Cascade Bulldogs

CALL :   (206) 595-2821

Facebook-f Youtube Instagram Pinterest
Menu

Author: admin

Categories
Bulldog Breeding

9 Important Questions to Ask Your Bulldog Breeder

Bulldog breeder in Seattle

If you’re looking to add a bulldog puppy to the family, it’s important you choose a breeder who is honest and reputable. This will help ensure that whichever bulldog puppy you go home with, he or she will be healthy and well tempered. Because even the most virtuous and well-intentioned bulldog breeders might not have the right amount of breeding experience and bulldog knowledge to be able to guarantee your bulldog meets AKC quality and health standards, which is particularly important if you are looking for a show-quality dog.

Here are nine questions to ask your bulldog breeder before you make your decision:

1. How long have you been breeding bulldogs?

While an experienced breeder is usually better, a lack of breeding experience doesn’t necessarily mean you should rule them out. However, a first-time or inexperienced breeder should have done their research and be extremely educated on all aspects of breeding, raising and showing bulldogs. If they’re new to breeding, ask them where they got their information and if they consulted with other breeders beforehand.

2. Is breeding a full-time business?

Unless your breeder owns several bulldogs, breeding shouldn’t be a full-time business. If it is, this could be a sign they’re over-breeding their dogs. For most breeders, the business is merely a hobby or at most, a part time job.

3. How old are the puppies?

It’s important that puppies remain with their mom and brothers and sisters for at least seven weeks. If the breeder is selling them at five or six weeks age or younger, go with another breeder.

4. Do you think a bulldog is the right breed for me?

A bulldog isn’t for everyone and an honest breeder won’t hesitate to tell if you they think you’d be better suited with another breed. A good breeder will care about his or her puppies and will want to make sure each of them go to a loving home. They’ll be honest about some of the pitfalls about owning a bulldog (for example, their shorter life span and plethora of health problems) because their puppies’ happiness is more important than making a sale.

5. Can I meet the puppy’s parents?

You should at least be able to meet the mom. This is a good idea because you’ll want to make sure she is friendly and confident; this is a sign she’s been well cared for and has a good temperament; which your puppy will hopefully have inherited. You want to try to avoid choosing a puppy whose mom acts overly shy or aggressive.

6. Where are the puppies kept?

bulldog drinking

 

Where we keep our bulldog puppies

Bulldog puppy pen

If puppies are kept outside, they should be in a shaded area with access to water. If it’s hot or excessively humid out, however, puppies should be kept indoors.

You want to make sure the puppies are kept in a clean kennel area that allows for access to food, water, toys, and a comfortable sleeping and play area. If the breeder won’t show you where the puppies were raised or will only bring out the puppies one at a time, this a sign the puppies may  not have been well cared for.

7. Do you have the pedigree and registration forms?

This is particularly important if you’re looking to show your bulldog. Even if you aren’t, however, if you’re paying for a purebred dog, you want to verify that the puppy is indeed purebred before taking it home. A pedigree will be able to confirm this.

8. Can I see the puppy’s health record?

A health record will show you important information about the puppy’s health status as well as a record of what vaccinations he or she has received and when he or she was wormed.

9. Can I return the puppy if I change my mind?

While you should hope that this isn’t the case, you may decide that a bulldog just isn’t the best breed for you or that a puppy is more work than you can manage at this point in your life. If this is the case, you want to be able to return the bulldog to the breeder. A good breeder will care about their puppies enough to want to see them go to the best homes possible and will be willing to take back their dog at any time if its deemed that you and the puppy aren’t a good fit.

About Cascade Bulldogs

Cascade Bulldogs is a bulldog blog featuring celebrity bulldogs Snow White and Wildflower. Their owners are Eddie and Gail, two breeders and bulldog lovers who live in Seattle, Washington.

Categories
Owning a Bulldog

Is a Bulldog Right for Me? The Pros and Cons of Owning a Bulldog

Smiling bulldog

Many looking to welcome a new dog into their home may wonder: Is a bulldog right for me? The simple answer to that is: That depends. As with any breed, bulldog ownership has its positives and negatives. Here is a list of bulldog pros and cons to help you decide.

The Pros

  • A Gentle and Mellow Temperament

Bulldogs tend to be more easygoing than other breeds. Although they can have a stubborn streak, on a day-to-day basis, they are fairly laid back. This makes them great companions for relaxing at a park or cuddling on the couch.

  • Great with Kids and Other Pets

Bulldogs are also loving and social, making them ideal for families and kids. What’s more, their mild temperament means they get along well with other pets.

  • Low Maintenance Grooming

Bulldogs have short fine hair; no tangles to hassle with!

  • Great for Families that Live in Apartments or Small Houses

They’re medium-sized— not too small, not too large.

  • Bulldogs Don’t Bark Much

Although bulldogs snort and snore, they don’t bark a lot, which makes them quieter than many other breeds. Because bulldogs aren’t known for barking, they generally aren’t used as watch dogs. But they can be intimidating when they want to be, thanks to their stocky build, wide stance and their shuffling yet surprisingly fast gait.

  • Bulldogs are Low Maintenance; They Don’t Need to be Entertained

While bulldog puppies are quite energetic, bulldog adults are generally mellow and reticent; spending much of their time asleep and snoring from their favorite bed or sofa.

  • Bulldogs Don’t Need to be Run or Taken on Long Walks

Bulldogs don’t need a lot of exercise to stay healthy (a 20-minute walk once a day is sufficient).

The Cons

  • Your Bulldog Won’t Be Able to Accompany You on Jogs or 10-Mile Hikes

Although bulldogs are great companions for laid back leisure activities (like movie nights at home), they won’t be able to accompany you on long jogs, hikes or swims. So if you’re looking for a dog who can keep up with your active lifestyle, the bulldog breed likely isn’t for you (they are, however, great for short walks!).

  • Bulldogs Don’t Do Well in the Heat

Bulldogs are particularly sensitive to hot weather, so if you live somewhere hot, you’ll need to take them on walks early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s cooler.(Read: Summer Safety Tips for Bulldogs).

  • You Won’t Want to Stand Down Wind

This breed of dog is more flatulent than most. However, monitoring what they eat and drink will help with this issue. Exercise helps, too.

  • Bulldogs Need to be Cleaned Every Day

Their famous folds and wrinkles need to be cleaned on a daily basis.

  • Training Can Sometimes be a Challenge

Their stubbornness means they are not always the easiest dogs to train.

  • Bulldogs Must Deliver via C-Section

Bulldogs who become mothers generally need a cesarean section when they give birth, as the puppies are often unable to pass through the birth canal. This can make breeding a bulldog unusually costly.

  • They Don’t Live as Long as Some Other Breeds

The average bulldog’s lifespan is about 8 to 10 years.

  • A Bulldog Puppy Can be Expensive

Purebred bulldog puppies cost approximately $2,000-$3,000, making this breed among the more expensive ones. Their lifetime veterinarian bills tend to be high too.

 

If you are looking for a kind and caring best friend to keep you company at home, and if you have the time and desire to take on some of the added responsibilities of bulldog ownership (regular veterinary checkups and daily grooming routines), then a bulldog might be the perfect choice for you!

About Cascade Bulldogs

Cascade Bulldogs is a bulldog blog that provides helpful information on raising, training and showing bulldogs. The blog’s stars are two bulldog show dogs, Snow White and Wildflower, as well as Snow White’s litter of adorable puppies.