Interesting comments to my blog by folks who are not actually reading the blog, or who are not very educated. The first blog in my list talks about joining breed clubs. A very important thing to do, and we encourage donations as the breed clubs do important research on these breeds. Furthermore, your comments would not be so ill suited I believe if you were actually showing your dog. (such as a pedigree doesn't matter) We support dog showing, but those of us in the bulldog world, no how difficult and costly it is to win all the time. So we do promote healthy practices as well.
All of our girls come very close to the Breed Standards, however there is never perfection. (find breed standards at the bulldog club of america website). We do look for puppies to develop into show quality, to show in the AKC conformation ring in some litters. If you are interested in show pups, please email. These girls are AKC registered with champions in their pedigrees. Champions whom we have met the owners, met the dogs, or have done research on. This research is done so we can come to understand how their genetics and health may affect our dogs and our puppies.
We believe health tests and generations of dogs bred is the best way to really know the health of your dog. This is why we OFA certify. Also, you can view grandparents, and 3 generations, usually laying around our home at any one time. This is how we know what sort of pups we are offering, because we are raising generations in our home.
We find the pedigree useful for researching purposes, for finding health on generations past. So we make the pedigrees available to you. Pedigrees are necessary in order to Line Breed. Pedigrees are also necessary to Cross Breed, for how do you know what lines you are breeding without a pedigree? If you are interested in that discussion it is best for a phone conversation. 520-971-8310 PRK@wildblue.net
(Read to the end to see the breeder "trap")
This is really the question of the decade isn't it? With so many television shows on "puppy mills" & "backyard breeders" & "dog rescues" & on and on. It really is time to start doing the right thing when buying or breeding a puppy isn't it?
These days in the world of breedings pure bred dogs. The saying "you get what you pay for" stands true. If a breeder is trying to "outsell" the competition, this may be a sign they are in it for the money, not worried about finding good homes and making sure their puppies don't end up in shelters.
When finding your breeder, here are some questions to ask. And when answering; a good breeder will answer with the tone of confidence, and assure you that they know what they are talking about and are giving you the best, honest answer they can.
For instance:
Ask the breeder if they have seen any of their puppies grow up. I mean how do they know they breed good and healthy dogs if this is their first litter of puppies?
Ask the breeder if they haven't seen their pups grow up, then what kind of research have they done to know that the bloodlines they are producing are going to be healthy? With all of the health problems bulldogs are coming up with today, how can we be sure we are receiving a healthy bulldog puppy? The worst thing that can EVER happen to a gorgeous bulldog puppy is to have them end up in a rescue facility. If you have ever had a bulldog then you know what I am talking about.
Does the breeder have a health guarantee in writing? Read the guarantee, ask them to email it to you, or read it when you get there. Be sure it is thorough and you know exactly what you are getting.
IF the breeder doesn't have a health guarantee, well why not?
Ask the breeder if they ever show their dogs or are they active in the breed clubs. A breeder who is showing dogs, is having their dogs checked out in the show ring by conscientious breed judges. This means they really couldn't have had the sire or dam in the ring with an illness right? A breeder who shows their dogs is also not "in it for the money". As the costs of showing and traveling to show is extensive. Involvement in breed clubs helps a breeder to become educated more in the breed, and keeps their dogs interactive with groups and people.
How does the breeder choose their breeding stock? This is a big question. The answers can vary from pretty, healthy, etc. But delve deeper into this question. You may find that they just think their dogs are cute and wanted to breed them. If so end the interview. If they say, we have been breeding for 20 years, repeat the question. A confident breeder will answer you this question with confidence.
Ask the breeder, "if I can for some reason no longer care for this puppy, will you take it back"? This question may seem odd. But a breeder that loves the breed, cares for the lives of their puppies, will do what they can to make sure their puppy never lives in a shelter or ends up at the pound.
Has the breeder done any health tests or certifications on their breeders? Some dog breeds have a tendency to some types of ailments or disease. At least testing the breeders can give you some confidence that your puppy will not have these issues. There is never a "certainty" but it lowers your risks in that particular breed.
All these questions and more can be asked before you ever even go to look at the puppies. Now I am saying this because here is the "trap".
BREEDER TRAP
Over and over again I see the articles saying to find a good breeder you must go to their home. But, the truth of the matter is a GOOD breeder follows many protocols BEFORE ever allowing you to come to their home. Now think about it. You call up the breeder, they say "oh just come on over". So, you get to the breeder's home, you see the gorgeous, chubby, cuddly little baby puppy faces. You start out, "oh a couple of questions".. then you ask "do you do any tests on your breeding dogs".. The breeder will start to give you the answers or some drawn out explanation of how the parents of her dogs had some tests or what have you....and you? Well you are cuddling the gorgeous little puppy, licking your face, running around your feet, you see the color you want... and that is it! Puppy is sold!
A little insight on this ok? A good breeder is going to ask YOU questions. They want to know where their puppy is going to live. They want to know your experience with the breed. They want to know are you planning to show your puppy, breed your puppy or will it be a pet? A good breeder is very very concerned about the bacteria, and viruses that a family, unknowingly of course, may bring into their home and to their new puppies!
Once when AKC was at our place to do their "inspection". We had a conversation with the woman for a while. She mentioned to us how people were beginning to ask to come and see puppies just so they can steal the puppies. She said that PETA had actually sent over people to cause trouble for breeders. They would say they wanted a photo of the puppy and then they would doctor it to look like filth or what have you, just because they want to shut down any breeder. She said that she has heard several stories of someone allowing a family to view young puppies, just to have the puppies die from some sort of E COLI the viewing family must have carried on their hands or shoes.
So, my point is this. Please be conscientious about the breeder and their home. You are after all asking to visit their home and their family. You are disrupting their day, so be sure to make an appointment. Breeders have a very busy schedule with caring for pups and animals etc. They don't have time to sit around all day and wait, and they do have families too ok?
Remember, a good breeder is worried about their puppies, about bacteria, about theft, about alot of things, because they love their dogs and puppies so very much. After all, LOVE FOR THE BREED, is the greatest one thing that makes the breeder breed. To better the breed itself, to educate the public, and to share in the joy this breed has given to them, to share it with you.
It is so hard to believe that a little, ugly, wrinkly bulldog can bring so much beauty and joy to ones life. But, believe me they can. There is no dog as sweet as the english bulldog. Too many times, unfortunately, we see the breeding of the backyard breeders, raising unhealthy, and unloved puppies. Then sending them out in the world to give the bulldog a bad reputation. We hear things like "english bulldogs have alot of health problems", "english bulldogs cannot live long", "english bulldogs are mean to children". I mean really are you kidding me? If raised properly by a caring and clean bulldog breeder; these dogs and be the joy of anyone's life. They can live longer then the 8 or 10 years you have been told. They can be healthy without skin and eye problems. And they can be the companion, and best friend, you have been searching for in a dog.It is important to learn to breed a bulldog properly. It is important to raise the puppies properly. It takes alot of time, consistency, cleanliness, research, responsibility and love. Does your breeder have all of these qualities going for them? And please don't buy a dog from a petstore. They cannot tell you how the puppies were raised, what they were fed, the health of their parents, the responsiblity of the breeder. Really they usually have nothing to give you on where the puppy comes from.Stay away from petstores they support the puppy mills! If you would like to learn more about finding and raising the gorgeous, wrinkly, bulldog, please email the author at prk@wildblue.net.(author: Dena, website: www.azenglishbulldogs.com Please email for information about raising healthy bulldog puppies. This author has raised more then 100 puppies and has them in happy healthy homes throughout the country. This author is not a veterinarian but has good sound advice regarding english bulldogs, working from home, and yoga.)
