You want to buy a Lhasa Apso. You've either had one for years that recently passed away, or you know someone who has one and fell in love with the breed, or you read about them or saw them on TV and have to have one, or you have one and just need another. No matter what your reason, your search has begun. The question now is not "what breed do I want?" or "what sex do I want?" but "where do I go to find a Lhasa Apso?"

Nowadays with all kinds of advertising on the Internet, it is usually easy to find breeders' websites and lots of "cute Lhasa puppies for sale" ads and photos. But who are these people? What kind of dogs do they have? How do you know whom to trust with your money? How do you know whom to trust with your heart? Let's face it: more than money will be invested in your family pet.

By now, most people know enough to shy away from pet store puppies. Those who do not are impulse buyers or people who have no clue or do not care about where the puppies came from or the conditions in which they were raised. But how do you distinguish between one slick looking website and another, between people who are reputable and those who are not, between people who have quality puppies and those who do not. How do you buy an "online puppy" from across the country when you know you cannot visit the home, see the puppy's parents, or talk face-to-face with the breeder?

Before you buy a Lhasa Apso, you need to do some work. Read about the breed, even if you have had a Lhasa before. Read articles on the Internet. Buy some books about the breed. Arm yourself with questions and let the search for a reputable breeder begin.

You might start by reading information on the American Lhasa Apso Club's website because people who show their dogs not only have quality puppies but also are highly educated about the breed. They generally keep only one or two puppies from a litter to show and sell the others to pet homes.

So, what should a potential Lhasa Apso owner, look for in the search for a reputable Lhasa Apso breeder? Just what is a reputable breeder and what should you reasonably expect from him/her?

The first thing you should expect from a reputable breeder is questions, lots and lots of questions. We're a nosy bunch! Some of us will ask these questions as we talk to you on the phone. Others will mail you a questionnaire. We'll ask why you want a Lhasa Apso; what your past experiences with the breed have been; what other pets you have; the ages of your children or grandchildren who visit often; your philosophy of raising and training a dog; your philosophy about making a dog a part of your family; and your philosophy of crate training.

We'll ask for information about the research you have done on the breed (especially if you have never had a Lhasa before) and where you found the information. We'll want to know if you have a fenced in yard and, if you don't, how you intend to protect and exercise your Lhasa. We'll ask if you understand the amount of care a Lhasa's coat takes and if you have made arrangements for a groomer to care for your dog or if you plan to do the grooming yourself. We'll ask if you want a male or a female (and why) and if you're looking for a companion puppy or a show prospect.

We'll ask what you understand about the Lhasa's personality. And, if you don't know the answers to some of our questions, that's okay. We'll take the opportunity to educate you on some of the joys and tribulations of owning a Lhasa. Oh, and we may ask for names and contact information of references, and it's just fine for you to ask the same in return.

The next thing you should expect from a breeder is answers to your questions. You can be nosy too! You should be given ample opportunity to ask questions about the breed in general and the breeder's dogs in particular. Make a list before you make the phone call and add to the list during the conversation if necessary. Many of your questions should be generated from the reading you have done about the breed. Don't be afraid to ask questions regarding how and where the puppies are raised and socialized, the number of litters the breeder has each year, the number of years the breeder has been involved with the breed, the breeder's practices regarding waiting lists and deposits, and the breeder's health guarantees, return policies, policies on spaying/neutering, policies on withholding AKC registration paperwork, and prices. Ask about AKC registration. Big red flags should go up if the litter is not registered with AKC. Perhaps you do not want to register your puppy or think only show dogs are registered. Even so, AKC is the premier registry for the Lhasa Apso in the U.S. and that will tell you something about the breeder. Ask whatever you think you need to know to help you find a puppy that is right for you.

You should expect information. A good breeder wants you to know everything you need to know before you welcome a Lhasa Apso into your life and a relationship that could last 15 years or longer. Most of us enjoy talking about the breed - and our own Lhasas - so we might give you more information than you really want. A good breeder will be able to provide you with resources for finding more information, especially if you seem not to have done your homework before you called!

You should expect honesty and integrity. A breeder's value system should reflect the "treat others as you want to be treated" philosophy. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and more than one puppy buyer has been hoodwinked by a breeder who seemed honest and sincere. I might also add that more than one breeder has been taken in by a puppy buyer who was less than honest. The trust factor works both ways.

You should expect kindness and respect. You are about to embark on a search for a companion and an investment of time, money, and love. The breeders you contact for information should be willing answer your questions. Email might be good for initial contact but phone conversations can tell you a lot about a breeder and the breeder a lot about you that just doesn't come across the same way in an email message. If you feel you are not being listened to, if you feel pressured, if you feel criticized for your questions, then you know it's time to make a call to another breeder.

Check out the website of the American Lhasa Apso Club (ALAC). It provides information about the breed as well as a list of members in each state. Click a state on the U.S. map, and names and contact information pop up. To help protect the breed and people who purchase puppies from its members, ALAC has endorsed a Code of Ethics for its members that covers behavior related to breeding practices, kennel management, sales, advertising, written agreements, and health guarantees. ALAC has breeder referral contacts listed. These people can refer you to people in your state or region of the country who might have puppies. A call to any ALAC member who does not currently have puppies may result in that person giving you names of friends or other ALAC members who do.

Once you've chosen a breeder, you should expect the following:

1. An opportunity to meet the puppy's dam and sire. If the breeder does not own the sire, he will not be available for you to meet and that's okay, but you should be able to meet the puppy's mother.

2. An opportunity to meet other Lhasas the breeder has produced (most of us enjoy showing off our dogs!) Ask to see siblings of the sire or dam or other offspring of either dog. Many breeders can pull out photo albums to show you pictures of the puppy's relatives back many generations.

3. A health guarantee that outlines how long the guarantee is in effect, what particular diseases or conditions are covered by the guarantee, and what procedures to follow if a health problem arises while the guarantee is in effect. Don't expect the guarantee to cover injuries or illness caused by accidents, neglect, or abuse, including improper diet, improper grooming and coat care, or inadequate veterinary care while the dog is in your possession.

4. A sales agreement with return policy that explains under what circumstances the dog may be returned for money back or for a replacement puppy. You can also expect the breeder to request the right of "first refusal," meaning you are expected to contact him/her should circumstances prevent your keeping the Lhasa, even when he/she grows up. The breeder may take the dog back (usually no money changes hands) or may help you find the dog another home.

5. Your puppy's AKC paperwork. Depending on the sales agreement, the AKC registration paperwork may be provided at the time of the sale or at a later date. Most breeders require that puppies sold as pets be spayed or neutered and will only provide AKC registration paperwork once they receive documentation of the procedure. This is entirely within their rights as a breeder, but you must be sure to get a sales agreement that states the paperwork will come to you. If the breeder does not intend to provide paperwork, a statement of that fact should be part of the signed contract.

6. Continued support. Most breeders want to maintain some kind of contact with puppy buyers. They realize that their job as a breeder does not stop with the puppy sale. Your breeder should be a resource for you as your Lhasa grows and should welcome your questions as opportunities to educate you further about the breed. By maintaining even intermittent contact with puppy buyers, a breeder becomes educated about his/her lines, how they mature, and the problems that may arise. By keeping in contact with your breeder, you are doing him/her as well as yourself a favor. (P.S. Breeders always appreciate occasional photos of the Lhasas they have bred.)

Good luck as you search for the right breeder who has just the Lhasa puppy you've been waiting for!

Joyce Johanson has owned, bred, and shown AKC registered Lhasa Apsos since 1973. The Joyslyn's Lhasa Apso web site contains many resources about the breed. Please visit http://www.joyslynslhasaapsos.com to read more grooming tips, to find links to valuable resources, to see pictures of lovely Lhasas, and to link to Joyce's blog.