If you have never tried to find a breeder before this process may seem like a mysterious & overwhelming endeavor. Good breeders are out there, but for the most part they do not advertise. The best way to find a conscientious and reputable breeder is through breed clubs, the American Kennel Club or by visiting a local dog show and talking to breeders there. Some breeders are congenial and will talk your leg off, and some won�t. Don�t be deterred. Keep trying until you find the one who is willing to help you. Most will. Just wander around in the grooming area and ask them if it would be a good time to talk. They won�t want to just before they go in the ring. Hopefully, you�ve purchased a program and you can tell when each breed appears in the ring. (See �Links� for help to find breed clubs.)
PLEASE DON�T BUY A PUPPY FROM A PET STORE!
Good, conscientious breeders don�t sell to pet stores. They care very much about how and with whom their puppies are placed and want to do it themselves. The puppies you see in pet stores are cute, but you could be buying not only a money-eating-machine-on-4-legs (veterinary bills) but a big heap of heart ache. Plus you will more than likely be paying half again or twice the price the dog is worth. Pet store puppies could be & most probably are from puppy mills where people breed as many puppies as fast as they can for profit. There is no regard for health, temperament or even breed. That adorable Toy Poodle you bought could grow up to be a 30 lb. Poodle mix. It happened to me! Please read my page on puppy mills and visit some of the links indicated.