You should be able to request a visit to residence. If they do not allow visitors, you should see red flags! If you are geographically unable to visit ask for pictures of the home. Note that some kennels are outdoors, and can be very nice but could also be deplorable. You want to see how the parents are cared for ! Are they in pens and never socialized are they delivering puppies on dirt or a concrete pad or in a cage? Is it the case that every single picture of the parents and or puppies are through fences, or outside. Look before you buy. Don�t support puppy mills, Thousands of dogs are needlessly killed every year due to puppy mills. When you buy from such places you are not only looking at potential health issues directly related to poor care but also notoriously they will breed the same dogs over and over never taking into consideration genetic flaws that may not be apparent for quite some time after you have received your baby. and or blatant issues that should not ever have been bred. They breed for profit, they breed without love, they breed the poor parents to death. If purchasing a puppy is strictly about cost, I suggest you go to the local pound and rescue a puppy that is already in dire need. Don�t think because they say "Purebred" or AKC , that you are getting the best, you can find most millers will somehow get a puppy that�s pedigree held merit at one time. They will breed this puppy early, without the proper screening , they will breed her over and over . Most often to the same lesser male, they will breed her to her father her brother her very own puppies just to produce more litters. You don�t need to be scientist to know when the gene pool is that shallow the faults are plenty. Line breeding should be left to those who are learned in the subject. Ask to see both parents pedigrees, look to see how many times the same sire or dam is on it. Ask questions.. A very good question to ask when you see repeat names is at what merit were these specific breeding line bred? If they don�t know Run.Ask how many litters the female has produced and at what age she was first bred. Ask to see O.F.A. or Pen hip results. Ask to speak with their veterinarian, ask for referrals from recent and past puppy owners. Ask if you can review a contract. Ask to see the written guarantee; whatever you do don�t just shop for the cheapest puppy! Basically in the long run you will be spending allot of time and Money at the vets. And please if you do happen to stumble on a potential puppy mill report them to the authorities, animal cruelty is against the law! And should be punished.Last thing I will mention on this subject is. Puppy stores or stores that offer puppies for sell, think to yourself where do these puppies come from? Do you really think that any reputable breeder would sell a litter of puppies to a store with no way of screening for placement and or following their lines to make sure there are no issues? The answer is No!!If you buy a puppy from said stores you are pretty much guaranteed to be supporting puppy mills. Yes that means the ones that have AKC papers too, as I said before any miller can find a puppy with papers. This is why myself and other breeders ask for so much information before we agree to allow you to have a puppy. If we don�t have puppies available we refer to reputable breeders . There are also many breed specific rescue organizations that are always searching for good rescue homes , save a bullmastiff instead of Buying one. My feelings are that every puppy deserves a good home with kind loving Humans, however not all humans deserve the loving and loyal friendship of a puppy.Choose your Breeder wisely ask questions, study the breed.All puppies are cute when they are small, but they grow, they need training and socialization, they need a lifelong commitment that outlasts the cute and fuzzy stage. Do Not buy out of impulse think long and hard ..And then be prepared for the responsibilities.

Mary Atchison

Dream Acres Bullmastiffs