Elizabeth is right....you want a good solid FOREVER home that will care for this pup no matter what the circumstances. Most seasoned breeders are watching litters from lines that they know personally and have agreements pre arranged with the breeders. Most of us dont just go out and poke in the dark, we know what we want Your first litter is a grand experience and often times because of all the hard work and effort they are all show quality Have the litter evaluated by an experienced breeder and choose your keep out of that....dont go by color...it could shoot you in the foot. In the US it lists red brindle as favored but over seas they have no color preference (most avoid brindle in hopes of avoiding the black gene ) Color means nothing if it is draped on an incorrect dog Pups are hard to evaluate and like many before me have said, it could take months before you know for sure what you are looking at...I have had some take years LOL. I agree with the earlier post of putting a pup on a co ownership if the potential is there and offering to borrow the pup during show weekends....give it a few shows and see if the pup sizes up to standard

Good luck

to go over our litter at 8 weeks. We called it a puppy picking party! Everyone gave their input. Each differed abit, but pretty much held consistant wit what we believed to be our pick, then number 2 and 3 and so on. It was fun, helpful, and provided us with alot of tips to use next time.


Perserverance isn't a long race.
It's a series of short races,
ran one after the other.

-In memory of Casper

We placed two of our first litter in pet homes on co ownership show contracts. One family simply lets us borrow "our" puppy when there is an upcoming show. The other family, actually wanted to do some of the showing, so we went with that as well. Either way, it gets the puppies evaluated, and if they turn out, great, and if not, they get spay/neutered and are what they were intended to be either way: a families great pet.

Perserverance isn't a long race.
It's a series of short races,
ran one after the other.

-In memory of Casper

I for one am in the spot where after 9 years, my home is empty. I've been a member of these boards and friends with many, many "show people" for just as long. I'm not a "show home". But I'm a damn good home. I think you need to consider that a pet home may be the absolute most perfect place for your puppies. Don't overlook a great owner just because showing doesn't interest them.

Website ::: Blog ::: It's Not Over 'Til It's Grover
All photos and designs above copyright Salty Grapes Photography.

We had intended to keep a girl from our last litter and have kept three (2 boys and a girl) of the 8 because we really really like them and want them shown. We decided early on they would not be available to pet homes. We wanted to grow them out a bit and they are now about 3 1/2 mos old... and we like them more and more each day. We had hoped that show homes might pop up but so far finances have played a big part for people around here I think. It doesnt help that we havent been out much the last couple of months either.

We believe that the two boys are far better than the girl we are keeping no matter what and we allready have 2 boys and dont really need a 3rd or a 4th so we have been willing to part with what are considered to be the 1st and 2nd pick in the litter. We have had several people that know the lines look at them just for outside opinions and they all agree that they should be in show homes but show homes just dont seem to be that available esp for males.

Great advice, E!



http://www.rivercitybulldog.com

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First of all, remember that show homes find you, not the reverse.
We (ALL GOOD BREEDERS) always tell people do do their homework, research breeders then start looking for a show dog. It does not work backwards and unfortunately, for someone seriously looking to start showing, a 5th pick litter from someone who is shiny-penny new is not very appealing.

FIND THE GOOD HOME FIRST!

Anectotal story to chew on;
In the mid 70's we had a new person breed to one of our studs. 9 puppies. They called us at 12 weeks and said no one wanted this little unremarkable brindle bitch and could we help them find a home for her. We decided to keep her. Long story short, this "ugly" puppy went on to finish with Specialty majors, was a 3-time Westminster Kennel Club BOS winner and who was the mom of our Westminster Best of Breed winner.
Last picv. People were new, were more interested in the red ones with the huge bone and ton of wrinkles. This is what happens to new people who don't understand what they are looking at. Sometimes they get lucky, but luck does not teach.


FIND THE GOOD HOME FIRST!

A show home is not always the best home and if you are trying to push puppies less than 3 months as show dogs, chances are, buyer will be dissapointed.
don't buy or sell a show dog under 3 month old! Unless you are buying a pedigree for breeding, but then, as a seller, is that a good life for one of those babies? To sit in a crate until it is time to breed? Make sure the home is good first, then worry about the dogs "use" later.

FIND THE GOOD HOME FIRST!

Trying to convince someone to show dogs that was not inclined in the first place is like trying to "spoon" water uphill with a fork.
One 5 hour ride in bad weather with just a last place ribbpn (or worse) to show for it usually sinks most new-to-showing-people from the get go.

Showing dogs is not for the faint hearted.

FIND THE GOOD HOME FIRST!

That is my advise.
Good luck finding wonderful homes for your precious babies!
e

To find and keep what is a show potential pup, it really helps to have opinions of experienced breeders/show folks. Color means nothing so that should go 'out the window' as said above. It is hard to decide at such a young age....12 weeks is better .... but finding someone who knows bulldogs and shows bulldogs etc, to go over your litter would be of immense help. I spent my first 3 or 5 years running 7 hours down to my mentor w/ my pups for evaluation. Now, I watch, wait...and probably still send her pictures as well as a few other folks getting pictures, to help me decide if I am seeing what I think I am seeing or if I am being 'kennel blind' or falling in love with a personality and not the best show puppy. I too am a newbie as far as I'm concerned.
Good luck with them.


Lorraine
If only I was as good a person as my dogs seem to think I am!
Find us on:
www.karismakennels.com

I didn't mean to sound that way or in any way shape or form say your puppies were not show prospect...I have been where you are at-have a beautiful litter of very consistent puppies that had very nice features. And I wanted to do as you also and it drove me absolutely frantic trying to place them in show homes. I found for my own sanity LOL it was better for me just to make my picks and place the others as pets and go on. If they went to great pet homes who spoiled and let my baby be their big couch potato with nothing better to do in life but to lay on the couch, get down on occassion to hit the food bowl, go to the potty and climb back on the couch, then so be it, my show prospect can lay around living the life of Riley on the couch-I hate they aren't being shown, but I am so happy and relieved that they have their forever homes(we hope-in this economy who really knows?) making their families happy. Best of luck with those babies.
L

Laura
Thunderstruck Bulldogs
http://sitekreator.com/thunderstruckbulldog/index.html

To those who understand no explanation is needed. To those who don't no explanation is possible.

Thank you for your input, I have made a cut my bitch had 9 pups these are the 4 that I can't decide on they are about the same except for color I will try and get some pictures of them on here this weekend and see what everyone else thinks, These pups are out of my male champion all ready have one 8 month old out of him showing first show out was the strawbully cluster out of the 4 days in 6 to 9 month she took 2 days second and one day first, I was just wondering if this is what everyone eles had to do in the begining to get there dogs out there and known.

Congrats - Charlie looks awesome Good luck today!

Thank you everyone, First off let me say a GOOD home is a must no matter if it is a show home or pet I do refer on everyone I want my pups first and formost to go to a home they will be part of the family no Kennels. I do have a mentor that has been in bulldogs for 40 plus years I am a member of the club here also the BCA, I do all reserch befor breeding I also know a breeded/judge that I am going to ask to take a look at the pups. I am a newbie only been showing 3 years I am having a hard time deciding on these pups as I think they are all equile at this time I know I can't say all these pups will be good for showing maybe not any of them they might all end up pet only alot can happen in 6 months or even longer my dogs come from my mentors lines and they are both hall of fame breeders. All newbies have to start somwhere to get the point of being a hall of fame breeder, getting the beckett award and to win in national specialty, I have no problem keeping all 4 pups and showing all if they all turn out to be nice I will try and post pictures of the pups soon and I would like everyones take bad or good that is how we newbies learn.

I want show type dogs.. i find it difficult to find a breeder who is willing to sell me a show potential pup..
they keep them for themselves..understanably!
My charlie was not a pick of the litter pup.. but I am showing him..and he is pretty.
His second show is today!
we are just getting ready to leave!
I put a lot of time efford and money into his private training and pro handling..and ofcourse cost of the shows..
I really wished some breeders would have had given me a chance..they would have a champion dog.

what I do now is I keep my 1 or 2 that I deem my picks and the rest go to pet homes on spay/neuter. I have been showing for about 6 yrs and breeding for about 5 yrs and no offense to you or your puppies but why buy your show puppies when show people can buy puppies from someone in the breed 20-30 yrs, are hall of fame breeders with dogs who have won the beckett award, have won at the national specialty and such??? Not all puppies in a "show" litter are show quality and truthfully you will be lucky if you get one finished out of a litter. I've seen entire litters or several from a litter finish but they don't happen with newbies as a general rule. While your puppies may be nice(I haven't seen them so don't know) but you have to get beyond the kennel blindness(and as breeders we all have it) and pick the absolute best of what you have and place the rest. It's hard believe me I know ))
Good luck with those babies......
L

Laura
Thunderstruck Bulldogs
http://sitekreator.com/thunderstruckbulldog/index.html

To those who understand no explanation is needed. To those who don't no explanation is possible.

stack them like you would for a dog show, go over them with the standard. Move them and pick 1-4 like at a show.

they are not all show quality, if they are you have a very special litter. Even the best of breeders, most are not that lucky.

You keep the best and pet out the rest. you might have to keep and grow them out a bit longer then 9 weeks, many take months.

Vicky,
Bosco, Bella, Breve' & Holly

www.LangagerBulldogs.com

PHOTOS ARE PROPERTY OF LANGAGER BULLDOGS, YOU MUST HAVE WRITTEN PERMISSION FOR ANY USE OF THESE PHOTOS FROM LANGAGERBULLDOG.

I like to work my Bulldog in obedience, so I need a wellbuild, healthy, well socialized dog to start with. Obedience and conformation doesn't bite each other, so I can put in some showing too.
I select on movement first and looks 2nd, I would even consider a black one, as long as it would move well and have good breathing.....

I had some problems finding a good dog, with the abovementioned priorities, but found a nice male now.

My breeder has shown my male a few times, but he didn't turn out to be a potential champ. He still is a nice obediencedog though! I had the agreement with my breeder that she would show him a few times, and if he turned out the superchamp, that she would show him some more.... If his health would be ideal, even breeding would be an option!

Now we are back to plan A, pet dog, obediencedog and some showing again when he turns 8 years old!

I have to agree with E. Good home is first priority, all the rest is bonus! You can advice a pethome to wait with neutering till the dog is older and to keep the option of showing open for a while.

Ineke

send the boys to me! (hehehe)

there are thousands around the world. A loving home is the important thing. Conformation over colour