We bought our puppy (he is an old tyme bulldog) last december, and at the end of March he developed Wobbler's syndrome.  He was operated on, but had to have a second op as there were complications.  He can't walk and the vet thinks his recovery is going to be very slow, or he may not recover at all. He is coming home for good this week as our insurance has reached it's limit, so we are going to have to pay for day care and physiotherapy for him.  As this is going to work out very expensive, would we be entitled to ask the breeder for a refund? (When this initially happened we informed the breeders, who were not particularly interested and got quite defensive).

So sorry to hear about your puppy, :(  I do hope he starts to improve soon. I would not think you were entitled to a refund. .. you have had the puppy for some time and unless the breeder knowingly sold or suspected the pup was sick I would not think they were under any obligation,but I would keep the breeder informed anyway, most breeders like to keep track of the puppies they sell and any illnesses.
Poor little thing..give him lots of hugs i'm sure like with people it helps them to get better :-)

We thought they'd like to know too, as Wobblers can be genetic, but they were very disinterested once they knew what the problem was, which we thought seemed pretty irresponsible!

What a shame, poor pup, I hope he's okay!  I wouldn't have thought you'd be entitled to a refund either, although it's always a tricky thing unless there are contracts involved and certifications of health etc..  Also a good reminder to think carefully about the type of insurance taken out- best to have the types of policy that will continue paying!

Sorry to hear about your puppy.  I find it interesting that people selling the "Olde Tyme Bulldogge" claim that they are athletic and can handle any amount of exercise!  Obviously doesn't apply to your baby.:(
When you bought your babe, were you given 6 weeks Petplan Insurance for him?  Most reputable breeders do because it covers any problems for the pup's life and doesn't "run out"!  What a worry for you!

No, we weren't given any insurance, but we're just very glad that we insured him as soon as he was 8 weeks old!  In defence of the breed, my partner's parents have a dog from this breeder, and we also have a bitch from them, and they are fantastic.  We just thought the breeders would be concerned in terms of future litters.  I know we certainly wouldn't wish what we're going through and what our little boy is going through on anyone, which was why we hoped they would be more responsive to this.

Helen,

I would expect a reputable breeder to a.) be very concerned that your dog has an inherited condition and b.) to offer to take the dog back.  I would not expect any breeder to refund the purchase price of the dog at this point in time.

Best of luck with your boy.

Stacey

Stacy, Helen, Firstly, was the breeder that you purchased your puppy from Licensed?  If the answer is no, then I am afraid it is very much 'buyer beware' and you will have rely very much on the good will of the breeder as to whether or not she will act responsibly or even care as to the condition of the puppy that was sold to you.

However, if the answer is yes and she is operating as a licensed dog breeder then there is quite a lot you can do, because this is a trade activity.  As such a trader must sell goods (puppies are classified as goods) of merchantable quality, therefore they must not be faulty.  You can therefore, write a letter in the first instsant with copy of the vets report and list all costs incurred for veterinary treatment given from the day of purchase, including receipts for the purchase of puppy.  You can also include cost of telephone calls, transport costs such as petrol and any compensation for distress caused to yourselves. Ask them to reply within 48 hours of receipt of the letter otherwise you will have no choice but to take them to Court through the Small Claims Court. You do not need a solicitor to act on your behalf unless you wish to, the whole point of the small claims court is that you can take action yourself.
Your local trading standards office can advise you further as to whether to go  Court would be advisable and you have a sound case .  As your puppy has a genetic condition that the breder should have been aware of existing in her breeding stock, which she could if known have  not bred from, then I assume you would have a case.  It is worth an enquiry with trading standards for the sake of a telephone call.  Too many breeders are quite aware that they breed from faulty stock and do not care providing they get the money for the puppies, this must be prevented, it causes too much pain and suffering to the puppies to be so downright irresponsible.    

Pat,

Reputable breeders go well beyond legal requirements, at least that has been my experience.  And it is why I would never buy or recommend anyone get a pup from anyone who is not recognized in their breed, not a member of the breed club, and has a reputation to uphold in the "dog community.'

Stacey

Val the 6 week insurance only applies to pure breed registered with the KC, it is only available to cross breeds if the breeders pay for it themselves.

Ah, I see.  Not having been involved with cross breeds, I didn't know that.  Thanks.

Hi,our boerboel is not reg. with the KC but she came with the petplan insurance for 6 weeks after we got her,sandra.

That is what I said, if a puppy is registered with the KC and the new owner sends the paperwork to the KC to have the ownership changed then the new owner gets 6 weeks free insurance. If you got the same then the breeders of your dog will have paid for it, or arranged it with the insurance company as a promotion for them.

Val referred to Petplan Jackie, which is not the KC one and is available to all.

I got 6 weeks pet plan and then when I sent off my change of ownership form I got 6 weeks backdated KC so Fagan is double insured :p

Yes, you are right it used to be Pet Plan it is there own now. Would not expect someone who is breeding what amounts to a crossbreed to be into insurance and puppy packs, may be wrong but it seems unlikely. Do think it could be claimed that the pup is not of the required quality, whether the breeder is running it as a business or not. Trouble is I think all the law asks is that the money is refunded or the goods replaced, so either way the owner would loose the puppy. No matter how short of the things claimed for it when the pup was purchased, no one ever wants to return it after they have had it for a week or so, would guess that some unscrupulous 'breeders' would rely on that. Find it sad that someone who recons they are producing a 'new' breed, without the problems of the breeds used to produce it, claiming they are doing so with care and knowledge are not interested when it is found that their care has produced a genetic problem. That should send them rushing back to the drawing board and the starting from scratch discarding all the present breeding stock. Well that is what should happen but I can't see it some how.

"starting from scratch discarding all the present breeding stock."

But my worry also is - how do they go about "discarding"?   Will some people think that they can just "dump" their dogs at the nearest rescue - is there an Olde Tyme Bulldogg Rescue???

Margot

Should not think so, there are several people who claim to be producing a dog that is superior to the British Bulldog and the all have different names are trying different crosses. At the moment they all look different even those who are from the same breeder so to my mind they are not yet a breed. When I said discarded I meant from the breeding stock and, of course, should either be kept as pets or carefully rehomed as pets having been neutered just in case the lure of £££ over took the new owner.

Hiya there ,im really sorry to here about your puppy
However i just wanted to say that i was watching a program about wobblers (in scottish terriers)the other night
and they said that accupunture works very well in helping control it,
it helps with the relese the stress that builds up and can sometimes trigger an attack
Dont know if this might help ,i dont know anything about it ,just thought u might like to know  :)
Dani

Actually this dog is an Alyestone Bulldogue and not what I would call an Olde Tyme :)

I happen to know the breeders of this dog :)