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| Buying a Bull Terrier It should be obvious by now that a Bull Terrier should not be purchased from just anyone and especially not from a first-time breeder. Instead, Bartell advises prospective dog and puppy buyers to purchase a dog from a member of the BTCA or a regional club for the breed. �Puppy buyers should contact the BTCA and ask for the names of reputable breeders in their area,� she says. A thorough questioning of buyers, covering everything from where their new dog will be kept to what happened to the buyer�s last pet, is a sure sign of a reputable breeder. Conversely, a breeder who asks nothing more than which pup from a litter of six does a puppy buyer want to purchase, eagerly stating to whom a check should be made payable, speaks volumes about how much he or she cares about the dogs�and how much care was taken in breeding them. Rather than purchasing a dog by phone, Bartell recommends puppy buyers drive to the kennel facility and inspect it, noting if the dam and sire look healthy and clean. They also should observe how the breeder interacts with the dogs and how the dogs interact with one another and the potential buyer. Myall advises puppy buyers to �Buy from a breeder whose puppies are born and raised in a home environment. Constant contact with people is valuable socializing experience.� She also urges puppy buyers to ask if the puppies were tube fed rather than nursed and raised by the dam. Due to the risk of the bitch developing eclampsia (a condition associated with pregnancy that can cause restlessness, trembling and convulsions), Myall notes, �Novice breeders can become fearful for the puppies and pull the bitch from the litter for the first 72 hours after birth. This is a huge mistake. Not only is the bitch the primary teacher of discipline, but the first hours of mother�s milk containing valuable protection from disease.� Given the presence of hereditary health problems in the breed, both Bartell and Myall also emphasize the importance of purchasing a dog from a breeder who adheres to the testing guidelines outlined in the above section on the breed�s genetic health. Prospective owners should expect to pay between $800 and $1,200, regardless of whether they are purchasing a pet or a show-quality dog. According to Myall, the same time, effort and expense are needed to produce either. It also is extremely difficult to determine the show potential of an 8-week-old puppy. �Bull Terrier puppies are notoriously hard to assess. You can have an 8-week-old puppy that looks like it�s going to go to the national specialty and win everything. You can see that same dog at 2 years of age and it may in no way resemble a show dog,� Bartell explains. In addition to expecting to pay between $800 and $1,200, puppy buyers should plan on a bit of a wait. Most reputable breeders have waiting lists for puppies. At the time of purchase, dog and puppy buyers should receive an AKC registration form, a signed pedigree and an up-to-date health record. A veterinarian�s certificate also should be provided as proof of inoculation. The breeder should provide written proof that, for a limited period of time from the date of purchase, he or she will take the puppy back if it is found to be ill or suffering from some genetic defect. Dogs and puppies should be examined by a veterinarian within 48 hours of their sale. Bull Terriers are the quintessential clowns of the canine world�always good for a laugh, always coming up with some new prank to keep their owners on their toes. While their ownership requires a life-long commitment to training and proper handling, those who have the energy and dedication to keep up with them won�t find a better home companion. Perhaps Myall summarizes it best when she says, �You get out of a breed exactly what you put into it.� |
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