Once you have decided on the breed of dog you and your family prefer, the next step is obviously to locate a breeder who specialises in a puppy litter of the appropriate animal. You can do this easily by searching the Internet under location and breed headings. Alternatively, you can search your local Press adverts, or check out the many magazines devoted to the Dog world. In addition you can ask your vet or contact your local Kennel Club all of whom will point you in the right direction. Once you have zeroed in on a breeder, give him a call to establish that a litter is available for you to go and see what puppies are available and enable you to make a choice from the litter.

Questions to ask the Breeder

Before making your choice, however, there are a number of questions that you need to ask the breeder first. To begin with, you need to establish the puppy's age. Puppies learn quickest between 3-12 weeks of age, but on the other hand it is important that some initial level of socialisation has taken place to accustom the puppy, for instance, to being handled, and that he is comfortable with the sounds and smells of the environment. To this end, ask if the litter has been raised indoors rather than in an outdoor kennel, or at least a mixture of each. It is also important not to remove the puppy from its mother too early, so you will need to make a balanced judgement on too early/too late.

Another question to ask is whether the breeding bitch was fully vaccinated before mating and wormed before whelping. Preferably, the breeder can produce a certificate of vaccination to prove this and in any case, good breeders will have had the litter vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. If this has not happened, get an agreement from the breeder to have the puppy wormed and vaccinated before you take him home.The next area of enquiry is on the subject of litter diet. Breeders should know the dietary needs of the litter and should be able to provide a diet sheet, so that you can continue the diet regime when you get home, thus reducing the possibility of upsetting the puppy's tummy and causing undue stress. If buying a pedigree pup ask if the breeder will provide insurance with the pup and make sure that you receive a signed pedigree certificate along with the Kennel Club registration documents. Don't forget to obtain a receipt!

The Ten Commandments of Buying a Puppy.

Read, Learn and Inwardly Digest the Following Good Advice

. Don't impulse buy. Take your time to choose, no matter how long it takes.
. Buy with your head not your heart.
. Leave children behind when viewing a litter.
. Never buy a puppy because you feel sorry for him or because he is cheaper, or is the runt of the litter.
. Never buy a puppy from a "man in a pub."
. Make sure both bitch and litter appear relaxed and happy, and bear in mind that the temperament of the bitch will probably be passed on to her litter.
. Smell the puppy. Weakly puppies can smell sour.
. Buy as soon as possible after 6 weeks of age to take advantage of the early learning period.
. If buying a pedigree pup, bear in mind that registered breeders are not usually allowed to sell pedigree puppies under the age of 8 weeks.
. Avoid puppies that have been hand reared from birth and who will have had little chance to socialise or learn behaviour from his mother.

Quick Health Check the Puppy.

It will be prudent to carry out a quick health check of the puppy you are thinking of choosing. Check the genitals to ensure they look normal, and are not swollen. If the dew claws have been removed and the tail has been docked, check that any wounds are fully healed. Look closely at the eyes and make sure they are clear of any mucus and that the puppy can see with both eyes. Equally, examine the ears to see that the ear canals are open, and that no smell or discharge exists. Ensure that the upper and lower jaw meets properly, preferably in a scissor bite. Do a close finger tip search all over, especially round the chest or abdomen looking for abrasions or signs of pain.

Make Your mind up Time.

Having gone through this whole decision making process in such a professional, calculated manner, then you should now be able to answer your own question as to "what puppy should I get" with ease and in the knowledge that you have reduced the risk of being "sold a pup" and can look forward to a long, happy and healthy relationship with the dog of your choice.