Choosing a puppy means choosing a BREEDER

Many people will select a puppy from a pet shelter . Such puppies often are not purebred. If you have decided to purchase a pure bred puppy, then you  will need to select a good breeder . For a number of reasons, it is totally irresponsible to buy a puppy from a pet store. Price, you may say, is cheaper at a pet store. Not so. Most pet stores charge a much higher price than a reputable breeder. Convenience, you may say....the pet store is "just down the road". This may be true, but the quality and the socialization aspects of the puppy should be important considerations, and you will not find these things in a pet store puppy. You get what you pay for.  For puppy buyers who truly care about what sort of puppy they are getting, i.e., number of years a breeder has been breeding, health clearances, extensive knowledge and education about the breed in question, facilities and cleanliness of where the dogs are kept, price is usually not an issue.  What makes a good breeder from a bad one?  How do you know?  That question has been lurking around for as long as I've been a dog lover and breeder.

You need to find a good breeder. What most people looking for a puppy do not know about breeding is the care, time, cost, and effort one puts into a good breeding program.  Also, let's not forget the number one important issue; the love for the breed.  First and foremost, a good breeder loves and cares for their dogs.  Being a breeder is truly a labor of love, as it should be.  When I knew I wanted to breed, I purchased several books that were breed specific, frequented dog shows, learned the standard, went to conformation classes, showed and finished several of my own dogs, studied pedigrees, did research on OFA and Penn-Hip, made countless calls to established breeders, and of course, found a great mentor, which was also paramount. 

 It amazes me how many people call me after they've purchased a dog elsewhere, and can no longer locate the "breeder" because the phone number has been disconnected, or they have no Web site, or obviously, have moved with no forwarding address or phone number.  Even though these people did not buy a dog from me, I do try to assist them with their questions.  To me, the genetic testing, reputation, length of years in breeding and researching pedigrees to improve lineage is essential.  Also, I always bred quality first, versus quantity.  Furthermore, I always guaranteed a replacement puppy if a problem WAS experienced. I'm not going to vanish next year and disappear after I've sold a puppy.  People who  ask why my prices are higher than others , I tell them, it is the difference between buying an economy car versus a luxury car.  You get what you pay for.  Having a contract and guarantee assures the purchaser that they are getting a good, well bred dog."

     Points to focus on when searching for your new addition:

• Ask the breeder how many years they have been breeding
• How many different breeds do they have (with the Internet available, it's usually not difficult to find if a breeder has several different breeds)
• Do they guarantee and/or have a WRITTEN contract?
• Ask for several references (people who have purchased a puppy from them in the past)
  
• While it is not paramount to belong to a parent club that represents the breed you're interested in, ask the breeder if they are involved in showing, agility or obedience, or if they belong to the local kennel all-breed club.
  

While there is no perfect dog since we're not living in a perfect world, if a problem should arise, it helps if you're purchasing a puppy from an established breeder versus novice.  A good breeder stands behind their pups 100%, good or bad.  To quote my mentor of several years, "If your dogs aren't good enough to show, they're not good enough to breed."  Her profound words have, and still do, a major impact on my breeding program.