REWARD OFFERED: British bulldog breeder Hazel Willcock has offered a $10,000 reward for information about two 10-week old puppies stolen from her property last Friday.

The theft of two British bulldog puppies worth $6000 has changed a Cambridge breeder's future in the industry, and has the potential to bring an end to a nationwide genetic line.

And it's prompted a $10,000 reward from their owner. The 10-week-old male puppies, each valued at $3000, were taken from British bulldog breeder Hazel Willcock's property last Friday.

The theft has attracted a lot of interest with pictures posted on Cambridge police Facebook page about the case being viewed more than 68,000 times and shared by more than 2000 people.

''It's more tragic than you realise,'' Willcock said. ''I cannot repeat that genetic formula. This could be a tragic end to a genetic line in New Zealand.

''The value of them for me is far beyond just the monetary value. As a breeder these puppies were in my five to 10 year plan. They were the future, but obviously not any more.''

Willcock had her suspicions as to who may have taken the puppies as she was visited by a man and a woman - who had a child with them - last Friday morning.''The couple told me somebody had referred them to me and expressed interest in buying a puppy. I told them nothing was for sale.

''I remember the puppies being infatuated with some of the black pompoms the child had on the black gumboots they were wearing.''

As the people went to leave, Willcock gave them some petrol to get them home.

''They had run out of petrol and their car wouldn't start. I insisted they take some of my petrol because I didn't want them to be stuck here with their little child. I even pushed their car down the road until it started.''

Willcock said the only description she could give of the car was that it was silver and had a ''powdery'' look.

''My biggest concern about the puppies is the thought that they are not being looked after. Thoughts like 'Who are they with?' and 'Are they being fed?''

Cambridge police said there was a chance the puppies were in the Hamilton or Ngaruawahia areas.