Welcome!
So, we of course all know that Bulldog Puppies are the cutest puppies in the whole world, right? Before you decide to bring home an adorable shmooshie faced bully puppy, please read this entire page. I encourage you to call me if you have any questions.
I wish we didn't have to warn the puppy buyers out there on puppy mills, backyard breeders, health issues, scams etc. I wish every breeder was honest and reputable, and the puppy buyers just like yourself could feel confident in your purchase of a new addition. Unfortunately, the numbers of Bulldogs in rescue are soaring nationwide due to puppy purchases gone bad. Our goal as rescuers is to work WITH the responsible breeders out there, and educate the public on what to look for when buying a puppy.
The TRUTH about Pet Stores
PET STORE PUPPIES ARE FROM HIGH VOLUME PUPPY MILLS. PERIOD.
It is always amazing to me to see how badly people who are thinking of buying a puppy in a pet store want to believe the above statement isn’t true. The response is always, “But I asked the people in the pet store and they assured me that all of their puppies come from home breeders.” Of course that’s what they say! They want you to plunk down your $3800 or $4500 for one of the puppies they have for sale. But these claims have been disproved.
-
First, ask yourself this question: How would it be possible for a store that has dozens and dozens of puppies of different breeds for sale every day to obtain all their dogs from home breeders? The logistics alone would be impossible, since home breeders, by definition, are small-scale and can produce only a few puppies a year.
-
Second, television programs such as Dateline NBC have proved absolutely that these claims are false, by getting the names of the “home breeders” from pet store employees, then hunting them down. Without exception, the pet stores’ “home breeders” were puppy mills.
-
Third, I always hear, "but my pet store puppy is AKC registered." Who cares??? Honestly, in rescue, we see many dogs that come out of the pet stores. Most Bulldogs we see are AKC registered. Many of them may look like English Bulldogs as puppies, but then grow up to have a long nose, tall legs, tails, pointy ears etc. Many of them also do not have the temperment that we love so dearly on bulldogs. Pet store bulldogs are hyper as all get out, and are not socialized at all. They seem to grow up looking more like American Bulldogs.
-
The pet store said: "Our puppies have a lifetime guarantee. You won't get that from a breeder"
Truth: Read the fine print. Bulldog puppies have a disclaimer in their contract saying that the pet store does not cover cherry eye, hip problems etc... They don't cover the "common bulldog issues." Ask what happens if you buy a puppy from a pet store and 3 years from now it develops hip dysplasia. They will likely tell you that you can return the dog and they'll give you a new one. What??? So your dog, that is now a member of your family, continues to live in pain or is euthanized, and you start over with a new puppy...only to have the same thing happen again? Prevention is the key here. A responsible breeder will not breed a dog with major health issues, and will always screen the parents for any diseases common to that particular breed prior to breeding. Chances are, if your puppy's parents are healthy, your pup is more likely to be healthy too. Most responsible breeders will guarantee their puppies for a period of time that will allow you to take the pup to your vet for a screening. - OK, so you are still doubting me? Read on... GENETIC DEFECTS. How do you know what is in the lines of your pet store bulldog? Ok, so you get their pedigree and it has a bunch of names that mean nothing to you. None of these dogs are show champions, none of these dogs you will ever see or touch, so what does it matter? It is a ploy to make the pet stores seem reputable. You have NO CLUE what is genetically wrong in the lines of the parents. From hip dysplasia, to luxating patellas, to elongated palates, to entropian... AND, if you don't know what these words mean, do some research before you buy!
-
For a list of common bulldog health issues CLICK HERE
There are new pet stores -- stores that position themselves as "upscale" and "lifestyle stores" -- that admit that the puppies in their stores come from commercial volume breeders. The puppies are sold for $2000 to $5000. Putting a puppy mill dog into a fancy retail setting and sticking an outrageous price tag on it does not change anything about the origins of the puppy. And none of that fancy price tag does anything to alleviate the misery of the mill dogs used as breeding machines. If you take anything away from reading this page, take this: STOP THE SUFFERING OF DOGS AND DO NOT BUY FROM A PET STORE. The minute you buy that adorable little puppy, they have one right behind it waiting to take it's place. You are not saving 1 dog by buying it. You are saving hundreds of thousands of dogs by NOT buying from a pet store.
ONE MORE REASON NOT TO BUY FROM PET STORES... WHERE DO PUPPY MILLS GET THEIR BREEDING DOGS FROM? CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT PUPPY MILL AUCTIONS. THIS ARTICLE IN PARTICULAR DEALS WITH BULLDOGS, OUR WONDERFUL BREED.
" Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." -Albert Schweitzer
"Puppy Scams" BEWARE!
Here is a clip from a local backpage.com site:
i have these very cute free bulldog puppies which are potty trained ,vet checked (akc, ckc all registered) they are female and male and they are looking for a new home because where they are their parents cannot still have the devotion and care they had always have towards them so thats why i am placing them out not to anyone but some body who promises to take a perfect care of them because they are the most precious and adorable to the eyes of the parent,and in addition to that they love to play with kids and other pets. thanks
The puppies are still available for a new and loving home one male one female. Own a lovable personality you wondered if you shall ever find and will put in the best submission into your family this season.They will be going for free they are the most Adorable Bulldog puppies AKC registered with health records and shots.Experience in Veterinary Health Care Hospital.They are raised in-home to provide love, play, and socialization. Champion bloodlines. Well socialized puppies with irresistible personalities. Male & Female. Excellent temperaments.I am looking for the best home for the babies.I am an American, a food processing experts by profession. We work in a Food Processing company in the UK and i happened to be one of the experts that where nominated to survey a food processing and agricultural industry in Cameroon by name BUBARY AGRICULTURAL SUPPLING GLOBAL COMPANY LTD ( BASC_GLOBAL ) website at http://bascglobal.tripod.com/ . so with the love i have for these puppies, i have to take them along as i have no body to look after them while i am gone. when i got to Cameroon , i found out that my hours for work where too much and i didn't had enough time for the babies so i have to give them out and only to any interested person or family. SHIPPING WILL BE FREE TO ANY LOCATION IN THE USA AS I WILL ALSO PAY FOR IT.IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED AND KNOW YOU WILL PROVIDE THE LOVE AND CARE THESE PETS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAVING IN THEIR LIVES THEN GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS. all i want is for the puppies to be out of here and save too. If you know that you will give this puppies or one of them a good, loving and caring home then please get back to me with the following for shipping no matter where you are.
YOUR FULL NAMES
COUNTRY
STATE
DELIVERY ADDRESS ( DOOR )
PHONE NUMBER
NEAREST AIRPORT TO YOUR LOCATION
NUMBER OF MILES YOU LEAVE AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT
WHEN I HAVE ALL THESES, I WILL TAKE THE PUPPY/PUPPIES TO THE AIRPORT AND SHIP THE PUPPY/PUPPIES TO YOU AT ONCE.
I WANT THAT TO BE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE PUPPIES MUST LIVE CAMEROON ASAP.
GET BACK TO ME ASAP
You will never get this puppy. They will ask you to wire money for the crate, food etc. Then you will show up at the airport, no puppy. These are often called the "Nigerian Puppy Scams." STAY AWAY! NO ONE is going to give you a free bulldog puppy. If you don't believe me still, Click Here to see the ABC news story.
The Truth on Irresponsible Breeders
This will be the tough one. So often I hear "I got my puppy from a reputable breeder" or "he/she is a really good breeder."
How do you determine what a reputable breeder is? Is it because they show their dogs? Is it because they have a pretty website? Is it because they are members of a pure breed dog club? Is it because they have cute puppies? How does the general public know what a responsible breeder is?
SO GLAD YOU ASKED!
Responsible Breeders will NOT advertise puppies for sale on a website. They will NOT ship puppies to you sight unseen. They will NOT have a sign in the middle of a busy intersection advertising BULLDOG PUPPIES FOR SALE. A responsible breeder lives FOR their dogs, not OFF their dogs. A good breeder only breeds when they are ready for a puppy themselves. Good breeders do not have a lot of litters within a year.
A responsible breeder who sells you a pet, will place a limited registration on your puppy's AKC papers. Meaning that you cannot breed the puppy and register the litter. They will also ask you to spay or neuter your pet when they are of appropriate age. Good breeders are aware of the dogs we see in rescue, and they do not ever want one of their puppies to end up in a shelter or rescue situation. Good breeders will always have the first right of refusal on every puppy they sell, to ensure that the puppy comes back to them if you are ever unable to care for the dog. A good breeder is there for you throughout the life of the puppy. You should be able to call your breeder with any questions or concerns, and they should be there to help. They will also recommend a vet, trainer and proper care and feeding instructions. JUST BECAUSE A BREEDER SHOWS DOGS, DOES NOT MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE! Anyone can enter a dog show, but it is the LOVE and CARE of the animal that sets the good breeders apart.
Irresponsible Breeders will sell you a puppy without asking you any questions. They will usually advertise in the paper or online, and they are out to make a quick buck. They usually have super fancy websites with pictures of all of their puppies for sale. They usually have no idea about health and conformation of a bulldog. They usually breed several different breeds, and have WAY too many dogs! They will have many litters a year... I have even heard and seen so called "breeders" who sell a puppy as a pet, and then offer a stud service down the line! WRONG! That should be your first sign to RUN. A good breeder will not sell you a PET and then teach you how to breed him/her. They are in it for the money. IF you are looking for a show puppy, that is a whole other story. LOOK to see whose dogs are out there WINNING in the ring, and contact that person.
Bad breeders do not breed to show, or to produce healthy dogs. They breed for money, or because they wanted to see what it was like to breed and raise a litter. The scariest thing to me about buying a puppy from someone I didn't know, would be health issues. What if there are bad knees in the parents or the grandparents? You are opening yourself up to a lifetime of heartache. DO NOT PURCHASE A PUPPY FROM SOMEONE WHO YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. Go with your gut, it is usually right!
Here are a few tips for finding the right puppy for you. As you may know, a Bulldog, like any new dog, is a huge responsibility. These tips were provided by a Hall of Fame Bulldog Breeder.
-Look for a breeder who asks you more questions than you ask them. They should be very concerned about making sure a bulldog is the right choice for you.
-They should require spay/neuter of all companion dogs. They will insist on being notified if you are unable to keep the dog and will be available to assist in its rehoming. They never want any dog they have produced to wind up in rescue.
-The best breeders breed primarily for themselves and will keep something out of the litter. Otherwise why did they produce a litter??? They will encourage you to educate yourself about the breed prior to purchasing.
-Beware of breeders who use aggressive selling techiniques, encourage you to purchase before they sell to somebody else, require/allow breeding of the dog, have litters of puppies for sale most of the time.
-Beware of online sales. A reputable breeder will not sell you a puppy online and ship it to you. They should want to meet you in person, and have you meet the puppy.
So, how do I find a responsible breeder?
Visit www.thebca.org which is the Bulldog Club of America. ATTEND A DOG SHOW IN YOUR AREA. Look at the dogs showing, talk to the exhibitors. Get as much knowledge and info that you can! Find someone you are comfortable with. Ask to visit their home, see how their dogs are kept. If they don't let you in their home, that is a red flag! A good breeder with work with you, take time to get to know you, and educate you on the breed. NOT just "sell you a puppy."
--Be sure to ask them:
How long have you been involved in the breed?
Do you belong to any bulldog clubs?
Can I see the mom and maybe dad and other puppies in the litter?
Any references or photos from previous puppy buyers?
What type of health guarantee/contract do you offer?
What age do you allow your babies to leave home?
Can I visit a few times and ask you questions and watch the puppies?
Some helpful links:
10 worst reasons NOT to spay or neuter your pet Bulldog
Bulldog Club of America Rescue Network
