The decision of buying a purebred puppy from a breeder must be done with care and research.
There is so much controversy now with the bad reputation the breeders have gotten from the irresponsible breeders that no one can take the chance anymore without research.
The first decision is to decide what breed of dog you want and take the time to find a reputable breeder.
A breeder that is well respected and know for his care of his dogs.
Your local veterinarian or a breed club in your area would have information you can rely on.
If you know someone who has the exact breed you are looking for then make a point of finding out where they got their beautiful dog.
Another source is dog shows, dog events and talking to owners of the breed.
They maybe able to refer you to several recommended breeders.
Most people are not aware of the fact that just because a breeder is advertised in a national magazine or has a Web site doe not make him respectable  and reliable as a breeder.
Most magazines will bar an advertiser if their are enough complaints against them but it is a long process.
The AKC and UKC may provide lists of breeders but they are only for information and not proven or endorsed breeders.
Some breeders may be found to be wonderful while others are not and those you have to be aware of.
Take the time to talk to the breeders, ask them how many types of dogs they breed, how many litters they have a year, and whether their dogs have titled in confirmation, obedience or other activities.
You will find championships indicate a commitment to the breed.
There are several signs of trouble to be aware of such as breeders who breed more than two types of dogs, breeders who allow their female dogs to whelp more than one litter a year or have a number of dogs whelping puppies at the same time.
Breeders whose dogs have never participated or titled in any activities.
Make sure you ask for people who have purchased dogs from the breeder for references and a good breeder will be glad to supply those references.
Those references will supply a lot of good information and obtain as much information from the references as possible.
The questions to consider are when was the dog, bought, how old was he, what was his name, did they meet the dog's other siblings, parents, the kennel and what did they think of it? These are all important questions to get from the references supplied.
Also ask if their pet had any health, temperament  problems, was the breeder helpful, would they buy again from this breeder? Their answers will be spontaneous if they had no problems but if there is hesitancy then beware.
The best idea is to purchase your puppy locally because shipping a puppy can become a complicated affair especially when you haven't even seen the pup to get a chance to make a decision, meet his siblings or parents before making the decision.
If you decide you are purchasing long distance then choose to pick him up personally.
You should visit several breeders before making a decision.
A good breeder will limit the number of batches a year which means you may have to wait for a puppy to be available which is a good sign because that means there is a waiting list.
Check out the breeder's kennel and home to be sure it is clean, smells clean, does each dog have a nice comfortable place of his own, are the dogs well groomed, healthy looking, does the breeder provide premium food, fresh water, and is there a place the dogs can exercise and have interaction? These are all things to consider when you visit  the kennels.
Also make sure you meet the puppy's parents and the siblings even if the father of the pup is not there there should be information on him as well  his lineage.
Check the puppies out that they all look clean, healthy that their eyes are bright, they are friendly and curious.
A good breeder will help you choose the puppy.
They will try to match the personality of the puppy with what you are looking for in a dog.
Parents of the dog pass on some personality traits to the puppy.
The breeders will also want to know about you and if they are a good breeder they will be asking you questions as well.
These could be the size of your yard, if it is fenced, where your pup will be during the day, night, your family, your life style and aspects of your life to get a feel of your home situation.
The breeder may want to meet your family, children as well as the other pets you have.
Some breeders may want to visit your home to check out the home life their dog will be exposed to.
A good breeder will also inform you of genetic problems with the breed and any insistence of no health or breeding problems is a flag because every breed has genetic problems.
The breeder should supply proof that they have performed tests for hip, eye, or ear problems.
Records also should be available for the pup's first vaccines and worming.
A good breeder will be wiling to co-operate with any information they can help you with.
Well bred dogs cost a fortune but rarely as much as poorly bred dogs you may get from a pet shop.
You must determine if the breeder is good by doing a lot of research,checking references and any possible way to make sure you are getting what you want in a purebred dog Do your research and find where you want to get your canine friend after all he will become a part of your life as a companion and friend for many years to come.