Bulldog Breeds Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Very exciting news!

Jump to Latest
1 - 15 of 15 Posts

PonyQueen

· Registered
Joined
·
27 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
So my fiance and I have been researching English/British bulldogs since '07 with the intention of one day buying a pup.

We started a new savings account and put away $100 a week from our pays, because we knew that bulldogs in our state are going for around $3,000-$5,000 each, plus we'd need a crate, a play pen, the cost of the dog insurance, bowls, collars, leashes, money for training and puppy classes, books and dvds, toys, food...it just went on an on.

Back in '08 I emailed a lot of breeders with some questions, and got a few decent responses and a few ignores.
I singled out the breeder I liked most, asked more questions, and got more information.

Everything about them seems perfect.
They raise their pups with their four kids, ranging in age from toddler to teen, and begin basic obediance and socialization before they leave the breeder's home. {obviously socialization isn't with strange adult dogs due to risk of diseases}
They also have cats and horses, Danes and ducks on their property, and pups are introduced to them all while being rewarded for being good.

They pick the pup for you based on what you say you want from a pup, and they health and temperment test both parents.

Their puppy pack also totally ROCKS beyond belief.

You get:

* Blanket with litter scent
* 'Heartbeat' pillow
* Book on raising and caring for bulldogs
* A book of coupons to cash in at groomer's, puppy classes, trainers, pet stores and the vet.
* A puppy collar and double-end leash that can clip onto your belt for an umbilical experience
* A little treat pouch that clips on your belt
* 6 month's pet insurance, free
* A puppy kong and box of puppy kong bikkies
* A squeaky rat toy
* A puppy sized donut pillow
AND most awesome of ALL
* $50 off the price of a crate at the store near their kennels. That means it's $30 for a double-doored super-strong collapsable steel crate with divider, removable waste tray and locks.

Amazing. All that alone makes me love them.

They have been so very, very helpful, but they've been very busy with their showing and breed club upkeeps, so we've never really "set a date", and their bitch has been unsuccessful getting pregnant.

A few weeks ago we lost our beloved rescue beagle, Burgle, who needed to be PTS {medical issues}.
He was a huge chunk of our souls, the first dog we "bought" together, and his passing at age two was a heavy blow to our lives.
The loss is like losing a child...there's no more scratching at the back door, no more fridge seals chewed to pieces, his Kong lies unmangled in his empty crate...I never imagined how awful it would feel.
I couldn't eat or sleep, I had no interest in friends or family, the loss seemed to grow every day and it was like nothing could stop the pain.

This week we got a call from the breeders saying their bitch is pregnant, and would we like to go on the list because they had a feeling we needed a pup this year.

As soon as I put the phone down I was like "It's a sign"

Whether or not you believe dogs have souls, or intelligence and stay with us after they're gone...I still believe it's a sign.
He knew we loved him, he knew we needed something to pull us out of our depression, he knew we missed having a little one around, and he sent us our promise pup.

I feel guilty about it but...I'm so excited!
We have a pup on the way!

We've already decided names
Girl name= Molly
Boy name= Frank


So, any puppy tips you can give out? Anything you found useful or helpful?
 
#2 ·
Welcome, congrats on your upcoming puppy. My best advice would to be give lots of love, be consistent in your training, enroll in a puppy class as soon as the pup is able to take one, and ask for help when you need it. Good luck and I hope we get to see photos of the little on once it arrives.
 
#3 ·
Congratulations. I do not want to bring a downer to your happiness,
however, just a thought. Like picking out a new car, we sometimes pick
with our heart and not our head. Please make sure before you sign any
contract that you are getting a good quality pup. Nothing hurts the heart
more than to get your pup home and find out it has all sorts of medical
issues. This just leads to more issues dealing with the breeder and losses
financially.
 
#4 ·
I wouldn't want anyone to pick a puppy or anything else for me for that matter.

You should check out the puppy in person and make the choice yourself.

The package looks great, but why would anyone who breeds and sells quality dogs have to offer such an extravagent package?

It's not about the ribbens & bows. It could be great, but it seems like a sales pitch which makes me immediately suspicious. The least you could do is check with previous buyers. You know how the saying goes, 'Buyer beware'...
 
#5 ·
tcdrover said:
I wouldn't want anyone to pick a puppy or anything else for me for that matter.
Click to expand...
Well that's just silliness! The breeder lives[/] with the dogs. They know more about the puppy than you could possibly hope to pick up in 10 minutes of playing with the puppy. If the breeder is a responsible one then having them pick the puppy for you and your needs is absolutely the right thing to do.
 
#6 · (Edited)
i think that package is fantastic. i know of a couple kennels(not bulldog ones though) that send out packages with the pups, training dvd's etc.

its a good idea because, they want to minimize pups being returned to them, or otherwise "gotten rid of". Think about it, the number 1 cause of pups being dumped is because they were "impossible to housebreak/chewed things/"untrainable".
it's setting the new owners, and puppy up to succeed. Though that list is a bit long, with the coupons, etc, it gives new owners resources right off the bat.

i also highly recommend having your breeder help pick your pup, or even pick it for you. Especially if its your first dog, or first dog of tha tbreed. few pet owners knwo how to properly temperament test young pups, and another reason pups get given away is because it was flat out the wrong match, the people picked based on color, or they wanted "the shy one sitting all alone(fearful, not good), or the one leading the charge(alpha pup, also not for the verage pet owner).


Something i would caution you about though, I know you like this kennel, and i don't know which kennel it is, but it seems good, i would be VERY hesitant to take a pup from a bitch that has had that much trouble conceiving, Is there another breeding they have set up, with a different bitch?
 
#9 ·
I feel for you with the loss of your pup.. Best of luck with your bulldog!
My advice for puppies is routine routine routine.... there is so much information on this site in the training section as well. Welcome and congrats! ;) be sure to send in pictures !
 
#10 ·
I have gone both ways. I have picked my own puppy and had them picked for me. When I picked my own puppy it was my boxer and it was just some family that came into the vet clinic that had boxer pups and I got to pick whatever one I wanted. When I got my obedience dogs and conformation dogs through show breeders the dog was always picked for me. Most the time a good breeders pups are all spoken for in a litter, they may even have more people on their waiting list then puppies being born. They choose what ones will be best fit in for what that owner wants to do with the dog, whether that be a family pet or running around a conformation ring.

I have always had good luck telling the breeders that I want the puppy that is the most happy to spend time with them. The one that will stop playing with the other pups to follow them around the house. The one that likes to snuggle the most with the people. I tell them that because that puppy is one that loves people and is usually eager to please. I also tell them no alpha's and no fearful pups. I have never once had a bad pick from a breeder. They know their dogs the best.
 
#12 ·
Congratulations! I hope you and your future pup have a long and healthy life together.

As for breeder picking, I think I went the combo route. I wanted a male, not fearful or overly excitable, not pure white, intelligent, not needy but also not too independant. The breeder showed me the whole litter and then told me which ones fit my criteria. There were 3 or 4, I believe. One was skittish around my son, so he was out of the running, one seemed not interested in us at all, so he was out,too. Of the last two, I couldn't decide and the breeder chose. I have to say, it was the right choice and I couldn't be happier.
 
#13 ·
A lot of people who buy puppies really don't know what they are looking at when they look at a litter anyways and when left to their own devices, most just end up picking their puppy based on color, size, markings, etc. Then they get the puppy home and it's either a fearful basket case or more dominant than what they can handle. Just read through some of the threads here. People are constantly posting about problems with temperament yet these are the very same people who went out and selected their puppy because it was the biggest or had the most color..some are even making their picks at a few days old. Of course any decent breeder would never allow this but at the same time people should be doing research before hand so they know going in how to go about properly picking out a puppy. Even though the breeder should know better it's still kinda hard to feel sorry for people when they buy on impulse and make poor decisions. Time and research goes a long way. Why people are so careless and willy nilly when they are buying an animal that will be spending 10 yrs of more with them and their family is beyond me.

Usually the puppies will get "grouped" and quite often a buyer will have 2 or 3 that look like they might fit their lifestyle and experience level so you will still get some sort of say anyways. IMO when a breeder is involved in the selection process that is a GOOD thing.
 
#14 ·
I agree 100% with a breeder picking a puppy for the buyer.

I have a lot of friends that breed and most offer some sort of puppy package for the new family. Most of the breeders that I'm friends with get this stuff at Petsmart or wherever when they have big sale days - they stock up, or they make some of the things (blankets). It's nice because the buyer gets things that they might not even think about and the puppy gets to bring things with it from it's old home that make it feel comfortable. I always sent my foster dogs home with a blanket that they had used and a few of their favourite toys - it seemed to make the transition a lot easier.

I think it's interesting that they offer pet insurance for 6 months... I've never seen that before outside of rescue (ours offers free pet insurance for 2 months through a program for rescue dogs). I wonder how they do this, might be something worth looking into for breeders.
 
#15 ·
Your story made me teary eyed! We lost our beloved pet last year very suddenly. He was brought down in the prime of his life by a stupid tick bite. Getting a puppy helped us to heal so much...I hope it does the same for you.

It sounds like you've done a ton of research and have found a good breeder. I think letting the breeder pick the dog for you based on your lifestyle and what you want is a good idea. I was watching a special on dog origins the other day and they had this guy who studied wolves. He was explaining the dynamics of a wolf pack and as they approached the pack, one of the wolves (behind a fence) came to the front to sniff out the newcomers. The wolf expert explained he was the "enforcer" in the pack - one of the more dominant dogs who comes out first to investigate. He said people often say the picked a puppy out of a litter because it was the one that "came to them" first...not realizing they are likely picking one of the more dominant of the dogs, which doesn't make it a bad dog - just not the type of dog every dog owner can handle.

Best wishes!
~Crissy
 
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
About this Discussion
14 Replies
13 Participants
Last post:
Mom2Tank
Bulldog Breeds Forums
posts
536K
members
11K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to Bulldog owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Photos General/Misc. Bully Discussion New Member Introductions News & Events