How I acquired a purebred puppy in France

In rural France, dogs are an almost essential part of life. Apart from being companions, they perform the role of security guard, pest controller, farm dog and are an essential member of the local chasse (hunt), where packs are still used to flush game. 

Virtually everyone has at least one and the countryside rings to the sounds of yelps, barks and the occasional whimper.

Our elderly dog, Spangle, died in April. He was about 15 years old – an estimate as we acquired him from a French animal charity when he was about two. 

Spangle had probably been reared as a hunting dog and was found, without a microchip, wandering the countryside. 

We had 13 extremely happy years together until he died, at home, that heartbreaking day in spring.

We contacted our vet, who arranged for Spangle’s interment. I was apprehensive; nobody wants to say goodbye to their beloved pet within a snowstorm of French bureaucracy, but I need not have worried. 

Spangle was to be cremated, and the vet arranged everything with kindness and sensitivity at a nearby pet cremation service. The process was personal and dignified and we could even attend if we would like to – we didn’t. 

We did, however, receive a link to the service’s website, where we followed Spangle’s final journey, posted a photograph, and wrote a few words in the digital book of remembrance. 

We duly received Spangle’s ashes, which will be scattered under a tree we will be planting this winter. It was all quite a cathartic experience.

There followed a period of mourning until, at the end of summer, I decided I would like a rough coated Jack Russell terrier. 

A friend directed me to the Chiens de France website, where we were incredibly lucky to find a nearby breeder. She had no new puppies available but did have a six-month-old, which she had been planning to keep herself. 

He went by a name almost bigger than he was – Amstragram des Gerveilles. The name is important. 

It had to begin with ‘A’ as all registered puppies born in 2025 must. In 2026 names will, presumably, begin with ‘B’. Gerveilles is the breeder’s suffix and her kennels are called l’Elevage des Gerveilles. 

Our puppy came with accreditations similar to those of the British or American Kennel clubs. 

His blood line, which stretches back through the Czech Republic, Russia and Australia, is recorded in the Livre des origines français (LOF), the French register for pure-bred dogs, and he has been genetically screened for weaknesses associated with pure breeds. 

We received a copy of his family tree, his carnet de santé (medical records) and microchip documentation. 

We also benefited from the professionalism of his breeder, who metaphorically held my hand for the first, anxious couple of weeks as Stanley (the name we gave him) and I got to know one another.

So, as one year turns into another I am enjoying wonderful walks with a lively, young Jack Russell. 

He will play an important role deterring vermin, boars and intruders. Most importantly, I hope he will provide companionship for years to come.