" for French Bulldogs, is responsible for writing and revising the official breed standard.- The AKC publishes that standard, enforces it in conformation shows, and determines what is considered “standard” or “acceptable” for registration and participation.

But when breeders push for changes like expanding acceptable coat colors or prioritizing health traits over cosmetic ones each organization points the finger at the other:

The FBDCA says: “We can’t change it unless AKC approves.” The AKC says: “We can’t change it unless the breed club initiates it.” This endless circle creates a regulatory deadlock, especially harmful for breeders committed to transparency, ethics, and modern veterinary science.

The Color Controversy: Stuck in 2018. Despite major advances in DNA testing and coat genetics, the FBDCA has not updated its acceptable color list since 2018. The current breed standard only recognizes a narrow band of coat colors, excluding any French Bulldog that doesn't fit within that outdated range.

What this means for ethical breeders: You can produce fully health tested, temperamentally sound, purebred dogs, but if their coat color is “wrong,” you may be denied entry to clubs, banned from AKC events, and excluded from breed discussions. In a world where color has no proven correlation with health or function, this exclusion is arbitrary and deeply frustrating.

Why Won’t the AKC Step In? The AKC has the power to enforce reforms but chooses not to. Here’s why:

- It prefers to remain “hands-off” with breed standards, allowing breed clubs to lead (even when they don’t)

.- It relies on breed club support for conformation structure and show culture.

- Its business model benefits from exclusivity, more show dogs, more registrations, more revenue.

So even when modern breeders request changes based on science, veterinary input, and health-first breeding practices, AKC hides behind the FBDCA, avoiding reform for fear of upsetting its traditional base.

Health-First Breeders: Where Do We Go From Here? If you’re a breeder like me, invested in the long-term health and viability of French Bulldogs, here are some paths forward:

- Educate other breeders and buyers: Many don’t realize that outdated standards are actively harming the breed and excluding ethical breeders.

- Support reform coalitions: Grassroots movements within the Frenchie community are pushing for changes to the standard, with a focus on BOAS, spinal health, and inclusive genetics.

- Consider alternative registries: Organizations like UKC and ABKC offer greater flexibility, health-forward recognition, and inclusive participation.

- Document and share your practices: Public transparency about your OFA certifications, full DNA panels, and ethical breeding methods builds credibility and trust-regardless of what traditional institutions say.

Final Thoughts: French Bulldogs deserve better and so do their breeders. We’re not asking for shortcuts. We’re asking for standards that reflect today’s science, not yesterday’s fashion. Until the AKC and FBDCA stop playing hot potato with responsibility, we, the breeders who put health first, will be the ones driving progress.

Please help pass this information along, and hopefully together we can produce a louder voice. Possibly with the current PETA lawsuit, our voices will be even louder!

Thank you!