The cost of the bulldog has never been a problem for me and I consider myself very fortunate to have not, KNOCK ON WOOD, encountered any serious medical condition. My oldest bullie is 7.5 and has a mild case of arthritis. He is on a hip and joint lubricant. Major costs incurred with my bullies would be Molly's c-section...I have a wonderful vet, who over charges..$565 I forked out for that, when others are paying $150..YIKES! The only expenses I have are the yearly vaccinations, monthly heartwormer..switched to ProHeart (what a dream!!), Frontline, Pet Tabs, Vit. E and Zinc (thanks Helen De..for the heads up on the Vit E an Zinc...) Occasionally, they will get a day at the doggie spa, instead of 15 mintues in the bathtub, washtub or garden hose. It all depends on the mood I am in and how strong I feel!

I am very fortunate to have such wonderful creatures in my life. They each have a different look and their very own unique personality. I can also thank my bulldogs for introducing me to such wonderful new friends that I have met over the years. If it weren't for my bullies, I wouldn't have met half the people that I have or corresponded with all the great people via the Internet.

They are well worth the expense. And, enhancing what Gail said...you can get a great dog for $800 and an unhealthy one for $2500-5000 or vice versa.

Good luck!

Heather

As most breeders are happy to explain, there is no guarantee that the puppy you select will stay healthy. This is true of an $800 puppy, this is true of a $2500 puppy. But it is NOT okay to pay these kinds of prices for a puppy that will not live to see it's first birthday, or even it's 2nd. My personal belief is that we have to expect more commitment from breeders for healthier Bulldogs, or they have no real reason to try very hard. And they can't prove that commitment without standing by the puppies they produce for a longer period of time (certainly longer than 3 ridiculous days!) Discuss different health issues of the breed, discuss how the breeders screen their own Bullies and make determinations of breeding suitability. A champion title does not reveal very much. Ask the breeders what you can expect from them if certain ailments plague your Bully, or take its life, within certain time periods. When they respond, you can bounce the info on the forums (without divulging breeder identity) for feedback. You'll get a better idea of your comfort zone with specific breeders.

If you go to the Message boards SEARCH feature and type in I WANT AN ENGLISH BULLDOG, and select SORT BY MATCH, you'll find a post entitled the same. In that post you'll find my response to that individual's post, and it proved very informative. It's important that you refer to that post to assist in making the right decision regarding your possible purchase of a bully. Good luck.

Upfront cost for a puppy was not the problem .. it was the emotional/financial toll caused by respiratory trouble two of my bullies encountered as they approached maturity (elongated palate, narrow trachea). You have reason to consider things that could go wrong. I was fortunate, mine survived.

You wouldn't part with your baby, no matter what. Of course you wouldn't!! That's the great thing about most pet owners, they have compassionate souls. Those "replacement puppy" contract provisions are only beneficial to folks whose puppy actually dies .. or for those who have hearts of stone.

I guess what I was trying to say is that, even when I was looking for info on bulldogs, this message board really scared me. Then when I started talking to people that were walking their bulldog or whatever, they were not having the same problems. The hundreds I was referring to, and I probably exaggerated a little, were not breeders. I do agree with you that there are some pretty inconsiderate breeders out there, bulldog or other breeds.. Bulldogs do have more problems than other breeds, but I made the decision to go ahead anyway. Now I just include my bully in my prayers everyday. My breeder was/is my vet, his female was the mother. I knew him before so I was fortunate to have the opportunity to know his ways.

we really would love to rescue dogs one day, but we have young children, and we just don't think it would be the right thing to do until they are older, thanks for the suggestion though

I AM ON THE OPPOSITE END WITH HEALTH ISSUES AND BREEDERS. WEPURCHASED A MALE LAST YEAR AND HE WAS ADORABLE!!! HE WAS HIPPED FROFLA AND HE SEMED FINE. AT 4 MOS HE SEEMED TO HAVE A REALY MILD SEIZURE ALMOST LIKE A CRAMP THAT PASSED A FAST AS IT STARTED. HIS BREEDR WAS GREAT AND PAID FOR MEDICAL VISTS TO SEEWHAT WAS UP SINCE IT HAPPENED 2X MORE WITHIN 4 WEEKS. CAME UP NEG ON ALL TESTS. WELL NOW HE JUST TURNED 1 IN JAN. AND NO SOONER DID I FIND HIM ONE MORN AT 6AM IN FULL SEIZE FORAMING ALL OVER THE HOUSE, HE WAS OK FOR 6 MOS AND BAM HE HAD TO BE RUSHED TO ER AND ITWAS $900 TO GET HIM RIGHT.HE HAD A STATUS SEIZURE THAT DOES NOT STOP AND IT WAS 45MINS BFORE WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM TO THE VET. HE IS ON MEDS 3X A DAY FOR LIFE AND NOW WE WORRY ABOUT LIVER OR KIDNEY DAMAGE. AND BEST OF ALL WHEN I LET THE BREEDER KNOW WHAT AS UP SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REIMBURSE ME BECAUE IT IS NOT A GENETIC OR CONGENITAL DISORDER!!! (FLA HAS PET LEMON LAWS)SO NOW IT WAS 1800 FOR HIM 1200 FOR MEDICAL CARE AND 25 A MONTH MEDS AND 100 EVERY 6 MOS TO CHECK LIVER. YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOULD NEVER EVER TRADE SPANKY IN IN A MILLON YEARS!! I SET MY ALARM SO I CAN KEEP HIM ON SCHEDULE FOR MEDS AND HE HAS BEEN FINE EVER SINCE.MY HUSBAND THINKS I AM NUTS BUT I ADORE SPANKS AND WOULD DO WHATEVER TO KEEP HIM GOING!!I NEVER FELT LIKE THIS ABOUT A DOG BEFORE BUT HE IS SO DARN CUTE WITH THAT SLOBBERY TONGUE HANGING OUT !! I JUST EAT HIM UP.

Jamie,

Have you considered getting a rescue dog as a playmate for Murphy?

Lynda

i did not include that they are worth it if they are in good condition when you get them, mine was perfect from day one, he is 6 months old now, and if something does go wrong in the future it is definetely something i am willing to deal with, i'd do anything to keep my baby healthy again, good luck

we are not by any means wealthy, but buying our bully was the best thing we ever did, i would pay the $1200 i did times 10 if i had to--they are the best breed of dog out there, you will never have any regrets, in fact you may end up like us and be looking for a 2nd one so your pup has a playmate:) my friend bought a bulldog shortly after i did and they are about the same age, but with our busy schedules we never got the 2 together until today, my Murphy was in heaven! i have to say i have never seen ANYTHING as adorable as 2 little bulldogs running around--trust me, a bulldog is definetely a wonderful addition to any loving family good luck!

< For every 1 person having trouble with their Bully, there's 100 who are not. > Gosh, that'd be great if it is so! The problem I've come across is that breeders speak of healthy dogs they consistently produce, yet are stingy with health guarantees (even lacking an act of compassion for the one unfortunate person whose puppy dies at 4 months). If good health is the NORM, why do breeders shun meaningful health guarantees? These puzzle pieces just don't fit right.

There are health concerns, but also remember that most people use this board because they are having problems, not because everything is going great. For every one post that talks of having trouble, you could probably find a hundred bulldog owners that are not having trouble. One thing that, to me, is important when spending this much money for a dog is to do your homework, shop around, and get references to call and see if they are having any troubles. After that, it's all up to the good Lord. As far as cost, if you want a bulldog, you pay the price. It's just the way it is. Most breeders don't have sales. I have had Labs and paid a lot less, but I wanted a bulldog.(my opinion)