I am considering purchasing a Bulldog from an online source. Any advice?

Question

I have only contacted this breeder via email so far. The breeder has agreed to a 2 year health guarantee and has sent pictures of the puppy. I just have some concerns about not actually meeting the dog or the seller first. I am also curious as to how payment and delivery is supposed to take place. He says that he will send me the billing details after I provide him with my address and then I can wire him the money. I emailed him back and am requesting references, the dog's pictures, and details in writing. If anyone has actually done this or if you have breeding experience, please give me your opinions.

Answer 1

Okay. Usually I like e-trade/sell/buy; however on this occasion I advise a big no.

First off, there may be something awkward about the dog that the seller has not told you. You should always go check out a dog first before you get it! Try to find another one in your neighborhood! There are a lot of rescue shelters that have dogs that need homes! Go check out a local rescue shelter and see if they have any Bulldogs that may interest you! If you can meet this buyer, then that's great! And perhaps, go with a friend to get a second opinion (not necessary because it is your dog, but then again you will have to be committed to it for a long long time!)

Anyways, Best of luck to you and hope you get a dog you love!

Answer 2

Be VEEEERRRRRY careful I got a puppy from the internet. First, let me say, I love him to death. The transaction went well, am still in contact with the breeder. But it was after I had sent the first $400 that I actually got scared that something might go wrong. Nothing did. For me, the puppy was flown to a major airport, which was over 150 miles from me, It would have been faster to go pick up the puppy. He was flown from Ohio to Houston,Tx, to Chicagos' O'Hare Airport, and then had to ride 150 miles by car. If it is a pure bred dog, the breeder needs your name and address to put in the registration papers, but he also needs a deposit first. If he is an up & up breeder, he is telling you the truth, but as always, it's BUYER BEWARE. See if he will give you references, ask if you can visit his kennels. Even if you will never go, ask and see what his answer is. Get HIS address, and ask MANY questions about the dog. If he is willing to spend lots of time answering your questions, and addressing your concerns, he may very well be o.k. Ask for his phone # , he should have no qualms about giving it to you. He wants to be 100% sure you are serious, though, because he doesn't want to waste his time, either. Breeders, (good ones) have long days, taking puppies to the vet, feeding, cleaning runs and cages. You also need to be prepared for your dog. Learn all you can by reading about the breed, getting your house puppy proofed, and buy some good puppy food. The breeder should send some of the food your puppy has been eating, you also should get a crate, and to ease transition, have him send a blanket or towel with the smell of the littermates, and mommy puppy.
Do not have him send it in the crate, though, because if puppy gets sick and you have to wash it, what good will it be on a night when your puppy misses his mommy? I had a very good experience with my puppys' "other mother" and hope you will, too, if you decide to go ahead with the purchase. Good luck to you, and hope you have many happy years ahead with your new friend!

Answer 3

Please don't do this. We purchased our first English Bulldog online not knowing any better. He was shipped from North Carolina to California. When we picked him up from the airport he was cute as can be. After 2 days, we discovered that he had kennel cough and became very ill. The kennel cough weakened his immune system and he a really bad case of mites. After numerous vet visits and $1200 later, Winston was finally OK. During this time, the "breeder" was no where to be found. She would not return our phone calls. I started to do a little investigation on her and we found out that the health certificate was forged. I sued her and she settled with me and gave me all of my money back for the purchase of the dog.

This isn't the worst part...our dog turned out not to be 100% English Bulldog. He has some sort of mix in him and we didn't really notice until he got a little older. It really doesn't matter anymore because we are totally in love with him and he doesn't have any of the breathing problems and wrinkle problems that purebred dogs have.

We now have 3 English Bulldogs (Winston is not pure but he doesn't know). The other 2 were purchased from a local reputable breeder. Bulldogs have a lot of genetic problems that can be reduced by good breeding.

Good luck :-)

Answer 4

Too many things screaming "bad breeder" here, I wouldn't risk it. You have no idea if the pictures you're seeing are really the parents (or the puppy, for that matter).

Have the parents been screened for elbow dysplasia and patellar dysplasia (both can be problems in bulldogs)? What about cherry eye?

If for some reason you can't keep the dog, will the breeder take him back? Has the breeder asked *you* questions about your plans, or has it just been "do you have enough money"?

Have you looked at a local Breed Rescue Group to see if there is a Bully near you who needs a good home, where you can help save a life or two of dogs that would otherwise be euthanized?

Answer 5

Be afraid, be very afraid. Bulldogs have lots of health problem, and there are lots of unscrupuous breeders on the Internet.
Contact your local AKC representative to find a local breeder, where you can see the puppy first and meet the parents.

Or check out www.AKC.org for a breeder in your area.
From what you wrote your seller is more concerned with making his money than finding his puppies a good home. Responsible breeders would be sending you an application and questionnaire to find out if you are good enough to have a puppy.

You would also sign a contract stating if you can't keep the dog throughout the entirety of its life, you agree to give it back to only the breeder.

Avoid this puppy.

Answer 6

I am going to give you a firm "NO" on this one. It is known in the Bulldog world right now that there are *a lot* of puppy scams going on over the internet, because they are so high-dollar. Even across-seas sales.

Bulldogs have *so many* health and temperament problems... You never want to buy one without meeting the parents, seeing the environment, and even the pedigrees. A good breeder would not want to *sell* a puppy over the internet without seeing you first, either. For all he knows, you could be a raving lunatic... ;)

I would suggest, instead, going through the Bulldog Club of America, or even the AKC. Get a starting list of breeders in your area, and then call them for info. Thin them out by asking questions. *Lots of them.* Ask about health, temperament, contracts and guarantees, vet care, longevity of their lines, etc. When youfind some that you think you trust, go to their houses and see where the dogs are kept, see the puppies and the parents, visit for a while and get a feeling for the breeder.

Here's both ends of the spectrum: You come home with a poorly-researched Bulldog. In the first year of his life, he develops one of the many common Bulldog genetic problems. Not life threatening, but very, very costly to treat. You try to call the breeder for medical info, or to fulfill the guarantee. No answer. No reply to emails, either. (This happens more often than you know.) Then, you have a very sick, unhappy puppy, probably with a very much shortened life-span, as well. Or worse, you could come home with a puppy that hates kids because the breeder paid no attention to temperament and both of the parent dogs were nasty, or the breeder's kids were mean to the puppies. Life-span of most of these poorly-bred dogs: 8-10 years, or less.

Another case: You wire the money and get no puppy. *poof*

Do your research well, and you could come home with a beautiful, happy, well-adjusted and socialized puppy, with little or no health issues, that will live for 13 or more years!

And by the way, this is one breed that is not a good option for adoption in many cases, though I fully encourage you to look. You don't find them often, but once in a while... The people that buy the "good" Bulldogs are the ones that can afford to keep them and care for their issues. The Bulldogs that end up in shelters are usually of the other sort... The sick, bad-tempered, 'special needs' variety, purchased by people who wanted a "cheap" Bulldog or people who were not aware of the sheer amount of work and money it takes to have one, or people who get bamboozled by a crappy breeder.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you all the best! I hope you find the perfect Bully puppy for you. The "good" ones are so very, very good! If you have more questions, or would like me to direct you to some people with vast knowledge in the breed and breeding practices of Bulldogs, please let me know.

Answer 7

I am a breeder, I often sell over the Internet.
I live in a small town and my base of sale is very limited here, so I do a lot of shipping.
I CAN help, but it will be a lengthy process and I will need you to direct email me.
Just click on my icon and send me a direct email and I will help you avoid being scammed.
I raise Chihuahuas so no need to worry that I am trying to steal another breeder business.

Answer 8

No way, it sounds sketchy and bulldogs have too many problems breathing. Get a mixed breed puppy from a good shelter, it's your best bet for a healthy animal.

Answer 9

really,....ideal denims are so few aand some distance between, that the probabilities of you looking a more less expensive pair of ideal denims is slender to none. My suggestion? purchase a million pair of severe priced denims and take fairly sturdy care of them. Wash them in cool water, utilising woolite, and drip dry. they're going to very last forerver , and also you'll have what you want.

Answer 10

well hopefully your not getting yourself into something bad like a scam
i would prefer phone calls get there phone number.
also ask them to take picture of the dog holding a sign saying "real puppy" something to show you that hey i didnt steal these pictures from somewhere else

good luck