How do you know if a dog is LOF?

The breeder gives you a pedigree (or a provisional birth certificate) issued by the SCC, and the number appears on the i-CAD database. No SCC document = not LOF, whatever the seller says. Physical "type" alone is never enough to prove it.

Can you take a dog given away on a classifieds site like Le Bon Coin?

Be cautious. Giving a dog away free is bound by the same obligations as a sale: i-CAD identification, transfer certificate, commitment certificate signed 7 days beforehand. Be wary of "free to a good home" ads where no one checks anything (risk of resale or trafficking): meet the person, see the dog in place, insist on the documents.

What recourse do you have against a dog breeder?

Yes, you have remedies: the warranty against redhibitory defects provided by the Rural Code, and the statutory guarantee depending on the seller. Keep all your documents, act quickly, and turn to a legal adviser or a consumer association for your specific case. We point you in the right direction without giving personalised legal advice.

Spotting a responsible breeder (and avoiding the traps)

Choosing and welcoming my dogPart of · Choosing and welcoming my dog

Spotting a responsible breeder (and avoiding the traps)

Q: Is a dog without a pedigree lesser?

No. A non-LOF dog can be every bit the same in temperament: it just isn't certified as "pedigree". What really matters is a puppy that's well born, socialised, with screened parents and all its documents in order.

8 min read

A responsible breeder lets you visit, shows you the mother with her litter, asks questions about your life, releases no puppy before eight weeks and hands over every document. Walk away from a knock-down price, a refused visit and a handover in a car park.

Good breeding means a puppy you saw born, socialised, with screened parents. A seller to avoid (a puppy farm, an advert that looks too good, an illegal import) often sells a puppy that is too young, poorly socialised, sometimes ill, and feeds the trade. Taking the time to check beforehand protects your future dog as much as your wallet.

Checking out the breeder, step by step

Five checks before you fall for a puppy.

Ask to visit the breeding premises

A breeder who refuses a visit, or who offers to deliver the puppy to a car park, is hiding something. You need to see where the puppies live: a clean place, with alert little ones already used to seeing people.

See the mother and the litter together

The mother should be there, in good health, at ease with her puppies. Be wary if the breeder tells you she is "at a cousin's place", or if all you get is photos. Seeing the litter tells you about sociability and general health.

Ask for the parents' health screening

For the inherited conditions that are common in this type of dog (hip dysplasia, for example), a responsible breeder has the parents screened by graded X-ray and shows you the results. Dysplasia comes largely from the genes, even if the puppy's growth and diet also play a part: if screening reveals dysplasia in a dog, that dog should not be bred.

Check that the breeder questions you too

A good breeder wants to know who they are entrusting a puppy to: your lifestyle, your home, the time you have. Someone with no interest in your situation is mainly looking to shift puppies.

Wait for eight weeks minimum

The law forbids handing over a puppy (by sale or as a gift) before the age of eight weeks. And separating him from his mother too early also harms his development. A seller in a hurry to hand him over "right away", very young, is a warning sign.

The paperwork to insist on at handover

At handover, leave with every one of these documents. One is missing? You don't take the puppy.

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Decoding the LOF: what it guarantees, what it doesn't

The LOF (Livre des Origines Français), kept by the Société Centrale Canine since 1885, is the official register of "pedigree" dogs. A LOF puppy is born to parents who are themselves LOF and receives a pedigree tracing his ancestry over five generations. Here is what that paper guarantees, and what it does not.

What the LOF guarantees

Traceable ancestryParents and grandparents are known and registered, which makes screening for inherited diseases possible and verifiable.

Conformity to the physical standardAfter confirmation, the dog is recognised as matching the physical standard expected of his breed.

What the LOF does not guarantee

Good healthThe LOF is not a health label: it replaces neither the screening of the parents nor veterinary follow-up.

A "good temperament"Behaviour remains highly individual: breed explains only about 9% of the behavioural differences between dogs.

Proof of responsible breedingA pedigree cancels out none of the other checks: the visit, the mother, the screening, the compulsory documents.

A non-LOF puppy is not "lesser": he is simply not certified as "pedigree". Registration only becomes final after confirmation by an approved judge, at the end of growth (often between 12 and 15 months depending on the breed).

Société Centrale Canine (SCC) — Livre des Origines Français (LOF), pedigree and confirmation to the standard
Loi n° 2021-1539 du 30 novembre 2021 — Fighting animal cruelty: certificate of commitment and knowledge, 7-day cooling-off period (2021)
Transferring a pet: obligations of the seller and the buyer, service-public.fr
National identification database for domestic carnivores, i-CAD
Morrill et al. — Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics: breed explains about 9% of behavioural variation, Science (2022)
Consensus orthopédique vétérinaire — Graded radiographic screening for dysplasia; do not breed affected dogs

Going further

guideShelter, private seller or breeder: where to adopt?Compare the three serious routes to adoption before you make up your mind.Read the guide guideChoosing to adopt an adult dog (shelter or rescue)The other serious route, for an adult whose temperament is already known.Read the guide guideWhich dog is right for me?Before you look for a breeder, check that the breed really suits you.Read the guide guideSize, coat, energyEnough to pin down the breed that suits you, before the breeder.Read the guide guideThe real cost of a dogThe price of the puppy is only the start: work out the full budget, across the dog's whole life.Read the guide guideGetting ready for your puppy's arrivalOnce you have found the right breeder, get the house ready for the big day.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

What does LOF mean for a dog?

LOF stands for Livre des Origines Français, the official register kept by the Société Centrale Canine. A dog is entered in it if he is "pedigree" in the official sense: his parents are LOF, his litter was declared, and he receives a pedigree tracing his ancestry over five generations. It is not a health label.

How do I know whether a dog is LOF?

The breeder hands you a pedigree (or a provisional birth certificate) issued by the SCC, and the number appears in the i-CAD database. No SCC document = not LOF, whatever the seller says. Physical "type" alone is never proof.

Does the LOF guarantee my dog's good health?

No. The LOF certifies traceable ancestry and conformity to the standard, not health or temperament. What really protects you is the screening of the parents for inherited diseases, which you should ask the breeder for, along with veterinary follow-up.

Can I take a dog given away on a classifieds site?

Be careful. Giving a dog away is subject to the same obligations as selling one: i-CAD identification, transfer certificate, certificate of commitment signed 7 days beforehand. Be wary of "free to a good home" adverts where nobody checks anything (risk of resale or trafficking): meet the person, see the dog on site, insist on the paperwork.

What redress do I have against a dog breeder?

Yes, you do have redress: the guarantee against redhibitory defects set out in the French rural code. Keep all your documents, act quickly, and turn to a lawyer or a consumer association for your specific case. This guide points you in the right direction, but it is no substitute for personalised legal advice.

Is a dog without a pedigree lesser?

No. A non-LOF dog can have a lovely temperament: he is simply not certified as "pedigree". Look instead at whether he was well born, socialised, with screened parents and all his paperwork in order.

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