Dark Horse Kennels
Meet the breeder
I'm Jessica D., the breeder behind Dark Horse Kennels located in Cottontown, TN. We are a small family-owned kennel that focuses on the American Bully breed. We have been involved in the breed for over 10 years. We focus on temperament first, then structure and pedigree. Our goal is to continue bettering the breed through health testing our dogs and producing healthier offspring in future generations of our stock.
Q. & A. with Jessica
Why did you start breeding?
I adopted a dog from a coworker that they could no longer keep. She was expecting a litter of puppies. We took her in and cared for her and her pups, and it felt like it was what I was supposed to be doing. Being a huge animal lover already, it seemed like a no-brainer to me. Ten years later, turns out I was right.What makes your program special?
We offer a very small, close-knit program here. I purposefully keep a very small number of dogs so I can know each one thoroughly inside and out. We also raise the pups in our home right in the middle of our life. We do lots of one-on-one training with each puppy and profile their personalities. I will not pair a pup with a person I do not feel "fits" with them. I want each family and puppy to have the best match possible.Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home.
Getting a puppy from Jessica
Jessica has been certified by Good Dog’s screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you’re ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.
Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Price
Puppy prices include a $500 refundable deposit and between $2,000 - $5,500 final payment, before taxes & fees.
“The deposit can vary depending on the price of the pup. Generally, it's 10% of the total price. Pricing includes full rights and registration, lifetime genetic health guarantee, lifetime breeder support, ear crop, microchip, and more. Deposit reserves a puppy or a pick on a litter. Pricing always includes ear crop , microchip, age appropriate vetting, abkc and or ukc papers, genetic health guaruntee.”
Contract & health guarantee
Jessica may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Jessica offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jessica directly.
Always communicate and pay on Good Dog.Learn more
What’s included
From Good Dog
- Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
- 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
- Puppy Training Program & private community
Puppy health practices
- Vet check
- First round of shots and deworming
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Jessica.
Breeder’s location
Meet in Cottontown, TN
Other pick-up locations
Meet at Nashville Airport (Berry Field)
More about Jessica
Club memberships
Jessica is a member of American Bully Kennel Club and United Kennel Club .
Jessica has been a member of Good Dog for over 4 years
Jessica was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2021.
Jessica’s links
Jessica is a trusted Good Dog breeder
Dark Horse Kennels meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
- Responsible breeding practices
- Health of breeding dogs and puppies
- Puppy environment and enrichment
- Buyer education and policies
Parent dogs
All breeds
American Bully
Unknown
Martha May, mom
American Bully
About Martha May
Martha May is a female American Bully. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Jessica decided to make her part of their program. Jessica has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
SB's Little Red Bull, dad
Unknown
About SB's Little Red Bull
SB's Little Red Bull is a male Unknown. Carefully selected as a great representative of his breed, Jessica decided to make him part of their program. Jessica has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
DHK's Smashville Rose `, mom
Unknown
About DHK's Smashville Rose `
DHK's Smashville Rose ` is a female Unknown. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Jessica decided to make her part of their program. Jessica has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Parent health testing
Dark Horse Kennels reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for American Bullies.
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Brucellosis
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.
Animal Genetics Panel
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).
