If your bullie looks like this, you bought the wrong bullie.  This is my cousin ollie he is a boxer.  I lubb him.

The first step on the road to pet ownership is to ask yourself some tough questions: Why do you want a puppy? Can you afford one? Are you prepared to take care of a dog every day for his entire life?

If you’ve decided you’re ready for a dog, follow The HSUS' top five puppy buying tips and you'll be far more likely to secure a healthy, well-socialized dog who doesn't drain your emotions or your pocketbook. One, in other words, who doesn't come from a puppy mill?

Puppy mills are nothing new. These mass dog-breeding operations have been around for decades. They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on fancy websites.

But behind the friendly facade of the local pet shop, the pastoral scenes on a "breeder's" website, or the neighborhood newspaper ad, there often lies a puppy mill. These canine breeding facilities house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. 

Life is particularly bad for "breeding stock," dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.

1. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Responsible breeders provide a loving and healthy environment for their canine companions, but don't take their word for it. Never buy a puppy without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed with your own eyes.

2. Don’t be fooled by common claims made by pet stores when pushing their puppies. Despite what they may tell you, pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies.

3. Don't be swayed by a great website or ad. Just because a website says great things about their “home raised” or “family raised” puppies doesn’t make it true. Many puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads.  Look at the In Memory and In Honor of Pages on our website.

4. Consider adoption. Adopting a dog instead of buying one is the surest way to strike a blow against puppy mills. To find the perfect match, you'll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including “designer” or “hybrids” like Labradoodles and Puggles. Mixed-breed dogs also make wonderful pets. www.rescuebulldogs.org or www.petfinder.com

5. Avoid the temptation to "rescue" a puppy mill puppy by buying him. Even though your intentions may be good, don’t buy a puppy with the idea that you are “rescuing” him or her. Your “rescue” opens up space for another poor puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill. Pet stores won’t leave their cages empty and websites won’t leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they can continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying.

Before Even Considering Buying a Bullie--- Get Advice!!!

Selecting your Bulldog Puppy

Before you buy a Bulldog – even if it is to be a pet – never to be shown or bred, read and re-read the Standard. Talk with reputable ethical breeders. Find out the advantages and disadvantages. The Bulldog has short hair – but he does shed. If his white hair gets on your navy blue suit and this is something you cannot accept – then don’t buy a Bulldog. He can’t help that nature has made shedding a part of his normal existence. If he is going to be alone all day and only “brought out” for a time on Saturday, this is not fair to your dog. Perhaps you should not have a dog at this time. 

Do not feel pressured to buy any puppy with which you are not comfortable. Don't forget, you have the option to shop around and be totally confident with your purchase. If you are buying as a gift, let the eventual owner do the final selection. 

Only buy from an ethical breeder with a good reputation. The breeder should provide you with a wealth of information as the puppy matures. 

When you buy your puppy, you should get a sales contract and a receipt for your payment, a copy of the puppy's 3 or 4-generation pedigree, a copy of his medical records and his American Kennel Club (AKC) registration application or the actual signed AKC registration certificate. The puppy should be at least 8 weeks old and weaned, wormed and have at least its first set of immunization shots. 

You will find that Bulldog puppies are expensive. It is costly to breed and raise a litter of Bulldog pups. Stud fees, brood bitch care, whelping (generally  Cesarean section) and puppy shots and care are all expensive. Infant mortality is generally higher than in other breeds. Litters are often small. Do not buy a Bulldog puppy with the thought that you will retrieve your investment by breeding him or her a few times -- it seldom works out. Most Bulldog breeders are dedicated to the breed and are only breeding in an effort to create a superior animal. It is not uncommon for a breeder to sell a so-called "pet quality" puppy for a little less and with limited registration or without papers (so that his "pet qualities" will not be passed on to future generations). 

Choose a puppy that is friendly, outgoing and not aggressive. Verify that his eyes and nose are free of discharge. Make an appointment with your veterinarian (or a recommended Bulldog veterinarian) as soon as possible to check the health of the puppy. Have your veterinarian contact the breeder's veterinarian for information about the litter. Make sure the contract has a clause for a return of the puppy within a reasonable specified time (say, 3 days) if the veterinarian finds a major health problem. 

If you are purchasing a puppy for showing, it is most important to do research. Go to as many dog shows as you can and find a breeder that you trust who will work with you. Try to buy a puppy that is 5 to 8 months old so that you can better see what he might look like at maturity. A great deal of research is a must if you intend to show or use your Bulldog for breeding. 

Remember; be sure you want the dog. He will be a part of your life and will not be expected to spend his time in a wire prison and only taken out to relieve himself. He wants to be with you!! And if your meticulous home is too good for him, then he is too good for you!