So you are looking to add a puppy or dog to your family?
Adding a new family member should not be a spur of the moment decision. Never allow yourself to fall for the adorable puppy in the back of the pick-up truck outside Wal-Mart. You and your family should take the time to research the various breeds in order to find one that is a good fit for your lifestyle. Some breeds are huge, some are small, some are extremely active, and some are couch potatoes. Take the time to learn about the characteristics of several breeds that you like. You can start at the library or on the AKC website: www.akc.org
Now that you've narrowed things down, go to the National Breed Club page (there's a link of the AKC website) and find out even more details about the breed. Find a nearby dog show and go look at your chosen breed. " Up close and personal" can be very different from looking a pictures. Ask those showing about the good, the bad, and the ugly with respect to the breed. They'll be straight with you.
Once you've settled on a breed, finding a breeder is the next step. I can't emphasize enough how important this step is. There are basically 3 types of breeders: a Show Breeder, a Back-Yard Breeder (BYBer), and a Puppy Miller.
Show Breeders who are member of their National and Regional Clubs, are trying to produce dogs that match the breed standard you read about, and their main goal is to produce a better dog. Even if you are looking for a pet and have no intention of showing, these breeders are generally the best. They have studied pedigrees to find sires and dams who are a good match, they keep up with current health issues in the breed, and screen their breeding dogs for soundness. Their main goal is to better the breed, not to make a ton of money and run. Not all of their puppies will be "show quality". Perhaps one will be poorly marked or another have a kink in its tail. These dogs may not make great show dogs, but they'll more than likely, make great pets. These reputable breeders will want you to keep in touch with them and will be there should you have any questions or concerns about your dog. Very often, they'll have a lot of questions for you about how you'll care for their puppy or dog and how it will fit into your family.
Back-Yard Breeders usually purchase male and female AKC registered dogs and put them together for "nature to take its course". Few or no health checks are done on the parents and often the dogs don't conform to the breed standard. Many BYBers don't even know what the standard is. They may have fancy websites and make claims of champion lines, but if you delve deeply, you'll find that they are merely out to make money. Once you hand yours over, you won't get much in the way of support as you raise your pup. Because health clearances aren't done, many of their puppies will develop problems and phone calls to them will be ignored.
It's a good idea to visit kennels to see where your dog is/was/or will be raised.. BYBers, and those close to being Puppy Millers, frequently have lots of dogs of varying breeds. If the Labs don't sell, surely the Yorkies will, or the Beagles, or the Great Danes....you get the idea! A good rule of thumb is that a reputable breeder will breed no more than 2 types of dogs.
Puppy Mills are awful places where dogs are kept in cages all the time and bred over and over and over again. They never experience the feel of grass under their feet or the comfort from a human touch. Once their breeding days are over and they no longer are useful , they're usually killed. Those few who are rescued and go to homes, have a great deal of difficulty adapting to life outside of a cage. Many can't walk straight lines because their cages only allowed circling. Pet store puppies come from Puppy Mills. Obviously, this is only a money making operation with zero concern for the dogs or the puppies they produce. Steer clear of them! If you buy from a pet store, you are perpetuating the awful treatment these dogs endure.
