How long have you owned and bred Bull Terriers? 

There are three types of persons who sell dogs; two of them call themselves breeders;

¨             Pet Shop or Dealer – The worst possible choice.  Puppies in these situations come from many sources. You will be assured the puppy is healthy and that its’ parents were healthy, but often nothing about the parents’ temperament, health or size will be known.  Sometimes these dealers import whole litters from other countries and sell them as quickly as possible through stores and over the Internet.  Little or no socialization or temperament evaluation is done.  Here a puppy is merchandise, bought at a low price, sold at a high price as quickly as possible to the first person that comes along.

¨             Backyard Breeder – Another poor choice.  This person owns a pet Bull Terrier and thinks it would be “fun” to have puppies, or thinks it will be an “educational experience” for their children.   Even worse, perhaps it is being done to make a “little extra money”.  Usually, this person knows little or nothing about breed history or the accepted breed standard.  They are usually not knowledgeable about feeding, grooming, socialization, and breed health issues, and typically don’t want to know.  Their goal is to produce a litter of pups and sell them quickly, usually by 6-8 weeks, and sometimes even earlier.

¨        Hobby Breeder – The best choice.  The serious, dedicated hobby breeder considers his dogs members of the family.  He does the breeding not expecting to make a profit, and frequently doesn’t.  These people breed for the enjoyment, pleasure and thrill of producing the very finest possible specimens of the breed, rather than profit, the result is superior quality.  These breeders acknowledge responsibility for each and every puppy produced and stand behind every dog they breed. Also, don’t be surprised if the Breeder asks you questions about your home, knowledge of dogs (or the breed), and reasons for wanting a Bull Terrier.  A serious breeder cares passionately about the quality of the homes into which they place their puppies. A serious Hobby Breeder may not immediately have the puppy you are looking for; but they will help guide you to a puppy that is right for you. They may place your name on a waiting list for one of their puppies or refer you to another breeder that they know and can recommend.

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For information on Bull Terrier breeders in your area,

local clubs and activities, or specific questions about

the breed, please send an email with your city and state to:

BTCAinfo@aol.com