Answer: The 'price' of any product is based on its quality. You DO see hundreds of sites offering bulldog puppies; in fact, you are probably a little overwhelmed at the selection you have seen! All those beautiful puppy faces, and each is so special in its own little way. BUT, you HAVE to know MORE than just that precious little face! You HAVE to KNOW the quality of the puppy you are bringing into your home. Our puppies WILL NOT give you serious problems! NOWHERE IN THEIR GENETICS HAVE THERE BEEN SERIOUS PROBLEMS! You are paying for a HEALTHY English bulldog puppy; you will have routine veterinary expenses (as we have had with our girls), but you will NOT be burdened with chronic problems!! That in itself will be quite a savings for you. (Not to mention how YOU suffer at the very thought of a hurting puppy!) Our females were chosen with GREAT care. The males we use for our females are chosen with EQUAL care, FOR HEALTH FIRST, FOR DISPOSITION SECOND, AND THEN FOR BEAUTY!
a. WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN LINE BREEDING!!!! WE HAVE NO GRANDFATHER BRED TO A GRANDDAUGHTER!!!!
b. We have NO 'outbuildings' where our dogs are kept (they are all lying here at my feet as I work! Is the number of dogs we have a 'pack' with a pack mentality? Yes. So, how do we handle this many dogs living with us, all under the same roof? We MANAGE them, with loving but firm discipline, brief time-outs in crates with chewies and 'cast-iron' toys; we MANAGE them much the same as though one had twelve children).
c. We will NEVER do 'back-to-back' breedings [breeding on every heat cycle]; the health and the life of the female mean far more to us than two litters of puppies a year!! Unfortunately, this is not true of every breeder.
Yes, you CAN get a 'cheaper' dog, but if you are going to spend 'this much' on a bulldog, hadn't you rather KNOW what you are getting? You WILL get what you pay for . . . positively as well as negatively.
2. Question: How do I KNOW you are a reputable breeder?
Answer: If you are paying several thousand dollars for a puppy, THAT is one question you SHOULD ask, and you should be SURE of the answers you are given before you take another step! Below are statements of what WE will do; you MUST get the same assurances from another breeder, or you will be risking . . . so much, both in money and heartache.
a. IF you are a serious buyer (have discussed the purchase of a particular puppy with us), we want you to come to our home and see the puppy in which you have an interest! We WANT you to see his or her mother! No, we can't allow a steady stream of visitors who just want to 'see' the puppies; germs are brought in on people's feet and the puppies are exposed. Would you want the puppy YOU were hoping to purchase to be exposed to 'that'? No, you wouldn't (puppies' immunity systems are not developed sufficiently to allow much exposure). (IF YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE YOUR PUPPY'S HOME, AND YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE YOUR PUPPY'S MOTHER, THIS SHOULD RAISE A RED FLAG; AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU NEED TO BE GIVEN ACCEPTIBLE ANSWERS 'WHY' . . .) If you live 'away' and can't personally come to our home, I will e-mail you pictures of your puppy in our home and try to give you as personal a tour as is possible, 'long distance.'
b. Will you be given DNA test information on both the mother AND the father of the puppy you are interested in purchasing, so that you can DNA test your puppy (not expensive at all) and be certain that you are getting what was represented? If you cannot get DNA documentation from a breeder, then this is reason for yet another RED FLAG! This is ESPECIALLY true when you are asked to pay thousands of dollars for a puppy. You have a RIGHT to KNOW what you are getting! Do everything you can to determine the reputation of your breeder: by all means, check with the Better Business Bureau!
c. We only breed English bulldogs; our emphasis is on one breed, and one alone. We don't breed and sell puppies the year around; all but two of our girls have their puppies in the fall and winter. There won't be other litters until that same time the next year. (We do keep a list of interested people for the next year's available litters.)
d. We encourage you to place a call to the two veterinarians we use for all our females and puppies. Their names and contact information are given on the "Links and Special Thanks" page of this website; PLEASE CALL THEM (we will be glad to give you any necessary identification information you might need to make such a call) and ask anything you would like to know about our bullies! We have absolutely NOTHING to hide; our dogs have had NO major illnesses, NO major problems since the day they came into our home. [Have we had a cherry eye? Yes; but most breeders, if honest, will tell you that a cherry eye is not that unusual.] ALL our veterinary expenses have been what are usual for any breed: maintenance boosters and heartworm checks. (Will other breeders allow you to call their veterinarians? If not, there could be a reason; you just need to know.)
e. We will be happy to put you in contact with others who have purchased our puppies (with their permission, of course!). You need to compare notes; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! (Ask if you will be allowed to have that privilege from other breeders.)
f. We will provide you with a written contract and health guarantee; we encourage you to read it thoroughly.
g. We will do our best to give you guidance on caring for and training your puppy, and we will be more than happy for you to call us after you take your puppy home!
