What Kind of Buyer are You?

Deciding on what kind of breeder to purchase a Frenchie from? Is it hard to tell from all the online web sites? There are breeders, and then there are breeders. Some do more by supporting the French Bulldog breed, standards set forth by the American Kennel Club and the French Bulldog Club of America. These breeders also promote positive ownerships through education and practice selective, breeding. However the majority of breeders you'll find online, primarily produce pups to sell. Breeder A is the conscientious breeder; Breeder B will most likely sell you a dog if you have the money *.

The difference often depends on what kind of buyer you are.

  1. Are you the kind of buyer where a specific color is a priority?

  2. Are you the kind of buyer where the sex of the dog is a priority?

Do you believe all males lift their legs and a female is better?
Do you believe females have a better temperament than males?
Do you want a Frenchie the opposite sex from your other pets?

  1. Are you the kind of buyer that wants to purchase a puppy or a mature Frenchie?

How old would the puppy be you have in mind?
What is the age limit of a mature Frenchie?

  1. Are you looking to breed the Frenchie you get?

If so, why and what are the plans for the puppies produced?

  1. Are you the kind of buyer that wants to compete in AKC events with your Frenchie?

Are you planning on conformation events?
Are you planning on Agility or Obedience?

  1. *Are you the kind of buyer that does not want a Breeder to ask a bunch of personal questions, you just want a male or female pup, in the color you want?

Are you a yes or no kind of person?

  1. Are you the kind of buyer with little to no experience in French Bulldogs and just fell in love with the breed?

The truth is there are many different kinds of buyers and more than one kind of breeder for you to consider.

What to look for you ask?

The majority of Breeders or providers of “PET” French Bulldogs are more like #6.  Those are the ones with Pay pal or credit cards offering pre-sales of puppies on web sites.  They can tell you they have or will have certain colors because the parents of the puppies or importers are known to produce those colors.   Often you can breed these dogs with or without full registration and may or may not be able to compete in AKC events.  If you have small children at home or an unfenced body of water on your property, if you are gone all day and barely have time for a new puppy.  If you know nothing about the French Bulldog breed it does not matter.  If it were as simple as going to a pet store, picking out a puppy then taking it home.  Is that more like it for you?

When you are paying 1,500 to 7,000 for a puppy, do you assume the Breeder is a merchant or someone expected to be there for you, and the puppy, after you bring the puppy home?   Do you expect to receive an agreement, with your puppy protecting you if the pup arrives sick or dies right away?  What if the pup develops genetic issues before a year?  What if the puppy purchased from a photo on the web site, is not the same puppy you got from the Breeder?

What does from champion lines mean to you?

What does rare color mean to you and why would you pay more?

What about filling out a questionnaire?

What about being on a waiting list for a puppy?

What about getting a puppy from a broker (may be the breeder in name only, pups come from the actual breeder(s) elsewhere – they act as agents or domestic importer)?

What about buying a puppy from an importer of foreign puppies, or imported parents that produce pups locally?

Allusion receives many inquiries and many sound wonderful.  I don’t breed that much and my primary interests are to produce AKC conformation quality dogs for the benefit of improving Allusion French Bulldogs, through selective breeding.  There is no guarantee I can be of help, but I will try if I can, even if I don’t have pups of my own available.

Personally I use to keep a waiting list, I use to always expect someone to fill out an application or a questionnaire.  Over the years I know what I like in a new home placement and what I need to hear.  I pretty much ask all the right questions and expect to hold you to the answers.  If you are too vague or if I have to extract information from you is not a good sign. If the person is not sincere or honest eventually will be discovered, hopefully before I let the puppy go. My job is to protect the pups and make sure the ones that are placed, go into the right home for that puppy.

I decided to categorize the kind of placements that are considered, what kind are you?

A

B

C

Wants a true Frenchie companion.
Has researched the breed and wants a healthy, happy Frenchie. They may have a preferred color or sex, but is not a priority and rather the right Frenchie from a responsible breeder.  Ideally they do not have an accessible unfenced body of water, or very small children, they may work part time or often from home, or a stay at home spouse.  Perhaps they are semi or fully retired.  They might be alternative couples wanting a Frenchie to dote on.  Maybe working couples or singles having a secure support system when they are away or at work.  Condo dwellers with patios, air conditioning, single story homes.  Homes with doggy doors to secure areas. Urban and city scene singles or couples.  The Frenchie is not at home, a lone day in and day out.  Dog parks are not the preferred or only method of exercise. They have a private secure yard. They can afford proper vet care.  They are willing to take off work or change their schedules for their pets.  They have a strong desire for Frenchie companionship and be followed around the house by one.  Their pets sleep in their beds.  Pets are their family members.  Fuses over their pets. Enjoy traveling with their pets.  Honest and forthright people with concerns for providing the best home possible.  People that will make the necessary adjustments to be able to accommodate a French Bulldog properly.  Someone that can respect and appreciate the Breeder’s advice and will keep them informed.

Wants an exceptional Frenchie companion or show prospect.  May desire a specific color, sex or maturity of the dog, but most important is the quality, temperament and soundness of the dog.  Is an experienced dog owner.  Maybe interested in a retired show dog or having a quality, well bred dog.  Realistic about financial requirements and respects the honesty of a breeder having experience in the breed.  Is an “A” type buyer with a, more in depth interest in the breed. That respects the quality of the dog in case the dog is competitive.  The dog may be available for the Breeder to use.  Someone that is willing, if warranted to hire a professional handler to show in conformation events. Perhaps someone that lives local.  Perhaps someone that is in a different area.  Frenchie are not kenneled.  May understand the ins and out of the sport of dogs.  Will respect and listen to advice regarding competition.  Allows the Breeder to be involved. Avoids dog politics.  The kind of person that expects a contract and respects agreements.  If the dog is not competitive will spay or neuter per the Breeders instructions.  Breeding French Bulldogs is not an expectation, however open to discussion.  Does not have to be interested in showing or breeding.  Has a French Bulldog already or has had one.  May comes highly recommended by a friend.  Will keep the Breeder informed of the dog’s progress.

Wants a true Frenchie companion.  Is not too specific about color, sex or price.  Maybe a working individual in a rented condo or perhaps a two level home or without a yard.  Living with family members in the house.  May live near a common area with a fenced pool or livestock, not near kennels or in a neighborhood of irresponsible dog owners or unkempt conditions.  Knows some about the breed is leaning, and has always had dogs growing up perhaps a Boxer, Boston or a Bulldog.  May have other pets and mature children.  Dog sleeps in their bed and is a valued companion.  Fuses over their pets. Will take time off for a new dog and to care for a dog.  A Frenchie will be like therapy.  Spends a lot of time at home.  Semi or retired living in the city.  Takes walks in town with their dog.  Wants a buddy to sit on the couch with.  Just lost an older dog and wants a new companion.  The dog will have an area at home when you’re at work or a way during the day.  Neighbors, friends, family or a partner provides back up support.  Financially can afford vet care and will make adjustments to accommodate the dog.  Is not presently in a stressful or unstable situation. Will not trust the dog with just anyone.  Be sensitive to the dogs needs and that I can trust will listen to advise and keep me informed.

 

These are typical scenarios I would consider, A B or C and may be a combination there of.  Often true the younger the buyers, tend to have busier lives than they realize.. A Frenchie does not do well bounced around or left a lone, often for too long or sent to a kennel.  Some Frenchies can have resulting issues caused by stress. It is very important to learn about the breed and to know if a French Bulldog will fit your lifestyle.  There are far too many Frenchies in rescue situations.

Here are a few scenarios that are difficult to consider.

  1. (Phone call or email) saying simply

“…do you have any puppies?”

Sent from my iPhone

“…do you have any white French Bulldogs and how much are they?”

"...do you have any puppies, what colors and how much. Send photos please..."

"...I/we are looking for a French Bulldog puppy and wonder if you have any or will have a litter soon... color, price..."

"...looking for a French Bulldog puppy, how much are your pets, we don't want a show dog..."

The person does not even give their name asking a yes/no question, color, and price. As if they called or walked into a pet store and asked the clerk.

This approach is what a merchant may expect and is too vague and impersonal.  Is that the kind of buyer you are?  Is that the kind of Breeder you want a buy a dog from that will be vague and impersonal with you?  Are you in a big hurry, because there is not enough for me to go on to respond.  I may have the right dog for you, but neither of us will find that out. Simply if the welfare of the puppy/dog can not be determined, by the person right up front in our initial communication, they are not considered. Basically emails and messages like these listed, are deleted and not returned or I may respond with "I don't have any pups available...".

Consider you should have to convince the breeder to choose you, to get one of their pups. If the breeder does not qualify you as the right home for their pup, I would not purchase a puppy from them.

Perhaps you want to surprise your girlfriend with a puppy on her birthday.  In the mean time the puppy is kept in your apartment, shared with two roommates until you and your girlfriend, get a place together.  Not likely from most breeders I know, but from the other kind…#6.   They may be considered "Merchants" breeders and puppies are the product they carry. You are an interested shopper ready to buy. The web sites are considered online store fronts. So breeders make it easy by having several puppies to choose from and perhaps multiple litters and pages of available puppies.  All you need is a Pay pal account or a valid credit card.  Basically that's it and the puppy can be packed in a crate, and shipped to you.

It is fair to assume the more puppies a web site advertises the less you want to buy from these breeders.  A lot of puppies is a lot of work.  Taking the time to be picky about a buyer except getting their money, and have one less pup to take care of is the goal.  Why do you think they always have the color you might be looking for?  They know their kind of buyer.  They know their buyer wants a specific color or sex and will buy a puppy based on a web site photo and likes the convenience of Pay pal or a credit card.

The merchant breeder may post on their web site, “champion lines”.  Why should that become a factor in the price or attest to the quality of their dogs?  If you don’t know pedigrees, if you don’t know the histories of the dogs, if you don’t care then it does not matter. Trust me, they don't know either.  I have seen the statement “from champion lines” quoted on a stock auction descriptions, of French Bulldogs sold to puppy mills as breeding stock. A CH in a pedigree does not mean the pup you purchase receives any benefit based on the fact some of the "parent's" ancestors became champions. Their offspring may have been acquired and a pet, but was not required to spay or neuter, allowing them to be bred and make puppies. These people become breeders and know of the multitude of buyers wanting a Frenchie puppy. Is that the kind of breeder your looking for?

These are key elements about web sites that should give you a clue, to the kind of breeder you're dealing with.

Some web sites are misleading and don't tell the truth. I would not be happy to drive a long distance and find out I had been mislead. I would not be happy if I thought I was dealing with the breeder only to learn they are a broker for out of state breeders. I recommend picking up the phone and speaking to the breeder if you can.

The merchant breeder often keeps a waiting list with non refundable deposits held for pups, not even born yet.  The placement age of their pups start at six weeks.  Foreign bred dogs are supposed to come with an export pedigree, expect one if your puppy was imported.  An AKC registered puppy is some proof you’re getting a pure bred French Bulldog for your money.  You need to be able, to get to know the breeder because they provide the original knowledge about your puppy.  A merchant running an online pet store, is not likely to be that kind of breeder, however is that what you're looking for? 

What about when you visit the breeder and meet the puppies, and the parents of the pups?  Are there several other breeds produced on the property?  Are the dogs kept in kennels or seem sad and neglected?  Does the breeder offer more than one litter having puppies to choose from?  Is this a rural breeder with lots of property where the dogs have a safe and secure area?  Are there cages of dogs and doggy odor? Do the dogs live indoors?  Does the breeder live in poor conditions. Is the area where the dogs and puppies clean or in poor conditions?  Are the dogs themselves in poor condition?

So the kind of breeder you should trust to get a puppy from often depends on what kind of buyer YOU are.