Kia'i Pō
Bullmastiffs
BUYERS BEWARE!
by Tracy Ferrick
When you plan to purchase a puppy, no matter what breed it is,
you should always research the breed thoroughly before you bring a
new pup into your home. Read as much as you can and talk to as many
breeders as you can to get the whole picture!
There are several arenas for purchasing a puppy. Commercial
breeders or puppy mills, and pet stores should not be considered.
The animals that are used for breeding from these facilities are
usually poor specimens of the breeds they represent and very rarely
are any health checks done on the breeding pair(s) before they
produce a litter. These animals usually start their breeding life at
6-9 months of age, and are bred every 6 months, until they die. They
live in extreme filth and are usually underfed and undernourished.
The media does not exaggerate when they run exposes on these hovels.
Purchasing a puppy from a pet store is funding these commercial
breeders and puppy millers! They may offer a health guarantee, but
what does that guarantee? Sure they offer to take the dog back for a
full refund, but those poor animals are then thrust back into the
breeding pool and their defects are continued on for future
generations.
Purchasing a puppy from a BACK-YARD BREEDER is
even worse!!!!! These are people who want to 'make a little money'
or "want to have a litter so the kids can see the miracle of birth'
so they breed their unregistered pets who were most
likely sold on MUST SPAY/NEUTER contracts thinking
that NO ONE will ever know. These dogs have
NOT had any HEALTH CLEARANCES and are most
of the time substandard representatives of the breed. If they were
sold as a pet or companion quality, then they should NEVER
be bred.
Buying from a reputable breeder who is recognized by its breed
parent club, will be your safest way to purchase a puppy who will
live with you and be your companion for many years. Reputable
breeders offer you a wealth of information on the breed and on the
heritage and health of your dog and will be there for you during the
whole life of your dog, not just for the 10 minutes it takes to
complete a monetary transaction. Through the new AKC Breeder
of Merit program you will most likely get the best puppy
you can. These breeders have been dedicated to bringing forth the
healthiest best representatives of the breed they can. They are now
being recognized by the AKC for their accomplishments!
Your breeder should health check the breeding pair(s) before
breeding. These health checks may include, OFA(Orthopedic Foundation
for Animals,
http://www.offa.org) screening for both hips and elbows, Thyroid
testing, screening the eyes for degenerative macular changes in
breeds with known eye disorders, hearing screening in breeds that
are prone to deafness, and general bloodwork panels to let the
breeder know that all is well with the prospective parents. Most
breeders temperament test their breeding animals at early ages to
make sure they are sound and will not pass on any dangerous traits.
Breeders usually do not breed a female before18 months of age,
and preferably not until after 2 years of age, when the entire dog
and its health can be evaluated. Some males are used at earlier
ages, as they mature faster sexually. Back Yard Breeders
start breeding their dogs before they are 1 year of age and breed
them every 6 months, until they DIE!!!!!
In the Bullmastiff breed, where c-sections are about 75%
required, only 3 c-sections can be safely performed without a lot of
risk. As the female ages, c-sections become more risky. Most
Bullmastiff breeders, breed their females a maximum of 2 times, and
always a year apart. This allows the female to heal inside. Once a
female has had 2 litters, she is then spayed. Some breeders then
place those females in family homes where they are completely
spoiled by their new family and are still young enough to enjoy life
in a new home!!! Some breeders only have 1 or 2 females, so those
females stay with them.
The puppies should be health checked before they leave for their
new homes and should be microchipped. We prefer the Home Again
Animal Recovery System. If your new pup is not microchipped, ask
your veterinarian to do this.
Never buy a pup sight unseen!!! Ask for pictures of the parents
and the entire litter. Also obtain documentation on the parents,
such as AKC registration papers, OFA Certifications, and health
certification for the pup from a veterinarian. Most breeders utilize
a purchase contract. This protects the integrity of the breed and
the puppy itself and most contracts will include a clause to protect
the breeder from third party liability. Responsible breeders will
also stipulate that the pups be spayed or neutered idf they are not
going to be entered in Dog Shows.
In the Bullmastiff breed there is a group of people who are
mixing the Bullmastiff with other breeds, such as pit bulls and
Labrador Retrievers. They call these dogs "Working Bullmastiffs".
These are NOT AKC registered Bullmastiffs, but mutts. This group
offers registration in the "American Bullmastiff Club" and the
"Working Dog Club of America". These are two entities that are non
existent. Designer breeds are NOT purebred breeds and buyers should
be aware of all potential health issues that are involved with each
breed used to develop these designer dogs. Individuals who breed
these designer breeds have no care for what they are doing, just for
the almighty buck they can make!!!
The only recognized registry in America is the AMERICAN KENNEL
CLUB. The AKC exists today as it has for many years to assure the
purity of the dog breeds it represents.
used with permission from Tracy Ferrick
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