"Most people undertake such projects for the love of it, not the money or the glory. Simply put, most don't care if other people (in general) do or don't know their dogs and many of these guys and gals produce too few litters to have excess pups once they have met their own, friends and associates requirements.
The majority of the time you will see 'so-called' bandog breeder sites it is quite apparent they are BYB's / Puppy-millers/Rank-Amateurs.
Some questions to ask yourself when viewing a(ny) site:
Cons
* There is an overly 'overt' mention of cost/money? - Possible Cause for concern
* Breeder seems to attribute their own 'tag' to "their breed" in efforts to establish credability/rarity value/profit from others (by name etc.)
* The site implies a lot of breedings are going on / constant stream of pups is being produced - Major Worry!
* The site presents (often) overly romanticised histories, esp' in association to fighting and blood sports that really are of no relevance to a 'guardian' dog in modernity.
* Is there reference to activities that are out of step with the 'stated goal' ...e.g. reference to, or obsession with 'fighting' dogs in a program intended to create 'guardian' dogs? - Major Worry!
* Breeder also appears to be consistently selecting dogs that do not correspond to the breeders proposed role.
* Breeder does not indepently 'validate' its stock now (i.e. uses its own tests, BST, titles etc.) and has no history either in service or sport to support the breeder's experience/competence to judge. - Worry
* The site uses terminology and other references to negatively impact the public perception's of the breed they are selling - Major Worry!
* The site makes unsupported claims of natural protectiveness, man-stopping ability and does not mention the need for responsible ownership, training and experience - Another Worry!
* Breeder offers no public nor private affirmations / proof of breeding stock health
* Breeder's site / history is known to or clearly demonstrates unethical practices: e.g. breeding immature females/males, repeatedly breeding females on each heat cycle, breeding the same male/female to multiple, differing dogs with seemingly no obvious or clear rationale, breeding females more than the advised number of times by KC guidelines/SPCA rules - all bad signs!
* Breeder seems to produce multiple first-generation crosses without progressing, and without keeping the majority of the progeny for their programme - Sign of milling rather than activity to 'establish' a line
* Pups do not appear to be particularly healthy or vigorous, do not appear to be well socialised (e.g. all pics are in the whelping pen even when the pups are old enough to be 'about')
* Breeder seems to constantly have a number of mature 'picks' of litters available ...or all pups are touted as 'pick of the litter'
* Breeder can be found to be advertising in dubious means beside their site, e.g. in national publications associated as 'puppy peddler publications' ...or is forced to try and advertise on sites that aren't even relevant to their breed. "
Pros
+ The site offers up a rationale behind the programme, definitive goals and objectives both long/short-term
+ Suitable guarentee's are presented as pertains to health/temp and replacements
+ Spay/Neuter contracts are required
+ A Breeding Rights / Contract is required (Many Good bandog breeders will retain rights to their stock either for use in their programme, or just for approval before bred)? - Plus
+ Performance measure(s) are demonstrated to denote breed-worthy status. Preferably there multiple measures coinciding directly with the stated goals and tested/validated independently
+ Breeder has multiple generations, producing a fairly consistent type and if possible to ascertain, temperament? ...or is their variation and signs of 'scatter breeding'?
+ Breeder offers parents for inspection, preferably other relatives also and if not photographic evidence to illustrate a prospective pup's lineage.
+ Breeder can cover the breeding's lineage stating the rationale behind it, relative strengths and weaknesses, synergies sought etc.
+ Breeder has CGC's/TT's and Health certification on their stock
+ Breeder has a known, long-standing and respected reputation?
+ Breeder has a proven track-record in Service (PD/Military/Customs etc.), private security or competitive sport (SCH/FR/KNPV/WT/IPDL/WT)
+ Breeder offers rebates or other 'accomplishment incentives' ...e.g. for Health, Temp and Working titles that act toward the betterment of the line (genetically/improving public perceptions)
+ Breeder generally demands home visits or interviews before placement?
+ Breeder seldom sells to the public / sells a small percentage of each litter and preferably has a genuine wiating list to obtain a puppy. - Huge plus!
+ Breeder provides support and feedback toward establishing the right dog for a customer and is quite willing to defer them to another breeder ...or another breed - Huge plus
+ Breeder will politely tell unsuitable customers that they need to gain more experience or whatever... and refuse a sale
+ Breeder will admit short-comings in their stock that they are seeking to improve ...after all no line is 100% perfect
+ Breeder will make prospective owners aware of potential issues such as genetic or other health issues etc.
+ Breeder will actually try to discourage / downplay the value of having a guardian breed and make people aware of the responsibility involved.
+ Breeder will demand first right to return rather than see their dogs submitted to a rescue organisation
+ Breeder will willingly allow their stock to be tested within reason and by qualified persons.
There's lots of others too, but that's a few things to look for that are particularly key to bandogge breeders.
Now, there are a few reputable breeders that have had sites, and some that still have sites of some description ...although many not for purposes of selling dogs at all.
Off top of my head, I can only think of two bandog breeders that have sites worth visiting, the main one being True Blue in Australia.
The other "top 5" breeders I personally know of no longer have sites, with 1 or possibly 2 more having plans to (re-)launch a site at a latter date."