i'm a new member

[evangelie]

Hello everyone, I'm a new member here and i have only just recently been looking at this particular website and forum. I already belong to one other message board forum called Newf Net. I have a 4 yr old newfoundland and a 10 year old dalmatian. I joined this forum to learn more insight into French Bulldogs and their owners. I have been wanting and waiting to purchase a Frenchie for about 7 months now. Thanks.

[Carolyn]

Welcome to this nice site! We Frenchie owners love nothing more than to chat about our pups...so you have definitely come to the right place. If you have any questions...ask away. :) Carolyn

[evangelie]

Hi, thanks for making me feel welcome. How much time and research did you members do before getting your first French Bulldog and what mistakes did you learn? I only ask because I want to be completely sure of some things. The biggest one that I DO NOT buy from a puppy mill or anyone associated with puppy mill. I do not want to just rush out and buy any frenchie, even though it is tempting. Even our with the purchase of our newfoundland from a breeder we have great contact and frequent visits to her and it was a pleasant experience overall.

[franp]

Evangeline,
Buying a Frenchie is very different than buying a Newfie. There are fewer breeders and far less opportunites to visit.In fact many breeders are hesitant to let people visit for fear that they are being set up for a robbery!

What I would suggest to you is start going to dogshows.You can find the schedule at www.infodog.com.Meet breeders and look at the dogs they have. See which ones you like the look of.Establish a relationship with several.

Join the lists that are on Yahoo; there are breeders on those lists that talk about the litters they have.You can contact them when they post.

If you think you have found what appears to be a breeder you might want to do business with; ASK on here or on one of the Frenchie lists.Frenchie people have NO problem telling you thier experience .We LOVE our dogs and only want the most reputable breeders to stay in business.

Every time I read or hear about a dog that is sick because of bad breeding; it breaks my heart.If only the people had been careful where they had bought thier dog..Or had to turn thier dog in to rescue because it was aggressive; if only they had been careful where they bought thier dog.Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The Frenchbulldog community is a close knit community ;trying desperately to prevent the destruction of the breed.Ask when you think you have found someone.

The person should show thier dogs. Ask you for references;have a home check done. Demand a spay/neuter contract or spay/neuter the dog BEFORE it comes to you.Send your dog to you NO younger than 12 weeks.And tell you that at anytime you can not keep your dog,IT COMES BACK TO THE BREEDER.

This should give you a good place to start.Thank you for allowing me to help you in your search .

[quinnybear]

i wish i had found this site before i got rocky. but i must say i was one of the lucky ones that i did find a good breeder. we got rocky from prairie branch kennels in missouri . i would reccomend them to anyone. they promptly returned all our calls and emails. and we still keep in touch now. he arrived healthy and they provided all paperwork and a 1 year written health guarentee.we live in graham, washington ( state ) so it was a little bit of a trip for him. we wanted to get another pup from them. but they only had two black masked fawns and one was already sold and we bought rocky. they mainly have piebalds. so my husband found a breeder in pennsylvania. and she had one black masked fawn pup left so we sent her a 500.00 deposit and here is my question. has anyone heard of "chantals french bollekes" ? she said the pup would be ready to go mid march. and i am a little worried since she originally said the 1st and now its " mid month " . fran, this might be your specialty because you know alot about the breed and breeders...........thanx

[evangelie]

Thanks. I was browsing a few breeders sites and I did email one(Jackpot French Bulldogs in Minnesota) There was one other breeder in Wisconsin called Hestekin Hills I wasn't sure about. I am located north chicago burbs so either is still a drive. I don't know if you have a policy on this website about listing or promoting breeders. If so, you can delete the thread. Any info is great.

[franp]

i wish i had found this site before i got rocky. but i must say i was one of the lucky ones that i did find a good breeder. we got rocky from prairie branch kennels in missouri . i would reccomend them to anyone. they promptly returned all our calls and emails. and we still keep in touch now. he arrived healthy and they provided all paperwork and a 1 year written health guarentee.we live in graham, washington ( state ) so it was a little bit of a trip for him. we wanted to get another pup from them. but they only had two black masked fawns and one was already sold and we bought rocky. they mainly have piebalds. so my husband found a breeder in pennsylvania. and she had one black masked fawn pup left so we sent her a 500.00 deposit and here is my question. has anyone heard of "chantals french bollekes" ? she said the pup would be ready to go mid march. and i am a little worried since she originally said the 1st and now its " mid month " . fran, this might be your specialty because you know alot about the breed and
breeders...........thanx
Did she ask you for references?did she do a homecheck? Are at least one of the parents champions?
Please email me her website.
Honestly I have never heard of her.But I have not heard of everybody.

If I were you, I would get on the Yahoo Frenchie lists and ask about breeders. There are breedere (reputable ones) on there. They will answer you.
If you loose $500 now , it might be the best $500 you ever spent.

[franp]

Jackpot is a very well know breeder.The other I do not know.

My advice; Do not restrict yourself to driving distance. You may never get a dog.

And call the breeder. They get 500 emails a day. A phone call will get thier attention.

[adora's mom]

Welcome Evangelie!

Fran gives excellent advice, join the Yahoo Frenchie lists :)

Hope to hear more from you soon.

Take care,
Lesley

[evangelie]

hey, thanks for the advice and I will check the Yahoo groups. I received a very nice reply from Kathy at Jackpot French Bulldogs and look forward to continue talking to her. thanks again. :D

[EmD, MD]

I think Kathy in Minnesota is Kathy Dannel, the woman who wrote one of the Frenchie books I have. We contacted her when we were looking. She had a dog or two at Westminster this year I believe. She has a lot of champions I think.

[evangelie]

Yes, she is one and the same woman. when did you contact her for a pup? just curious?