TerraSassa French Bulldogs

How Do Responsible Breeders Match Puppies to Their New Families?

Choosing a Puppy Is More Than Falling in Love With a Cute Face

One of the first questions I hear after announcing a planned litter is, “When do I get to pick my puppy?” It’s an exciting question, and I completely understand why families ask it. After all, you’ve been waiting for the breeding to take place, following the pregnancy, and watching the puppies grow through photos and videos. It’s only natural to start imagining which one will eventually come home with you.

Many people assume choosing a puppy is as simple as visiting the litter, seeing which puppy walks over first, or picking the one with the markings they like best. While those moments are certainly enjoyable, they don’t tell the whole story. A few minutes with a litter can’t reveal what I’ve been observing every day since those puppies were born.

As a preservation breeder, my responsibility goes far beyond raising healthy puppies. My job is to evaluate each puppy as an individual, understand how that puppy is developing, and then carefully match each one with the family where it is most likely to thrive. That process takes time, patience, and experience. It isn’t something that can be rushed during a single visit or determined by a photograph.

The goal isn’t simply to help you choose a puppy. The goal is to help you welcome the right puppy into your family—one whose temperament, confidence, activity level, and personality are a good fit for your lifestyle. When those pieces come together, everyone benefits: the puppy, the family, and ultimately the breed itself.

I Breed for Myself First—And That’s a Good Thing

When I tell people that I breed for myself first, I sometimes get a surprised look. It can sound as though I’m saying puppy buyers come second, but that’s not what I mean at all.

What I mean is that every litter I plan is first and foremost an attempt to preserve and improve the French Bulldog. I don’t breed simply because I want puppies to sell. I breed because I have spent months—sometimes years—planning a specific breeding in the hope of producing the next generation of TerraSassa.

Every breeding is carefully considered. I look at pedigrees, temperament, structure, movement, and how each sire and dam complement one another. My goal is always to produce healthy, sound French Bulldogs that meet the breed standard and have the stable temperaments that make them wonderful companions.

When the puppies are born, I don’t know if there will be one that I want to keep for my breeding program. Sometimes there is, and sometimes there isn’t. That’s a decision that simply can’t be made when the puppies are only a few weeks old.

The puppy that eventually stays at TerraSassa isn’t necessarily the flashiest puppy or the one with the most eye-catching markings. I’m looking much deeper than that. I’m evaluating how each puppy develops over time, and those evaluations continue for weeks as the puppies mature.

Only after I’ve had the opportunity to complete those evaluations can I begin making final placement decisions. The puppies I place with their new families aren’t the ones I “didn’t want.” They are puppies I have come to know well and can confidently match with the families that are the best fit for them.

A Few Minutes Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

One of the most common things I hear when families come to visit is, “That puppy picked me!” Usually, it’s because one puppy walked over, climbed into their lap, or eagerly accepted attention.

Those moments are wonderful, and I love seeing that excitement. But they don’t necessarily tell us whether that puppy is the best match for that family.

Just like people, puppies have different energy levels throughout the day. One puppy may have just woken up from a nap and be ready to explore every new person. Another may have spent the last half hour wrestling with littermates and is perfectly content to sit back and watch. A third puppy may be more thoughtful by nature and prefer to observe before joining the action.

If you visited the same litter an hour later, you might have a completely different experience.

That’s why I don’t place too much importance on what happens during a single visit. Those few minutes are only a tiny snapshot of a puppy’s life.

I’ve been with these puppies every day since they were born. I’ve watched them interact with their littermates, solve new challenges, recover from surprises, learn new skills, and respond to different people and environments. I’ve seen their personalities develop over weeks, not minutes.

Those daily observations tell me far more than any single visit ever could.

When I recommend a puppy to a family, I’m not basing that recommendation on one interaction. I’m basing it on weeks of watching that puppy grow into the individual it is becoming. My goal is to make a match that will still feel right years from now—not just one that felt right during a fifteen-minute visit.

What Am I Evaluating?

People sometimes ask me, “What are you looking for?” The answer isn’t just one thing.

After more than 40 years of breeding, exhibiting, and evaluating dogs, I’ve learned that every puppy is an individual. While genetics provide the foundation, each puppy develops at its own pace and reveals its own unique personality over time.

As the puppies grow, I’m watching for far more than whether they’re playful or outgoing. I’m looking at how they approach new situations, how quickly they recover if something surprises them, whether they enjoy interacting with people, and how they respond to the world around them.

I’m also evaluating structure and movement. As a preservation breeder, my responsibility is to produce French Bulldogs that are not only wonderful companions but also represent the breed as described in the standard. Some qualities simply can’t be evaluated in a newborn puppy. They become clearer as the puppies mature and begin to move, explore, and develop physically.

Every day brings another opportunity to learn something about each puppy. One may be an excellent problem solver. Another may naturally look to people for guidance. One puppy may approach every new experience with confidence, while another may take a little more time before deciding it’s safe. None of these qualities automatically make one puppy “better” than another. They simply help me understand which type of home will allow that puppy to flourish.

This is one of the reasons I raise my puppies in my home rather than in a kennel environment. Living with them every day allows me to observe countless little moments that visitors never have the opportunity to see. Those observations become invaluable when it’s time to recommend the right puppy for each family.

Every Day Teaches Me Something New

People often ask how I can know so much about each puppy. The answer is simple—I live with them every day.

For the first three to four weeks of their lives, the puppies are in my bedroom. That’s where I sleep, so they’re close to me around the clock. During those early weeks, I’m not just feeding them and cleaning up after them. I’m constantly observing them. I see the little milestones that many people never have the opportunity to witness—the first signs of curiosity, the first attempts to play with littermates, and the gradual development of each puppy’s individual personality.

As the puppies grow and become more active, they move into a larger puppy area in the center of my home, between my living room, dining room, and kitchen. From that point on, they’re right in the middle of everyday life.

They hear the vacuum cleaner, the television, conversations, pots and pans in the kitchen, doors opening and closing, visitors coming and going, and all the normal sounds and activity of a busy household. They’re exposed to different surfaces, toys, and age-appropriate challenges as they continue through my Puppy Culture and Avidog program.

Because they’re living in the heart of my home—not isolated in a kennel—I have countless opportunities every day to observe them. I see who rushes over to investigate something new, who likes to stop and think before joining in, who naturally seeks out people, and who enjoys solving problems on their own.

Those observations happen over weeks, not minutes.

By the time my puppies are ready to go home, I don’t just know what they look like. I know who they are. That knowledge is one of the most valuable tools I have when matching each puppy with the family where I believe it will thrive.

Why I Don’t Match Puppies Too Early

Over the years, I’ve found that patience almost always leads to better decisions.

That’s why I don’t ask families to choose a specific puppy when they’re only a few weeks old, and it’s also why I don’t accept reservation fees before I’ve completed my evaluations and know which puppies will be available.

There are simply too many unknowns early on.

I don’t know if I’ll be keeping a puppy for my breeding program. I don’t know how each puppy’s structure and temperament will continue to develop. Most importantly, I don’t yet know which puppy will be the best fit for each family.

Once I’ve had the time to evaluate the litter as individuals, I begin contacting families and discussing the puppies I believe would be the best match for their home and lifestyle.

Sometimes the puppy a family initially thought they wanted turns out not to be the one I recommend. That isn’t because there’s anything wrong with that puppy. It’s because another puppy may be a better fit for their experience, activity level, family dynamics, or long-term goals.

My responsibility isn’t simply to place puppies. My responsibility is to make thoughtful, lifelong matches.

When a family brings home a TerraSassa puppy, I want them to have confidence that my recommendation is based on weeks of careful observation, experience, and getting to know each puppy as an individual.

I know waiting can be difficult, especially when you’ve been following a litter from the day they were born. But after more than four decades of raising and evaluating dogs, I’ve learned that taking the time to make the right match is worth it—for the puppy and for the family.

It’s About Building the Right Partnership

Bringing home a puppy is exciting, but it’s also the beginning of a relationship that will hopefully last 10 to 15 years or more. That’s why I believe choosing a puppy should be about much more than color, markings, or whichever puppy happened to climb into your lap during a visit.

Every puppy is an individual with its own personality, strengths, and way of interacting with the world. My job is to get to know each one of them well enough that I can confidently recommend the puppy I believe will thrive in your home.

Sometimes that recommendation is exactly the puppy you were hoping for. Sometimes it isn’t. But it is always made with one goal in mind—giving both the puppy and the family the best possible chance for a successful, lifelong relationship.

At TerraSassa, I don’t measure success by how quickly I can place a litter. I measure success by hearing from families months and years later, telling me that their puppy has become exactly the companion they had hoped for. Those updates, photos, and messages remind me why taking the time to make thoughtful matches is so important.

Every breeding is planned with care. Every puppy is raised with purpose. Every placement is made with the future in mind.

Because at the end of the day, I’m not simply placing puppies.

I’m helping create lifelong partnerships between families and the dogs they’ll love for years to come.

There Isn’t a “Perfect” Puppy

One question I hear from time to time is, “Which puppy is the best one in the litter?”

The truth is, there isn’t a “best” puppy.

There is only the puppy that is the best fit for the home it’s going to join.

Some families want a puppy that’s eager to accompany them on everyday outings and enjoys meeting new people. Others are looking for a quieter companion that’s content to spend most of its time close to its people. Some homes already have dogs, while others are welcoming their very first puppy. Some families are home most of the day, while others have busier schedules.

All of those factors matter.

That doesn’t make one puppy better than another. It simply means that every puppy has its own personality, and every home has its own dynamics.

One of the most rewarding parts of being a breeder is watching each puppy’s unique personality emerge. By the time my puppies are ready to go home, I know which one is always carrying a toy, which one likes to be in the middle of everything, which one prefers to stay close to people, and which one likes to stop and think before trying something new.

Those differences help me make thoughtful placement decisions.

When I recommend a puppy, I’m not choosing the “best” puppy. I’m recommending the puppy that I believe will have the greatest opportunity to thrive in that particular home.

After more than forty years of breeding and exhibiting dogs, I’ve learned that successful placements aren’t about luck. They’re about understanding both the puppy and the family, then bringing the two together in a way that gives everyone the best chance for a happy life together.

A Relationship Built on Trust

Choosing a breeder is about more than finding someone who has puppies available. It’s about finding someone whose philosophy and values align with your own.

When a family decides to bring home a TerraSassa puppy, they’re placing a great deal of trust in me. They trust that I’ve carefully planned the breeding, raised the puppies with purpose, and taken the time to truly know each one as an individual.

In return, I ask families to trust my recommendations.

That doesn’t mean you won’t have a voice in the process. I’ll spend time getting to know you, your home, your experience with dogs, and what you’re hoping for in a companion. The more I know about your family, the better I can help match you with the puppy that is most likely to thrive in your home.

My goal has never been to simply place puppies. My goal is to make thoughtful, lifelong matches that benefit both the puppy and the family. When I receive photos years later of a beloved companion sleeping on the couch, traveling with the family, or simply living a wonderful life, I know that taking the time to make those careful matches was worth every minute.

The Right Puppy Is Worth Waiting For

Every litter I breed represents years of planning, study, and hope for the future of the French Bulldog. Every puppy deserves to be evaluated as an individual, and every family deserves a puppy whose personality and temperament fit naturally into their home.

That’s why I don’t rush the process.

I breed for the future of my program. I evaluate each puppy carefully. Then I thoughtfully match each puppy with the family where I believe it will have the greatest opportunity to thrive.

After more than forty years of breeding and exhibiting dogs, I’ve learned that the very best matches aren’t made in a single visit or by choosing the puppy with the prettiest markings. They’re made through patience, careful observation, and a commitment to doing what’s best for both the puppy and its new family.

The right puppy isn’t simply chosen. It’s thoughtfully matched.

Why Temperament Matters More Than Color When Choosing a French Bulldog Puppy

When prospective puppy buyers first contact me, one of the most common questions I receive is, “What colors do you have available?”

It is an understandable question. We are naturally drawn to appearance, and French Bulldogs come in many beautiful colors and patterns. However, after more than four decades of breeding dogs and raising countless puppies, I can confidently say that color is one of the least important factors when selecting a puppy.

The puppy’s temperament will affect your daily life every single day for the next decade or more. A puppy’s personality determines how they respond to training, new situations, children, visitors, travel, and the many unexpected events that occur throughout life.

What Is Temperament?

Temperament is the combination of inherited traits and early experiences that influence how a dog responds to the world around them.

Some puppies are naturally confident and outgoing. They are the first to investigate a new toy, climb over obstacles, or greet a visitor.

Other puppies are more thoughtful and observant. They prefer to watch first and process new situations before jumping in.

Some puppies are highly people-oriented and constantly seek interaction. Others are more independent and comfortable entertaining themselves.

None of these traits are inherently better than another. The goal is to find the right match between the puppy and the family.

Why Color Does Not Predict Personality

Many people unintentionally assume that a puppy’s appearance tells them something about who that puppy is.

In reality, the boldest puppy in the litter may be the smallest one. The most confident puppy may not be the flashiest marked puppy. The puppy that eventually becomes the perfect therapy dog may not be the puppy that catches everyone’s eye in photographs.

Over the years I have learned that the puppy receiving the most attention from visitors is not always the puppy best suited for their lifestyle.

A beautiful coat color cannot compensate for a poor temperament match.

Standard Colors, Rare Colors, and Preservation Breeding

Let me begin by saying that I understand why people are attracted to unusual colors. Some of the blue, merle, and other so-called “exotic” French Bulldogs can be absolutely stunning. A beautiful dog is a beautiful dog, regardless of color.

However, as a preservation breeder, my responsibility goes beyond appearance.

When I evaluate a breeding, my focus is on health, temperament, structure, movement, and preserving the French Bulldog breed for future generations. Color is much lower on that list of priorities.

Many people are surprised to learn that not all colors and coat types seen in French Bulldogs today originated within the breed itself. The French Bulldog is a closed-stud-book breed, meaning French Bulldogs are intended to be bred to French Bulldogs. Historically, breeders did not introduce outside breeds to create new colors or coat types.

Merle is not a naturally occurring color within the traditional French Bulldog gene pool and is generally accepted to have been introduced through outcrossing. Likewise, the long-haired or “fluffy” coat is not part of the breed standard and did not historically exist within the breed in the form we see today.

The challenge with introducing another breed is that you do not introduce only a color gene. You also introduce whatever other genetic traits and health concerns may be present in that breed.

One example is the MDR1 (Multi-Drug Resistance 1) gene mutation found in several herding breeds. Dogs carrying this mutation may have serious reactions to certain medications, including ivermectin, loperamide (Imodium), some sedatives, certain anesthesia-related drugs, and some chemotherapy medications.

Not every dog carrying a non-standard trait will have MDR1, but the example illustrates an important point. When outside genetics are introduced, responsible breeders must consider all of the genes that may accompany the desired trait—not just the one that changes a dog’s appearance.

Over the years, I have personally spoken with breeders who acknowledged that outcrossing was used historically to introduce certain traits into French Bulldogs. For preservation breeders, that history matters because our goal is not to create the newest trend. Our goal is to preserve the breed itself.

This does not mean that a merle or blue French Bulldog cannot be a wonderful companion. Many are beloved family pets. It simply means that my breeding program is guided by different priorities. I am committed to preserving the French Bulldog as described in the breed standard, with an emphasis on health, temperament, structure, and breed type rather than novelty.

At the end of the day, the qualities that make a dog a wonderful companion have very little to do with color. A stable temperament, sound health, and good structure will influence a dog’s quality of life far more than the shade of its coat.

How Temperament Influences Daily Life

The right temperament can make training easier, improve adaptability, and create a stronger bond between dog and owner.

Consider a family with young children. They may benefit from a puppy that demonstrates patience, resilience, and a stable disposition.

An active owner interested in dog sports may prefer a puppy with strong confidence, curiosity, and drive.

A retired couple looking for a companion may appreciate a calmer puppy that naturally enjoys close human interaction.

The best puppy is not necessarily the most outgoing puppy or the quietest puppy. The best puppy is the one whose temperament aligns with the family’s expectations and lifestyle.

Why We Keep Puppies Longer

One reason I choose not to send puppies home at the earliest possible age is because temperament evaluation takes time.

Puppies undergo tremendous developmental changes during their first weeks of life. Behaviors seen at five weeks may look very different by eight, ten, or twelve weeks.

Additional time allows me to observe:

Confidence levels
Recovery from startling events
Problem-solving ability
Social interactions
Human engagement
Adaptability to new environments
Response to training and handling

These observations provide valuable information that helps me guide families toward the best match.

Building Temperament Through Early Experiences

While genetics provide the foundation, early experiences shape how a puppy learns to interact with the world.

At TerraSassa, puppies are exposed to a variety of age-appropriate experiences designed to build confidence and resilience.

These experiences include:

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS)
Early Scent Introduction (ESI)
Novel surfaces
Household sounds
New toys and objects
Age-appropriate challenges
Positive human interactions
Structured socialization opportunities

The goal is not to overwhelm puppies but to gradually introduce new experiences in a positive and supportive manner.

Looking Beyond the Photograph

Photographs capture a moment in time. Temperament reveals who a puppy truly is.

The puppy sitting quietly in the corner of a photo may become an exceptional companion. The puppy that steals the spotlight today may mature into a completely different dog than expected.

When evaluating puppies, I encourage families to look beyond color and appearance. Ask questions about temperament, confidence, activity level, and social behavior.

These qualities will influence your relationship with your dog long after the excitement of choosing a puppy has passed.

The TerraSassa Philosophy

My goal as a preservation breeder is not simply to produce beautiful French Bulldogs. My goal is to produce healthy, structurally sound dogs with stable temperaments that can thrive as companions, performance dogs, and cherished family members.

Color may catch your attention, but temperament is what you’ll live with every day.

For that reason, temperament will always be one of the most important considerations in every breeding decision and every placement recommendation I make.

Why I Keep Puppies Longer

One of the questions I am asked most often is why my puppies are typically kept longer than what has become common in many breeding programs.

The answer is simple: early development matters.

At TerraSassa French Bulldogs, puppies are not simply raised until they reach an age milestone. They are intentionally developed through important stages of emotional, behavioral, social, and physical growth in order to help build stable, confident companions with the best possible foundation for life.

My program follows an advanced developmental approach beginning from the neonatal period and continuing through placement. This includes structured enrichment, socialization, confidence building, sound exposure, handling exercises, environmental experiences, and early foundation training designed to help prepare puppies for successful transitions into their future homes.

One of the most important reasons I do not place puppies at eight weeks of age is because puppies are entering a significant developmental and fear period around that time. During this stage, negative experiences, overstimulation, or abrupt environmental changes can have a lasting impact on confidence and emotional development.

When a puppy leaves during this sensitive period and is simultaneously exposed to:

a new home
new people
new animals
new sounds
travel
separation from littermates
major routine changes

it can become an overwhelming developmental experience for some puppies.

By allowing puppies additional time to mature here first, I am able to continue carefully guiding them through these early developmental stages while gradually introducing new experiences in a more controlled and supportive way.

Puppies in my program also begin foundational training and household routines before placement. This includes:

crate conditioning
potty training foundations
socialization experiences
handling and grooming exposure
confidence building exercises
early enrichment activities
toy and chew conditioning
household exposure and routines

For this reason, my puppies are typically not considered for placement until at least 10 weeks of age, and often longer depending on the individual puppy and situation.

Another important aspect of my program is that my breedings are done first and foremost for myself and the future of my program. I carefully evaluate puppies over time for temperament, structure, movement, athleticism, confidence, and overall suitability before making long-term decisions regarding which dogs I may retain.

This evaluation process simply cannot be completed adequately at very young ages.

Families who welcome a TerraSassa puppy into their home benefit from the additional time, development, observation, and individualized attention each puppy receives before placement.

At TerraSassa, my goal is never simply to place puppies quickly. My goal is to raise healthy, stable, well-adjusted companions and thoughtfully match each dog to the most appropriate long-term home.

From Tragedy to Raw: The Journey That Transformed My Approach to Canine Nutrition

The moment that changed everything for me was watching a friend’s nine-month-old Great Dane puppy bloat and die. It was sudden, devastating, and it stayed with me. At the time, I was feeding what I believed was one of the best commercial dog foods available, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that nutrition played a role.

That moment sent me down a path of research that would ultimately change everything about how I feed my dogs.

As I dug deeper, what I found was deeply concerning. Wheat middlings—essentially sweepings off the floor—were being used as fillers. More troubling were the by-products: large vats that could include euthanized and diseased animals, along with chemical contaminants. At the same time, I discovered that in parts of Europe, where dogs were fed real, whole foods rather than processed diets, bloat was virtually unheard of.

That contrast made it impossible for me to ignore what I was seeing.

In the 1980s, I began exploring alternative feeding methods and followed the work of Juliette de Bairacli Levy, who advocated for a more natural diet of raw meat and herbs. I sourced large tins of raw meat and incorporated herbal supplementation, trying to replicate a more natural approach. But despite my efforts, I couldn’t keep weight on my dogs. Something was still missing.

Eventually, I went back to feeding high-quality commercial food, doing the best I could with what I had available at the time. I supplemented heavily—soaking oats overnight and adding them to their meals, along with cottage cheese, yogurt, and other whole food additions—in an attempt to improve the overall nutritional value.

I was trying to fix a system I knew wasn’t right, but I still didn’t have the full answer.

The Turning Point: When Everything Changed

Everything shifted for me in 1999 when I came across the book Give Your Dog a Bone.

Up until that point, I had spent years trying to figure out how to feed better—researching, experimenting, and moving back and forth between raw feeding attempts and higher-quality commercial diets. I had made progress, but I still hadn’t solved the problem.

At that time, I had a Great Dane who was bloating regularly—weekly. This wasn’t mild discomfort. I was passing a tube multiple times a week to relieve the pressure and keep him from progressing to a full torsion.

Anyone who has dealt with bloat understands how serious—and how dangerous—that is.

When I read Give Your Dog a Bone, it finally made sense. It wasn’t just the idea of feeding raw—it was the structure behind it. It filled in the gaps I hadn’t been able to figure out on my own.

I made the decision to switch completely.

I started with chicken carcasses and then moved into chicken backs and necks. I remember thinking very clearly at the time that if he bloated again, those bones were not going to come back up through a tube.

But he never did.

From the moment I made the switch, the bloating stopped—completely. He never bloated again for the rest of his life. That dog went on to live to 10–12 years old, and I never had to pass a tube on him again.

That was the moment I knew I was finally on the right path.

Refining the Approach Over Time

That turning point wasn’t the end of the journey—it was the beginning of refining it.

Over the years, I continued to build on that foundation, incorporating vegetables into the diet—initially grinding them to improve digestibility—while continuing to adjust based on what I observed in my own dogs. As my understanding of nutrition and gut health evolved, so did my approach. I transitioned from ground vegetables to fermented vegetables to support a healthier microbiome, and began incorporating natural probiotic sources such as raw goat’s milk kefir, along with homemade yogurt, fresh eggs, and other whole food additions tailored to the individual dog.

What I do today is not about creating a perfectly balanced meal at every feeding. It’s about creating balance over time—across days and weeks—based on the needs of the dog in front of me.

That level of understanding doesn’t come from theory. It comes from decades of hands-on experience, observation, and a willingness to continuously learn and adapt.

How to Find a Responsible French Bulldog Breeder

Finding a responsible breeder is one of the most important decisions a future dog owner can make. The popularity of French Bulldogs has unfortunately led to an increase in irresponsible breeding practices, puppy mills, and backyard breeders.

Understanding what to look for in a breeder can help ensure that your future puppy is healthy, well socialized, and raised with care during the critical early weeks of life.

Health Testing Matters

Responsible breeders perform health testing on their breeding dogs before producing a litter. These tests help identify genetic conditions and reduce the risk of passing inherited problems to puppies.

Health testing varies by breed, but for French Bulldogs it may include evaluations for hips, patellas, heart health, and other conditions relevant to the breed.

A responsible breeder will always be transparent about the health testing that has been performed on their dogs and will be happy to discuss those results with potential puppy owners.

Puppies Should Be Raised in a Home Environment

The earliest weeks of a puppy’s life are extremely important for development. Puppies should be raised in a clean, safe environment where they are handled regularly and exposed to normal household activity.

Early experiences help shape temperament and confidence, which can influence a puppy’s behavior for the rest of its life.

Responsible breeders spend significant time caring for newborn puppies and closely monitoring their development during this critical period.

Early Development Programs Matter

At TerraSassa, puppies are raised using the Puppy Culture program, along with additional early developmental protocols from the Advanced Newborn to New Home program.

These structured programs are designed to support neurological development, confidence, and early socialization during the most critical stages of a puppy’s life. Puppies are carefully introduced to new experiences, gentle handling, and age-appropriate stimulation to help them grow into stable, well-adjusted dogs.

Experience in Neonatal Care

Caring for newborn puppies requires careful monitoring, especially during the first few weeks of life.

In addition to decades of breeding experience, I also have a professional background in neonatal respiratory care as a respiratory therapist. This experience has provided a deep understanding of the earliest stages of life and the importance of careful observation and early intervention when needed.

This background helps ensure that puppies receive the attentive care they need during the neonatal period.

A Lifetime Commitment to Every Puppy

Responsible breeders do not simply sell a puppy and move on. They remain responsible for the dogs they produce throughout the dog’s life.

For this reason, all TerraSassa puppies are sold with a contract that requires the dog to be returned to the breeder if the owner is ever unable to keep it. This policy ensures that every dog bred at TerraSassa will always have a safe place to return, regardless of age or circumstance.

This commitment helps prevent dogs from ending up in shelters or uncertain situations and reflects the long-term responsibility that comes with ethical breeding.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right breeder takes time and research, but it is one of the most important steps in bringing a healthy, well-raised puppy into your home.

Responsible breeders invest significant time, care, and resources into raising their puppies properly because those early weeks have a lasting impact on the dog’s health, behavior, and overall quality of life.

I will also be discussing many of these topics in more depth in the upcoming Polished Pup Podcast, where I plan to share insights on responsible breeding, puppy development, canine behavior, and raising healthy dogs.

When Should Progesterone Testing Start in Dogs?

One of the most common questions breeders ask when a female dog comes into season is when progesterone testing should begin. Proper timing of progesterone testing is essential for accurately identifying ovulation and determining the optimal breeding window.

While many breeders rely on traditional breeding days such as day 10 or day 12 of the cycle, the truth is that every female dog is different. Ovulation can occur much earlier or much later depending on the individual dog and even from one cycle to the next.

Understanding the Beginning of the Heat Cycle

The first day of visible vaginal bleeding is generally considered day one of the heat cycle. During the early part of the cycle, progesterone levels remain very low.

As the cycle progresses and ovulation approaches, progesterone levels begin to rise. Monitoring these changes through regular testing allows breeders to determine when ovulation is likely to occur.

When Testing Should Begin

For most dogs, progesterone testing should begin around day 5 or day 6 of the heat cycle.

Starting testing at this time allows hormone levels to be tracked as they begin to rise. Early testing helps establish a baseline progesterone level and makes it easier to identify the rapid increase that occurs just before ovulation.

Depending on the results, testing may be repeated every 24 to 48 hours until ovulation is confirmed.

Why Timing Matters

Accurate progesterone testing helps breeders:

• determine the correct breeding window
• avoid missed breedings
• improve conception rates
• coordinate artificial insemination or shipped semen breedings

Without hormone testing, breeding timing often becomes guesswork.

In-House Progesterone Testing

Many veterinary clinics must send progesterone samples to outside laboratories, which can delay results by 12 to 24 hours. During a breeding cycle, those delays can make it difficult to identify the ideal breeding window.

In-house testing allows breeders to receive results quickly and monitor hormone changes closely.

At TerraSassa, progesterone testing is performed in-house with results available in approximately 35 minutes, allowing breeders to make timely breeding decisions during the cycle.

Final Thoughts

Each female dog is unique, and cycles can vary significantly from one breeding to the next. Beginning progesterone testing early in the heat cycle allows breeders to track hormone changes accurately and determine the best time for breeding.

Careful reproductive management plays an important role in responsible breeding programs and helps increase the likelihood of successful litters.

Breeders interested in progesterone testing or reproductive services can learn more here:

Professional Whelping & Canine Reproductive Services

Why I Began Using Progesterone Testing in My Breeding Program

For many years I bred large breeds including Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds. During that time I rarely used progesterone testing and still had very good success with breedings.

Like many experienced breeders, I relied on behavioral cues from the female and the male. When the bitch began flagging and the male showed strong interest, breedings were typically done around days 10 and 12 of the cycle. With those breeds, that approach worked very well and most breedings resulted in pregnancy.

However, when I began working with French Bulldogs, I quickly discovered that the same timing methods were not always reliable.

French Bulldogs often have much less predictable cycles, and relying solely on behavioral signs can easily lead to missed breedings or poor timing. Because of this, I decided to incorporate progesterone testing into my breeding program so that ovulation timing could be determined much more accurately.

Why Progesterone Testing Matters

Progesterone testing allows breeders to determine when ovulation is approaching and identify the optimal breeding window. Proper timing can make the difference between a successful litter and a missed breeding.

This is particularly important when:

• breeding cycles are unpredictable
• artificial insemination is being used
• chilled or shipped semen is involved
• coordinating breedings between different locations

Accurate hormone testing removes much of the guesswork and allows breeders to make more informed breeding decisions.

Laboratory Experience and Accurate Testing

In addition to my experience as a breeder, my professional background has also prepared me well for performing progesterone testing.

I am a respiratory therapist and have spent many years working in and managing hospital laboratories. I have extensive experience with blood gas analyzers and other diagnostic equipment, including performing calibration, quality control, and proficiency testing to ensure accurate laboratory results.

Because of this background, maintaining laboratory equipment and ensuring accurate testing procedures is something I take very seriously.

My in-house progesterone analyzer is maintained with the same attention to calibration and quality control that is expected in a clinical laboratory setting.

In-House Progesterone Testing

Many veterinary clinics must send progesterone samples to outside laboratories, which can delay results by 12 to 24 hours. During a breeding cycle, that delay can sometimes mean missing the optimal breeding window.

By performing progesterone testing in-house, results are available in approximately 35 minutes, allowing breeders to monitor the cycle closely and make timely breeding decisions.

Final Thoughts

While traditional breeding timing methods may work well in some breeds, progesterone testing provides a much more precise way to determine ovulation and plan breedings.

For breeders working with breeds that have less predictable cycles, this testing can significantly improve breeding success.

Breeders who are planning a litter and would like more information about progesterone testing or other reproductive services can learn more here:

Professional Whelping & Canine Reproductive Services

Welcome to the TerraSassa Breeding & Puppy Care Blog

Welcome to the TerraSassa Breeding & Puppy Care Blog.

This blog was created to share information about responsible dog breeding, whelping, neonatal puppy care, and raising healthy, well-adjusted puppies.

With over 40 years of experience breeding and whelping dogs, along with my professional background as a respiratory therapist with extensive neonatal care experience, I have spent decades studying the earliest stages of life and development.

Through this blog I will be sharing information about:

• French Bulldog breeding and preservation breeding practices
• preparing for whelping and caring for newborn puppies
• canine reproductive services such as progesterone testing and breeding timing
• puppy development and early socialization
• nutrition and raising healthy dogs

My goal is to help both breeders and puppy owners better understand the critical early stages of canine life so that every puppy has the best possible start.

You may also find updates from the TerraSassa breeding program and information about upcoming litters.