FAQs

The waitlist is for pre-approved homes only. You must submit an application before making a puppy reservation. An informal phone interview will be scheduled to discuss the application and address any questions you may have. Once approved, a contract and deposit are required. A buyer is then waitlisted according to their chosen preference*.

*Preferences: buyers must select ONE preference: either a color or colors, or whether they want a male or female-- not both. We no longer make reservations for specific color/sex combinations such as 'red female'. In that case, you would have to decide which is more important-- getting a red puppy or a getting female puppy.

Buyers must choose ONE preference before reserving a spot on the waitlist. The options are either 1) color(s) with no male/female preference, or 2) a male/female with no color preference. In other words, you must decide if you want to prioritize a color or a sex. You cannot make a reservation for a specific color/sex combination such as 'black male' or 'brindle female'. It becomes increasingly complicated to match someone with a puppy when there is no flexibility in preferences.

If your preference changes after you are placed on the waitlist (i.e. you switch from wanting a 'male' to wanting a 'brindle', etc.) or you become adamant about a specific color/sex combination, you will likely be moved to the bottom of the waitlist.

Families are waitlisted once they have been pre-screened, signed a contract, and placed a deposit. Puppies are matched to appropriate families a few weeks after birth. We consider puppy personality and buyer preference when making decisions about where puppies are placed. We try to stick to the order of the waitlist but this is not always possible.

We sometimes have to shuffle waitlistees so that puppies go to the right homes. If you are next in line and there is a puppy that fits your lifestyle and preference, you are likely to get it. If the puppy would be better matched with a family further down the list, it will be placed with them instead. Each puppy's welfare is priority. Sometimes a puppy may not be a good fit for you. That is just how it is.

We are very transparent about breedings and litter arrivals. We do our best to let families know what to expect before litter arrival and who should anticipate getting a puppy. Due to waitlistees repeatedly declining puppies, we have changed our policy on rollovers because it puts us in a bind when several families turn down a puppy in hopes of getting a better position on the waitlist next time around. This is no longer allowed.

If you are offered a puppy that matches your preference, and you decline the puppy, you will be moved to the bottom of the waitlist. That means you will have to wait until your turn comes around again before getting a puppy. If you decline a puppy for a second time, you will be removed from the waitlist and forfeit your deposit.

We only take a limited number of puppy reservations each year. Every year we turn away several applicants that want to make a reservation but cannot because our waitlist is full. Anyone who declines a puppy is taking a spot from someone else who would have gladly accepted a puppy, which ultimately leaves us with unclaimed puppies because we turned away other applicants.

Reservations on the waitlist are not infinite. We agree to hold your reservation for 2 years, not forever.

A deposit serves two purposes: (1) the buyer is able to reserve a puppy, and (2) the breeder will have a suitable home for a puppy once the litter arrives. In other words, it shows intent to follow through with the agreement.

No, deposits are not refundable unless a buyer has not been matched with a puppy within 24 months of being waitlisted. Buyers who decline a puppy offered to them are not be eligible for a refund. That buyer will move to the bottom of our waitlist and be offered a puppy once it is their turn again.

Minibulls are rare and breeders are limited. Wait times vary but can be as long as 12 months. It all depends on buyer preferences, the number of puppies we have, and puppy personalities. We usually provide a general time frame during the initial phone interview, before the buyer decides to join our waitlist. However, wait times will be longer/extended if your puppy preference changes after being waitlisted or decline a puppy offered to you. Our goal is quality, not quantity.

Our waitlist is updated via email once we expect a litter, when the litter arrives, and several times thereafter. We also post information and photos on our website and Facebook page.

Puppies can be picked up at 8 weeks of age, no earlier. If flying, certain airlines require pups to be 10 weeks old.

We offer local pick-up by car and airport drop-off so that puppies can be flown in-cabin with their owner. We do not ship cargo.

No, we do not ship puppies within the United States. International transport can be prearranged.

Our dogs are for companionship not breeding purposes. Breeding is a complicated process that requires time, money, and experience, as well as dogs that have been thoroughly health-screened and deemed capable of producing exceptional puppies. Additionally, dogs that remain intact are more likely to exhibit bad habits and experience health-related issues later in life (cancer, pyometra, etc.). It is in the puppy's best interest to be spayed or neutered at the appropriate time.

*A spay/neuter clause is included in our contract. It is not negotiable. Anyone unwilling to abide by the spay/neuter clause should find a different breeder.

The relationship you develop with your new puppy is dependent upon getting the 'right' puppy in the first place. We are not backyard breeders and puppies are not first come, first served. A puppy is matched with an appropriate family based on its personality and buyer preference. Sometimes there may be multiple puppies that fit the bill, sometimes there is only one. On occasion there is wiggle room, but the puppy usually chooses the family. The family does not choose the puppy. That is how it should be.

We only take a limited number of puppy reservations each year. Every year we turn away several applicants that want to make a reservation but cannot because our waitlist is full. Anyone who declines a puppy is taking a spot from someone else who would have gladly accepted a puppy, which ultimately leaves us with unclaimed puppies because we turned away other applicants.

In the past, we have had problems with waitlistees turning down puppies repeatedly for reasons including vacations, travel, adopting other pets, timing not right, and who knows what else. So, we no longer allow rollover/deferment periods.

The first time a buyer declines a puppy they will be moved to the bottom of the waitlist. The buyer must then wait until their turn comes again. This could be 6 months or 16 months depending on how many families are on the waitlist. If the buyer declines a puppy for a second time, they will be removed from the waitlist and forfeit their deposit.

Reservations on the waitlist are limited to two (2) years.

Families may take one puppy at a time. We will not place two puppies of similar age in the same household. We do not sell littermates to the same family. However, we welcome people to add another minibull to their household at a later time.

True miniatures range from 25 to 45 pounds. Rarely are they smaller, but they sometimes grow larger. Genetics, diet, and many other factors contribute to size. Our dogs typically weigh 30-35 pounds at maturity.

We wouldn't say they are active-- energetic is a more fitting description. They need daily walks or exercise, open space to run, and sufficient mental stimulation to prevent unwanted behaviors. Minibulls will occupy themselves if owners do not provide enough enrichment.

Bull terriers are best suited for households with older children simply because they can be quite rambunctious and often require a good deal of attention as puppies. However, many of our puppies live with children and pets without issue.

The answer to this question varies. Although, there are certain factors that should be considered before selecting a breeder. An ill-informed decision can result in a lifetime of health issues and vet bills.

Reputable breeders:

• Perform all health screenings recommended by their AKC breed club to ensure breeding stock is healthy
• Provide proof of health testing upon request
• Health test puppies when applicable
• Offer a health guarantee with all puppies
• Provide owners with AKC registration at no additional fee
• Selectively match puppies with appropriate families
• Will not place more than one puppy in a home at a time
• Are selective about where they advertise puppies and will not post litters on sites like craigslist or similar
• Never sell puppies through venues like petshops
• Do not sell puppies that are considerably cheaper than the average asking price (well-bred minibulls are $3500-5500)
• Usually do not ship without meeting the new owner first
• Will not produce fad colors, designer breeds, or mixed breeds

Backyard breeders and scam artists:

• Do not health test and cannot provide proof of health testing (they often have some excuse why they have no documentation or why their dogs do not need to be health tested)
• May or may not offer a health guarantee (good luck getting them to honor the guarantee after the puppy is sold)
• Often sell puppies without registration papers or upcharge for registration
• Will sell puppies registered through phony or unreputable registries like Continental Kennel Club, Purebred Dog Registry, etc.
• Allow buyers to pick their puppies with no questions asked (first come, first serve)
• Sell littermates or multiple puppies to a family at one time
• Advertise on shady websites or elsewhere (Facebook groups are notorious for BYBs and scammers)
• Sell cheap puppies (be wary of prices less than $3500 for minibulls, $2500 for standard bulls)
• Produce blue, lilac, merle puppies, or other colors not recognized and accepted by the AKC

It amazes us that people are still being duped by scam artists-- yet it happens every single day. There is alot of misinformation out there, but without a doubt, the red flags below will save you heartbreak (and money). If you experience any of these things while searching for a puppy, do not follow through with deal. Period.

• Free or discount shipping or shipping vouchers-  No such things exist. NONE. Never have, never will. Airlines do not offer discounts. Pet couriers and shipping services do not offer discounts. Breeders do not ship for free.
• House trained puppies-  Again, no such thing. Dogs can take 8-12 months to house train. A 3-month-old puppy is not going to be house trained... or even crate trained for that matter. A 4-month-old puppy is not house trained. A 5-month-old puppy is not house trained. Ridiculous claims made by ridiculous people.
• Customer testimonials-  What can we say about testimonials? Does the breeder fix plumbing or do HVAC work?! Legit breeders do not post testimonials on their website. They do not need to. Reputation speaks for itself.
• Seller has an accent-  Sorry, not sorry. If you speak with the breeder and it sounds like you were transferred to a customer service representative in Timbuktu, you really should think twice about sending them your money.
• Badgering for money-  Legitimate breeders do not have to harass buyers for money. You either want the dog or you don't. You will either place a deposit or you won't. Breeders do not have to hound people for money, nor do they ask for additional money after an agreement is made. Scammers, on the other hand, will squeeze every penny they can out of a potential buyer. The two most common sob stories consist of an unexpected emergency that requires the puppy to be taken to a vet, or the quoted shipping costs increased all of a sudden. Either way, the goal is to leech more money from you.
• Create a sense of urgency-  Scammers are great at using high pressure tactics to trick people into sending them money. They create a sense of urgency by making buyers believe that someone else might claim the puppy first. So, you must send money immediately, or else you will not get the puppy.
• Facebook scams- Social media scams are rampant. In fact, Facebook is one of the best places to encounter a puppy scammer. If the page or group contains phrases like "puppies for adoption" or "puppies for rehoming" in the title, it is 100% a scam. Often, scammers use stolen photos and fake accounts to make themselves appear legitimate. They will even post fake recommendations using those photos and accounts. Once someone falls victim, the scammer blocks that person to prevent them from warning others.

NO! Absolutely not. Bull terriers are not hypo-allergenic-- regardless of what google says.

The terms "pet quality" and "show quality" are commonly used to describe purebred puppies. The difference in terminology depends on the breeder.

The literal meaning refers to whether new owners receive full registration rights or limited registration rights. Dogs with full registration can be used for breeding and their puppies can be registered. On the other hand, dogs with limited registration are typically not used for breeding purposes because their puppies cannot be registered.

For clarification purposes, a better term for show quality is "show prospect". Serious breeders evaluate each litter to determine which pup is the best representation of the breed as dictated by the registry (a.k.a. the breed standard). This puppy is usually retained by the breeder or placed in a show home for the purpose of seeking a championship title on the show circuit. This is the breeder's way of saying "Hey, check out this super nice dog I produced" or "This female is a good representation of what I'm breeding at my kennel". Dogs at conformation events are exhibited with the expectation that, at some point, they will produce puppies. That is why these dogs must be intact (not neutered or spayed) and possess full registrations. It is up to the breeder to allow or prohibit breeding of a specific dog. Each breeder has personal reasons for restricting registration, which usually have to do with following the breed standard. Not every puppy has show prospect qualities, but all puppies make great companions when raised properly.

With backyard breeders, there is virtually no difference between the two except the price. Honestly, most backyard breeders do not even know how to differentiate between show puppies and their siblings. Under these circumstances puppies originating from the same litter are generally equivalent in terms of quality because the goal is quantity, not quality. A puppy will be marketed as show quality to turn profit.

A dog or puppy with limited registration papers can participate in all AKC or club sanctioned events (rallies, agility, barnhunts, trials, obedience, field events, tracking, coursing, herding), except conformation shows. Dogs with limited registration are not allowed to participate in conformation. The purpose of conformation events are to evaluate dogs based on breed standards, thus evaluating a dog's potential to produce exceptional offspring.

There are not alot of publications dedicated to standard bullies, let alone miniatures. Many publications we consider relevant were written in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and pertain to the historical aspect or early development of the breed. Even so, there are a few select books we highly recommend to new owners. <i>When Pigs Fly: Training Success with Impossible Breeds</i> by Jane Killion (paired with her series <i>Puppy Culture</i>) and <i>Bull Terrier: Think Like A Dog</i> by Paul Allen Pearce are great training reference for headstrong miniature bull terriers. Other breed-specific books like <i>The New Bull Terrier</i> by John H. Remer, <i>Bull Terriers Today</i> by David Harris, <i>A New Owner's Guide to Bull Terriers</i> by Betty Desmond, <i>Bull Terriers: Complete Pet Owner's Manual</i> by Carolyn Alexander, and <i>All About Bull Terriers and Miniature Bull Terriers</i> by Marilyn Drewes are lovely additions to any collection. The AKC publishes a plethora of books about general puppy training and dog showmanship. No book is a definitive guide but each one offers a different perspective on the breed. The best knowledge comes from experience.

Our dogs undergo genetic screenings for primary lens luxation (PLL), lethal acrodermatitis (LAD), and laryngeal paralysis (LP), as well as veterinary screenings for deafness (BAER testing), kidney UPC values, luxating patellas, and heart auscultation and/or echocardiograms by a certified vet cardiologist. We also run embark panels on our adults to check for polycystic kidney disease (PKD), cerebellar ataxia, degenerative myelopathy, and many others.

We stand behind a 1-year (12 month) health warranty which covers congenital defects and breed-specific genetic issues. The health warranty is extended to 2 years (24 months) once the puppy is spayed or neutered as outlined by our contract.

Spay or neuter is ideal between 9-11 months of age. Females should not be spayed before their first heat cycle. Males can be neutered after 6 months of age.

Our spay/neuter clause requires owners to spay or neuter by the age of 11 months, but not before 6 months of age.

Primary lens luxation, lethal acrodermatitis, and laryngeal paralysis are heritable conditions known to occur in miniature bull terriers. Fortunately, genetic testing is available to determine whether a dog carries the genes for any of them. Dogs that do not have a particular gene are clear, meaning free of the condition and unlikely to suffer health issues linked to it. However, dogs can also be carriers or affected. Carriers have one copy of the gene and typically do not express the gene. Affected dogs possess two copies of a particular gene, so they are at high risk of developing the condition.

Breeders strive for clear or carriers, but do not purposely breed affected dogs or puppies.

PLL is a painful condition that affects the eyes. It is caused by a defective gene inherited from the parent(s) that causes the lens to detach, resulting in vision problems or blindness. It is irreversible. Fortunately, there is a genetic test for this condition.

For more information on PLL, visit our health page: <a href="http://www.rossiriver.com/health">[Miniature Bull Terrier Health]</a>

The primary gene responsible for PLL in bull terriers has been identified as ADAMST17 but researchers believe there may be more than one gene that contributes to the condition. A PLL carrier has roughly a 10 percent chance of being affected by the PLL gene it carries. Infact, a study showed that even PLL clear dogs can suffer from primary lens luxation. However the chances of this occurring are slim enough that the AKC and OFA deem it acceptable to utilize PLL carriers in breeding programs.

For more information on PLL, visit our health page: <a href="http://www.rossiriver.com/health">[Miniature Bull Terrier Health]</a>

LAD is an inherited skin condition that often leads to aggression and shortened lifespan. It is characterized by poor growth, skin lesions, dilute coat coloration, and paw abnormalities. Fortunately, there is a genetic test for this condition.

For more information on LAD, visit our health page: <a href="http://www.rossiriver.com/health">[Miniature Bull Terrier Health]</a>

LP is a hereditary condition caused by defective laryngeal nerves. It results in breathing difficulties and chronic respiratory infections because the larynx does not function properly. Surgery can correct some cases depending on severity. Fortunately, there is a genetic test for this condition.

For more information on LP, visit our health page: <a href="http://www.rossiriver.com/health">[Miniature Bull Terrier Health]</a>

Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. While some breeders choose to be part of a club or organization, many others do not. Anyone can join most any kind of club. The only thing it means to be part of a club is that you knew the right people to get references and paid a membership fee to join. A member's level of participation is usually not dictated by the club, and neither are breeding practices. Breeder referral lists maintained by breed-specific clubs should be considered marketing ploys. In fact, club members pay an extra fee to be added to breeder referral lists. These lists do not reflect reputation, ethics, or club participation. That is why every referral list also has disclaimers.

This is another common misconception about breeders that is not always true. These days breeders are more likely <u>not</u> to invite clients to their home for safety reasons. This is entirely a personal preference. Yes, most breeders want to meet with new owners and a majority prefer personal pickup. Even so, not everyone is comfortable bringing complete strangers to the place they live, raise children, and keep dogs. This doesn't mean they are operating a puppy mill or have something to hide. It simply means the breeder is making safety a priority.

There was never a breed known as the English white terrier. English terriers were used during early development of bull terriers. There were two colors-- black and white-- of which the white variety was primarily used as foundation stock. So, there were black English terriers and white English terriers, both of which were well documented in historical publications.