The Bulldog Club of America, in keeping with it’s
stated goal of protecting and preserving the official standard, does not
condone the breeding or promotion of colors that are not mentioned in the
standard and / or that are described therein as Disqualifying
Health
I would like to be very clear that the
content below is our opinion based on personal experiences. Other websites have copied this information
without having a clear knowledge of the health issues/opinions stated below and
have done so without our permission.
Please make sure that when buying a puppy / dog from ANY breeder that
you ask as many questions as you can, do as much research as possible and ask
for proof of care!!! We encourage you to
get to know us because we will be in contact with you throughout the life of
your puppy. We have worked very very
hard to educate ourselves about Bulldogs and are more than eager to share with
you what we have learned and are still learning so please never hesitate to
ask.
The
following documentation is my opinion.
Understand and accept that if you chose to bring a Bulldog into your
life, you may have to deal with some issues.
We do all we can to guarantee that when a puppy leaves us it is healthy
and happy. If we do not believe it is,
we will not let it go. For every puppy
we bring into this world, we are prepared to keep for whatever reason
necessary, for it's entire life if we see fit.
Our dogs are healthy, happy, are correct representations of the AKC
Bulldog standard and we intend to breed for the same reasons. However there are things that we cannot
control. Some are genetic and some are
common traits. If there is EVER a
genetic issue we will NOT reproduce those lines. I hope that the following literature will
clear up a few of the more common issues.
Cherry Eye
Probably the most normal and expected thing
in Bulldogs are cherry eyes. This is
when the tear gland in the corner of the eye pops out. It resembles a small cherry, hence the
name. In some cases they do go away and
in more cases, you may need surgery to correct it. It is relatively inexpensive in most cases
and is a quick outpatient procedure, depending on your veterinarian. It can happen very quickly and can happen to
one or both eyes.
There are two common treatment
options. One is to tack the gland back
with stitches. The other is to remove
most of the gland. Again, your
veterinarian will recommend one or the other depending on their
preference. Medically speaking they both
have pros and cons. If I ever come
across this I will not tack it - it will be removed. It is important to understand that this is
not the only area of the eye that produces tears. Part of the gland is left behind and may very
well make tears. Some dogs, even with
both tear glands will get dry eyes, so partially removing one or both may not
have that effect. If your puppy gets a
cherry eye here I will have it removed at my expense. Once the puppy leaves here it will become
your financial responsibility but also your obligation to correct as it does
effect the well being of the dog and can result in further health issues if
left untreated. It is possible that the
puppy can leave here without one and on the plane or car ride home one pop out.
Entropion-Ectropion
This is when the eyelids roll in or
out. Ectropion is when the eyelids roll
out. Entropion is where they roll in and
they rub against the eyeball causing irritation. Surgery can correct it and it is a relatively
simple out patient surgery with normal post op care. It is VERY urgent and important that the
surgery be performed to salvage the eye sight and to eliminate pain and
discomfort for the dog. The results are
generally favorable on the first surgery but depending on the severity more
than one surgery may be required. The
more wrinkled your Bulldog is the higher the chance that they will be affected.
Breathing
Dogs pant to cool themselves. Bulldogs have a decreased capability of doing
this – they are known as brachycephalic .
Elongated soft palates are common to the breed. A normal palate size can have trouble fitting
into the tiny space available for Bulldogs.
In addition many of them have very small trachea's. This all contributes to overheating in a very
short time. Some have “pinched nostrils
which would further complicate breathing.
Making sure the dam/sire and offspring are “good breathers” is crucial
to the health and quality of life for a Bulldog. Be prepared to protect your Bulldog from the
heat and cold at all times. They also
snort, snore, reverse sneeze, again it’s often due to the shape of the head but
anytime your Bulldog displays behaviors not typical to them, take proper
consideration and possibly contacting your vet is in order. Because of the very short nasal passages
Bulldog puppies are susceptible to respiratory infections. Kennel Cough being one of them, which has
nothing to do with a Kennel but is very contagious. Your puppy will not leave here with a
respiratory infection or kennel cough.
If your puppy develops any of the aforementioned symptoms get to your
vet ASAP!!
Skin
There are many folds and pockets on English
Bulldogs. They MUST be kept clean to
prevent infections. One suggestion is
baby wipes, NOT disinfecting wipes. It
is very important to completely dry the area after cleaned. I have bathed my dogs and not gotten their
tails quite dry and it turns into a skin infection very quickly - if it becomes
red and foul smelling we suggest seeing a veterinarian. Making your wrinkle cleaning a part of your
Bulldogs daily routine will eliminate most if not all of the accidental/over
looked problem areas.
Allergies
There are many causes for allergies in all
breeds including Bulldogs. They can be from food, pollen, grass, dust mites and
even your home just to name a few. I am
very big on feeding quality food. A lot
of times allergy problems are caused by too much corn, wheat, grain or
chicken. It is best to try and feed your
dog a food that has meat listed as the first ingredient, not just a meat
by-product, grain free and single protein sourced. I have had very good luck with some foods
over others and would be happy to recommend what I have experience with.
Hernias
There are two types that are common in
puppies. An umbilical (an outy belly
button) and inguinal or groin. They can
be due to many things. Even a bitch
tugging on the umbilical cord shortly after birth can pop them out. The small inguinal usually go away and cause
no issues to the dog. If we find a
hernia at the vet check and my vet thinks it requires repair it will be fixed
at my expense unless otherwise noted prior to the puppy leaving our home. If my vet thinks that it is not causing the
dog any issues and it needs repaired at the time of spay or neuter then it will
be the responsibility of the owner. As
long as the intestines are not present in the hernia (which would mean it was a
very big one) it is not worrisome.
Mange
Two types, Sarcoptic (when people get this
we call it scabies) and Demodectic.
Sarcoptic is pretty rare in well cared for animals. Demo is also called red or puppy mange. There are two kinds of Demo, localized
(several spots), and generalized (affecting most of the dog). There are two schools of thought. Some people think that if a puppy comes up
with this, they should be spayed or neutered along with every dog related, I
strongly disagree. ALL DOGS, EVERY ONE
OF THEM HAS MITES ON IT"S SKIN. Yes
even your dog. Your dog's immune system
lives with it in harmony and keeps the number down. Localized can be brought on by several things
such as stress, puberty, environmental issues and so on. A puppy has an incomplete immune system. When your puppy is stressed the immune system
falters and those mites breed and then it becomes obvious to you that something
is wrong. Localized demo will often cure itself although I do recommend an oral
medication to help it along. Generalized
is another issue. It is not the mange
that is truly the issue, it is the dog's immune system. It is my opinion that a dog with Generalized
Demo not be bred.
Loose
Hips/Knees
Many
breeds have a degree of looseness in both the hips and knees. Bulldogs are more prone to it because of the way
they are put together. I do believe that
keeping your puppy at the appropriate weight during it's growing periods
helps. Also it is not good to let your
puppy jump from high places as this can cause problems later in life that could
have easily been avoided. You can get
dysplastic pups out of parents who rated Excellent on their OFA because the
test only means that the parents are not affected.
Stress
Many people underestimate the damage stress
causes. When your puppy comes home it
will be very stressed. No matter what we
do as breeders and no matter how loving and caring the new home is they will be
stressed. They are going through a very
scary time in their life and need your help getting through it. I do not recommend taking your puppy visiting
until they are at least 6 months old. I
know it is hard not to show off the cutest puppy in the world but try, it is
better in the long run. There are
millions of germs and bacteria everywhere and again, when your puppy is
stressed it's immune system falters causing it to be more susceptible to
"catching" something.
Our Guarantee
We would like to start off by
congratulating you on your new addition.
By sending us a deposit or paying for a puppy in full you are agreeing
that you have read the Health page and do not dispute it. We cover life threatening issues. The puppy must be examined by a licensed
veterinarian within 72 hours of receiving him/her and I must be notified of the
results, good or bad within 10 days. If
for some reason the results are bad the puppy must be returned to me within 5
days of the negative report at the buyers expense and the replacement/refund
process will begin. If the results are
good I do not need a report from your vet just give us a call, send us an email
or mail me a note letting me know how it went.
Failure to do so will void any and all guarantees. If at any time the buyer conditions are not
fully met it will void any guarantees.
Buyer
agrees to the following:
*You will provide routine preventative care such
as annual exams by your veterinarian, de-worming and heart worm preventative
administered, vaccinated on time, proper housing and nutrition (no tethering or
exposure to extreme weather for extended periods of time). Buyer is responsible for all shipping costs
during the entire ownership.
ALL
puppies MUST complete a minimum of two (2) training classes (puppy class/basic
obedience/socialization etc with a licensed training facility using positive
reinforcement prior to the puppy reaching 12 months of age (from birth) unless
otherwise noted. Failure to do so could
result in forfeiture of said puppy. Proper
manners, socialization and bonding are crucial to the healthy development of
your puppy. We want you to have every
opportunity to better your relationship with your new puppy.
We as the breeder guarantee your puppy to be in
good health and free from any congenital/genetic disease which adversely
affects the health of the animal for 6 months.
This does
not cover issues discussed in the Health section. All issues covered in the guarantee are by
replacement only. If Bradleys Bulldog
Barn decides to "buy back" the puppy at an agreed upon amount, not
necessarily the full purchase price, it will be on a per case basis and
determined only by us but will be agreed upon mutually in writing. We are not responsible for any medical
expenses incurred. You fully understand
that owning a dog required trips to the vet and medical bills. We guarantee that when you receive your puppy
it will be current on vaccinations, de-wormer, micro-chipped if applicable and
either started or a plan in place for heart worm preventative. If a puppy is returned to us for whatever
reason, it must be in good health other than the specified cause for
return. Any physical problem which is or
could be caused by accident or injury, neglect or poor diet is not covered in
this guarantee. I cannot guarantee that
the puppy purchased will be a breeder or show dog. I can only guarantee that the puppy shows
potential to be shown or bred - on a per case basis. No replacement puppy will be given if the dog
is euthanized without my permission. You
agree that you are never to slander our name for any reason - in person/social
media/advertisements/productions etc. as we will do everything possible to
ensure you are happy with your purchase.
If ever
you acquire a puppy or adult from one of our breeding’s, acquire a puppy or
adult from us no matter the age or lineage, and by acquire we mean weather your
purchase, trade, promise, adopt, or by any means come to possess, co-own or the
like, one of our Bulldogs, if you are given what some refer to as “full
rights” , “breeding rights”, or your puppy/adult is given/sold with an AKC
registration that is NOT limited, this puppy/dog is NOT to be used for breeding
outside the AKC written standard. If we
are trusting you with one of our Bulldogs, further more trusting you to
reproduce using said animal, you will have to agree to and strictly adhere to
the AKC written standard, NOT the AKC alternate or any other standard, breed,
or registry unless otherwise stated and mutually agreed upon. We are fully aware, that even with the most
sound and ethical breeding practices in place, there are genetically defected
puppies that will be born with alternate color of coat, eyes, pigment etc –
these puppies, should they be produced, must be brought to our attention and
spayed/neutered at the earliest possible time in which it is safe for the
puppy/dog to have surgery. Should you
produce anything other than what is written in the AKC standard and not adhere
to the above, we will begin actively pursuing the return of the producing
Bulldog as well as all the offspring so they may be spayed, neutered and
adopted out at the appropriate time. You
are agreeing that you have read the standard and understand the difference
between “standard” and “alternate”. You
are agreeing to the immediate return of the acquired Bulldog (s) including
their offspring, no money will change hands, you will forfit any breeding
costs, purchase costs etc and all prior agreements become null and void with
regards to the Bulldog and their offspring.
It is very simple – if you intentionally reproduce anything other than
The AKC English Bulldog standard, if you accidentally reproduce an alternate
and do not responsibly alter the animal to prevent further reproductions we
will actively pursue their return immediately.
We hope you can understand that these measures are taken in an effort to
preserve the Bulldog breed and help eliminate the breeding of genetically
defected or “fad” colors/sizes which do not represent the standard. The goal should you acquire a Bulldog from us
for breeding purposes, is that they will produce as close to the AKC written
standard as possible, including temperament, health, size and conformation, as
well as color. By researching pedigrees
and the offspring from those on your pedigree, you will gain the knowledge of
what they typically produce and what they are capable of producing. As with anything, including Mother Nature, we
cannot prevent some things from happening, if an alternate is produced, the
most responsible and ethical thing you can do for not only that Bulldog but for
the breed as a whole, is to spay/neuter and not repeat that breeding as there
is a chance it will happen again. Until
the standard is re-written to accommodate these alternate’s the aforementioned
is our requirement and by signing you are agreeing to it.
This contract is null and void if the terms are
not met which includes registration papers due if any for the puppy. By not returning our signed contract, buyer
gives up any right to compensation from the seller, ever. By not returning our signed contract buyer is
agreeing to purchase the puppy AS IS with no guarantee or warranty. Contract must be signed and in place within
48 hours prior to the shipping or pickup to be valid. We are in good standing with the AKC and have
no reports of misconduct or complaints.
Buyer understands that this contract is the only guarantee set
forth. Buyer also understands and agrees
that place of venue and jurisdiction is Sedgwick County KS. Should buyer choose to pursue matters in a
court of law, seller reserves the right to request reasonable attorney fees
from the buyer.
Above all you guarantee to provide a loving home
to this wonderful puppy. You understand
that your life has just changed for the better and you should expect to laugh
on a daily basis. Get ready for everyone
to want to pet your puppy because it is the cutest baby in the world. You must enjoy wet sloppy kisses first thing
in the morning as seen fit by your Bully.
You are going to have the time of your life!
Alisha Bradley
(seller)___________________________________
Buyer
(s)____________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Phone/contact
info______________________________________________________
Current
Veterinarian____________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________
Phone______________________________________________________________
When applicable, my signature
here____________________________________ along with your original LIMITED AKC
registration indicate that the above mentioned puppy is on a SPAY / NEUTER
agreement. If we do not have a spay /
neuter agreement and your puppy was sold with FULL registration my signature
above will not be present. If said puppy
is sold with limited registration it is forbidden that he / she be used for
breeding purposes and proof of spay / neuter shall be provided to me upon
request once puppy is of proper age if not spayed / neutered prior to leaving
my home