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What can I expect when purchasing a Better Built Bullies Puppy?
Included with all puppies:
HAVE ON HAND BEFORE PUPPY GOES HOME WITH YOU:
BEWARE OF SCAMS Beware of puppy scams. Better Built Bullies and the breeders, David and Jennifer Riddle are not in affiliation with any other breeder or distributor. Better Built Bullies will not accept any money from you without going through the process listed above, all communication will be done through my direct contact. Any attempts to sell you a puppy or request funds otherwise are not from us or affiliated in any way.
Yes, it’s possible! We can ship our puppies worldwide arranged by professional pet shipping companies or by exclusive service while being accompanied by a private puppy nanny. Please, take in consideration that each country has its specific import regulations which might require specific ways of transportation, vaccinations and other veterinarian requirements or import permits for dogs. It is up to the new owner to check above mentioned with local government veterinarian office, although we are always here to help you with everything necessary and you can be sure that we will do our best to get your puppy to you. It is also up to new owner to check local city/country regulations for keeping an American Bully before considering its purchase.
We are experienced in exporting puppies all over the USA, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia, Hong Kong etc.
Price for shipping is not included in the price for puppy.
You are also always welcome to pick up your puppy personally and see our Program.
Yes, we provide a written health guarantee for all of our puppies.
Puppy Culture is a socialization and training program specifically developed for puppies from birth to the end of their critical socialization period (12 weeks). Puppy Culture is a program developed by Jane Killion, who is a professional dog trainer and breeder. She organized a comprehensive, and very organized program for breeders to follow during the first several weeks of a puppy's life.
Puppy Culture aimes to provide puppies with a foundation of experiences as well as skills, that will in essence help them grow into confident, well-adjusted adult dogs. They are provided with exposure to a variety of people, places, and experiences, as well as teaching them basic manners and obedience skills.
There are 7 Goals of Exposure within Puppy Culture:
7 Different Types of Surfaces and Textures
7 Different Types of Objects
7 Different Locations
7 Different Challenges (Puzzles)
7 Different Types of People
7 Different Containers
In 7 Different Places
Puppies are also exposed to many different smells. Puppies enjoy many fun activities as they play on different surfaces, hear different sounds and sights. They are provided with opportunities to explore as well as learning basic commands. We will begin crate training as well. Puppies learn how to socialize well with other puppies, as well as with children and adults.
Puppy Culture is often associated with breeding programs that are focused on producing high quality and very well-adjusted puppies. It is considered a holistic approach to breeding and raising puppies.
The first 12 weeks of a puppy's life are incredibly important. This is the most crucial time in a puppy's life to train the mindset of the puppy, which will affect him/her for life. By doing just the right things and just the right time (as a breeder), we can give your puppy the best start possible.
Prenatal Period:
Research has shown that puppies born to mothers that receive prenatal massage are more docile and enjoy being touched. So, we spoil our mommas with lots of affection and belly massages. A puppy forms a predisposition to have meaningful relationships even before birth.
Our mothers are fed raw goats' milk, red raspberry leaf, a raw food diet, and lots of supplements in order to keep her healthy and her babies healthy for birth.
Neonatal Periods 0-14 Days:
During this time, we are doing Early Neurological Stimulation. It begins on day 3 and continues through day 16. We are not just handling them, but performing a series of 3-5 seconds of neurological stimulation exercises that will change the puppy for the rest of his/her life. This is a gift that we can give the puppy and the future buyer, and it can only be done during this window of 0-14 days. It is so exciting to be able to give these puppies all of these wonderful health benefits by working with these precious gifts from the Lord from birth!!! These methods were designed by Dr. Carmen Battaglia, who is an AKC judge and director as well as the author of many books. You can find his information here.
"The U.S. Military in their canine program developed this method and it still serves as a guide to what works. In an effort to improve the performance of dogs used for military purposes, a program called "Bio Sensor" was developed. Later, it became known to the public as the "Super Dog" Program. Their studies confirmed a specific time period when neurological stimulation has optimum results. This early period of life involves a window of time that begins at the third day of life and lasts until the sixteenth day. It is this interval of time when there are rapid neurological growth and development, and therefore it is a period of great importance to the puppy." Dr. Carmen Battaglia
Benefits of Early Neurological Stimulation:
Greater tolerance to stress
Greater resistance to disease
Faster adrenal system
Stronger heart rate and heartbeat
Transitional Periods 14-21 Days:
There are different behavioral markers that are used to identify the beginning and end of each developmental period. Each puppy has his/her own individuality and has their own timeline, but these are general plans. The transitional period begins when the puppy opens his/her eyes and it ends when they startle upon hearing their first sounds.
Critical Socialization Period: 3-12 Weeks:
Our goal is to raise puppies with emotional intelligence to connect with you. They can be taught these things through the Puppy Culture Program. It is during this time we are focused on introducing new foods, sounds, sights, obstacles and experiences (including grooming and nail trimming).
Week 10-12: Puppies begin going to their new home. When puppies go to their new home during this time period, they will adjust well to their new family's lifestyle the best. Puppies can adjust after this time, but this is the best time for puppies to go to their new home and to continue much of what they have been learning with their new permanent and loving family.
What is Manding?
Naturally when a puppy comes up to someone, they get excited and jump on whomever they are greeting. The goal with manding is to teach the puppy to automatically sit in front of the person they are greeting, rather than jumping on them. It is not the same as the "sit" command. Manding is more of a respectful greeting. This way he can sit in front of you and tell you he wants to interact with you in a welcoming way, without jumping on you.
Potty Training:
We begin basic potty training as well, through this process.
Here is more information about the Early Neurological Stimulation that we do.
No dog from Better Built Bullies is ever abandoned. Should your life circumstances change, we will gladly take the dog back or help find a suitable new family. Our responsibility doesn't end with the sale – we always stand behind our dogs
One of the most common misconceptions about the American Bully is that it is simply
a type of pit bull, but the truth is these are two distinct breeds. The American Bully is a modern breed of dog that was developed as a companion dog, and originally standardized and recognized as a breed in 2004 by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC). Their published breed standard basically describes the dog as giving the “impression of great strength for its size. On July 15, 2013, the American Bully was recognized by the United Kennel Club.
American bullies are one of the best examples of a perfect family dog. Loyal and loving, they’ve had aggressive behaviors intentionally bred out of them.
This makes them great companion dogs, so you can rest assured that you’re not putting your children at risk by bringing one into your home.
One thing to keep in mind is that although one of the goals of forming this breed was to remove aggression.
Like many other dog breeds, bullies love pleasing their owner which makes them easy to train. Of course, you’ll need to put in some work and make sure you stay consistent with training them, but you’ll soon find that this intelligent breed is a breeze to work with.
Crate or playpen or both? Do you even need them? Here are the reasons why to use these helpful tools for your puppy’s growth and training!
Crates and playpens offer your puppy safe and comfortable places within your home to rest, play, and eat while your puppy is growing up and learning their routine at home.
If you were planning on having your puppy free-roam and sleep in bed with you, take a few moments to read through why opting for a crate and playpen are beneficial for your puppy’s development and future training!
Debunking the myth of free-roaming and super-sized crates!
It’s understandable that as a new puppy owner, you want to give your puppy the best experience at home and make them feel comfortable! But before you let your puppy free-roam or go out and buy a super-sized crate because you want them to have “space” here are a few things to consider:
Dogs are naturally denning animals that seek the comfort and security of being surrounded by their pack and usually sleep in tighter spaces. Your puppy is less likely to be able to settle down and even show anxious pacing in a larger crate. Small, however, doesn’t mean you should pick a crate that your puppy can barely fit into. Your puppy should be able to stand, do a complete circle, and lay down without pressing against the sides or top of their crate. We recommend the MidWest Homes for Pets 36-Inch Crate as it comes with a divider. This option allows your puppy to grow into their crate but allows you to block them off from the extra space. You can use blankets to cover your puppy’s crate and the extra space to make their crate feel extra cozy and secure.
By letting your puppy roam or getting them a larger-sized crate, you are welcoming the chance for your puppy to have accidents around your home or inside of their crate. This can create a bad and difficult habit that needs to be addressed right away. Puppies and dogs, in general, do not like to soil in the area where they sleep so getting them an appropriately sized crate helps to eliminate your puppy that space as an option to go potty.
If you have just brought home your new puppy and filled up their crate with a fluffy bed, lots of plush toys, a water bowl, and everything else you can think of, just pause for one second. All of these things are great, but not necessary and your puppy still hasn’t settled into their routine of sleeping in a crate. And by adding in a bed and other cloth toys, you're also creating an opportunity for your puppy to potty on and destroy these things! Here’s what we recommend instead:
Eliminate the clutter.
As we mentioned before, these items are great but not necessary right now. Remove them and instead let your puppy settle into their crate and start getting into the routine of sleeping in the crate.
Opt for quiet and private spaces.
Place your puppy’s crate in a place or room in your home that is quiet, cozy, and out of the main household traffic where your puppy can go and truly relax alone. Think of it as a baby nursery.
Create a dark, calm, and cozy atmosphere.
If your puppy is anxiously watching you and the rest of the family from their crate, or even whining a bit to be let out, try to use a blanket or towel over the top and sides of your puppy’s crate to block out distractions and light, while leaving the back of your puppy’s crate exposed for airflow, Wherever you decide to place your puppy’s crate, try to create a dark, calm, and cozy atmosphere by dimming the lights, and even playing some light music or white noise. All of these techniques will help your new puppy start to settle and fall asleep on their own in the crate.
If your puppy is whining (and you know they just went potty), don’t rush to let them out but instead, give them a few minutes to let them whine it out. It might seem hard (and it’ll probably be harder for you than your puppy) but eventually, your puppy will learn to settle down in their crate on their own, it might just take a few nights to get there!
While your puppy’s crate is the ideal location for them to take a break during the day or go to sleep at night, your puppy’s playpen provides a safe and controlled environment when you aren’t able to walk, play, or train your puppy and they can go play, eat, drink, and even take a nap in their playpen. Puppies that aren’t potty trained and allowed to free-roam at home can spell accidents waiting to happen if you can’t supervise them. Playpens give the peace of mind that your puppy is less likely to soil your carpets but also not get into something that they shouldn’t.
Playpen essentials
In the beginning, just like your puppy’s crate, remove clutter such as a bed, blankets, and excess toys that your puppy may chew up. You can provide your puppy with safe chew toys to help keep them engaged in play and busy while you do things around your home. When it comes to sizing the playpen, give your puppy enough room to play, stretch out and rest.
Kong toys are great to give your puppy to chew and lick! Chewing and licking actually helps your puppy relax and self-soothe if they feel anxious being alone. The great thing about toys like Kongs is that you can stuff them with yummy, healthy treats or peanut butter, but also, they are made of tough rubber that can withstand heavy chewing without breaking apart.
Potty Pads
While potty pads can slow down the potty training process, they are a good tool, just in case you aren’t able to take your puppy out to relieve themselves for some period of time. Place the potty pads in a section of your puppy’s playpen so they can go to it instead of covering the entire area of the playpen. This will encourage your puppy to go potty in a designated area. But, if your puppy is on the younger side (under 12 weeks) and not great at targeting the pads yet, and you have to leave them alone for a couple of hours, it's okay to cover the entire playpen area with pads to avoid accidents from getting onto your floors! Then you can start taking some potty pads away as your pup grows and gets better. We do, however, recommend that you stick to your puppy’s schedule and maintain taking your puppy outside to go potty throughout the day as much as possible.
If you need to leave your puppy alone for a longer period of time (we recommend no longer than three to four hours for very young puppies) you may consider setting up your puppy’s crate within the playpen. By doing so, you are providing your puppy with their designated sleeping space, and since your puppy is still potty training, a designated potty area, too! You can also leave your puppy with enough water for the time you’ll be away but try to keep it to a minimum to avoid excess potty accidents.
One thing to note, before you leave your puppy alone with potty pads, take a little time to observe whether or not they begin to chew and destroy the pads. If your puppy does do this, you’ll want to remove the potty pads altogether as this can become a choking risk! Instead, try an alternative rubber mat to help protect your floors or carpets!
You’re ready to welcome your puppy home with comfy and secure sleeping and play arrangements to help them feel right at home! Our goal is to make puppyhood easy for all new puppy owners at whatever stage their puppy is in! Whether it comes to welcoming home a new puppy, helping with puppy training, teaching you basic puppy care and health tips, understanding puppy behavior, and how to manage them, we have a blog full of helpful resources!
Purchase a Leash & Collar
You will also want to have a leash and collar ready for your new puppy so you can take him or her with you on car rides or to the park. We have found that Petco has a great selection of collars and they usually have a great clearance section for these kinds of items. Personally, when it comes to collars, we like the Kong brand because they are very durable. However, most collars will still suffice. Remember to REMOVE the collar when you crate your puppy, so they don't get snagged on the cage while they’re home alone.
Expect Accidents to Happen
Puppies tend to be excited and nervous within the first 48 hours of bring them home so it’s normal for them to cry and whine. As the puppy gets used to its new home, it should calm down. Expect accidents. Restrict the puppy to a non-carpeted area if possible until it is fully housebroken. A change in environment, and especially in diet, can cause diarrhea or loose stools. If the puppy has diarrhea, feed 100% canned pumpkin, increase fluids to ensure hydration and decrease the amount of puppy food. If the diarrhea does not improve within 48 hours, take the puppy to your veterinarian to have it checked for intestinal parasites. Here at Better Built Bullies, we deworm our puppies at each vet visit before they go off to their new homes, so they usually get dewormed 3-4 times. However, your puppy can catch parasites if you have other dogs in your home who have not recently been dewormed or if they step in the feces of another infested dog at the park or while on a walk. We recommend you deworm your puppy at least every 2 months, especially if you take them out where they could possibly pick up parasites.
Make Sure Your Dog Eats Healthy & Keep Them Away from Toxic Foods / Toxins
Nutrition is important for growing puppies. We recommend a daily multivitamin for your new puppy. We use Sure Grow 100 Vitamin Supplement for puppies. Dog foods brands that we recommend include Inukshuk, Orijen, Acana and 4health for a cheaper option. You can also choose to feed raw if you prefer since this is the best option for all dogs.
It is also important to know what is poisonous for your dog. Below is a list of toxic foods and toxins for dogs.
Toxic Foods:
Make Sure Vaccinations Stay Up To Date
Your puppy will need it’s next vaccination at 12 weeks and by the age of 6 months they will need their rabies vaccine. You should also make sure to have your puppy on heartworm prevention. There are several options for this. You may purchase the monthly pill from your veterinarian, or you may go for the ProHeart vaccine which your dog would receive once every 6 months. We have found this vaccine to be very helpful as it inexpensive and lasts you half the year. This is good for dog owners who might struggle with remembering to give the heartworm prevention pill on time and every month. Heartworm prevention is important because mosquitoes are harmful in our area plus it is more economical to prevent heartworm than to treat it. Treatment for heartworm on average costs ~$1,500 but can go upwards of $6,000.For flea and tick prevention we recommend Nexgard or Bravecto. There are different pills. Some are given monthly and others every 3 months. We have found these 2 brands to be the most effective at getting the job done. You can get these from you veterinarian as well and they don’t cost too much (NexGard monthly is usually $30-$55, Bravecto last 3 months and is usually $60-$90.)
Enjoy Your New Furry Family Member
We hope you enjoy your new American bully. We have included some information from the description of the American Bully from theabkcdogs.org:
“The American Bully is a companion breed exhibiting confidence, a zest for life, along with an exuberant willingness to please and bond with their family, thus making the American Bully an excellent family companion. Despite the American bully’s fierce and powerful appearance, their demeanor is gentle. They are great with kids and extremely friendly with strangers, other dogs, and other animals.”
Please know we truly care about each and every one of our dogs produced here and we are always available if you have any questions or need help with your new family member. We love to see our puppies grow up so please send us pictures and updates of your puppy as they grow! Thank you very much for your business and we look forward to many years of your friendship.
Email: DaveR.NC@protonmail.com
Phone: 919-201-7171
Better Built Bullies
North Carolina, United States
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