California is big enough that buying a bulldog in Fresno and buying one in San Francisco are different problems: different rescues, different prices, and very different summers. Pick your region.
- Los Angeles — the biggest market, the highest color hype, and theft worth guarding against.
- Orange County — our home turf: coastal versus inland heat, beaches, licensing.
- San Diego — cross-border puppy sales, East County heat, military rehoming.
- Sacramento — the strongest rescue network in the state, and Valley heat.
- The Bay Area — highest prices and vet costs, apartment living, inland East Bay heat.
- The Inland Empire — triple-digit summers and a lot of backyard breeding.
- The Central Valley — Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto and Stockton: lower prices, hardest climate.
What's the same everywhere
Whatever part of the state you're in: see the puppy and its mother live before you pay, get health testing results for both parents, insist on a written contract with a genetic health guarantee, never pay by gift card or wire transfer, and check the rescues first. Our scam guide and printable checklist cover the details.