First and Foremost, if you know what you want already, stick to it. Do not buy a cross, or another breed, just because it is cheaper, or closer for you to go look at. This is going to be your companion for the next 10-20 years. Your chances of enjoying that long relationship are far better, if you got what you originally wanted.

There are many things to consider when buying a puppy. The one you think is the cutest, may not be the one that fits into your family, and lifestyle. Every breed is very different. What is endearing to one person, may not be tolerable to another. There is a link at the end of this article, to take a short quiz, and find out which breeds are more suited to you. The breeds listed in your results, will all be linked to a page about that breed, so you can research it further.

The "Miracle" Breeder is one to watch out for. This breeder will answer all of your questions with positives. There will be no negatives to the breed. This is not possible. All breeds have down sides. If you have contacted a miracle breeder..run!

There are breeders who raise a lot of different breeds. These are not necessarily bad breeders, however, they cannot possibly specialize in every breed they have. If you are shopping for a puppy at a large kennel, do your own homework on your breed first, so you now exactly what you are getting into.

Do not be afraid to ask questions. A good breeder will happily answer all of your questions honestly. Ask about potential health issues, health guarantees, vaccines and dewormings, temperament, size, shedding, and if the puppy has had exposure to anything you have (kids, cats, other animals, etc.)

Please be respectful. For many of the breeders, these are their babies. They have raised them from birth to at least 8 weeks. If the breeder has specifically stated that they do not want puppies going to other breeders, or small children, or any other condition, move on, and buy somewhere else. If they have declined to sell you the puppy for any reason, don't take it personally, just find another one.

Take the Quiz

Answer honestly, you can choose "purebred or hybrid" on this quiz. It's for everybody! http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm