Our Royal Frenchel Award, Nature, the Art of Breeding & Transparency

We do our best to bring you the healthiest dogs we can create. And yet humans, farm animals and yes, dogs, can all suddenly reveal issues that stun and sadden us. Nature and the way genetic anomalies sometimes collide can cause rare and customary issues in health.

So, as is with all living things, there is no 100% guarantee that your dog will have only the best traits. That is why it is our policy that all adoptions begin with the purchase of pet insurance assuring their best care in any circumstance.

It is an art and science to constantly be aware of breeding lines and pair dogs that will create wonderfully healthy dogs with great personalities. If we find one that is healthy and yet throws a problem litter, we stop the line immediately.

Royal Frenchel has been around since 2011 publicly and a few years previous to that as we served the medical communities of cancer patients, military men and women, Children’s Hospital patients and others who needed service dogs. 

We would like to share our health statistics in the spirit of transparency as compared to other breeds. Our record shows that we have placed 1364 dogs over these years and it would be senseless to say we never experienced any issues. However, Royals experience less than 1/10th the issues of their predecessors (See the actual record of Royal Frenchel health issues and stats on other breeds below).

All breeders have stories to tell. Even insurance companies now have unique policies for each breed anticipating the ills of those “champion line” breeds. So, obviously significant long term issues exist.

Yet, no one gives the stats of the breeds and their corresponding expected illnesses because all breeders are not of the same quality and no one wants to really discuss what they cannot control. In addition, their main focus of their business is breeding and selling dogs, not being an info source for breed stats.

However, even though Royal Frenchel dogs were Awarded one of the top 2 dogs of the US for health and longevity, transparency may help you understand the realities of your dog purchase, Royal or otherwise. That is why it is so important to us that you always let us know if any issue arises with your pup, whether it is a simple issue or of course, a devastating diagnosis.

ROYAL FRENCHEL HEALTH RECORD & STATS:

According to studies cited below, the percentage of health issues that Royal Frenchel’s have is more than 10 times LESS than French Bulldogs and significantly lower than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and other breeds. This means that the Royal Frenchel breed has significantly less of the prominent health issues common in both French Bulldog and Cavalier lines.

These health stats below are representative of a total group of 1364 Royal Frenchels that have been homed since Royal Frenchel’s conception. Here is the break down of health issues which includes dogs ages 1 – 15 years old.

  • 8 cherry eyes = 0.6%
  • 26 allergies = 1.9%
  • 12 luxating patellas = 0.1%
  • 18 digestive issues = 1.3%
  • 3 seizure disorders = 0.2%
  • 1 CNS disease 0.07%
  • 2 Chiari Syndrome – 0.15%
  • 1 Bulldog corkscrew tail – 0.07%
  • 4 cancer = 0.3%
  • 4 liver issues = 0.3%
  • 2 with masticatory myositis = 0.15% (lock jaw common in Cavaliers, rare in Royals)
  • 1 serious heart issue = 0.07%
  • 4 cancer = 0.3%
  • 1 malformed thoracic vertebrae 0.07%
  • 6 spinal issues = 0.4% (Frenchel Bulldogs pretty much all have spinal anomalies, however, hemivertebrae and other abnormalities are more common in Frenchies and can cause significant impairment and early death.)
  • diarrhea 38 dogs = 2.8% (However, with the increase in Giardia across the US many dogs suffer Giardia which is not a genetic issue but, rather, due to mutations in the Giardia bug and it’s prevalence.)

According to a study published in 2018 out of 2228 French Bulldogs 72.4%, or 1,161 dogs had at least one or more of these disorders recorded. All dogs 1 to 1/2 yrs of age.

  • brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS),
  • dystocia, 
  • corneal ulceration, 
  • patellar luxation 
  • A range of spinal diseases including type I intervertebral disk herniation, spinal disease associated with vertebral malformations, and spinal arachnoid diverticulum. 


Many of these reported predispositions increase in prevalence as dogs age. French Bulldogs have been reported with at least ten breed predispositions to disease, most commonly were skin problems 17.9%, ear infections 14.0%, diarrhea 7.5% and conjunctivitis 3.2%.”

Reference – Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-018-0057-9

A 2015 study shared Cavaliers specific disorders: heart murmurs 30.9%, diarrhea of unspecified cause 11.0%, dental disease 9.5%, inflammation of the ear 9.2%, conjunctivitis 7.4% and anal sac infection 7.4%.”

Reference – Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-015-0016-7

So as you can see, Royal Frenchels have made a huge dent in the ill health of their predecessors. And the dogs noted in the Royal Frenchel report above includes dogs up to 15 years old. The French Bulldog study uses only 1 to 1.5 year old pups. This is long before many of their health issues actually show up.


I hope the transparency and information you’ve received here helps you feel more at ease with getting a Royal Frenchel. We wish you well, and look forward to serving you.

Royal Frenchels are an amazing breed. They see into us and want to serve our every desire without struggle or challenge. Almost all Royals adore children and are sensitive to health issues in their loved ones. They are the easiest dogs to train and simply want to love well, it seems, making unique friends of four leggeds and humans alike.


I want to thank Brian and Mabel, one of our most treasured Royal Families for inspiring me to share this page with you. In Brian’s words “Mabel has been the most incredible spirit and friend”… he has ever known. Mabel was diagnosed with cancer this year and will be sharing her kind ways and loving personality before she leaves with Brian’s new Royal, Chenille, over the next few months.

Our guarantee is not only to employ the best breeding practices, but also to give you the best care. Should your dog ever have a serious life threatening genetic health issue we will either give you another dog of equal value or a serious discount on another pup depending upon the age of the dog at the time of diagnosis. Our vet has to confirm the diagnosis of course, and reasonable records of tests etc. need to be shown.

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