1. Buy a dog for the right reason. Be it "show quality" or "pet quality", the dog should be a companion and family member. Evaluate your reasons for purchasing a dog. Is your purchase realistic?
2. Evaluate your lifestyle realistically. Are you willing to dedicate yourself to this animal's welfare? Do you have adequate fencing? Will the pet be a financial burden? Do you have the time for teaching, discipline and health care?
3. Can you commit to keeping this dog for its lifetime? Are you willing to work to overcome the ups and downs of dog ownership? Are you renting? Sometimes owning a dog and renting a house may pose a problem. Be sure your future plans and desired living arrangements won't force you to part with your pet.
4. Purchase your dog only from a reputable, caring breeder who is concerned about the puppies and about you. DO NOT PURCHASE A PUPPY FROM A PET STORE. When you purchase a dog from a quality breeder you are getting not only a dog but also the lifetime caring of its breeder.
5. Speak with several breeders to educate yourself about the breed and various "looks". Ask questions about such genetic faults as hip dysplasia and other orthopedic problems, bad bites, general health and longevity of the ancestors.
6. When buying, if you are uncomfortable with anything about the breeder from whom you are buying, or about the puppy itself, STOP, DO NOT BUY IT !!
7. Involve the entire family in training methods of acceptable behavior.
8. Do not allow your dog to roam freely through your neighborhood.
9. Spay or neuter your dog as agreed to in your purchase contract.
10. If you can't keep your dog, make every effort to return it to the breeder and/or work together to find a good replacement home in which both the new owner and the dog will be happy. Do not buy a dog from a breeder who will not take it back or work with you to find it a suitable home.

THE BREEDER

There is no license required to breed dogs. Registration papers are only as good as the reputation of the person who bred the puppies. There is no fail-proof method of identifying reputable breeders, but there are some key qualities shared by them.

Reputable breeders are knowledgeable. They have studied their breeds for years and are involved with both local and national breed clubs. They usually actively show dogs. They know the weaknesses of their breed and willingly discuss them with potential puppy buyers. A reputable breeder never tries to push a puppy. Instead, the breeder will interview potential buyers to see of they are suited for one of her carefully raised pups.

A reputable breeder has done all necessary health checks on both parents and has obtained certifications that they are free of hip dysplasia.

Many nice people breed their pet dogs for all the wrong reasons. They love their dogs and want to reproduce them. By breeding their pets, these well-meaning but uninformed people produce dogs with structural problems, unsound temperaments and genetically transmittable diseases. Unsuspecting puppy buyers take these dogs home and must later deal with the problem of being attached to very sick dogs. There are no guarantees when buying any dog, but the odds are better when buying them from a reputable breeder.

A breeder has invested many years in producing each litter of puppies. For the protection of the puppy, as well as the reputation of the kennel, a breeder will often designate a pup as either "pet" or "show". If you purchase a pet, the breeder will require that the dog be spayed or neutered at the appropriate age.

Do not be offended when the breeder asks you to sign an agreement: Appreciate his or her direct, up-front discussion of your plans for the dog. Any time you sign an agreement, be sure you understand the terms of the contract. Ask questions, take your time and seek assistance. Once an agreement is made, you must abide by the terms.

When you buy from a reputable breeder you have bought a lifetime of interest and advice in addition to a well bred puppy.

CHOOSE YOUR BREEDER CAREFULLY.