Frequently Asked Questions about the TRUE Olde English Bulldogge   Q:   What is the difference between an English Bulldog and an Olde English Bulldogge?   A:         There are many differences.  A simplistic look at the two breed’s appearance will lead one to the conclusion that the Olde English Bulldogge is slightly taller than the English bulldog and much less extreme in terms of its stout, muscular, appearance.  The Olde English Bulldogge is also a much healthier animal in that it doesn’t suffer from the numerous health problems of the English bulldog.  The Olde English Bulldogge males are free breeders and the females are free whelpers.  This is in contrast to the English bulldog where the females must be artificially inseminated to conceive then, in most cases, must deliver their off spring by Cesarean Section.  We like to describe our dogs as the type of Bulldogges that the kids can take outside to play in the summertime, while most English Bulldogs must be kept indoors in the air conditioning for a multitude of health risks. Olde English Bulldogges have much more energy, athleticism and enthusiasm than the average English Bulldog.  If you are seriously considering an English Bulldog, be sure to consult a Veterinarian who is familiar with the severe and abundant health issues of the breed.  You should also visit as many breeders as possible during the middle of a hot day to see the activity level of their dogs.   Q:         What is the average life expectancy of an Olde English Bulldogge?   A:         While this certainly depends on the care an animal receives such as Veterinary care, vaccinations, exercise and nutrition, a good average would be 11 to 15 years.   Q:   Are Olde English Bulldogges easily trained?   A:         Olde English Bulldogges are very intelligent dogs and possess a strong desire to please their owners.  As with all breeds, different training methods work better with different animals.  Some Bulldogges may exhibit a stubborn streak every now and then, but that’s just a Bulldogge.  In a nutshell, they are no more difficult to train than any other breed.   Q:   What type of training is recommended for this breed?   A:          We're firm believers that all dog owners need experience Basic Obedience training.  A basic understanding of the dogs comprehend and/or interpret our actions toward them is a huge step between a happy relationship between owner and dog.  A ny Bulldogge worth owning who has the confidence to hold his head up will vie for the lead role in the household.  It is very easy for dogs to misinterpret the ACTIONS andBODY LANGUAGE of it's new owner.  Thus, it is VERY IMPORTANT to understand that your dog requires a CONSISTANT and FIRM LEADER.  This allows the dog to learn and accept his/her place in the home or family.  If you allow the dog to be the “boss” or "alpha", it will assume that he/she is the leader "alpha" and not listen to his owner.   Q:   How well do these dogs get along with children?   A:         These dogs adore children, especially if they have been raised with them.  Bear in mind that these dogs are Bulldogges and like to play rough.  Just as with any dog, playtime with small children should always be supervised.   Q:   How big will my dog get?   A:         Males should be 17” to 20” tall at the Withers and weigh approximately 60 to 80 pounds.  Females should be 16” to 19” tall at the Withers and weigh approximately 50 to 70 pounds.  More detailed information regarding the physical structure of the dog can be found by visiting our Breed Standard page.   Q:   Do you breed for specific colors?   A:         No.  As responsible breeders, we don't believe a puppy should be chosen simply forits color.  We practice selective breeding and try to put two dogs together that compliment one another structurely, regardless of color.  This will result in a variety of colors depending on the breeding pair.  We strive for excellent health, structural integrity, and soundtemperament.   Q:   Do Olde English Bulldogges make good apartment dogs?   A:         Olde English Bulldogges can thrive in apartment life provided that they receive plenty of exercise, love and attention.  If you work 10-12 hours a day every day, and your dog will be crated during this time, this is not the breed for you.  You might want to give some thought to an Aquarium.   Q:   How much exercise will my dog require?   A:         These dogs require moderate amounts of exercise.  If you are a sedentary person that can’t provide the dog with moderate amounts of exercise, this is not the breed for you.  This dog is very happy to lie at your feet at night, but they also want to go out and play ball.  Remember, they are the healthy, athletic Bulldogge.   Q:   Do Olde English Bulldogges get along well with other dogs?   A:         This depends.  As with any of the bully breeds, the Olde English Bulldogge does have a tendency toward same-sex dog aggression.  They usually do very well with animals of the opposite sex.  There are some things that can be done to try to minimize problems.  First, all non breeding stock should be spayed/neutered.  Second, be certain that dogs of the same sex are at least one year apart in age.  Third, introduce the Olde English Bulldogge as a puppy, not as an older dog.  In a nutshell, an attempt at establishing the leadership role is an ACT of dominance.  If dogs were capable of communicating with language and their hands I'm sure they would, but they can't.  Therefore, they often communicat through aggression with their mouth, paws, and body language (posturing). To summarize, it is not advisable to bring an Olde English Bulldogge into a situation where he/she will reside with a member of the same sex, who is of similar age and has not been spayed/neutered this will usually result in a challenge for the leadership role (alpha role).   Q:   What venues are available if I want to show my Olde English Bulldogge?   A:         We support the American Rare Breed Association , and the North American Kennel Club . Both of these organizations hold Conformation shows all across the United States.  There are also independent weight pull competitions as well as obedience and agility trials.  The OEBKC is working diligently to open additional venues to show the Olde English Bulldogge.   Q:   Can Olde English Bulldogges be used in weight pull activities?   A:         Absolutley, and with proper training and conditioning, they have performed quite well.  This does not in no way mean that your dog MUST eventually pull hundreds or thousands of pounds to be worthy.  If trained PROPERLY, weight pulling can simply be a great way to help your dog burn some serious energy quickly.  There is a TON of training information out there for this type of activity.   Q:   Do Olde English Bulldogges make good watch dogs?   A:         That depends on your perception of a watch dog.  Olde English Bulldogges are extremely human oriented.  Unless trained otherwise, these dogs are generally VERY friendly toward people.  Although, if confronted inappropriately, suddenly or unannounced, they can become defensive.  Any dog, if raised properly, is going to become very tuned in to their family and property.  The OEB is very adept at alerting their families when something is not quite right so that appropriate action may be taken.  Again, if the leader(s) of the house are present, their compulsion to protect may be considerabally laxed.   Q:   Do Olde English Bulldogges excel in Personal Protection training and Protection sports?   A:         We do not recommend nor endorse the Olde English Bulldogge for Personal Protection training.  There are many others venues or activities to work a dog in.  Personal Protection training requires an enormous level of commitment and responsibilty.  It is not something that should be done without successfully completing EXCEPTIONAL obedience training.  Unlike a handgun, once a dog is loaded, it CANNOT be unloaded.  Therefore, without EXCEPTIONAL obedience training and CONSTANT supervision, people who have exposed their dog to bite training are simply NEGLIGENT.  This type of training significantly increases the possibility of a dog misinterpreting certain situations and accidentally causing harm/injury to the wrong person.  Unfortuntely, it's always the dog that is held accountable for this AND in today's "more government control" society this type of issue can be a HUGE detriment to the breed on the whole.   Q:   There are many people on the internet and elsewhere, calling their dogs Olde English Bulldogges.  How can you call your Olde English Bulldogges the “Original”?   A:         Fortunately for us, history has already been written.  It is well documented that the Olde English Bulldogge was created in the early 1970’s by David Leavitt.  Therefore, to be a "True" pure-bred Olde English Bulldogge, the pedigree of an Olde English Bulldogge must be traceable back to the Leavitt foundation stock without any unapproved outcrosses in the lines.  It’s really quite simple.  We’re not saying that just because the alternative bulldogs can’t be traced back to the Olde English Bulldogge foundation stock that they are bad bulldogs.  We’re simply saying that they aren’t Olde English Bulldogges.  The Olde English Bulldogge name has been and continues to be used fraudulently.  The reputable breeders of alternative bulldogs, many of whom have created some very nice dogs, realized that they shouldn’t be using a name that does not simply describe a general type of dog.  More importantly, a name that doesn’t apply to their dogs and actually belongs to a purebred dog breed.  These people had the integrity to create a different name for their dogs.  These breeders were also proud enough of their creations that they wanted to assign their own unique breed name. Unfortunately there are many more breeders that continue to use the name Olde English Bulldogge fraudulently simply because it helps them sell puppies.  They have accepted the fact that they falsely use the name and blatantly lie to people that inquire about the difference between their dogs and the "True" Olde English Bulldogge.   Q:   Are Olde English Bulldogges known as “chewers?”   A:         All dogs chew, and need to chew.  Some Olde English Bulldogges tend to chew more than others.  It is important that you provide your dog with several suitable chew toys to avoid having your hush puppies eaten.  Preferabally toy's that don't splinter and can damage the dogs esophogus or intestines.   Q:   Do these dogs slobber profusely?   A:         No.  Unlike the English Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogges don’t have a real slobbering problem.  They are not as undershot as the EB and therefore don’t have as much “drainage”.  Although, if you’re dressed up to go out for a special occasion you may not want to play with Rover after a big chug of water.   Q:   Are there any special grooming requirements for this breed?   A:         No.  A good bath, nails trimmed and ears cleaned is about it.  They also love the attention of a good brushing.   Q:   Do Olde English Bulldogges shed?   A:         Yes.  They could be considered moderate shedders.   Q:   How much do you charge for a puppy?   A:        Our puppies sell for $1300 plus actual shipping costs if required.  If you get an A.R.B.A. "Champion of Beauty" title on your dog $400 will be refunded once we've recieved a copy of the Championship certificate.  We will also refund $200 for a confirmed Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification.   Q:   What is your deposit policy?   A:        We do not take deposits until a litter is on the ground and we know for sure how many puppies will be available.  We then require a $500 Non-Refundable deposit.  Puppy picking is done in the order in which deposits are received.   Q:   Where can I register my puppy?   A:        The only registries that we recommend are the Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club (O.E.B.K.C.), and the American Rare Breed Association (A.R.B.A.).  Your puppy will already be registered with the O.E.B.K.C.  You will need to re-register him/her as an adult at 12 months of age.  If you plan to show your Olde English Bulldogge, we strongly recommend that you dual register with A.R.B.A.   Q:   Do you use a written contract?   A:        Yes.  All of our puppies leave our kennel with a signed contract.   Q:   Do you offer a health guarantee?   A:        Yes.  Our puppies come with a comprehensive, 18 month written guarantee.   Q:   At what age can I pick up my puppy?   A:        We release our puppies to their new homes at 8 weeks of age.   Q:   Will my puppy already have its shots?   A:        Yes.  All our puppies receive their first set of puppy shots and 2 dewormings prior to leaving for their new homes.   Q:   What vaccination protocol do you follow and recommend?   A:        A puppy is fully protected by it's mother's colostrum until it reaches 8 weeks of age.  Many Vets will argue that this protection extends weeks beyond this point.  The protocol that we follow is the first set of shots are given at 6-7 weeks of age.  At that time we schedule their next set of shots for 10-11 weeks.  Beyond that, you'll have to discuss with your vet.   Q:   What about vaccinations when my puppy becomes an adult?   A:        Another issue that you will need to discuss with your Vet.  However, it is Extremely Important that your dog receive a complete examination by your Vet every year to help ensure his/her good health and vitality.  We currently vaccinate our adult dogs every year.  Some vaccinations can be done every 3 years.   Q:   Do you administer your own vaccinations?   A:        No.  We want all of our puppies to be seen, examined and evaluated by our Veterinarian, a well trained and experienced proffessional in the field of animal medicine.  This helps to ensure that you receive a sound, healthy puppy.  When you need your plumbing fixed you don't call a Roofer.  Therefore, when it comes to a dogs health we take them to our Vet.   Q:   Do you dock the tails of your puppies?   A:        Absolutely NOT.  The Olde English Bulldogge breed standard calls for a full length, pump handle tail. We will NOT perform this procedure even at the customer’s request.   Q:   Do you ship puppies?   A:        We will in certian cases.  However, we would prefer that you pick up your puppy in person.  If great distance is involved, we prefer that you fly in and take your puppy back with you in the aircraft cabin.  If this is not possible, we recommend pet ground shipping.  If all else fails, we would then ship via air cargo at the buyer’s risk.  Please note that the airlines will only fly dogs during the cooler months of the year.   Q:   Who pays the shipping costs in the event I cannot pick up my puppy in person?   A:        The buyer.   Q:   What do I need to bring when picking up my new puppy?   A:        You will need a crate to securely transport your puppy during your trip home.  We will provide you with enough premium dog food to get your puppy through its first several days with you.  You will also recieve a copy of any Vet records pertaining to your puppy.  Any balance due will also be paid at this time.   Q:   Are you available to answer questions that may arise after we get our puppy?   A:        ABSOLUTELY.  And if we don't have the the right answer, we will get it for you.  In fact, we encourage you to stay in contact with us for as long as you possibly can.  Watching the adult dogs bring these puppies into the world is only half of the fun.  The other half is watching them grow and bring years of joy and happiness to their respective owners.  Although we're always quite busy around here, hearing from our puppy owners is ALWAYS a pleasure.  No matter how frivolous you may feel your concerns are, we feel it is our responsibility to help you find answers for the questions that we can't answer for you.  A happy owner is a happy Bulldogge.