If you're looking for a good dog, you probably should first locate a good dog breeder. But it isn't all that easy, unless you know what to look for. Fortunately, if you know the signs of a good breeder and ask the right questions, you should be able to know when you've succeeded.

Just as some brand new cars are lemons, there are also dogs and dog breeders that are lemons. A dog with health problems can lead to great heartache and serious financial losses. A good dog breeder will stand behind health guarantees and do everything possible to make things right should you wind up with a dog with a serious health defect.

3 Types Of Breeders

The first is the person who shows dogs and works hard to maintain the breed standard. The advantage to buying 1 of their puppies is that they test their dogs for common genetic diseases. They only breed their best dogs, because they are breeding dogs to acquire a new generation of champions. This means that even their puppies not qualified to show will usually still become excellent dogs. The only downside is the pups will usually be more expensive.

The second type of dog breeder is the backyard breeder. These breeders rarely show dogs. They generally have a litter because they want other people to have dogs just like their own. Unfortunately, backyard breeders rarely test for diseases or know how to look for traits that match the breed standard.

The final type is called a puppy-mill breeder. They often breed their females until they become sick and die. These puppies are often very poor examples of their breed and may have genetic health problems, as well as common diseases like Kennel Cough. They seldom specialize, carrying many different breeds of dogs, hoping to have whatever the unsuspecting public wants.

Steps To Finding The Right Breeder

Clearly, the first type of breeder is your safest choice. They can be found through their ads in dog magazines. Or, with considerable caution, through the internet.

The second type can be located via newspaper classified ads. Unfortunately, so can the last type of breeder. If you go that route, be wary of an ad that lists puppies from several different dog breeds.

However you make your initial selection, insist on a home inspection. You want to see the environment where the puppies were raised. Besides, you want to pick your own puppy, don't you?