New Pup, Am Bulldog X Boerboel, American Bandogge? Controversial

here is my new pup im getting at the weekend, its 6 weeks old... i know it should be left with her mother for a few more weeks but the breeder is letting them go now as there big enough though the males he is doing at 8 weeks so he sounds honest enough and if i dont get her someone else will so id prefer to get her myself rather than someone with less experience of pups. the mum is a american bulldog, the father a boerboel (south african mastiff) so im guessing the pup is a type of american bandogge (which is a american bulldog crossed with a mastiff type) dont confuse these with normal bandogges which are illegal (they contain pitbulls) any comments, advice etc is welcome. havent owned a dog since my boxer died at age 13 last year so cant wait to have another dog around. im not sure what to expect from this pup in height/muscle and adult looks....id guess something like a bullmastiff size.

here is a photo

Has the breeder done the relevant health tests on the parent dogs?

Have you met the mother?

If the answer to the first question is 'no', then WALK AWAY. I don't care how cute the dog is or how much you are looking forward to getting it.

Every time any of us buys from a backyard breeder or puppy mill, we encourage that person to carry on.

Your reasoning 'well if I don't get the pup someone else will' does not work, I'm afraid. If you buy a pup from parents who are NOT health tested, then it is you who may end up paying the price in both money and heartache and again you are encouraging this breeder to continue with a venture which may well result in unhealthy pups.

A good breeder will reserve a pup for the right home, not sell it to someone else because the person wanted to wait until the pup was eight weeks. I would be very suspicious of this breeder.

meeting the parents on wednesday and he said all been checked etc, hes not a backyard breeder his 2 dogs just bred he didnt plan it hence why he is selling them cheap and not as bandogges he has never even heard of a bandogge.

He IS a backyard breeder, sorry. No caring breeder allows 'accidents' like this to happen!

And if the dogs are just his pets, does that mean they have not been health tested???

I would urge you to ask a LOT of questions and insist on seeing PROOF of health tests of the parents. If he does not have those then for goodness sake WALK AWAY.

If you love dogs, as I'm sure you do, then do NOT support a backyard breeder!

got to agree with above, if it was accidental mating he could have got the bitch the injection as soon as he realised they mated.

I don't think he sounds like a good caring breeder, I don't think 6 weeks is a good time to give away pups especially of such large breeds which need to have essential socialisation with their litter mates and If it was me I would walk away now.

If it was accidental mating then no health tests would have been done on either dog and you won't know what underlying conditions there may be - such as Hip Dypslacia etc.

Ultimately its your choice, but if you really want a lovely large breed like these go to a proper breeder who does it for the love of the breed, not just to sell cheaply to anyone who might want them..

Have they asked you any questions as to your capability of owning such a breed???

I'd be suspicious too as neither of the parents look much like the breeds they're stated to be. The sire looks like he may be cross eyed also???

You will, hopefully, live with this dog for up to 15 years, I'd be very careful not to make a rush decision which you may end up regretting.

walk away no breeder lets a pup go at 6 weeks regardless of size.

The Boerboel seems to be the cross of choice at the moment ...
I have only met one Boerboel properly but to be honest he didnt look like the pic of the sire ...

The sire looks like a Boxer cross to me and the Dam possibly Staff cross Bulldog?

Proper Beorboels..

I agree with the others I'm afraid. Neither parent looks purebred. I've just Googled brindle Boerboel's and the sire looks nothing like one. The dam also looks like a Staffie mix rather than an American Bulldog. In other words, I think the breeder is having you on.

I'd walk away from this litter and buy from a reputable breeder instead.

The mother looks nice, not sure if she's an AB tho (need to see more photos)

The sire doesn't look like a BB at all tho, more like a bull mastiff cross.

I also would not get a dog earlier than 8 weeks.. sounds like you're not sure about this breeder... I say go with your gut feeling - lots of BYBs says the mating was 'accidental', so be careful there.

Agree with everyone about health tests - if at all possible always get a pup from health tested parents, of course it's up to you as you'll be taking the risk at the end of the day..

im going to get the pup regardless, like i said if i dont someone else will, im not botherd about the parents being cross breeds or what breed they even are to be honest, you can see from the pups photo it will grow around about the size of a boxer, maybe slightly bulky/musclier and look a bit like a english/bullmastiff. thats all that matters to me not the parents breed afterall im not buying the parents. does anyone have a different idea of what it may look like as a adult?

but thats exactly it, you won't have any idea what it will look like as an adult especially if unknown crosses in the mix

If you don't care and are getting regardless then no one can convince you otherwise, but know that you are just supporting this back yard breeder to breed again and churn out what are quite frankly puppies that have the potential to be dangerous as in the wrong hands they could be a heap of trouble and to just give away to whoever will take them as they are cheap....nope sorry its not a good breeder,

This dog could potentially look "type" also and could be seized under DDA,.. doesn't have to have pit bull in it to be considered one.

Then why not get one from a rescue?

No idea what that pup will look like as an adult as the photos of the parents (or the sire anyway) look like crosses... so you could end up with anything

Seriously tho, if you weren't looking for this particular cross, and you're not all that bothered by what the pup will come out like, take a look at the rescues - there are some lovely bull breed pups around at the mo

Like this one:





http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?t=165787

i did contact rescues but they wont give me any mastiff type as i have a 2yr daughter so all the ones i called wont house a big dog with her, plus id only want a pup as my daughter would be scared of a big dog where as a pup she wont and she wont be scared when its grows (i know they grow quick) as she would be used to it

So you have a young child, yet you are going to get a very large strong dog, when you know full well the 'breeder' has done no temperament testing of the parents etc...?

That's a terrible risk to take.

And if you're going to get this dog regardless, why do you care what it will look like?

If you really cared about how it will look, or more crucially how healthy it will be, then you would NOT be helping this backyard breeder. End of.

This guy is a backyard breeder and you are supporting him.

People who really love dogs, don't do that.

Well whatever you decide - please keep us posted on how you get on, puppy pics are always welcome

Hey Tabitha I know you (many of us) feel strongly about BYBs, but if you're too harsh you'll just put the OP on the defensive - and he'll just switch off (so you end up wasting your time and effort)