After working with show breeders and kennels for several years, I decided it was time to select a breed of dog for my own. I was excited to get a dog into the ring, but I also had to make sure that the breed we chose would fit in well with our lifestyle. My husband & I completed almost two years of research on various breeds before choosing the American Bulldog. I can honestly say I have never had a regret.
We also realized that when you find an exceptional dog that enjoys being in the ring, odds are pretty good that you are going to want to reproduce them at some point. Therein lies the problem. American Bulldogs can have between 1 and 16 puppies, of which any number could be the "perfect" puppy that you're looking for. There will never be a litter that is 100% show suitable pups. The question then became...how do we find homes for the pups that we don't keep? It became a priority for me to develop a plan to ensure the greatest success in placing these puppies in homes that were well suited for them for life.
We developed our Puppy Plan and our Temperament Testing Program to help ensure that the transfer from our family to their families would be as stress-free as possible and that their families were matched to each of their personalities, allowing them to reach their greatest potential.
D-Dog American Bulldogs may run a little differently than many other kennels/breeders. We have found that it's more important to match a family with the puppy that will fit best into their lifestyle than to place a puppy based on the way it looks. Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. This is not much of a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 10+ years. While that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter; he may grow up to be superactive (when what you wanted was a couch buddy); she may be a couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless hiking companion); he may want to spend every waking moment in the water (while you're a landlubber); or she may want to be an only child (while you are intending to have kids or more animals). Pet mismatches are one of the top reasons that American Bulldogs are returned to the breeder or surrendered to local shelters. We do extensive evaluating of both our puppies and our families to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other until death do them part. All of our puppies are a tribute to the breed and we do take into consideration the family's request for a male/female or a white/brindle/spotted coloring when making the perfect match.
Our dogs were chosen with care, taking into consideration conformation, temperament, stamina and health. Each of them and each of our litters are raised in our home as part of the family. They are socialized with other animals, different situations, and children of various ages at a very young age It was a five year journey to our first litter, but it was worth every minute. We produce wonderful puppies that will make you proud to say, "I have a D-Dog American Bulldog".
After two years, it became obvious that we were going to need help if we wanted to continue to provide the quality of care that our dogs and puppies deserve and still maintain the customer care to our puppy families as their puppies grew. During this time, Darrick's brother Dave had also developed a love of the breed, so we joined forces with him and his fiance, Kim. It really is true that four heads are better than two and we are back to doing what we love and sharing it with family! Some of our dogs are here in Ohio with us, others are in Wisconsin with Dave and Kim, but the plan is the same.
If you are considering adding an American Bulldog to your family, please read our "What to Expect" page. This will give you a realistic idea of how your life will change when you bring home one of these wonderful dogs. You can also contact me at any time with any questions you may have about our breeding program, our dogs, or the American Bulldog breed in general. I love to talk "Bull".
