Over the past few years (and even longer) there has been some pretty scary stuff on the internet, in magazines, newspapers and circulating in that cyber world known as e-listing. Sometimes one must wonder if the harm one misinformed person can do to the dog world exceeds the good that a knowledgeable person can do. Hopefully not, because it is the people who love a breed that tend to know the most about it, and then do the most for it.

This article is about choosing the right person to buy the right puppy from. It is about taking in a deep breath, reining in those desires to buy any puppy just because it is the first available one you can find, and to take a step back to simply think. Let’s assume that you have already decided to buy a puppy, that you’ve evaluated your lifestyle, pocketbook and heart and concluded that a puppy is exactly what you need. You’re excited. Puppies are adorable and funny and you can’t wait till you have your own. The only thing left to do is find one and bring it home.

Now wait. There are very good breeders out there, and very bad ones, and a whole spectrum in between. There is a very sad reality – there are too many dogs in this world and not enough loving homes for them. They live in cement cages and have no social interaction and desperately want to be needed by someone, anyone. These dogs exist because there are so many people out there breeding dogs for the wrong reasons.

Some people think that because they own a male and female dog who happen to be cute they should have puppies. They figure they’ll put an ad in the local paper and sell the pups. No! I will bet a large sum of money that any newspaper ad you see for a “purebred” puppy was put there by an ignorant or irresponsible person.

A responsible breeder is one who knows their breed inside and out: the standard, history, disposition, potential problems, care, effective training methods, everything. They can answer all of your questions about the breed. A responsible breeder knows their dogs so well that they completely understand common problems of the breed, they screen and test for those problems and only breed animals which pass the tests with flying colors.

The primary goal of a responsible breeder is the betterment of the breed: structurally, temperamentally and health-wise. They seek to improve the breed as a whole through each generation of pups they produce, litter by litter. Therefore, a good breeder will only select dogs of the highest quality to be bred – ones that have passed the tests and will pass their superior qualities on to their pups.

It is very irresponsible not to do genetic testing on breeding stock, and shame on anyone who uses inferior dogs to try to make a “quick buck”. You will most certainly get what you deserve.

Sine the responsible breeder has done all that they can to assure the soundness and stability of their puppies, it only makes sense that they offer a written guarantee covering the health and soundness of the puppy for a specific amount of time. There are many breeders of large and giant dogs who offer guarantees protecting their pups from crippling Hip Dysplasia for the first few years of life. This is good.

Beware the “breeder” who does not carry a written guarantee – they are hoping you won’t notice that they are trying to sell you a poor quality puppy for three times it’s worth.

Beware the “breeder” who keeps their dogs in raunchy conditions or treats them in inhumane ways. All dogs need adequate shelter, attention and care. Period.

Beware the “breeder” that feeds Purina. Diet is a major factor in the health of a dog. Proper diet will give you a companion that will last the maximum amount of his or her lifespan with minimal problems. A poor diet contributes to obesity, cancer, heart, blood and lung diseases, immunity problems and a million other adverse effects. A person that feeds Purina to breeding stock (or any dog!) either doesn’t know or care about nutrition, neither of which will help them produce a quality puppy. It is my personal opinion that a raw diet consisting primarily of meaty bones is best, and just what nature ordered.

Beware of “deals” that seem too good to be true – they very well could be. What if you buy a puppy that is oh-so-adorable from someone for a really low price, with no guarantee. Six months later your pup’s health is failing. Your vet tells you about all of the major problems your dog has and he will most likely have to be euthanized. Your heart is broken. Since you have no guarantee, you have no legal recourse, and the person you got the pup from is either nowhere to be found or frankly doesn’t care about your whining or that your pup has just received a death sentence.

Beware of people who take credit cards and are trying to sell you a pup that isn’t even born yet for $2,000 out of a dam without a pedigree. This person is obviously a mass-producer, a kinder word for a puppy mill. This “breeder” cares very much about his pocket and very little about the dogs he has and he certainly doesn’t care about your questions and concerns. Will you just pay him please? He accepts Visa and Mastercard, but not American Express.

Beware the “breeder” who has 20 or more dogs or people that breed five different types of dogs. Again, PUPPY MILL. Puppy mills and backyard breeders are everywhere, and you don’t want either of those, they are the perfect example of irresponsibility and greed. They should not be allowed anywhere near any type of animal. They are a huge reason why there are so many unwanted dogs in the world. Perpetrators of misery.

Know the standard. A Fila Brasileiro is just that. Not a Fila Mastiff. There is no mention of “Clydesdale types” in the FCI standard – or any other “type”! Be informed. Don’t be so excited on your search that you grab the first puppy you see without thinking about it and not evaluating the breeder. Buying a dog is a major investment on many different levels. You do not want a disaster.

You want a healthy, happy, sound puppy that will give you years of companionship, laughter and fun. Relax. Breathe. Research. Be informed. Please, don’t buy irresponsibly, from someone who has no idea what they are doing. Then, it’s your fault, and you become part of the problem. There are many great people out there giving it their all to produce wonderful healthy puppies. Seek one of them out. You will not regret it, and we can all rest a little easier, canines and humans alike.