Thinking about getting a dog....

[Kara]

IF you're going to buy from a breeder, please please please do your homework. Make sure you're supporting a breeder who health tests their dogs and can offer you OFA numbers so you can verify health testing. They should also temperament test their dogs & can help you determine the best fit for your household. Make sure they are in good standing with their local breed clubs and associations. Make sure they are currently, actively showing and titling their dogs. Ask how they socialize their puppies, what they feed, what their vaccination protocol is, etc.
They will probably only have one, MAYBE two, planned breedings a year, and there's a good chance you'll be on a waiting list for a while before the right puppy comes along. Very rarely will you see both parents on site, because these breeders are taking an active part in seeking out the best dog to which to breed theirs, in order to strengthen bloodlines and balance faults in their own dogs. Beware of "breeders" with lots of dogs on the premises, or who raise theirs in kennels.
A good breeder should have at least as many questions for you as you have for them, if not more. Be prepared for what may seem like a rigorous puppy application, limited registrations with a spay/neuter contract, and potential home checks.

There are a LOT of dogs haphazardly bred every year by puppy mills, unscrupulous "backyard breeders" who just want to make a buck, as well as the truly clueless who just think their dogs are nice, so they should breed them because, wouldn't everyone else want a dog just as nice? Most of the time these dogs have no health testing, no temperament testing and frequently end up rehomed, in rescues, dumped at the pound or worse.

If for some reason you can't invest the time and resources into locating a breeder in good standing of the purebred in which you may be interested, please, please consider contacting a rescue or adoption group. You'll still have to go through the application process & will probably have to do a home check, but you'll also get a lot of support in finding the exact dog for your situation, going through the right rescue or adoption league. Good rescue groups are a wonderful resource, and do lots of temperament testing and really try to match the dog to the potential owner and the owner's situation.

In either case, be up front with what your expectations are for a dog in your household, what your experience level is in raising & training a puppy, and don't be afraid to ask for help when necessary. Do your homework on proper nutrition, puppy socialization, and what it actually takes to successfully raise a well-trained, good-mannered dog that is an ambassador for the canine species as a whole, regardless of breed. Find a good obedience training club in your area, and be prepared to take your dog to classes. In addition to utilizing the skills of a good trainer (check references!!), the right classes will help with your dog's ongoing socialization (most critical as a puppy, but important throughout the dog's life).

Please, be very, very leery of backyard breeders who don't health or temperament test, and only think about lining their own pockets, instead of actively striving to improve the breed they claim to love.

Good luck finding the right dog!

K~