Breeder suggested calling AKC to check on their standing. I did just that today (Dec. 8, 2009.) This breeder is not in good standing with the AKC. AKC said that they were suspended until March, 2011. They were suspended in 2004. Suspended again in 2005. Suspended again in 2006 for 4 1/2 years for "submission of false application to register or transfer litters".

I would say this breeder shows a history of misrepresentation.

Breeder uses a dog "registry" called ACA. Be careful. It is not the respected AKC (Amer. Kennel Club). ACA is not recognized by most vets nor by good breeders. It's simply a "registration service"--you send in some form with a fee and you're registered. They do not do DNA testing or breeder verifications, etc, etc like the AKC American Kennel Club does. Again, they're just a registration service that is not verifiable. Big difference between AKC and ACA. (I sure have gone through a huge learning-curve in this whole ordeal!)

My "purebred bulldog" which Bart and Beth Jessen sold me had her tail docked. Bulldogs have short tails and good breeders do not dock bulldog tails. She is very lean (thin) and has long legs. Started noticing she wasn't very bulldog looking after a few months. Beth Jessen told us to wait 1 1/2 to 2 years for her to widen out & look like a bulldog. After having her roughly 4 months we took her to several bulldog experts, including a Governor of Bulldog Club of America--who has bred bulldogs over 30 years and judges bulldog competitions. All confirmed she is not a purebred bulldog--our puppy is a mixed breed dog--very little bulldog in her lines.

When I asked Beth for photos of the mother and father, she sent pictures of father but said she didn't have pictures of the mother. Once I indicated I wanted my money back she miraculously was able to produce photos of the mother. I have not had the photos examined by an expert yet, but the mother does not look much like a bulldog.

For(((Redacted))). She's a sweetie and very cute. We love her! She is napping next to me right now. :)

We paid a total of $2,241 for a purebred bulldog. It's not a matter of not liking the dog. We love her! But we paid a lot of money for a mixed breed dog. These breeders did not give us what they promised and they need to make things right.

They gave us 3 options in getting our money back. Two of the options demanded returning the dog. What good breeder would expect a family to give a dog back after having her almost 7 months now? Our Sophie is a part of our family. We have 2 young children who LOVE this dog--and the dog LOVES them. She cried every morning for a month when the kids went back to school this fall. We are a good, loving family that isn't about to sacrifice our Sophie for money. It's not her fault that she's not a bulldog. These breeders are CRUEL to expect that we return her!

Some things are right and some things are wrong. It's totally wrong that these breeders should get away with charging us over $2,000 for a purebred bulldog--when we got a mixed breed dog. It's totally wrong that they even ask us to return our sweet Sophie when we've had her 7 months! And it's totally wrong for them to write these long, twisted stories on the internet claiming they are good breeders and in good standing with the AKC--when they are not! And they are using a "registry service" as a claim of quality of dogs.

But don't take my word for things--see for yourself. I will be adding a picture of our Sophie with this post, so check back. In the meantime, go to (((Redacted))) to check out our Sophie. I invite you to show the photo to your vet. See if they think this is a purebred bulldog. In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words......

Thanks for listening!

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on BJ Puppies, BJ Bulldogs, Bart Jessen, Beth Jessen

10 Updates & Rebuttals

USAALLDAWAY

Fairfax Station,
Virginia,
USA

Darling Maltese Dog!

#2Consumer Comment

Sun, August 16, 2015

Testimony: My husband and I purchased a DARLING maltese dog originating from Beth Jessen. He was everything we could have wanted and the most beautiful Little boy. He was a tiny guy - just how we wanted and his weight stayed naturally at 2.5 pounds his entire life and by far he had the best disposition of any dog we have ever previously owned. He has given us hours of joy and companionship and many, many times we were stopped by people while out and about who marveled at his movie-star looks and his incredible cuteness factor. His health was very very good. That has been our experience and I wanted to share.

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Kelly Enix

Santa Cruz,
California,
USA

Update

#3Consumer Comment

Fri, March 19, 2010

As I told you before, I filed a report with the Better Business Bureau. The Jessen's and I sent a few responses back and forth, and eventually I recieved an email from the BBB. In the email, it said that the Jessens had done everything possible to raise purebred puppies and that my case was closed (in favor of the Jessens).

A few days later I got a call from Beth. The BBB had forwarded pictures of my dog after they closed the case. She called to tell me she agreed that my dog didn't look like a bulldog should. She offered to replace my dog, but I refused (I love my little guy!) so she came up with another solution. I'm not going to go into detail on here what the terms of our agreement were, but she did make it right with me.

On the phone she sounded truely upset and concerned about the fact that I had somehow received a dog that was not purebred. She has figured out which dog the problem was coming from (by process of elimination) and will not be breeding with that dog anymore. Unfortunately, just as we felt we were "duped", she had also been "duped" by a breeder who sold her a dog that looked purebred and had papers, but unfortunately was a mixed breed dog. She seemed very sincere and I truely believe this will not be a problem anymore.

Also, for the record, BETH DID NOT ASK ME TO POST THIS. After speaking to her and coming to an agreement I offered to write an update. All these thoughts are my own.

DogLover

United States of America

I'm in the same boat!!

#4Consumer Comment

Fri, January 29, 2010

My so called miniature English bulldog looks just like the one pictured here. I purchased ours about 2.5 years ago from Bart & Beth Jessen from www.bjpuppies.com. Everyone has told us that our dog does not look like a miniature English Bulldog and it looks like I'm not the only one who has been scammed. I have yet to contact Bart or Beth because I just decided to research about our dog and I came across this complaint.
Kelly - I am also in N.Cal and I would be interested in how you will be proceeding with your litigation.
Original poster - How are you proceeding as well?

Kelly Enix

Santa Cruz,
California,
USA

Sophie was NOT an isolated incident... con't

#5Consumer Comment

Thu, January 28, 2010

When I said Missouri, I meant Minnesota. Sorry for the typo

Kelly Enix

Santa Cruz,
California,
United States of America

Sophie was NOT an isolated incident

#6Consumer Comment

Wed, January 27, 2010

Reading this "Ripoff Report" sounds like someone stole my story. I had the EXACT same experience with the purchase of my so-called miniature English Bulldog puppy from Beth and Bart Jessen.

He is now a year and a half old and still looks like a lanky boxer puppy. I paid $2450 for what turned out to be a mixed breed dog. My husband and I paid $75 for a "dog DNA test" which proved he was a mixed breed. He is mostly Bulldog, but he is also Boxer and Bischon Frise. When I called Beth to ask her why she sold me a $2450 mutt she told me the DNA results couldn't be right... One look at our dog and you can tell the DNA results are not mistaken.

We love our sweet little guy, but definitely did not get what we paid for. I looked into suing the Jessens for a refund (since she refused when I called), but unfortunately I'd have to go to Missouri to do so. Since I live in California it is just not possible... it would cost me more than what I'd win back in court.

I would advise anyone wanting to buy a mini Bulldog to stay as far away from the Jessens as possible!! They are running a SCAM!!!!!

starlight 631

Edgerton,
Minnesota,
United States of America

Rebuttal to a false complaint.

#7Consumer Comment

Sat, January 16, 2010

I have bought two puppies from Beth and am in the process of buying another in a few weeks. I have had no problems what so ever. Both Beth and Bart have been extremly helpful, answering any questions I may have had before and after the purchase of my puppies. I personally would recommend this breeder to anyone looking to purchase a puppy. They have been in buisness for 30 years with no complaints until this person happened along. I traveled many miles to personally pick up my first puppy and was thrilled to see the clean, healthy and happy enviroment that Bart and Beth have to raise their puppies. I knew from the moment I drove up to their home that this was a quality kennel and one that cared about the animals. They were more than happy to show me the parents of my puppy, as well as the siblings. These people are not crooks, they are honest and hard working and trying to please their customers. I think all persons reading these reviews should realize that there is always SOMEONE out there that you just can not please, no matter how hard you try. This lady sounds like she is trying to get something for nothing and trying to slander a reputable breeder...and that is just wrong. If the breeder would not have given her any other options, then I can see that maybe her complaints are warranted. But they have obviously given her many options to return this puppy and SHE has refused them. Shame on her!!!

I want to warn all buyers, just because someone is selling an AKC puppy doesn't mean your dog will be an exact match to the breed standard or that the kennel is a caring and clean place! I did all my homework before buying a puppy and visited many "prestigious" AKC kennels in my area...most would make you sick! Dogs being raised in tiny cages, filthy conditions, no human contact. These were "prestigious" AKC kennels that this complaintant talks about. She has no clue! And as far as breed standards...I have a friend in Texas that bought an AKC registered Maltese puppy a year ago from an AKC breeder in Oklahoma. The breeder told her that the puppy would be about 5 pounds when he was full grown. The AKC size standard for a Maltese is 4-7 pounds, her puppy now weighs in at 14 pounds. Is my friend on the internet, making all kinds of trouble for this breeder? No, she LOVES her dog, even though he is almost double the size he should be! These are living creatures that do grow, no one but God could guarentee what a puppy will eventually look like.

If you love this dog as much as you claim, then stop and be happy that you found such a wonderful and loving pet. That IS what it is all about anyway, isn't it???

To all buyers looking to buy a puppy...Bart and Beth have a wonderful, clean and caring facility. I have been there personally and have seen it first hand! YOU DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THIS BREEDER.

Anon

USA

Docked Tail

#8Author of original report

Sat, January 16, 2010

Okay, let's try this again. Having trouble getting photos attached. Here should be a photo of our Sophie and her docked tail. (Purebred English bulldogs have short tails--they don't dock them.)

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Anon

USA

Our Sophie compared to English bulldog photo

#9Author of original report

Fri, January 08, 2010

Note the differences between our sweet Sophie (the thin one) and an English bulldog.....

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Anon

USA

Photos of dog Bart Jessen sold us as purebred

#10Author of original report

Fri, January 08, 2010

Here is a photo of our sweet Sophie. Bart & Beth Jessen sold us this dog claiming that it was a "mini purebred English bulldog." A picture is a worth a thousand words. Numerous experts have concurred that she is a mixed breed dog.

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Bart and Beth

Edgerton,
Minnesota,
United States of America

mk

#11Consumer Comment

Wed, December 16, 2009

WOW WOW WOW WOW I cant believe some people they think they can get something for nothing. I agree with you Beth & Bart that this lady sounds like she wants something for free. Our Friends bought a puppy from them 3 years ago and we just bought a puppy from them this summer. We went to go pickup our puppy and they have a wonderful business and is very honest. There place is very clean and neat. They have beautiful dogs and they helped us any way they could .You couldn't buy from a more honest breeder. I hope people don't listen to this kind of trash on the internet because THIS LADY WANTS TO RUIN THE GOOD HONEST BREEDERS THAT WE HAVE LEFT ON THE INTERNET. Our puppy was AKC registered and I got the papers just fine from them and sent them in to AKC and everything was fine. HEY ANNON YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING FOR FREE NOW A DAYS.We also called their Vets here is there number 507-442-VETS they new Bart and Beth for years they have lived their for all their life .They have the AKC puppy registered paper right on their web sight call and ask about the litters.Wow Cant Believe this person.ACA is a great registration club in which she bought a puppy from that club.If you wanted a AKC puppy buy one lady.

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