1) Do your research, and buy or adopt your dog only from an ethical breeder, established rescue group, or an accredited shelter.
2) Dont buy your dog from a puppy mill or a backyard breeder.
3) Do not ever buy a dog who seems sick. Call an animal control office if you are concerned about the welfare of a dog.
4) Before you begin looking for a dog, research your options. Its hard to say no when your heart says yes.
5) Bring a list of things to look for in the facility where you are adopting your dog from, and make a list of questions you need to ask.
Before deciding which avenue is right for you, consider what is important to you when buying or adopting a dog. If you adopt at a municipal shelter, you will be saving a life, but you wont have a chance to find out your puppys background. When you adopt a purebred dog, you will have more information about the dog than from a shelter, and it will free up some space for another abandoned dog. Buying from a reputable breeder can be expensive, but you will get the most information about your new dog.
Its important to decide what you are the most comfortable with. Some people are happy with a purebred dog, while others are happy with a random-bred. In shelters, about a quarter of the adult dogs are purebred. Also, there are many breed-specific rescue groups.
Overall, regardless of the pedigree, a good breeder or shelter will provide you with a friend for life. None are perfect, but they do provide support and give you honest information. No matter which choice you are going to make, its important to be ready and know what you want, and you will have a great experience buying or adopting your dog and bringing it home.
