1. Ask how old the breeding pair is. Ideally both should be older than 12 months, younger than 10 years.

2.When was the last litter for the bitch? It should not have been within the last year unless the litter was small ( less than 4 pups ) or the breeder had a good and valid reason to breed her again so soon.

3. Ask about health tests. Are both parents certified by OFA or Penn Hip as being free from hip dysplasia(HD)? If either parent is under two years old, have they been preliminary tested? If not, why not? Were both parents up to date on shots before breeding? Any other health screening: thyroid, elbows, eyes, etc? Not all breeders do all tests, but hips are a necessity!

4. Ask about the pedigree. You may know next to nothing about kennel names, champions, etc., but ideally at least one parent should be a conformation champion and many others should be present in the pedigree. You shouldn't see the same few names over and over early in the pedigree - it means the breeder may be inbreeding too much - potentially bad for health. However you can expect a few duplicates of well- regarded champion dogs. Many titles in the pedigree means that the breeder is serious about raising dogs that conform to the type expected of that breed.

5. Read up on your breed's genetic defects...every breed has them. If the breeder says they've never heard about it, it's not in their lines or anything similar, avoid that breeder. A reputable breeder should be able to tell you about the condition and whether any pups have the problem.

6. Ask about contracts. The breeder should be willing to work with you. You, the buyer, should expect a reputable breeder to be explicit on your obligations to the pup, including spay/neuter, registration, feeding etc.

7. Is the breeder willing to send you litter information? Like photocopies of the pedigree, OFA certification numbers, pictures of the parents and general breed information.

8. Are both parents AKC registered? Will your puppy get a registration slip? This is important if you want to register your puppy. If either parent is an import, make sure it's been registered in it's country of origin.

9. Many books/articles stress that you should see both parents when buying a puppy from a breeder. Fact is, an ethical breeder often won't use a stud dog they keep simply because they believe it wasn't the best match for their bitch to produce the finest puppies. If the breeder doesn't have the stud dog, ask for the name of the dog's owner to contact them for information on the sire. Often the breeder will also have pictures and information on the sire, too. A reputable stud owner will be happy to talk to you about their dog, and if nearby, have you visit in person.

10. Ask if the breeder is a member of their National Breed Club, local Breed group or other dog clubs. This isn't a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, but it means that their dogs are more than just puppy manufacturing machines to them.

11. Ask if the breeder participates in any organized activities with their dogs. A serious, ethical breeder is involved in conformation. They also may put other titles on their dogs: agility, obedience, field titles, etc.

12. Ask what age the puppies can go home. Eight weeks or older is the preferred age. No puppy should go home earlier than that without good reason.

13. Ask about vaccinations. The breeder should ensure that puppies are free from worms and have been vaccinated against parvo and distemper, at least. A puppy 8 weeks old should have had two vaccinations before going to a new home.

14. Check around. If you've been in contact with other breeders or owners of the breed you are interested in, ask if they know about this person and what their experience has been. If they've said they belong to a certain club or organization, follow up and find out.

******First of all, stay dispassionate! All puppies are cute, cuddly and ready to be loved.*****

1. Don't meet in some neutral area unless the breeder has a very good reason. Even then, insist on a follow up visit to see the breeder's premises once you've spoken together a few times. Some breeders are understandably cautious about letting strangers visit. Don't buy a puppy from a box in front of the grocery store or at a flea market. You'll probably never see or hear from them again.

2.If the puppies are still young, expect the breeder to insist on hygiene before you come onto their premises. Washing hands in antibacterial soap, removing shoes or stepping in disinfectant is pretty typical. Some go further than that. Breeders don't want you to bring in some germ that will make the puppies or mom ill.

3. You should be able to see the mom and you should be able to see the mom with the puppies. If they're very young, some bitches can be protective so the breeder may not have the mom in the room when you visit the puppies. At a later visit you should be able to see them together.

4. Are the premises clean? Puppies are constantly messing so expect a little lingering poop and pee smells and possibly some recent mess! But bedding, pen and whelping box should be clean, puppies and mom should be clean. There shouldn't be any nasty odors and the puppies should never have fleas!

5. Do the dogs look healthy? Puppies should be lively and alert when awake- playing, wrestling, making noises. They should be curious and exploring. Beware of puppies which are listless, crying and unhappy. However, don't mistake listless for tired or sleepy. You may be visiting at nap time or after a feeding. You should be able to handle and play with older puppies. Mom should be alert and active. If she's still nursing, losing her coat is natural but that also is normal as her body rebalances the hormones.

6. Ask to see the other dogs if they have them. A serious breeder will usually have others. Are they approachable and sociable, well behaved? Are they in good condition and healthy? Is their environment clean?

7. Can your children visit too? If so make sure your children are well behaved and supervised around both the adults and puppies. Do the puppies and adults interact well with your children?

8. Ask the breeder about the characteristics of the puppies. Even at an early age, a breeder should be able to tell you which are clearly "pet" quality, which may have show potential, which are the dominant puppies, which are more independent, etc.

9. Don't buy a sick puppy because you feel sorry for it! You could be letting yourself in for all types of misery and expense down the road. A reputable breeder will make sure a puppy is healthy before it goes to a new home. If a puppy has some medical condition, a reputable breeder will tell you about it and put contractual conditions for that puppy into its sale.

Getting a puppy is a two way street. IT SHOULD NOT BE AN IMPULSE BUY! You spend time researching good brands of appliances, you should devote similar effort to researching your new dog, too. After all, he will be with you for 12+ years. You should expect to be interviewed by a good breeder, but that breeder should also expect you to ask intelligent and thoughtful questions, too.