How To Find a Reputable Puppy Breeder

Online, January 31, 2011 (Newswire.com) - When you start looking for a puppy, most people don't realize that this could be one of the most important decisions you'll ever have to make. You're choosing a new family member, which we rarely get the opportunity to do, and you want to make sure they're going to be a perfect fit. Along the same line, you want to make sure that you buy your puppy from a reputable puppy breeder, to make sure you get a healthy, happy new family member.

Picking the Puppy
Start thinking about what you expect out of your dog. Do you want it to guard your home? Be good with kids, other dogs, or cats? Do you want a dog that's interested in learning tricks and tasks, or a dog that you can just cuddle on your lap all day? Think about the people and other pets that live in your house, and how a new member might affect them, and what you can do to ease that transition for your other pets.

If you're looking for a dog to guard your home, warn against intruders, or just let you know when the mailman is at the door, think about a traditional guard breed, such as a German Shepherd puppy, a Doberman Pinscher, a Rottweiler, or a Newfoundland. They're loyal, alert, and have a natural tendency to protect their owners and territories. Start your training early, and you'll have a great family companion and guard dog.

If you're looking for a kid-friendly breed, maybe something like a Golden Retriever or a Labrador Retriever would be more your style. Sweet tempered, friendly and full of fun, these dogs want nothing more than to love and please you 24 hours a day! They need a lot of exercise, but are easy to train and the perfect addition to just about any home.

Maybe you're looking for a dog that can learn a lot of tricks, and be a little performer in your house. Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Jack Russell Terriers are among the smartest dogs you can find. Always eager to learn and execute tasks, you'll have your new puppy sitting, heeling, rolling over and speaking on command in no time! The first two love to herd though, so make sure your kids and other pets don't mind being regularly herded into a group!

Choosing the Breeder
No matter what type of dog you're looking for, make sure that the puppy breeder you choose is a trustworthy, reliable person. Buying a pure-breed dog can be a hassle, and you want to be sure you end up with the highest quality dog you can find. Some things to look out for when you are choosing a breeder:
• Clean facilities - do they clean up after their dogs? Is there adequate room for the puppies to get exercise? Make sure the animals have clean food and water and are relatively well-groomed. Puppies love to get dirty, but they shouldn't be filthy.
• Parents on premises - can you meet your new puppy's parents? Puppies should not be separated from their mother's till at least 8-10 weeks of age, so if you're getting a very young dog, it should still be at least with it's mother. Meeting the mom can tell you a lot about what kind of dog you're going to end up with.
• Knowledge about the breed - do they raise more than one kind of puppy? It's important that the person you're buying from knows a lot about the breed they're selling, because you may have a lot of questions, and they should be the best source to find out answers.
• Vet care - find out about the parent's veterinary history. Have they had any common diseases, worms, skin conditions. Do the puppies have any of their shots already? What kind of food is the mom and the puppies eating?

Most importantly, take the whole family with you to meet your new puppy. It has to fit in with everyone who will spend time with it on a daily basis, and you want to make sure that the one you bring home is the love of all your lives. Take your time finding the right one. It takes a lot of research to find a good puppy breeder, the right puppy breed, and then the specific puppy that matches your home. But in the end, it will all be worth it when you bring home that family member and best friend you've always wanted.