Bulldog Health Warning From Hundreds of AKC Full Size Owners
There are many reports to us of full-size Bulldog losses six weeks to three years of age due to genetic defects verified with autopsy and the breeders will not help, often saying it is the owner?s fault. These folks are angry, grieving, broken-hearted people and it is hard afterward to please them or gain their trust. They feel like they have been a crime victim. One owner reporting two full-size puppy losses in a row at a cost of $5000.00 and still no puppy.
Many many calls are being received from full-size bulldog owners that their bulldog cost them thousands in vet bills before it prematurely died, breaking hearts. If money is a major issue and miniatures ar too expensive, in view of these calls, we recommend a choice between saving for a Miniature and some other healthy breed or possibly a bulldog hybrid. Full-size bulldog lovers should research the bloodline history of the pup they are considering for genetic health problems through other owners. So, if such a genetic loss were to occur in the Miniatures, there is high motivation to keep client trust pro-rating a genetic loss to help the adoptive parent replace their loss with another Miniature in an equitable way with owner support.

Life Assurance, Loss Identification and Support
There are no known major health problems or defects with the Miniature Bulldog. And, the life expectancy is in the double digits (10-up) based on feedback and experience. Premature losses from genetic causes have not been reported. Early reported losses, sad to say, are from theft, accidents, and a poisoning of improperly kept or the unattended Miniatures. Miniatures do try to get out of the way of danger and vehicles and are not prone to accidents as is the full size.
The Assurance Plan includes a 24-hour assurance policy about loss that if loss occurs the animal must be refrigerated immediately and then taken to the state health veterinarian for an autopsy for the mutual benefit of both parties. Only then remains could then be taken to the personal vet for his evaluation if desired. If such a loss were the result of the source, the policy is replacement or refund. If the airline is at fault, help in adjustment is the policy. But there has been no problem with the airlines, sudden death or major genetic health problems. If later there were to be a loss due to suspected genetic causes the same procedure of refrigerating, taking the animal to the state health veterinarian would be the required procedure, leading to a possible prorated replacement.
An option of the owner would be, a trust bond assumed, to return the Miniature to the senior Miniature Veterinarian for a more thorough autopsy and direct feedback within the program. Therefore, there is a better chance of fully determining the actual cause of the loss and any implication for future breeding. Such an arrangement would be upon mutual agreement. The senior veterinarian is a strong advocate of using the appropriate state health veterinarian for mutual trust reasons over any benefit of research.
The liberal Assurance Policy is to pro-rate replacement help and carring support, sharing the responsibility if something goes wrong with the luck of the draw as long as folks behave as ladies and gentlemen. While there have been no such reported Miniature losses, if a pattern of defects emerged, it would result in a change of suspected breeding before an unhealthy trend is established in the Miniature line.

Assurance Requirement:
During the development stages of the pup and for the Assurances Plan as determined by the Breeder and Senior Vet, the medical treatment plans for the pup are subject to the program and the Senior Vet and are primary over prerogatives of randomly selected field vets that may or may not have Miniature knowledge and experience and may have financial conflict of interest over the welfare of the pup and client despite client confidence in the selected field vet. Violation of senior vet / breeder policy over the objection of the Breeder may result in cancellation of the liberal Assurance Plan. The client agrees to these terms when acquiring the pup as part of the Assurance Plan.
Senior Vet knows best!
The client must inform us of any and all 1st year health issues immediately. Any treatment prerogatives of the client vet determined by the breeder?s Senior Vet and/or policy to negatively affect the assurance plan will change to, or include the treatment policy of the breeder?s highly qualified and rational Senior Vet over the treating vet. in the rare event of a disagreement, in order to continue with the liberal assurance policy. Failure to immediately report serious puppy illness in the breeder?s view may void the assurance plan. So mutual cooperation has a liberal assurance policy as a reward.

Quality Shot Program
Puppies start their program at three to four weeks with parasite prevention and preliminary shots. The five-in-ones are started at six weeks and given every three weeks until sixteen weeks when a rabies shot may be given. If rabies is given that early a booster should be given at least at 11 months. It is best to use an 11-month cycle in case a neighbor is scratched in the last days of legal shot range of one year. This gives law enforcement the option of a 10-day quarantine of the pet, raising the risk of infection at the quarantine facility, not to mention pet / owner upset. The pups are wormed every two weeks until sixteen weeks and then every month. Parasite prevention continues and is sent with the puppy. The owner then takes over the responsibility for the plan.

Births – Veterinarian Support and Training.
Most Miniatures are bred by artificial insemination and are born with cesarean sections while some are natural conceptions and births. But waiting to see if it will be a natural birth can result in the loss of the pups and /or the mother. So, to reduce these problems blood is drawn from the mothers for a lab test to establish their progesterone level to determine conception and birth dates. Breeding Miniatures is more complicated than the full size because it is necessary to save back many more males for selective breeding and it is labor intensive to raise them family style, with pre-potty training and socializing of the youngsters.
The veterinary support is of the highest quality and very supportive. Most importantly, the veterinary support is forthright and honest in quality diagnosis, treatment and training. The program is very fortunate to have had such high quality support for success.
Vet Acquisition
There are veterinarian problems around the country and screening for a Miniature vet is very important. It is recommended that a good vet be found by finding a quality vet that services breeders of high quality dogs regardless of breed type. Call on breeders advertising expensive quality dogs in a local ad and ask for their recommendations of their vet and then verify the referral through other sources. Such vets will inform and train in everything in your Minis health and treatment.
Problem Vets
There are several types of problem vets. First there is the ?hysterical vet? that exaggerates the problem upsetting or confusing the client often to gain control of the client to keep them coming or just because they are an insecure. An incompetent vet will misdiagnoses. They can loose your pup and make you feel it was your fault or someone else?s but more often these will milk your bank account. And there is the conceited vet that is competent but wants it all his way and will not make appropriate referrals or cooperate when indicated. And there are in large cities the GPs and the Specialists that refer and milk there clients between clinics for excessive amounts on small matters that all should be handled by the same vet at reasonable rates. Problem vets try to isolate you from other support systems and keep you under their control and billing. Help with vets and follow up is part of the Miniature Bulldog placement services and is covered when you adopt a Miniature.

Registration
English Bulldog Miniature are registered with International Kennel Club IKC. and have their own special registry program in the Miniature Bulldog Association as required by AKC for future application to that registry. The purpose of the registry is to maintain and improve quality of all the breeding parameters of health, behavior, personality and obedience as well as looks and keep track of the line, all giving the real prestige of the registry. There is no additional charge for the registry which is automatic with the acquisition of the puppy into the Miniature Bulldog Association registry and International Kennel Club. The website is to be found @ <IKC.cc> or by request.

There are no plans for AKC at present although requirements for IKC and AKC acceptance are being met. The breeding is tightly controlled for quality and pedigree through selective breeding. After about a year a certificate application / survey form is requested by the client and filled out to complete the registration for information and feedback on the pups, their progress and comes with a request for required photos for maintaining quality and improving the breed .
The extensive easy to use forms provide for all types of feedback on personality, behavior, health issues etc. in the survey / application, pictures and survey at one year. The registration confirmation certificate is then sent to confirm automatic pet registration after the completed process.
Breeding Miniatures are registered only to certified breeders who meet requirements.

Breeding Quality
The owner agrees to not permit non-registered breeding of the English Bulldog Miniatures with other breeds or hybrids. The owner further agrees to report any accidental breeding, the pups and the dispersion of same and their owners for the purpose of recording the accidental hybrid puppies as ?small hybrid bulldogs? with good placement.

Air Travel
Of course, the people at the airlines get them out and play with them as passengers press around oohing and aaahing?some coming over from competing airlines to look and pet them. They find being the center of attention as exciting as a young person going off to college. And, after all the adventure of the day, they are so tired they are ready to sleep on the plane in their familiar portable bedroom. The flight schedule is coordinated around the plan of the adoptive parents and coordinated as though a pup were a child coming on the airline. The Miniatures travel by air is from counter-to-counter, Priority Parcel -?first class puppy?. They are given a health examination to verify the health of the puppy before it leaves. Puppies, like children, often have mild infections from day to day that are fought off with a high white blood cell count in a normal active puppy. The puppy is more vulnerable to this during the stress of change so antibiotics are sent along as a preventative for anything that might develop under stress. Even though it would probably go away, as part of quality care continuity chances are not taken. Parasite prevention for after arrival is also supplied for the same stress reasons and any travel exposure.