North Island Bull Terrier Club

*Please note... There are currently 'breeders' advertising pedigree pups that are not actually able to be registered with the New Zealand Kennel Club for showing and breeding. If your aim is to own a pedigree Bull Terrier with a certified pedigree issued by the kennel club, we encourage you to give them a call on 04 237 4489, or email nzkc@nzkc.org.nz to make sure that the person selling the pups is actually a registered breeder.

Not all breeders are created equal. It is up to you to decide whether you want to purchase from a particular kennel or not.

A breeder should know about the breed, be able to tell you the merits and the faults of their dogs, and be willing to share with you information on the history of their dogs, including health, breeding and showing. They should also be knowledgeable about the Rescue statistics and the organisation that deals with rescue for their breed.

A conscientious breeder will be able to provide you with written proof that their dogs, and the sire of the litter, have been tested clear of the hereditary diseases associated with the breed. They should be willing to allow you to view their dogs, be able to arrange for you to view the sire (he may be in a different town/country, so this may not be practical to you), but at least have photos to share.

Kennels should be clean, and spacious. Puppies should be active and clean, with clear eyes, and bottoms.

Canterbury Bull Terrier Club
36 Ariki Place
Hei Hei 8042
Christchurch
Phone 03 342 5229
Mobile 021 116 9303
Web page: http://www.bullterrier.org.nz

Pedigree dogs have "Breed Standards". These are a blueprint of what your dog should look like.

Bull Terriers are generally very hardy dogs, but have been plagued by some hereditary diseases over the years. Responsible breeders currently test for the following five, and will be able to show you clearances for the sire and dam, and possibly previous generations of the puppy you are looking to buy. Never accept verbal assurances that the sire and dam have been tested clear. Ask to see the original clearances on Veterinary Letterhead. Some vets are including photos of the tested dog on their certificates now. The following are brief descriptions of diseases currently tested for.

An autosomal dominant disease that affects the kidneys. This is eventually fatal. If your puppy's parents have been tested clear of the disease, then your puppy will never develop it.

The test for Hereditary Nephritis is done by collecting a urine sample. This is sent to a veterinary laboratory and tested for the protein/creatinine ratio (UPC). A score of .5 or under is required, under 0.3 is desirable. Dogs testing over 0.5 need further testing to ensure they do not have the disease.

Other causes of high UPC include urinary tract infections and long term infections can cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

An autosomal dominant disease that affects the kidneys. If your puppies parents have been tested clear of the disease, then your puppy will never develop it.

Ultrasound scans are used to view the kidneys. Effected kidneys have numerous cysts attached to them. If the cysts are large enough, they can be seen as young as eight weeks old. The disease is progressive and fatal.

Mitral dysplacia and sub-aortic stenosis are two problems found in Bull Terriers. Dysplacia is the most common which causes the valve between two of the chambers in the heart not to close properly - when the heart attempts to send blood into the arterial system, some leaks back. This overworks, and can enlarge the heart. If it leaks badly enough it causes heart failure, even in young animals.

Sub Aortic stenosis occurs when the hearts main artery - the aorta - is narrowed at the point it leave the heart. To push enough blood past this constriction the heart has to work harder, again possibly leading to heart failure. In a normal heart the valves opening and closing and the blood flowing produce characteristic sounds, if a valve is faulty or a blood vessel constricted, the abnormal sounds produced are called heart murmurs. The severity of these is graded from 1 (mild) to 6 (very serious). As there are several different causes of heart disease the modes of inheritance have yet to be determined, the only advice which can be given is to breed only from heart murmur free parents.

The patella (or kneecap) is situated at the knee joint of the rear legs. This is a recessive disease so can skip generations. It is important that every Bull Terrier used for breeding is tested clear before breeding, or each year.

Luxating patella causes the kneecap to luxate (or dislocate) during movement. It ranges from minor to severe and is usually given a number grade of severity. Discomfort and pain is caused to the dog and arthritis often affects the joint. An operation to fix the kneecap into place can relieve the symptoms.

Deafness can be bi-literal (both ears) or unilateral (one ear). It is caused by a recessive gene so can skip generations. Both white and coloured Bull Terriers are affected. Puppies are checked by BAER or BEAP testing which is only available at Massey University. It may be impractical for your puppy to have been tested. Deaf dogs pose a greater risk to themselves and people as they are easily startled and may bite out of fear. Raising a deaf dog is a serious lifetime commitment that many people are unable to cope with. Deaf puppies should be humanely put to sleep and not sold.

This is a great site explaining why health testing is so important The Omerta Code

The breeder may ask you to enter into a contract. These may cover such things as:

Never accept a verbal contract, always get everything in writing. Give yourself time to read the contract and understand the implications that it may pose for you and your dog before you sign it. If you do not understand a clause, then ask BEFORE signing. Some breeders say they don't believe in contracts, then sell you a dog in partnership anyway - its all the same thing, so make sure you know what is expected of you.

If you buy from a registered breeder you can expect to receive official NZKC papers, within 2 - 3 weeks of purchase - unless your contract states otherwise. These are similar to ownership papers, with a blue border and details of your dogs pedigree name, breed, colour, date of birth and a three generation pedigree. At the time of registration, breeders can put endorsements on the puppies sold. These require your signature. Please read the full description of what each endorsement means. If you do not agree with the endorsement, do not sign.

Breeders must notify the New Zealand Kennel Club of change of ownership within 14 days of you purchasing the puppy. This costs the breeder $35 per puppy registered and should be covered in the purchase price of the puppy. It is contrary to NZKC rules for breeders to charge more for registered puppies, than they do for un-registered puppies.

If you have concerns regarding the registration process, or have not received papers for your dog, contact the breeder in the first instance, and if no satisfaction is forthcoming, contact the New Zealand Kennel Club