Finding the best bulldog breeder in Colorado and “near you.” We all want the healthiest bulldog puppy, but how do you sniff out the best bulldog breeder? We are going to break that down into simple questions for you because we’ve been there! Picking the right bulldog puppy and the right bulldog breeder can be a difficult task and like you, we’ve searched and searched! Why? Because we know like you do that these adorable cartoon characters can carry with them health issues and we want to give you the information that helped us locate the healthiest pup we could.
Finding a reputable bulldog breeder in Colorado or near you is critical. Below are the top 5 tips to finding the right bulldog breeders, like our program at Mountain View Breeders – we’re a small, family owned bulldog breeder in Colorado.
- Is your bulldog breeder raising AKC registerable bulldogs? The answer should be yes. Even if you never intend to show or breed, a pet quality dog should also come from an AKC breeder. This gives some assurances that the bulldog breeder is at least not bred to something other than a purebred bulldog.
- Are the dam and sire onsite and can you meet the dam and sire? If not, where are they located? A reputable bulldog breeder is proud to have you meet their adult bulldogs. We want to show them off! The sire may not be onsite if the bulldog breeder is paying for artificial insemination and brining in the semen from an outside source. This is quite common in our world, BUT the dam should be available for you to meet. If not, this is a RED FLAG. Look elsewhere! We currently have two dams onsite and one stud / sire on site in Colorado.
- Are your bulldogs genetically tested? For reputable bulldog breeders in Colorado and nationwide, this is a must. If they say, “no.” RUN and RUN fast! If they say, “no, but they come from great parents and the person I bought mine from had theirs tested.” Well, that is a better answer, but I would still look elsewhere unless you can verify the parents’ tests. Just because the parents were healthy does not mean the bulldog puppy they sold should be placed into a breeding program. It may carry a recessive trait and if the dam and sire both have that recessive trait, they should be aware of what complications may arise. Again, if the answer is no, can the bulldog breeder even tell you what genetic ailments you should be aware of? What can they tell you about the health of their dogs – they should be specific.
- Genetics
- Testing for HUU (excessive uric acid in urine that can cause bladder and kidney stones). HUU is common to bulldogs.
- Genetics
- Are the sire and dam OFA certified for their knees, heart and trachea? The best bulldog breeders will bear the cost of these certifications. If the answer is no, I would walk. This is akin to hip dysplasia certifications in lab and German shepherd dogs. A reputable breeder would NEVER breed those breeds without hip certifications. A reputable bulldog breeder should NEVER breed bulldogs without the three OFA certifications listed below.
- The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends that the requirements of The Bulldog Club of America, Inc. be followed:
- Cardiac Exam
- Patella Evaluation
- Tracheal Hypoplasia Evaluation by Radiograph (X-ray)
- The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends that the requirements of The Bulldog Club of America, Inc. be followed:
- How often do you breed your female bulldogs and how early do you breed your bulldogs? The standard for the best bulldog breeders is either their 3rd heat cycle or when they are 2 years old. Why? Because bulldogs should not be bred until the above OFA certifications can be met and this goes for males, as well. Specifically, the Tracheal Hypoplasia evaluation usually cannot take place until dogs are at least a year and a half old as they need to be of adult size.
Females should only be bred a maximum of three times and then retired into a wonderful life of being a loved on pet. Our girls stay with us. They are part of our family. Being bred is difficult on these girls. For those that don’t know, a cesarian (C-Section) is required as bulldogs would not exist without human intervention. Their heads are too large for the vaginal canal. Therefore, a max of three C-Sections is all a reputable bulldog breeder should do regardless of how healthy their female is after birth and nursing.
Other important considerations:
Are your bulldog puppies health certified by a bulldog specialist licensed veterinarian? “Yes,” should be the answer! Puppies should be evaluated by a reputable, experienced bulldog veterinarian specialist. As a bulldog breeder in Colorado, our puppies are given a health certificate by Dr. Tom Geiselhardt of the Homestead Animal Hospital in Centennial, Colorado. It is an hour drive for us, but well worth the time and expertise!
If you are new to the breed, you should also ask the bulldog breeder for tips and what else should you be aware of in owning a bulldog. Top answers from bulldog breeders:
- They will eat like they have never been fed in their lives. A puzzle bowl is recommended to slow down their feeding so that they do not choke.
- They SNORE. Once you’re used to it, it is like a lovely white noise in the background.
- Wrinkles – those need cleaning one to two times a week either with a dry tissue for the deep wrinkles or a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide followed by a dusting of cornstarch to dry it (mainly around their noses and around their tail if the tail is short versus straight).
- This breed is known for its gas. Yes, that is right. They can clear a room! To control this odor, our pups are on Ruff Greens. It has helped immensely.
Additional questions – reach out to a fellow Bred with HEART AKC certified English Bulldog Breeders in Colorado or Nationally like us. You can find us on the AKC website under breeders.
Bulldogs are amazing family pets and bring us laughter every day! We hope you find the right one for your family and keep us in mind for your next pup!
Bottom line – ask a LOT of questions. Know your bulldog breeder.
