Choosing a Breeder

1. Don't buy a puppy because he's less expensive than another puppy of the same breed. You may be sacrificing quality. Usually, you get what you pay for. It may be worth spending that extra $200 now rather than paying $2,000 when health or behavior problems arise.

2. Never buy a puppy from a pet store. Too often these puppies come from "puppy mills". If you don't know what a puppy mill is, look up the term "puppy mill" on the internet or call your local animal shelter. The only way to stop puppy mills is to stop buying puppies from pet stores. This does not include those pet stores that have shelter puppies available for adoption.

3. Good pedigrees will contain such abbreviations as the following by dog's names: Ch. (show champion), CD (obedience-companion dog), UD (obedience-utility dog). These titles prove the dog, by whose name they appear, has good body structure and/or does well in obedience work. There are numerous other titles so check which titles mean what and why they may be important for your breed.

4. Keep in mind that though a litter is advertised as AKC registered doesn't mean they're quality pups. AKC registered means that the puppy is eligible for registration with the American Kennel Club. For quality, look at pedigrees and health records.

5. The breeder should know what their breed was meant to do, general history of the breed, health problems that may affect their breed, and what homes their pups would do best in. Be wary of the breeder that makes their breed out to be perfect. They usually are just interested in money since no breed is perfect for everyone.

6. The breeder should ask you questions before they agree to sell you a puppy. Such as: Do you have time to care for a puppy properly? Can you afford feeding/grooming costs? Where will the puppy live (indoors/outdoors)? Why do you want a puppy?

7. A health guarantee should be given with every purebred puppy sold. The breeder is responsible for bringing your puppy into the world and therefore should be responsible for it until it no longer graces the earth. Breeders offer varying guarantees so check out what hereditary health problems may affect your breed and be sure your health guarantee covers it to some extent. Don’t expect the guarantee to cover such things as accidents, parasites, nonhereditary diseases, etc. You should also have at least 48 hours after picking the puppy up from the breeder to take your new pup to your vet. If your vet should find a health problem your breeder should allow you to return the puppy and choose another one, wait until the next litter arrives to choose one, or return your money.

8. Trust your instincts! If you feel uncomfortable with a breeder, leave. Don't be afraid to tell the breeder you'll just keep looking. A reputable breeder will understand.

9. Ask if mother’s been bred every season. A breeder who cares about their dogs will breed every other season. Some breeders will breed back-to-back once. This occurs when the breeder wants puppies in a specific season, if there was a small litter, or the female comes into heat once per year. Of course, there are always “accidents”!

10. If you're buying a large breed puppy be sure the health guarantee covers hip dysplasia. Most breeders will either reimburse a portion, or all, of the cost of the pup or give you another puppy from another litter should your puppy be diagnosed with hip dysplasia at two years of age.

11. Never buy a puppy from some one who breeds more than two-three different breeds of dogs. People who breed more than that are usually out for money and don’t care about the quality of their puppies.

12. Check out your local animal shelter for a puppy. They are often overfilling with puppies and dogs looking for a home. Often, dogs adopted from animal shelters turn out to be wonderful pets. They're just happy you gave them a second chance at life!

13. When deciding on a breeder or animal shelter, check where the puppies are raised. If the pen is dirty the pups may be difficult to house train.

14. If you want a purebred dog but don’t plan on entering any competition, look into your local breed rescue club. They often have adult dogs looking for new homes and sometimes puppies.

15. Ask your local vet if they know anyone with puppies the breed you’re looking for. The vet can tell you if the parents are healthy and if the breeder is some one you’d care to buy a puppy from.

16. Get references from your breeder of others that own puppies from them. Call these people and ask them to tell you about their experience with their breeder and if they would recommend getting a puppy from the breeder. There is no better way to find out about how ethical a breeder is and check the quality of their pups than talking to people who have dealt with them in the past.