How to Find a Puppy

What Breed or Mix?

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Try these online quizzes to see what kind of dog might be a good fit for your family:

https://www.orvis.com/s/welcome-to-the-dog-breed-selector/14963

http://www.animalplanet.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds.html

Rescue, Shelter, or Breeder?

All sources for obtaining puppies are not created equal. This is going to require some homework on your part, but time spent up front will help guarantee you a long, happy life with your new best friend.

How much you should pay really comes down to what you’re paying for. This is where you need to be vigilant and do your homework. Because it’s not just the price tag of the puppy, you’re paying for the health and temperament (genetic personality traits) of the adult dog.

If you want a rescue, you do it because you want to help a dog and give it a home. Genetics and temperament are NOT predictable. Expect to pay maybe around $500 +/- for a rescue. You are essentially paying for the transport, vet care and housing of the puppies. Often these rescue litters come from poor situations that need medical intervention.

If you want to buy a puppy, go to a “Code of Ethics” responsible breeder who does all the genetic health tests and actually does something with their dogs (hunting, show, agility, therapy, herding, etc). Here health and temperament ARE predictable. Depending on the breed, a good quality pet is often $1000-2000. You are paying for the breeder’s expertise, knowledge, genetic health testing of the parents and care of the puppies.

But what about your neighbor down the block who has some puppies? Going to a “breeder” who happens to have a Lab and breeds it with a neighbors Lab with NO genetic tests also means that health and temperament are NOT predictable. These are called a “backyard breeder”
You could spend $500-$4000+ on a POORLY BRED dog with no genetic health testing (the upper number often being “designer” doodle mixes). You are essentially paying profit to these breeders, and perhaps some vet costs associated with deworming and vaccines.

How do you find a Good Breeder?

EVERY breed has genetic conditions which should be screened for, and bred away from. This is something you should look for in a breeder. The OFA, orthopedic foundation for animals, keeps the records of these tests for every breed. The breeds parent club decides what tests the breed should have. You can see them here:
https://www.ofa.org/browse-by-breed

In addition to knowing that they do something with their dogs - show, hunt, therapy work, agility, etc. These responsible breeders do all the right things, including puppy rearing (things such as biosensor/early neurological stimulation)
This is what you pay for. You may pay more money initially for a well bred dog, but, you’re a lot less likely to end up w a genetic disaster with a bad heart, hips, spine, deaf, or often worse, a poor (spooky/fearful) temperament, which is especially important with kids in the house.