Are you thinking of buying a puppy? 

Before purchasing a bulldog puppy, please consider the following:

Do you have the adequate amount of time available to spend with a puppy/dog?  If you are gone more than 10 hours a day and have little time to exercise and devote to your puppy in the morning or evenings, then you probably should reconsider.

Does a bulldog match with your lifestyle?  If you want a running partner, then this is not the breed for you.  They can overheat easily and do not tolerate either hot or extreme cold weather.  Bulldogs are not just lazy couch potatoes; they love attention and enjoy playing with toys, taking walks and wanting to be with or near their human family all of the time. They are very people oriented! With positive training, they are willing learners (at their pace) and can do well in the obedience ring; however, they do not have the high energy drive of other working-type breeds.  They do best with trainings sessions that are short and fun.

Do you have children or planning to have children in the next few years?  Bulldogs are wonderful docile family dogs, but because of their size and bully clumsiness, they can easily knock over toddlers.  We prefer to place bulldog puppies with children that are over the age of 5. 

Are you willing to provide the weekly care needed to keep their wrinkles, ears and coat clean? They are NOT a maintenance-free dog.  Bulldogs shed but not excessively; good grooming and diet will help keep this to a minimum.  Do you have within your budget, the funds to provide the necessary veterinary needs?  Bulldogs do come with health needs unique for their breed, and it's very important, and to your benefit, to find a good vet that has experience with bulldogs.

What accommodations do you have for your bulldog puppy?  Will your new puppy have a fenced yard and air conditioning in the home?  Are there smokers in your home--this can cause respiratory issues for bulldogs.

And before purchasing...research your local breeders and the bulldog breed in general!  Make a visit to a nearby bulldog club and ABSOLUTELY visit any potential breeder in which you are considering buying a puppy.  Ask to see where and how they raise their puppies?  How do they socialize and prepare their puppies for new homes?  Do they begin housetraining?  Meet the other adult bulldogs that they may own.  Most reputable breeders will welcome a home visit and will be more than happy to answer any questions. 

A good breeder will be interested in learning about the perspective new homes for their puppies, and they'll have plenty of questions for you!  Most reputable breeders will require spay and neuter contracts on their pet companion puppies.  Breeding for temperament and health should always be a top concern!  And, most importantly, a reputable breeder will become a resource and friend for the life of your dog and beyond. 


Purchasing a Puppy

How to spot a bad breeder or puppy mill:

• They take Visa, MasterCard or Pay Pal. (This is usually a sign of a high volume producer or dealer.)
• They will not refund your money under any circumstances. If you have purchased a puppy with a serious physical defect or illness, do you really want to get another puppy from this same breeder?
• They allow you to purchase a puppy without asking any information about you of your living situation.
• They insist on non-refundable deposits before they even speak with you.
• They have multiple breeds of dogs that are used for breeding.
• They have multiple litters at one time.
• They refuse to let you visit their home or see where the puppies are raised. Don’t be mislead with excuses such as they don't allow strangers to visit, not wanting to expose puppies to diseases, house isn't tidy. etc.
• They offer to meet you somewhere to sell you the puppy. This may seem like they are just being nice, but their real aim is to keep you away from their property so that you cannot see how many dogs they have or how they are housed.
• They sell imported puppies. These pups are bred purely for profit and are at risk for serious illnesses. They are taken from their mothers too young and arrive in this country extremely stressed and often ill or suffering from parasites.
• They will pressure you to decide quickly to purchase a puppy. 

Signs of a good breeder: 

• They will talk to you and will ask you questions about your lifestyle and intentions before selling you a puppy.
• They will want you to come to their home and will show you how the puppies have been raised.  They may request the right to visit your home before the sale or after. 
• They will have the mother in the home and possibly the father.
• They will be able to tell you about the ancestors & will supply you with a pedigree of the puppies at no extra charge and the dogs are all AKC registered.
• They will tell you to call anytime if you have questions -- even long after you bring the pup home.
• They belong to breed clubs and follow a code of ethics.
• They provide a contract with a written guarantee allowing you a refund of the purchase price if your veterinarian finds something wrong with the puppy soon after purchase.
• They have breeding stock evaluated by a neutral party by entering their dogs in shows. Those who show their dogs are usually trying to breed the best dogs possible.  This means best in health and temperament, as well as appearance.
• They will tell you how to select a good vet or provide you with names/addresses of ones they recommend.
• They will explain the importance of training and socializing a puppy and will provide you with written information about the care of your puppy.
• They allow you to visit the litter, but are careful about the spread of disease.  They may ask that you wash your hands and remove your shoes, and may not allow you to touch unvaccinated pups, but will still allow you to see where the puppies are raised and will let you interact with the adults.
• They will encourage all pets to be spayed or neutured and may require it in their sales contract.

 List compiled by Love-a-Bull MN Bulldog Rescue

www.loveabullrescue.org

Contract for a Marby Bulldog Puppy:

Our puppies are sold as family pets and companions.  Any show prospect puppies are sold on a co-ownership basis only.  We want our puppies to be loved as part of the family and not to find their way into a home that wants a bulldog strictly for breeding.

Therefore, our puppies our sold with AKC limited registration and on a spay/neuter contract.  Limited registration means that a puppy is fully registered as a purebred bulldog with the American Kennel Club (AKC).  However, limited registration restricts the use of the puppy for breeding purposes.  Our puppies are sold with a 1-year health guarantee.

As a member of the Bulldog Club of America, I respect their recommendation for spaying and neuturing.  The BCA states:

"The Bulldog Club of America is very concerned about the number of Bulldogs that require rescue.  Undertaking the responsibility of Bulldog ownership requires a commitment of 10-12 years.  The BCA encourages high breeder ethics and responsible dog ownership.  If you purchased your female for a pet, an ethical breeder will advise you not to breed her.  A reputable breeder does not provide stud services for females that have Limited Registration with AKC.

The BCA strongly recommends that breeders use the American Kennel Club's Limited Registration which restricts the use of pets for breeding and registration purposes.  The BCA also recommends that you spay or neuter your pet Bulldog.  There are several reasons for these recommendations.  Neutured pets usually live longer, healthier lives.  They also make happier pets.  Spaying a female before her first heat cycle greatly reduces her chances of mammary tumors and uterine infections.  Neutering a male makes him less susceptible to prostate problems and eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer.  Spaying or neutering your pet will not turn it into a fat, lazy animal.  Obestiy is caused by overeating and too little exercise."

            ...from the Bulldog Club of America website

Mary and Bill Amann
St. Paul, Minnesota
(651) 487-9532

Contact us:  mtamary@msn.com
Marby Bulldogs

Members of:
St. Paul/Minneapolis Bulldog Club
Bulldog Club of America
Anoka County Minnesota Kennel Club