First, we always encourage people to look at a shelter or rescue facility before opting to buy a dog from a breeder.  There are often pure-bred dogs available at local rescue groups and many dogs at the shelter will make wonderful family pets.  For much less than you would spend on a puppy from a breeder, when you adopt a dog from the shelter you also get additional services such as vaccinations, microchips, and sometimes the spay or neuter is included. 

If you do decide to buy from a breeder,  there are several things to keep in mind.  Not all breeders are the same, and some do not give the appropriate care to ensure the health and safety of both the breeding dogs and their puppies.  Also remember that you will need to spend more money than just the purchase price for the puppy - vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, and possible dewormings will all be needed so please adjust that into your budget.

Below is a link to an article created by the Humane Society of the United States on selecting a good dog breeder.  In addition to the many qualities listed in this article, one we would add is:

• Do not accept any puppy under 8 weeks of age.  If a breeder is trying to sell you a puppy under 8 weeks of age, do not use that breeder.  Puppies need to be with their litter mates until this time to learn valuable lessons about socialization, bite inhibition, and overall general good behavior.  Taking a puppy home too early can rob it of these life lessons and lead to separation anxiety, problems in training, increased nipping, and destructive behaviors.