Wife is trying to talk me into this

[AKBull]

http://jakehollypuppies.shutterfly.com

http://alaskaslist.com/1/posts/13_Pets/71_Dogs/258375_AKC_English_Bulldog_Puppies.html

I don't know how comfortable I am with it, and it's hard to not get puppy fever. lol

Sire is 4 years old and Dam is 2. Her age bothers me. The "breeder" lives around 3-400 miles away. Sold pups between here and there and made the delivery run today. My wife found out about the whole thing when someone came to the bank she works at and got a money order for one of the pups. The phone call to me came soon after... Price was 2500 for people waiting, and now the 3 remaining males are 2000. Sounds like they're in a hurry to unload them and not have to bring them back. "Breeder" didn't ask me any questions. At least the whole crew is in town so people can meet the parents.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Cuties!

English bulldogs can have some pretty signifigant health problems, fyi in case you weren't aware, though these pups don't look quite as smushed faced as some which might help....

---------- Post added at 07:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:40 PM ----------

And I'm not sure how 'testable' some of the health problems are either.....

 

[ruthcatrin]

And I'm not sure how 'testable' some of the health problems are either.....

 

[AKBull]

Yup. They also don't look as bulky as a lot I've seen, which I would consider a good thing as well.

 

[raechiemay]

Most problems I've seen with bulldogs was skin allergies. I haven't looked at the link but I'm sure they're adorable!

 

[ruthcatrin]

http://www.trimbullbulldogs.com/english_bulldog_health.html

Now the less smushed noses SHOULD help with the jaw/muzzle issues, and some of the general structural problems might be eased by a lessout of proportion structure, but the rest of its hard to judge without knowing more about the parents and their lines. Theres a college with a bully as their mascott and I vaugly recall the last couple have only lasted like 6 or 7years. I'll have to dig out the link.

---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 PM ----------

I take it back, the latest Uga was 4 years old when his heart gave out: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/magazine/can-the-bulldog-be-saved.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 now how much was specific to his line and how much is the breed....I donno but I have to say that with that kind of potential health problems I don't know that I'd buy one without a whole lot of research into the dog's lines....

 

[ruthcatrin]

I take it back, the latest Uga was 4 years old when his heart gave out: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/magazine/can-the-bulldog-be-saved.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 now how much was specific to his line and how much is the breed....I donno but I have to say that with that kind of potential health problems I don't know that I'd buy one without a whole lot of research into the dog's lines....

 

[AKBull]

Again I agree with you. There is the potential to open a huge can of expensive and heart breaking worms. It's bad enough with the mastiff lines, the bulldog lines need to be researched that much more.
And thanks for the link!

 

[ruthcatrin]

No problem! I can totally understand the attraction and hubby and I agree that they're a breed we'd love to own.....if only they didn't have such major health problems all over!

 

[jcook]

My boyfriend and I have an english bulldog. He bought the dog at a pet store, the dog was AKC registered and very good looking. The puppy died at 5 months old (he choked to death on his food). The dog had serious breathing breathing problems.

He got a another dog for free instead of his money back. Sampson had the same sire as the previous pup that passed away. Sampson is a healthier dog than then Chester was, but he still has serious health issues.

Sampson has this random vestibular issue where he will suddenly will act as if he is drunk, loses control of his bladder, and sort of goes in and out of consciousness. Adam has spent thousands on vet visits to figure out why he has this issue from time to time.

Sampson also is very temperature and food sensitive. He cant walk for long and he cant be outside if it is too hot or cold. He also gets these serious sores between his toes that blister and bleed (usually on the couch, yuck). They docked his tail too short so he has never damage to his anal area and therefore he rarely pinches clean. So if we dont want poop on our couch, we have to make sure to wipe his butt after he goes poo. He also snores alll the time, so we literally cannot have him sleep in the same room as us because he will keep us up with his snoring.

He is not the dog that we can do "dog" stuff with. He is more of an inside dog. It can be difficult at times having a cane corso (which is very capable) and an English bulldog (which is not). We want to include Sampson in a lot of our activities, but he simply cannot handle the same things Stella can.

Sampson is a very sweet, mellow dog, and Stella and him get along really well. He is very very stubborn (and honestly, not that smart) lol. I think an english bulldog can be great for some people. But I also think that people need to think very carefully before getting one. Adam and I have decided that we probably wont get one again because they just have too many health problems and they just always seem like they are struggling (mainly to breath lol). Furthermore, they dont have a very long life expectancy.

I really like this particular article about english bulldogs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/magazine/can-the-bulldog-be-saved.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

I love bulldogs but to be honest the issues that they are prone to and the amounts of $$ I have seen people spend on them quite frankly is a little scary for me The puppies and even adults are adorable which is why I find it hard to not get one when I see puppies but I am like you I worry about what happens once the puppy arrives home and I am attached to him/her.

 

[allsierra123]

Look for a recreation of the old bully type. Google gargoyle kennels.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

 

[ruthcatrin]

Yah, theres some lines being bred much healthier, they usually go by other names than "english bulldog", at what ever point we're looking for a new pup we might look them up to look closer. Not going to be anytime soon though, two dogs is plenty for our current household, and both are long lived breeds.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I love bulldogs but to be honest the issues that they are prone to and the amounts of $$ I have seen people spend on them quite frankly is a little scary for me The puppies and even adults are adorable which is why I find it hard to not get one when I see puppies but I am like you I worry about what happens once the puppy arrives home and I am attached to him/her.

I so agree.....

 

[Rugers-Kris]

So....Did you get the puppy?

 

[northernmastiff]

I am not sure if you got him but I would recommend against bulldogs. We foster Rascal and I will never get another bulldog after her. Wonderful personality, very cute. Overall, I wouldn't say there are issues with her health. She has been very healthy so far, touch wood, but I have seen her collapse once when she was hacking up a snot ball and couldn't breath. Just fell over and then stood up, spit out the snot ball (thankfully outside) and went about her merry way. The main problem is that they are extremely dirty. She has no problem with crapping on her bed and then laying in it. The other bulldogs we fostered before they went to their forever home were the exact same way. I thought it was because they were older, hadn't been housetrained properly but Rascal is fully house trained. In the summer months, we have no problems. No accidents inside but as soon as the weather turns cold, she refuses to go outside to do her business. On leash, off leash, stand outside for 30 minutes...nope, nadda. Then she will walk inside and crap on the floor. I have never had a dog that didn't housetrain so I really just think it is because they are so lazy. If she is nice and warm, she will just pee laying down or poop and then lay back down. Males are probably different but I have done a lot of research on correcting this and most people just say...well, it's just the breed so I just clean it up...or that is why I don't have carpet. Her owner (we don't officially own her and are at the whim of her breeder) says thats just the way they are and just keep a mop bucket full. So yeah, I recommend caution with them. They may be really cute but they have a lot of issues,especially if you go with a bulldog that conforms to the breed standard.

 

[AKBull]

Nope! Too many reasons to say no.
If I were to get any type of Bulldog it would either be a French, or an Olde Tyme Bulldog.

Nothernmastiff. That doesn't sound fun...

 

[northernmastiff]

No, it isn't fun. We are actually talking with the breeder about her not staying with us. It is those accidents, as well as a number of things that have come up on the contract end that is making it very difficult. As I said, we don't own her and are simply a foster and that is causing a number of problems.

 

[Kelly]

These are such beautiful dogs, but I would never ever get one on impulse. There are so many issues that the breeders need to be so carefully vetted.

AKBull, you made the right decision. Hope your wife wasn't too disappointed.