What to Consider Before Getting a Puppy from California Pits

Updated

California Pits presents itself as a long-established breeder of American Pit Bull Terriers and offers stud service, but the site does not publish puppy prices, availability, health-testing results, or a purchase process. Before committing, treat the website as an introduction and verify the rest directly with the breeder by email ([email protected]) or phone ((951) 544-4497). The considerations below are the ones the site itself raises.

What the Site Establishes

The homepage states the program was established in 1982 and describes dogs suited to "working, showing, and families." It names a foundation in Hemphill/Wallace breedings between "Red Brava" and Purple Ribbon "Hazard Joe," and describes line-bred "Heavy Champion" and "Grand Champion" UKC Purple Ribbon bloodlines. Founder Tekla Castillo is credited with 40 years of experience.

That is marketing language, not documentation. Nothing on the page lists individual health clearances, pedigree certificates, or registration paperwork you would receive with a puppy.

Questions to Ask Before Reserving

Use the contact form or phone number to get answers in writing. The site gives no purchase steps, so these questions define them:

  • Availability and timing: Are puppies or adults currently available, and when is the next expected litter? The site lists only adult dogs.
  • Price and deposit terms: What is the total cost, what does it include, and what happens to a deposit if a litter falls short?
  • Health records: What veterinary checks, vaccinations, and clearances do the parents and puppies have, and can you see them?
  • Registration and pedigree: Which registry (the site references UKC titles) and what paperwork transfers with the dog?
  • Temperament fit: The site claims dogs suit families; ask how puppies are matched to homes and whether you can meet the dam and sire.

Reading the Dog Pages

The site separates its dogs into Our Males, Our Females, and a Hall of Fame of dogs from the line over the past 40 years.

  • The four males — Buster Brown, Bleu Boy, El General, and Rocky Road — are each listed as available for stud service. That tells you the kennel sells stud access, not that those dogs are for sale.
  • The females (White Lilly, Deja Vu 2, Calie, Honee) are presented as the breeding foundation. Their pages are the place to check lineage claims against what you are told about a puppy's parents.
  • The Hall of Fame is a historical showcase. It supports the claim of a long-running program but is not evidence of any specific dog's health or title.

Matching the Breeder to Your Situation

The site's emphasis on show and working titles means the kennel positions itself toward buyers interested in competition or breed preservation as well as pets. If you want a family companion, ask specifically which litters or dogs the breeder would recommend and why. If you want a show prospect, ask for the registration and title records behind the champion claims rather than relying on the page text.

Because no pricing, contract, or health-testing information is published, the decision rests on what the breeder provides in direct correspondence. Request documents before paying anything, and treat the website's history and bloodline descriptions as the starting point for that conversation.