BEFORE YOU BUY!
Important information you should know before you buy.
Learn the Rules in your state
It is against the law to sell a puppy that is under 8 weeks old. If the puppy you are being offered to take home is under this age - DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PUPPY.
Puppies must also have their first vaccinations. If the puppy being offered is not vaccinated - DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PUPPY.
In many states now, including NSW, it is against the law to sell a puppy that is not microchipped. If the puppy is not microchipped by a breeder in a state where they are required to do so by law - DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PUPPY. You should also note, that many ethical breeders in states where it is not law to microchip WILL microchip their puppies, as they want to ensure the puppies can always be traced back to them or to their family if they are ever lost or stolen.
If the 'breeder' does not want you to come to their house, and/or the dogs are not in good condition DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PUPPY.
Don't think you are 'saving' a puppy from a situation. You parting with your hard earned money for a puppy from an unethical breeder, will only be making room for the next puppy, as that breeder will keep on breeding for money, and finally - DO NOT buy a puppy from a pet shop. Most of these puppies come from puppy mills. Not only will you probably get health problems, but temperament problems as well.
More details are below.
Puppies must also have their first vaccinations. If the puppy being offered is not vaccinated - DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PUPPY.
In many states now, including NSW, it is against the law to sell a puppy that is not microchipped. If the puppy is not microchipped by a breeder in a state where they are required to do so by law - DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PUPPY. You should also note, that many ethical breeders in states where it is not law to microchip WILL microchip their puppies, as they want to ensure the puppies can always be traced back to them or to their family if they are ever lost or stolen.
If the 'breeder' does not want you to come to their house, and/or the dogs are not in good condition DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PUPPY.
Don't think you are 'saving' a puppy from a situation. You parting with your hard earned money for a puppy from an unethical breeder, will only be making room for the next puppy, as that breeder will keep on breeding for money, and finally - DO NOT buy a puppy from a pet shop. Most of these puppies come from puppy mills. Not only will you probably get health problems, but temperament problems as well.
More details are below.
Hip and elbow testing
_IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT all breeding Dogues be hip and elbow scored.
As this is the major health issue of the breed, health testing & screening prior to any mating will assist any breeder in choosing the most compatible partners, to assist in reducing any future hip &/or elbow problems. Health testing is knowledge & knowledge is priceless when trying to improve the quality of dogs.
As a prospective puppy buyer you have a right to ask what these scores are, and should be able to view the actual report.
It is recommended that a dogue with a score over 30 may not be suitable for breeding unless to a dog with a very low hip score, however an experienced breeder may make an informed decision regarding scores. Just Xraying is not adequate and can be mis-read. The xrays need to be read and scored by a fully accredited professional.
Please read the Breed Information page for more information on Hip and Elbow Scoring and understanding the health problems associated with the Dogue de Bordeaux.
As this is the major health issue of the breed, health testing & screening prior to any mating will assist any breeder in choosing the most compatible partners, to assist in reducing any future hip &/or elbow problems. Health testing is knowledge & knowledge is priceless when trying to improve the quality of dogs.
As a prospective puppy buyer you have a right to ask what these scores are, and should be able to view the actual report.
It is recommended that a dogue with a score over 30 may not be suitable for breeding unless to a dog with a very low hip score, however an experienced breeder may make an informed decision regarding scores. Just Xraying is not adequate and can be mis-read. The xrays need to be read and scored by a fully accredited professional.
Please read the Breed Information page for more information on Hip and Elbow Scoring and understanding the health problems associated with the Dogue de Bordeaux.
Breeding Ages
_Male
Dogues should not be bred from until they are fully health tested. Hip &
elbow scoring is generally carried out after the age of 12 months, depending on
the method of scoring. The
ANKC rules & regulations state that a male dog should not be bred from under
9 months of age. However, most breeders do not use their males at stud until
they have had the appropriate hip/elbow scoring done at 12 months. In saying
this, if breeders use the Penn Hip method of hip scoring an indication of the
dogs hips can be done a lot earlier.
Female Dogues should not be bred from until they are fully health tested. No female dogue should have a litter younger than 18 months of age, but many breeders prefer to wait until at least 2 years of age or more. Again, with consideration to the ANKC rules & regulations.
ACCORDING TO DOGS NSW, THE BREEDING AGE OF THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUX IN NSW IS 18 MONTHS OF AGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT OF A GIANT BREED. IT IS HOPED THAT OTHER STATES WILL FOLLOW SUIT.
Female Dogues should not be bred from until they are fully health tested. No female dogue should have a litter younger than 18 months of age, but many breeders prefer to wait until at least 2 years of age or more. Again, with consideration to the ANKC rules & regulations.
ACCORDING TO DOGS NSW, THE BREEDING AGE OF THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUX IN NSW IS 18 MONTHS OF AGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT OF A GIANT BREED. IT IS HOPED THAT OTHER STATES WILL FOLLOW SUIT.
Puppy Age
_The minimum age for a breeder to home a puppy is 8 weeks. Reputable
breeders do not make their final decisions on the quality/sale of puppies or
allow puppies to be chosen until they are around 6 weeks of age.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE A PUPPY OR MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON WHICH PUPPY YOU ARE BUYING UNTIL THE LITTER IS AT LEAST THIS AGE.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE A PUPPY OR MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON WHICH PUPPY YOU ARE BUYING UNTIL THE LITTER IS AT LEAST THIS AGE.
Registration/Microchipping **
_All living puppies should be microchipped and registered with the
breeders local state Canine Council which
automatically registers the puppy with the Australian National Kennel Council
and original registration certificates may be supplied with the puppy.
Show/breeding puppies will be on the Main Register which allows for
the showing and breeding of the Dogue (subject to any additional contracts of sale that the breeder may also
require conditional to the purchase).
Pet puppies are registered on the Limited Register, which also provides you with official pedigree registration papers however the puppy cannot be bred from or shown (also subject to any additional contracts of sale from the breeder)
** Please note that different State Canine controlling bodies have different requirements regarding litter registrations. Please check with the state canine council according to where the puppy is to be registered.
Pet puppies are registered on the Limited Register, which also provides you with official pedigree registration papers however the puppy cannot be bred from or shown (also subject to any additional contracts of sale from the breeder)
** Please note that different State Canine controlling bodies have different requirements regarding litter registrations. Please check with the state canine council according to where the puppy is to be registered.
Quality of puppies (Pet or Show/Breeding)
_Only a
small amount of pups from any litter, are ever to such a high standard that they
should be sold as breed or show quality. Most should be available only to pet
homes never to be
bred.
The
reason that reputable breeders do this, is to try and ensure that only the best
quality Dogues may be bred from. Using a
Champion dogue or an Imported dogue or their bloodlines, in no way guarantees
the quality of the puppy or litter.
A breeder should not sell an entire litter of puppies as show/breeding quality and certainly not just because of who the parents are or what their status is. A breeder should also not ask you if you want 'Main or Limited Papers' on your puppy. The breeder should have already made the decision which pup should go on which register. Asking you whether you want main or limited papers, is only asking you if you want to pay more or less for your puppy, and has nothing to do with its quality.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE A BREED / SHOW QUALITY PUPPY FROM A BREEDER WHO DOES NOT HAVE AN EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BREED STANDARD / HAS NOT SHOWN DOGS EXTENSIVELY IN THE CONFORMATION RING.
THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT THIS ARENA PROVIDES IS ESSENTIAL IN BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE THE BEST QUALITY DOGS TO BE BRED FROM FOR THE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED.
A breeder should not sell an entire litter of puppies as show/breeding quality and certainly not just because of who the parents are or what their status is. A breeder should also not ask you if you want 'Main or Limited Papers' on your puppy. The breeder should have already made the decision which pup should go on which register. Asking you whether you want main or limited papers, is only asking you if you want to pay more or less for your puppy, and has nothing to do with its quality.
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE A BREED / SHOW QUALITY PUPPY FROM A BREEDER WHO DOES NOT HAVE AN EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BREED STANDARD / HAS NOT SHOWN DOGS EXTENSIVELY IN THE CONFORMATION RING.
THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT THIS ARENA PROVIDES IS ESSENTIAL IN BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE THE BEST QUALITY DOGS TO BE BRED FROM FOR THE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED.
Colour of Puppies (Pet or Show/Breeding)
Dogues should not be bred for 'improvement' in colour eg. Mahogany. As the breed standard does not recognise mahogany for example, as being of any greater or lesser value than fawn. There is an issue with the amount of white any dogue may have.
Dogues with white extending past the front of the wrist, above the hock, extending onto the chest, unbroken up the throat and/or onto the chin, with a white tail tip or with white on any other part of the body are considered faulty under the breed standard and should not be bred from.
In accordance with the approved FCI International Breed Standard as adopted by the French Breed Club SADB there will be NO change to the approved breed colours of the Dogue.
Dogues with white extending past the front of the wrist, above the hock, extending onto the chest, unbroken up the throat and/or onto the chin, with a white tail tip or with white on any other part of the body are considered faulty under the breed standard and should not be bred from.
In accordance with the approved FCI International Breed Standard as adopted by the French Breed Club SADB there will be NO change to the approved breed colours of the Dogue.
Inclusions
_The
minimum that should be provided with your puppy: Required vaccinations and
wormings to the age of 8 weeks, microchipping and canine council registration.
Microchipping is now compulsory in Queensland but it may not be in all states - most reputable breeders will Microchip all their puppies and even adult dogs (not previously chipped) to assist in their rescue should it ever
be required.
Some breeders may provide you with a puppy pack providing information detailing the care and upbringing of your puppy. There are not many books on Dogues around to help you.
Please check with your own State Canine Council for any more information regarding any concerns you have regarding what information you should be receiving from your breeder. Most have websites, with links we have listed in this site.
Some breeders may provide you with a puppy pack providing information detailing the care and upbringing of your puppy. There are not many books on Dogues around to help you.
Please check with your own State Canine Council for any more information regarding any concerns you have regarding what information you should be receiving from your breeder. Most have websites, with links we have listed in this site.
Rehoming
_Should any
circumstances occur where you are no longer able to care for your puppy or dogue, the breeder should be given first right of refusal to take the dog back
and find the dog a new home.
OPTIONAL
_In addition to the above, the following steps are sometimes taken by
a number of breeders to further protect the breed:
Sterilisation/Desexing of Puppies
_Most reputable breeders are now desexing or sterilizing pet puppies prior to them going to live in their new homes. This is done to prevent any indiscriminate breeding, causing harm to both the dog and the breed and the poor quality, unhealthy offspring that could be produced.
Sterilisation is still a relatively new procedure in Australia, however it is becoming far more common. Sterilisation means vasectomies and tubal ligations, so complete desexing (speying / neutering) is strongly recommended at the appropriate age to help guard against testicular, prostate and mammary cancers, and to avoid Pyometra in females who are never used for breeding. Pyometra is a uterine infection which CAN BE FATAL.
Please talk to your vet or your breeder regarding these procedures.
Sterilisation is still a relatively new procedure in Australia, however it is becoming far more common. Sterilisation means vasectomies and tubal ligations, so complete desexing (speying / neutering) is strongly recommended at the appropriate age to help guard against testicular, prostate and mammary cancers, and to avoid Pyometra in females who are never used for breeding. Pyometra is a uterine infection which CAN BE FATAL.
Please talk to your vet or your breeder regarding these procedures.