Bella Bullies

12 weeks old & ready to rock n' roll with you!

2012-01-12T17:45:00.002-06:00

Patties first litter of bully babies are going to be 12 weeks old on Monday, January 16th and they are ready to leave the nest and go live with their permanent familes.....brings a little tear.

They are well on their way to potty trained, come when they are called and will follow you on voice command both indoors and outdoors. They are all kid tested and approved and
fine with other dogs, cats, people etc. They will be getting their 2nd
puppy vaccinations + rabies next week and have been checked out by my vets for
general health and have been micro chipped as well. Lance was 18.5 lbs last
week at the vet, Yadi was 16.5lbs and Petunia was 11.5lbs. I think they will be
a perfect size when they are grown - right on the breed standard – probably
55-60lbs for the boys and 45 lbs for Petunia.

Princess Petunia

2012-01-12T17:25:00.000-06:00

Petunia is quite the special Princess and is a particular favorite of my 4 year old daughter. At night she waits until her brothers fall asleep and then she quitely makes her way to the front of the play pen & patiently waits for us to come and let her out, so she can come and sit on the couch with us as we work or watch TV.

Yadi

2012-01-12T17:20:00.001-06:00

If you want a sweet boy who thinks that your lap was made for him to sit in then Yadi is your boy!

Big Lance

2012-01-12T17:15:00.000-06:00

Big Lance...is going to be a chick magnet! My husband has always said if he had college to do all over again he would definately have a bulldog to go around Stillwater with him and Big Lance would be his boy!

Special guy

2012-01-12T17:00:00.000-06:00

Fatty Paty is pretty special and I figuered that she needed a special guy for her first litter of puppies......even if FedEx was the only was she was ever going to meet him.

You can check out more informaiton about Tigger, the sire of this litter of puppies here: http://www.toplinebulldogs.com/english_bulldog_stud.htm

Sping is on the way....and hopefully some new Bella Bullie Babies

2011-02-28T23:45:00.002-06:00

Kenzie and I made our first trip to the vet today with Patty on our road to motherhood and I made the mistake of telling "The Puppy Princess" aka 3-year old, McKenzie, that we were going to the vet to help Patty gets some puppies; you'd better be prepared to explain the entire process and endure and endless line of questioning for the 20 minute drive home on why we didn't leave with any puppies. Because when you tell "The Puppy Princess", who happens to think that everyone grows up with a constant stream of puppies to play with, since her Memaw raises Pembroke Welsh Corgis and has three bitches and thus a pretty much endless stream of puppies to play with, that you are going to get puppies she expects puppies!

Kenzie was really good about the entire process and wanted to know when the puppies would be here and how are they going to get in Patty's belly, etc, etc........When it was our turn to go in the exam room she told me that she would lead Patty in to see the "Doctor" and she insisted on setting on the exam table to help hold Patty while they drew her blood.

Now that we have officially started the heat cycle I am going to have to make a decision about which stud dog use. I've been looking for several months and well now I am going to have to decided who is "the one"..........I'll let ya know when I've got it figured out.

Update on Ellie

2011-02-10T23:56:00.000-06:00

I got a wonderful email from a family, who got a beautiful female Bella x Harley puppy from me. They named her "Ellie" and I have been getting wonderful updates from them as she has grown up. Ellie was on of the few puppies that I have let go to a great family with unlimited registration papers. Below is the most recent email I got about Ellie:

Hi Erica,

We purchase our Ellie from you in the Spring of 2009. She is wonderful. She has had 2 beautiful litters. Her last litter was 9!!! They were gorgeous. Ellie is such a wonderful mother. Our vet said we were lucky that a lot of bulldogs aren't. But Ellie does great!! We also have 4 female Bullmastiffs and none of them can compare to her at being a good mom.

One of her first litter is in Canada and is working on becoming a Champion. I wish we would have had time to show Ellie, but had too many things going on with out youngest just now in high school and 2 grand babies on the way.

Would love for you to see her last litter, they are on the bulldog page of our website, oldschoolkennel.com

Anyway, just wanted to let you know how happy we are with Ellie.

We Survived the Blizzard of 2011!

2011-02-10T10:30:00.001-06:00

I thought I should share some of our pictures from the record breaking snow falls, -24 temps and 30+ mph winds we have experienced this month. It is nice to look back at these amazing pictures and know that spring is defiantly on the way.

The girls looked good in Cowtown.....

2011-01-31T23:31:00.000-06:00

Well we made it back from the 2011 Fort Worth Stock Show and had a great time showing our Hereford Heifers.

Mom treated us to dinner at Chef Tim Love's Lonesome Dove Western Bistro.......AMAZING!!!! The food was outstanding and our excellent waiter was a Bulldog owner as well, so of course we traded Bullie stories.

Gypsy the pool girl

2010-09-30T12:10:00.000-05:00

I got a some funny pictuers of Patty's sister "Gypsy" who went to a home full of Mastiffs, it sounds like she is doing great.

Hi Erica,

I just wanted to give you an update on Gypsy. She is doing just great and is a true water dog. She jumps in her pool many times a day and lay like a hippo! And God forbid, I try to water any plants while she is present because she chases the spray and leaps into the water. She'll do it for hours if I let her.

Next littler of puppies from Bella Bullies

2010-08-31T09:48:00.003-05:00

I have had several request to be on my waiting list for my next litter of puppies, so I thought I would update the blog. Patty just had her first heat cycle, she will be a year old in October and is maturing very nicely; so I will probably plan on breeding her on her next heat cycle. I anticipate that she will have puppies available late spring or early summer.

Patty is growing up to be a wonderful dog just like her mother! She has a great temperament like Bella; however is a bit sillier than Bella every thought about being......she is always playing around with McKenzie (my soon to be 3 year old).

McKenzie loves to dance and dress up and Patty is always right there in it with her......wearing a crown, a tutu, or a Disney princess dress. The one thing Kenzie hasn't taught Patty to do yet is wear high heels....I think K hasn't given up yet, but has chalked it up to a learning process! They are too funny!

I will let you all know when I have selected the stud dog for Patty's first litter and when she is bred.

I hope you all enjoyed your summer.....I have been waiting for Fall to arrive and college football starts this weekend, so it can't be too far away. Yeah! Go POKES!!!

What a Cool Dog!

2010-08-31T09:41:00.002-05:00

I got this pic earlier this summer for a family in MO, that got a puppy from my last litter. Isn't he cool?!

Recycle....the bulldog way

2009-12-18T16:37:00.004-06:00

Do you ever wondered what to do with those empty laundry detergent bottles? Well if you had a bulldog and a rock....here are some great examples!

Fatty Patty

2009-12-02T23:03:00.005-06:00

I have finally talked Matt into letting me keep one of Bella's Bullie Babies and Fatty Patty is it! She’s a soft wrinkly girl with a dark brindle and white coat and a straight tail that wags frequently! She’s happy go lucky and laid back, fun to hang out with – she’ll make a great companion for McKenzie!

Patty is from Champion blood lines on both sides of her pedigree. Her sire is Versace (Bulldogs of Timber Ridge) and a son of Champion Cherokee Legend Crazy Horse who is a Bulldog Club of America Hall of Fame Sire.

Raised in our home, socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats her borthers and sister are ready to make your life just a little more fun, check out their pictuers as well.

Gypsy

2009-12-02T23:01:00.004-06:00

Gypsy is one of six bullies born 10-12-09. She’s the alpha puppy in the litter – a natural leader, always right in the middle of whatever is going on. She has a brindle and white boldly marked coat, lots of wrinkles and a straight tail that wags frequently! She’s smart, sassy and funny too! Plays well with kids and other dogs; she’s also thoroughly toddler approved and happy to spend quiet time on the couch snuggled in a blanket. Gypsy is from Champion blood lines on both sides of her pedigree. Her sire is Versace (Bulldogs of Timber Ridge) and a son of Champion Cherokee Legend Crazy Horse who is a Bulldog Club of America Hall of Fame Sire.

Raised in our home, socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats he is ready to make your life just a little more fun. Despite their appearance, bulldogs are very kind, perceptive dogs with lovable natures - great with kids & other pets.

Ragsdale

2009-12-02T23:00:00.003-06:00

Ragsdale is one of six bullies born 10-12-09. He will be perfect for a family with kids or anyone who will enjoy his good-natured & pleasant personality. He loves to be wherever people are, a first-rate lap sitter, TV watcher, and book reader with a quiet and patient manner. Although placid, very polite he can also be quite playful. He is a stout boy with dark brindle coat and white markings, lots of wrinkles and a straight tail that wags frequently! He’s dignified, smart; always part of the games and fun, thoroughly toddler approved and will be a great companion. Ragsdale is from Champion blood lines on both sides of his pedigree. His sire is Versace (Bulldogs of Timber Ridge) and a son of Champion Cherokee Legend Crazy Horse who is a Bulldog Club of America Hall of Fame Sire.

Raised in our home, socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats he is ready to make your life just a little more fun. Despite their appearance, bulldogs are very kind, perceptive dogs with lovable natures - great with kids & other pets.

Wellington

2009-12-02T22:56:00.006-06:00

Wellington aka Welly is one of six bullies born 10-12-09. He is dark brindle and white with lots of wrinkles and a straight tail that wags frequently! He’s a happy guy with a playful and gentle personality. He will be especially well suited to a family with small children or adults who want a laid back companion and is thoroughly toddler approved and happy to spend time on the couch snuggled in a blanket. Welly is from Champion blood lines on both sides of his pedigree. His sire is Versace (Bulldogs of Timber Ridge) and a son of Champion Cherokee Legend Crazy Horse who is a Bulldog Club of America Hall of Fame Sire.

Raised in our home, socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats he is ready to make your life just a little more fun. Despite their appearance, bulldogs are very kind, perceptive dogs with lovable natures - great with kids & other pets.

Winston

2009-12-02T22:50:00.005-06:00

SOLD--Winston is one of six bullies born 10-12-09. He is a stout boy with a dark red and white boldly marked coat, lots of wrinkles and a straight tail that wags frequently! He’s the most fearless member of a gang of good natured hooligans running through the house looking for new things to explore. He’s very confident and smart, the first to engage in any activity; thoroughly toddler approved and “Mr Personality”. Winston is from Champion blood lines on both sides of his pedigree. His sire is Versace (Bulldogs of Timber Ridge) and a son of Champion Cherokee Legend Crazy Horse who is a Bulldog Club of America Hall of Fame Sire.

Raised in our home, socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats he is ready to make your life just a little more fun. Despite their appearance, bulldogs are very kind, perceptive dogs with lovable natures - great with kids & other pets.

Montgomery

2009-12-02T22:43:00.008-06:00

Montgomery aka Monty is one of six bullies born 10-12-09. He is a stout boy with a light red and white boldly marked coat, lots of wrinkles and a straight tail that wags frequently! He’s part of a gang of good natured hooligans running through the house looking for new things to explore. He’s smart, one of the first to engage in any new game, thoroughly toddler approved and happy to spend time on the couch snuggled in a blanket. Monty is from Champion blood lines on both sides of his pedigree. His sire is Versace (Bulldogs of Timber Ridge) and a son of Champion Cherokee Legend Crazy Horse who is a Bulldog Club of America Hall of Fame Sire.

Raised in our home, socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats he is ready to make your life just a little more fun. Despite their appearance, bulldogs are very kind, perceptive dogs with lovable natures - great with kids & other pets.

Snow White, Six little dwarfs & a bag of Cheetos?

2009-12-02T22:37:00.002-06:00

Let me set the scene for you……Its Thanksgiving morning, I’ve got the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV for Kenzie and she is fed and dressed. I’m doing good........the puppies have been taken care of AND I am dressed, hair fixed, make-up on and cooking the dished that I have been assigned to bring the Thanksgiving Dinner at Mom’s house. Matt has gone out to feed the cattle, while I finish up in the kitchen.

I look up from my Green Bean casserole to check on Kenzie and have to stop and laugh……..because Snow White, aka Kenzie, is in the living room conducting some sort of lecture to the puppies in between distributing Cheetos to herself and all six of the dwarfs, aka the puppies!!!!

Apparently at some point in my “orderly” cooking process Kenzie had gotten out her "Snow White" dress from her Disney Princess dress collection and then reached the Cheetos out of the pantry!

Who dosen’t need Cheetos at 9 o’ clock in the morning? Oh well……I am pretty sure that there are plenty of college kids who survived on less or worse, whichever way you want to look at.

Bella the ultimate Mommy & Babysitter

2009-12-02T19:00:00.003-06:00

Shortly after the puppies were born Kenzie got sick with the flu, so I was working from home with a sick toddler and Bella and her two week old puppies. On the last day of home bound sick leave Kenzie was starting to feel better and was up and playing a bit and then she would crash and take a nap.

I was working steadily at my computer and realized that it was awfully quite and I hadn't heard from Kenzie in awhile so I went looking for her and found her taking a nap in the puppy pool with Bella and her babies. Most momma dogs don't want anyone near their puppies but, not Bella she welcomed Kenzie into the puppy pool to take a nap and watched over her like she was one of hers.

Edward....King of Slobberfest!

2009-12-01T10:26:00.002-06:00

Edward was one of Bella's babies that went to Toronto and he was crowned the "King" of Toronto's Annual Slobberfest.......we are so proud of little "King"! ( - :

Ed's new family sent me these pictures today and I just wanted to share them with you all.....

Every little boy needs a "gentle giant dog"!

2009-12-01T10:10:00.003-06:00

I always love to hear from the families that have welcomed Bella's babbies into their lives; below is an email and some picuters I received from Tanya who got Teddy aka Tonka. Thanks for sending the update Tanya......I love it!

Hello there Erica, it's Tanya. We purchased Tonka from you in April and I have been meaning to email you and let you know how he has been doing.

Tonka is HUGE!!! When we first got him home, I could tell that he had a bond with our lil man Evan right away. He was Evan's little buddy. Now they are practically attached at the hip, and Tonka has grown sooo much that Evan has become his little buddy. :) It is really a joy for me to look out into my backyard and see my little boy playing with his gentle giant dog. Evan and Tonka wrestle, and it is hilarious to watch. They climb the wood pile together, sleep together, and whatever Evan eats Tonka has to eat too.

We recently got him fixed because he continued to "mark" around our bed, which was driving my absolutely insane. He did really well with the surgery. Last week I had to put our female bulldog Daisy to sleep. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Tonka has been such a comfort to me since. I just wanted to say thank you sooo very much, for letting us have one of your wonderful dogs. He has brought all of us a lot of joy.

Thanks Again, Tanya

P.S. Good luck with your new litter due next week, I think. Can't wait to see the pics of these. :)

We are expecting!

2009-09-17T10:10:00.013-05:00

Bella's next litter is due October 12th, 2009; as always we are very excited to meet the new puppies and we watch Bella's belly grow bigger everyday with anticipation.

This litter of puppies is sired by AKC Registered "Versace", pictured below; he is one of Ellen's stud dogs at www.bulldogsoftimberridge.com. I first meet Ellen while I was searching for my first Bulldog and ended up getting Bella from her. Ellen was very helpful in getting Bella bred for this litter, after a few blood draws to check Bella's progesterone and asking "George" (my Mom's Pembroke Corgi stud) we finally decided on "the day". Ellen shipped the semen to me and we made a trip to the vet to have Bella artifically inseminated.

We are very excited about this litter as Versace's father is, Champion Cherokee Legend Crazy Horse, a Bulldog Club of America Hall of Fame Sire. "Crazy Horse" is also the sire of "Rock", who is the top winning Bulldog in America for 2006, 2007 & 2008.

Please feel free to contact us about this upcoming litter

English Bulldog Puppy for $130 .... yeah right, scammers are at it again

2009-05-30T11:38:00.012-05:00

I recently received a call from a potential puppy buyer asking about a puppy I had supposedly advertised on backpage.com. Since I had never heard of the site much less advertised there, I was curious and asked for the URL so I could see for myself. Sure enough the description of one of the puppies I recently posted on Next Day Pets had been cut & pasted along with a photo of an unknown puppy and MY telephone number (missing one digit).

The price was ridiculously cheap (first warning bell) and the contact info used the telephone number minus one digit so readers could not call make telephone contact(second warning bell) however there was an e-mail address (not mine).

My caller had been smart enough to use a search engine to find out what state the phone number was from and then put in words (bulldog, puppies, Oklahoma) and the part of my number he had, until he turned up my web site which included the complete phone number. I'm glad he found me and glad I went to look at the ad.

I engaged in a series of e-mails with the scammer who could not/would not answer questions about pedigree, provide photos of parents or littermates, health or breeding program etc (third warning bell) and eventually got to their goal - send them the money for the puppy & shipping by Western Union (fourth REALLY LOUD warning bell) and they would supposedly send me the puppy.

If you are reading this and looking for a new pet/family member - please listen for the warning bells and be careful where you shop.

Bear with me now - climbing on the soap box:
A legitimate breeder will ask you lots of questions before turning one of their puppies over to you. They will want to make sure you are a good fit with the puppy. They will be able to answer ALL of your questions. If they can't do those things - WALK AWAY! Good breeders will also: provide documentation, photos, have a web site or blog with lots of info and consistent history, offer a contract & a health guarantee, offer to give you references from other clients (telephone not written), offer to give you their veterinarian's name and number etc. You will be able to contact the AKC and verify that the person's name, address and date of birth of the puppies are in AKC's system.

If you simply want a pet - look first at your local shelter. I swear shelter dogs know you have saved them and this shows in their personalities for the rest of their lives. I've had many and currently have three shelter dogs in addition to Bella (remember I live on a ranch- otherwise this many dogs would be over the top). If there isn't a good match for you at the shelter, then look for a breeder.

Stay away from people who breed many different breeds of dogs - I hate to be snobby but you want a breeder who is carefully breeding a breed or two that they love, not just whatever they think the latest trendy dog is. There are lots of people, like me, who breed dogs they love - they really understand the breed and can provide the info you need to decide if you and that breed are a good fit. People like us are easy to find - try web sites devoted to pets like pet finder, terrific pets and next day pets. Ask your veterinarian. Ask your friends. Find the local kennel club. Got to www.akc.org or the state or national association for the breed you are searching for.

It's really low that scammers are out there taking advantage of breeders by stealing text and photos and then scamming people looking for puppies. But guess what? YOU ARE TOTALLY IN CONTROL of their ability to get away with it. Be a smart shopper. Do your homework and don't let yourself be taken advantage of.

One last thing - remember when you get a puppy you will have a pet for the natural lifespan of that breed - that means several years, so be sure, be committed, and be careful.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen that ends the soap box sermon for the day ;-)
Erica & Susan

Gone to their forever homes

2009-05-22T14:27:00.006-05:00

Anne and Don, both moved to their new homes this week.

16 weeks old, AKC registered, micro-chipped, working on potty training, current on worming, and completed puppy vaccinations /rabies vaccination.
They are a couple of clowns that will be a great additions to their new families. We'll miss them!

Anne

2009-05-22T13:59:00.010-05:00

Anne......her pictuers speak for themselves, she is a really fun, sweet and smart girl. If Anne were a person she would be the kind of person who would do anything for you and people would talk about what a sweet soul she has.

Anne is a really pretty fawn color with a white chest, white front foot and a white blaze on her face. She is big feet and lots of wrinkles.....whe she perks her ears up her face lights up and all of her great wrinkles show up even better.

Don

2009-05-22T13:35:00.005-05:00

Don is a really sweet boy who likes to hang out with you no matter what you are doing......watching TV or sleeping under the desk as you work on the comptuer, i.e. he is laying on my feet as I type this blog entry!

He truely is a great companion. Don is a big boy, he weighed 27 pounds at the vet last week, with huge feet, a big bully rope over his nose, lots of wrinkles and a beautiful shiney red brindle coat with white and black markings.

Don is really friendly and likes to make new friends......see the video of him trying to get Sally to play. He gets along well with other dogs, cats and toddlers.

Edward - SOLD to Kirstyn

2009-04-25T22:42:00.010-05:00

Edward is the bomb – no doubt about it. Sometimes he has the cocky attitude of a pirate with a face that's marked like a pirate too. You can clearly see what looks like a “scarf” pulled over half his face – on the days when he lives up to that image – he’s known to run through the house up to mischief, but more often he’s Edward – the dignified gentleman who will grow into a stately chap quite soon. He's very people oriented and loves kids, in fact he is already “toddler approved”. Affectionate - always curious and very social, he likes to be in the midst of the family activity.

Ed was raised in our home, socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats he is ready to move to his new home. Shipping or personal delivery to the DFW area is available at additional charge.

Don

2009-04-25T22:35:00.008-05:00

Don will make the companion of a lifetime; he has been the leader since day one. A funny kind of goofy young puppy - he has grown to be quite dignified and thoughtful. He’s always up for a game or fun but usually considers his actions and our requests before barging headlong into things. In fact, he transformed from Don to “The Donald” with an appropriate sense of importance and dignity as he goes about his daily schedule. His photos show that he is truly a very handsome dog. Don will be the dog that everyone in your neighborhood loves and knows by name. He'll be your partner and collaborator in all activities.

Don was raised in our home and socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats he is ready to take his place as the CEO at your house. Despite their appearance, bulldogs are very kind, perceptive dogs with lovable natures - great with kids & other pets. Shipping or personal delivery to the DFW area is available at additional charge.

Miss Anne

2009-04-25T22:26:00.010-05:00

Sweet Anne will be the perfect for a family with kids or anyone who will enjoy her good-natured & pleasant personality. She’s loves to be wherever people are, a first-rate lap sitter, TV watcher, book reader with a quiet and patient manner. Although placid, very polite and kind she can also be quite playful.

Her coloring is like latte with lots of milk and she’s velvet soft, which makes it nice to share your place on the sofa with her. Like all of our puppies she has been raised in our home and socialized with lots of people, kids, dogs and cats. She's ready to make your home just a little more fun and interesting. Shipping or personal delivery to the DFW area is available at additional charge.

Ed

2009-04-07T11:59:00.007-05:00

Baby Pix

Don

2009-04-07T11:50:00.007-05:00

Baby Pix

Anne

2009-04-07T11:40:00.009-05:00

Baby Pix

Teddy

2009-04-07T11:32:00.009-05:00

MOVED TO HIS NEW HOME IN VIRGINIA

Teddy is "the man" his paws are the size of half dollars and he is a big stout boy. Full of fun and mischief he's a Teddy bear when being sweet, but full of himself when it's time for play and having fun. He will be a Nascar watchin buddy, and all around sidekick....he likes kids and Dancing With the Stars too.

Pick up in the Tulsa area, if you are not in the area shipping by air or personal delivery to the DFW area is available at additional charge.

Is a Bulldog Right for You?

2009-04-07T11:09:00.003-05:00

More than most other breeds, the bulldog’s character and personality are often misunderstood; even their intelligence is sometimes questioned. Of course, like in all breeds, individuals differ greatly, but bulldogs are not agressive guard dogs nor are the lazy couch potatoes that many people have in mind. The attributes that best describe a bulldog are faithful, affectionate, docile, friendly, dependable, compassionate, protective, intelligent, devoted and fiercely loyal. All these attributes are found in a unique balance in each bulldog, the joy of discovery and helping shape your puppy into the perfect companion for you is the first chapter in your life with a buldog. These are noble and wonderful dogs for those who value and care for them, they can be the "pet of a lifetime".

If a prize was to be awarded for companionship, among all breeds, the winner would without a doubt be the bulldog. Their special talent in life really is companionship. To a bulldog their family is their life and they are totally forgiving and loving when it comes to their people; they are wonderful clowns and will do anything to make you laugh. They are absolutely wonderful with children and they are also very sensitive to your moods. They will be delighted for you when you are happy and will be still and compassionate when you grieve; they are truly companions in every sense of the word.

Part of their charm is that they look so tough but aren’t at all. Nevertheless, most Bulldogs are brave and will guard and defend their people if they think they are being threatened. Bulldogs are conscious of their strength and therefore very self-assured. They are also very intelligent and ponder their decisions and evaluate each situation in order to act in the most appropriate way. This being said, to call bulldogs lazy or stubborn is a bit restrictive, what appears as laziness or stubbornness is in fact an incredible capacity to prioritize. A bulldog will never jump at your every command. They will evaluate each of your commands or invitations against his/her own priorities before deciding whether this is a good thing to do and how urgently this action should be accomplished.

The web site for the Bulldog of Club of America the American Kennel Club are great resources offering information, photos and lots of interesting reading on Bulldogs. The sites may be found at: http://www.thebca.org/ and http://www.akc.org/

Puppy Health: the foundation for a wonderful life

2009-04-07T11:04:00.003-05:00

Our puppies make their first appearance at our vet clinic on their birthday, as we deliver all of our litters via c-section. We have work closely with our vet to plan and deliver each litter. He is very careful with Bella and is thorough in checking all of the puppies before we are given the okay to take them home.
The puppies are started on regular de-worming and baths at 2 weeks of age. We record weights as they progress to ensure the transition to food is resulting in a normal growth curve. Baths keep the puppies clean and also teach them from the begining that a bath is a good thing. As we bathe and handle them, we focus on each puppy to check for developmental progress and ensure everything is as it should be.
At 6 weeks we go to back to vet for another thorough health exam and their first round of vaccinations. We retain the labels from the vaccines used for each puppy and affix it to their health record, we record each puppies weight and date of de-worming from birth to delivery to their new home. These health records will be given to the new owner so that they may assist their vet with the puppies' continued preventive health regime.

Healthy dogs are happy dogs!

Our Health Guarantee

2009-04-07T10:53:00.002-05:00

Our Guarantee is quite simple. We send you a puppy who has been examined three times by our vet (birth, 6 weeks, just before delivery to new home) and require that you have the puppy examined by your licensed veterinarian within (3) three days of purchase. If, in the opinion of your veterinarian, the puppy has any physical problems considered to be life threatening, we will provide you with a refund of the purchase price of the puppy less the non-refundable deposit & shipping. To make a claim and receive a refund you must return your puppy to the us within 7 days of purchase at the your expense. You must also, provide a signed statement from your veterinarian providing date of examination and an explanation as to diagnosis and prognosis. The statement must include a description of the symptoms and a copy of the tests supporting the opinion.

All puppies come with a health certificate from my veterinarian stating that they are healthy, wormed, and vaccinated as of the shipping date. We require the immediate exam from your vet to ensure well defined health status as the puppy transitions from our home to yours.

Note: PLEASE PRINT AND REVIEW our health guarantee with your veterinarian before you make a final decision to purchase. You may also want to look at other guarantees on the web from other bulldog breeders. We take great care to deliver a sound and healthy puppy to you - we want you to ensure that you understand and feel comfortable with us and our guarantee.

The conditions listed below are not included in our guarantee as there are many variables which influence these conditions other than genetics or heredity. Additionally there is no guarantee against buyer neglect or abuse. A determination of neglect or abuse on the part of the buyer voids all warranties. Not covered: Hypoglycemia, allergies (skin or otherwise), cocidiosis, hip or joint problems, parasites, cherry eye, viral or bacterial infections.

HEALTH GUARANTEE DETAILS:
Our English Bulldog puppies come with a 6 month limited guarantee. Should the puppy die of a birth defect within six months of the date of birth, we will provide you with a refund of the purchase price of the puppy less the non-refundable deposit. To qualify for this guarantee, you must have kept the puppy under the care of a licensed veterinarian. This care must include all vaccinations, preventative health care, and treatment for any routine condition(s) recommended by your veterinarian or deemed reasonable and standard care. To make a claim, you must bring a signed certificate from your veterinarian stating the cause of death plus a copy of ALL the health records.

General Terms and Conditions:
~Failure to have the puppy examined within (3) three days of purchase VOIDS ALL WARRANTIES.
~There is no guarantee of the following: (1) that the puppy can be shown (2) that the puppy can be bred and (3) final color or size of the puppy as an adult.
~If a puppy is being returned for any other health guarantee claim, you must also return all registration papers appropriately signed, transferring ownership back to the us.
~Our guarantee is not valid in case of neglect, abuse or accidental death or injury.
~Once the 6 month guarantee period has ended, assuming no notice of a pending health issue, the sale & guarantee is considered final. While we will not be responsible for any issues which occur after this point. However, we do want to know of any health concern that arises which your veterinarian deems a hereditary issue. Your info in this regard is helpful to us in making future breeding decisions. Note: no such occurences have happened to date (April 2009).

Buyer's Beware: advice for bulldog buyers

2009-04-07T10:30:00.005-05:00

There are many sites with huge discourses on who is and isn’t a good breeder and you’ll hear lots of opinions regarding finding a puppy. Without getting off on a soapbox sermon, here are my thoughts (for what they’re worth) on being a smart shopper. You’ll hear lots of things like “don’t buy through the web”, “always visit the breeder”, “get references”, “make sure there is a guarantee” etc. Lots of good advice - follow it whenever possible, but here are some things to keep in mind:

“Never buy through the web” - The web just like any other medium of communication (including face to face) doesn’t stop a liar from lying. Perhaps it makes it easier for a liar to get away with it, but making the blanket statement “never buy from someone who sells on the internet is like saying never trust someone who is from a certain country, or of a certain race. You can’t generalize to that extent in an accurate and fair-minded way. Do be careful though, ask breeders questions, expect to be asked questions, ask for references, ask about their nutrition program, their breeding goals, why they have a particular breed of dog, are these dogs their pets as well?

“Always visit the breeder” – Whenever you can, you should. However keep this in mind – by allowing you to visit, a breeder is allowing you to enter their home, with their dogs, their pets, their family, their children, their property etc. You responded to an ad and the breeder probably doesn’t know you from Adam’s housecat – so don’t be surprised if you are limited to a defined area. Visitors are usually strangers and represent a certain degree of risk for those of us who breed dogs at home. So be understanding of folks who are cautious and don’t be surprised by an interview and a public meeting before an invitation to visit the home. Once there you’ll likely encounter a security system, requests to remove your shoes etc. These are all designed to protect breeder’s puppies both from theft and from germs carried in from outside environments.

“Interview and get references” – you bet. Read everything the breeder has on their web site or in their brochures or ads – look for a consistent storyline, photos of the same dogs at different ages, develop a list of questions and be prepared to answer questions about yourself, your lifestyle, activities, home and facilities and the reasons you want a puppy of a particular breed. A good breeder will tell you about the good and the bad of a breed. They should be able to knowledgably speak to you about both genotype (pedigree and genetic background) and phenotype (physical attributes of each puppy). They’ll be able to give you a reference or two and tell you the name of their vet. They should also explain their sale agreement, their health guarantee, and their reasons for having a particular breed. Make sure you ask about how they handle things and ensure you are comfortable with the breeder’s plan for dealing with unexpected problems, the mechanics of the sale, payment and, if applicable, shipping.

One last thing – a good breeder will not be a high pressure salesman. Any breeder worth their salt is looking for a new home with folks that know they want a new puppy and know what type puppy is well suited to their family – no sales pitch or convincing should be needed. In fact, we are super careful with litters ready for new homes near Christmas time. We don't want a buyer who is all jazzed up about a new puppy for Christmas – we're looking for the family that wants the pup no matter what time of year it is and will love the baby we’ve raised on a hot Wednesday in August just the same as they will in the rush and fun of Christmas.

Puppy Scammers will often use a photo stolen from a reputable breeder’s website. They post the stolen photo on a puppy sale website and then populate their own web site with photos and stories that are either entirely untrue or partially untrue. Sometimes scammers don’t even have the puppy to sell and simply want to take your money. Other times they have puppies, but they aren’t what they claim to be. They’re usually fairly skilled con-men/women and looking for folks who don’t know better than to buy from them. In fairness they are often hard to discern and plenty of folks who are quite smart and trying to be careful have been taken advantage of – in fact, I have had such an experience and lost a $1000 deposit unfortunately given to a con-woman in Texas who claims to be a reputable English Bulldog breeder. Thankfully all I lost was the $1000 and I never got a dog from this woman – had I done so I would likely have regretted having a dog from her as the stories about her and her dogs are really quite horrible. This woman has even prompted an entire website authored by some folks she sold dogs to which is dedicated to outing her and her practices. I reported the woman to the Austin BBB, wrote off the $1000 as an expensive lesson learned, and thankfully, found a wonderful bulldog from a reputable breeder in OK. Okay so enough said – be careful and good luck!

Here’s some ideas:

Make contact by e-mail or phone, ask lots of questions, ask for references, if you live close enough ask to see the puppies in person. If not, ask for photos and /or video of the puppy. If you have any doubts, ask for a photo with a piece of paper included in the photo that includes your name and the date on it to verify that the photo is legit and the puppy you are asking about is truly available and in the sellers possession.

If you get to the point of committing to buy the puppy and want the added confirmation that all is well, call the AKC to verify the breeder is in their records with no reports of trouble. AKC's Phone #: (212) 696-8225, you can also call their local BBB ….whatever just be careful.

There is a balance between due diligence in checking a breeder out and being overly invasive of a breeder’s privacy. Keep in mind the breeder doesn’t know you either and may rightly be hesitant to give you some kinds of info for fear you are a scammer collecting info to use elsewhere.

A note about puppy mills: we’ve all watched a TV show, read a report in the paper or heard something from a friend that informs us that puppy mills exist in the US. It’s a shame they are part of the landscape and certainly not a place from which you want to obtain your new pet. Of course, you’ll want to ensure you understand what puppy mills are and how to avoid purchasing a puppy from such a “business”. Puppy mills are the source of discussion that spans a wide variety of viewpoints. When looking for a new pet, you really have to be careful, find a decent person who loves their dogs and is interested in raising superior pets in an ethical manner. Good animal husbandry is not easy, it’s not is it an occasional thing – it is a way of life, a reflection of the breeder’s values in general and specifically the value they place upon the animals they raise. Thoughtful breeding and careful planning are time consuming and require a good relationship with your veterinarian, knowledge of the breed standard for your dog, and consistently selecting animals for breeding who are superior examples of their breed. I often recommend that folks look for puppy breeders who also raise another species of animals or work with their dogs. For instance a cattle rancher that raises cattle dogs, a horse breeder that raises a favorite complimentary breed, the hunter who raises retrievers etc. This is when you most often find folks who love animals in general and know and appreciate what it takes to raise and maintain good dogs. A good breeder will be able to offer you puppies that are free of known genetic defects, have predictable temperaments, a sound health history, and were bred to be stable, long-term family members. Nothing less deserves your interest, your respect, or your financial support. The Canis Major web site is a good one with balanced information and links to understanding the issues surrounding puppy mills. This site also defines different kinds of dog breeders and includes the following definition of a “hobby breeder” in their list. I freely admit to being all of the things included in the description of a “hobby breeder”.

“Hobby breeder: A breed fancier who has a breed or two (or even three); follows a breeding plan to preserve and protect each breed; produces a limited number of litters each year; breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the breeding program; raises the puppies with plenty of environmental stimulation and human contact; has a contract that protects breeder, puppy, and buyer; raises dogs in the house or runs a small, clean kennel; screens breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects; works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect the breed; and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the best home possible."