Puppy Help Please!!

[everylittle]

I never thought that buying a French Mastiff puppy would be so hard!! Advice needed please........6 month old bitch advertised in free ads 'good wiv kids, papers and injections up to date etc etc' travelled 70+ miles to see her. Lovely pup, good on lead, etc etc.......paperwork? none and only a vets vaccination card with no name of dog, no address for dog, a couple of vaccination stickers with dates but the surgery address not even corresponding to the same area........came home empty handed.......next day rang up about another one and again no paperwork and the sellers 'brother has the vaccination card and he works away'................how the hell am i supposed to know whether it is a genuine sale and that the pup is not stolen??????

[lankeela]

Go to a reputable breeder that you are put in touch with by the breed club. Free ads very rarely have adverts from genuine breeders. By 'French Mastiff' do you mean Dogue de Bordeaux? French Mastiff is not a recognised breed in this country.

Problem is, people buy these as puppies and then find they cannot cope with them and pass them on when they have outgrown the cute stage. They are very big dogs that need experienced owners (not saying you are not).

The breed club will keep a list of reputable breeders and there is also a breed rescue, who would be able to advise you whether they have any suitable dogs.

Secretary of Dogue de Bordeaux Club of GB is Mr A Bicknell, 01342 842705.

[lankeela]

The Kennel Club also have a 'find a puppy service' for each breed and breeders who have recently registered litters are listed.

http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/pub lic/psar/display.aspx?breed=5224&area=0

[lankeela]

There is also an online puppy service called epupz, but here you have to decide for yourself whether the advertisers are genuine. Don't go for the ones who make all sorts of excuses for getting rid, the ones who claim they are sorry to part with a six month old dog because it doesn't get on with their other dog, they are having to move, they have a new baby coming, etc. etc. Sometimes breeders get older ones back and will sell them for a much lower price if you do not want to pay out for a puppy.

Get a well bred, KC registered dog from a reputable breeder and it should also come with free insurance for so many weeks.

[lankeela]

Sorry forgot the link for epupz

http://www.epupz.co.uk/search/puppies_for_sale .asp?breed=Dogue%20De%20Bordeaux&area=all&st=1

[everylittle]

Many thanks lankeela........have been looking on epupz but trouble is most of the 6 month old pup come with the excuses that 'don't get on with other dog'...etc etc!!
Yes I did mean a DDB and yes I have experience of large breeds having owned a lifetime Rotty and a lifetime English Bull Mastiff.
Thanks again for your advice

[kita1]

DDB rescue here:

http://www.ddbwelfare.org.uk/pleasehelp.html

a forum you can post that you are looking for a dog here:

http://ddbwelfare.forumotion.com/


There is a molosser breeds forum that is involved in alot of rescue work here:

http://z11.invisionfree.com/molosserbreedspart 2/index.php?act=idx


If you are anywhere near Battersea they have a cross DDB in at the moment.

[kita1]

Forgot to add: when buying a pup I usually head for the breeders that are involved in the breed rescue, they really care about the breed and see all the problems with rescue. They are also usually VERY careful when breeding and very careful who they sell their pups to.

Also look for a breeder who offers lifetime support and advice and who wants to be kept informed on how the pup is settling in and growing up.

All the breeders I have bought pups off have said (and meant it) that they would take the dog back at any stage in its life, whatever the problem (they never got the chance though!!!).

[madmaggot]

So glad that you walked away from these dogs, everylittle.
It's so easy to fall for the dog once you see it but that's what these people rely on. Well done, please do contact genuine breeders/rescue organisation and good luck.