French Bulldog

Narrow nostrils and an overlong soft palate leave a large share of French Bulldogs with some degree of breathing obstruction, so a breathing grade on both parents is the minimum the Royal Kennel Club recommends. Its best-practice list adds hip, elbow and eye scheme results and the DNA test for hereditary cataract. Ask too about skin folds, ears and backs. The breed is prone to fold infections, ear disease, malformed vertebrae and early disc problems. Unusual colours such as merle are a warning sign rather than a bonus: the Royal Kennel Club will not register merle Frenchies because the gene raises the risk of deafness and sight problems.