BUGS EAR BULLDOGS - English Bulldogs Breeding

Ethics

Bringing a healthy litter of bouncing baby bullies into the world is quite an undertaking--and doesn't always have a happy ending. It's also quite expensive. Bulldogs are the hardest dogs to breed, birth and raise and have the highest mortality rate of any other. There is progesterone testing to predict ovulation, the price of a stud fee, ultrasounds and/or x-rays, the necessary cesarean delivery..and so on. Expenses can quickly skyrocket should any problems arise.

Factor in the work that goes along with it and you can see why it takes someone who is truly dedicated to be a successful breeder. There isn't much sleep to be had the first few weeks as mommy cannot be left with her pups all by herself. It's quite easy to have a death occur by suffocation from mom unintentionally lying on one of her babies.

Responsible breeding is WORK! Consideration must also be given to the possibility of hand-raising a litter should anything happen to mom or in case she just simply has very poor mothering instincts. There is also 8 weeks (or more) of cleaning up puppy poo and piddle! This can prove to be quite a challenge within itself, particularly if the li'l boogers manage to run through it before it's gotten up.

The main goal should be to try and improve on the breed with health and temperment being of the utmost importance. Aggressive or overly shy dogs should NEVER be bred! This is a trait that could be passed on to the puppies. Dogs with hereditary health problems such as dysplasia should also be ruled out. Care should be taken to find a mate that can strengthen any weaknesses in your animal.

A responsible breeder will be there to answer any questions or address concerns through the life of the puppy. Should the breeder get a call on down the road from someone who can no longer keep a dog that was purchased from them, they need to be willing to take it back and be accountable for finding a new approved home.

Honesty is a must for a breeder. Anyone that tells you their dog is absolutely perfect with no weaknesses isn't being truthful. It's important that they can take off the rose colored glasses in assessing their own dog and being able to recognize any areas where there could be some room for improvement. Remaining completely unbiased in judging your own dog isn't easy! Everyone thinks their dog is the best! It's a good idea to get an opinion from someone else familiar with the standards to help with this.

A breeder also needs to disclose any hereditary issues that can be passed on--the bulldog breed certainly isn't without problems. Cherry eye is a very common condition that can be passed down. If this is something the dam or sire has had, this should be disclosed. Honesty is always the best policy. Every breeder needs to have a strong code of ethics to build their breeding program upon.

To summarize, good breeders take responsibility and use common sense. They wish to improve on the breed and take great care in placing their puppies in good homes. Their love and concern for the breed is easily picked up on by others.