Hello everyone,

This is my first time on here so not to sure how it works, I am currently looking for a male English Bulldog puppy for a family pet, ive done some research and bought books. Thinking I was ready to buy a bully i started to look around, when a friend suggested Dogs'r'us in Manchester, so I went and had a look. I was appalled, puppies in pens with the price above, no mother dogs anywhere!!! There were 13 brown labrador puppies in one pen, I was looking at them with horror, then a "Sales Man" popped up saying £700 plus vat and you can take one home today???? I asked to see the mother and was told the pups came from 2 different litters form Slough and Hartlepool, saying it would be a long way to travel just to see the mum? SHOCKED!

I would have bought them all if I had the money just to get them out of there.. I told him I was after a bulldog, to which he replied "you don't want something like that, they just get sick, fart and snore from the minute you get them, you want one of these labs, £200 today and you can pick it up when your ready"..  I could have smacked him one. Surly this isn't legal, if it is it's just wrong.

Reading some other posts put one here, people seem to advise going to shows and meeting breeders to find a pup, is this the best way? And how do I go about finding out who gas puppies available and when bulldog shows are?

Thanks H

Sadly it is legal. :( Not a pace anybody ought to buy a puppy form though, that's for sure.

This page will start you off: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2101 Make sure to click on the link for breed clubs as contacting a breed club is usually the best way to be put in touch with responsible breeders. They will often have a puppy list with pups available.

Talk to the breed clubs they can tell you about the shows and up and coming litters, be prepared to wait for a well bred puppy. Im not sure what breed specific health tests need to be done for bulldogs but have a look into them aswell, (you can find these on the kennel club website).

I saddened to say when I went to Harrods it was much the same with their puppies; several litters mixed together no mothers to be seen, no mention of specific health tests, only a 3 gen pedigree and grossly overpriced.

Puppy Love is campaigning against the sale of puppies in pet shops and asking everyone to write to their MP. People have had some good responses with their MPs contacting the minister. There is a template letter here and other details and it is very quick and easy to do.

http://www.puppylovecampaigns.org/whatyoucando.shtml

Buying a puppy from a pet shop or even all of them because you feel sorry for them does not help at all. They will just be replaced and the dogs that are producing them are suffering a lot more than the puppies. Apart from changing the law we need to raise awareness and educate people about how to buy a puppy. Leaflets and posters are on the Puppy Love site and demonstrations are held regularly outside pet shops. The next one at Dogs4Us Leeds is on Sunday 27th March. Six potential puppy buyers changed their minds last time! We have also demonstrated outside Harrods and will do so again with hopefully more support in warmer weather.

What time is the demo at Leeds?

The demo at Leeds starts at 1pm. They are a very friendly bunch and would welcome some new supporters.

I'm going to try to make it. Is it a small peaceful one as hubby and I may have to bring our 6mth old daughter with us if we can't find a sitter.

Yes they normally have about a dozen people there and just talk quietly to people and hand out leaflets. Normally home made cakes available as well I think!

Oh id love to go, think i will when i have transport, get some stop puppy f/harming tshirts too. Print off a few guides to hand out

Let me know if there are ever any in Cornwall.... I have never seen a dog in a pet shop down here (thank god) - but I do feel sorry for all the fluffy bunnies and guinea pigs stuck in PaH.

Oh and why do people always take their dogs to PaH on a weekend?? 

Good socialisation

Just been on pets4homes! Any good? Or could it be hiding anything? 

That's another site with a lot of dodgy ads on.You get some hidden gems but in general not a site to recommend.

Ok, thanks, will stay clear.

Puppy Love has held demonstrations on a number of occasions out Dogs R Us at Leeds and Manchester, as have the Our Dogs staff. As other have said it is not illegal. Maybe the next time Puppy Love hold a demo you might like to go and help Mandy D on this forum is a member I am sure she would fill you in on any demos.