The American Kennel Club currently registers 173 breeds and varieties in the United States. In the world there are over 400 purebred breeds of dog, some of them breeds which have been rescued from near-extinction. If you are interested in a purebred dog then there is likely a purebred, somewhere, that may interest you.

 

There are a number of important things to consider when you start to look for a purebred puppy. Some of them apply to any dog you may be considering. Do you have enough time to devote to a puppy? Will you be able to take care of a dog’s food and veterinary requirements? Are you responsible enough to take care of a puppy? Do you have a good living situation for a dog? Is your family supportive of you getting a puppy? Whether you plan to buy a purebred puppy or adopt a dog from a shelter, every dog needs a commitment in time and resources. You should think about these things carefully before you decide to get any dog.

 

If you have given careful consideration to getting a purebred puppy and decided that you can give the puppy a good home, then there are some other things to consider.

 

What kind of dog is right for you? One of the benefits of getting a purebred puppy is that you can predict how the adult dog will turn out. Are you looking for a  sporting dog  who is highly attuned to people but who will also require a good deal of exercise? Are you drawn to the intelligent Border Collie? They are one of the smartest breeds but they need training and activities to keep them busy or they can become destructive. Do you like a confident, protective dog like the German Shepherd? Keep in mind that most dogs will be protective of their homes and families. Do you prefer a small Toy breed who can sleep in your lap? There are lots of choices. Think about the kind of dog you want to live with and remember that all puppies are cute. Choose a puppy based on the kind of dog he will be when he’s full-grown.

 

Once you have narrowed down the dogs you are interested in, try to meet some of the dogs in person. It helps if you can visit a dog show to see the dogs up close. Pictures and television shows are fine but the dogs may look very different in person. You may find that you don’t like some of your choices. And, you could see a breed that you fall in love with.

 

Once you have seen some breeds up close it’s a good idea to start getting in touch with some breeders. Even if they don’t have any litters available see if you can talk to them about their breeds. Again, dog shows are a good place to meet breeders and people who are knowledgeable about the breeds. You can ask them questions about the dogs but do be considerate. It’s best to talk to exhibitors after they have shown their dogs. Showing dogs is a sport and the people showing them get nervous like anyone else. They may not feel like talking while they are getting ready to show their dogs. Wait until after they have been in the show ring when they are not rushing or nervous.

 

Remember that it’s just courtesy and good manners to always ask someone before you pet their dog. People spend a lot of time preparing their dogs for the judges to look at them. Don’t pet a dog and mess up his hair just before he goes into the show ring. You wouldn’t tousle Miss America’s hair, so don’t scruff up a showdog’s hair just before show time. It will probably be fine to pet him after he shows.

 

Once you have met some breeders and learned more about which breeds you prefer, then you can start to get an idea of who will have litters available in the near future. Most good breeders have waiting lists for their puppies. There will be people hoping for a show puppy and other people hoping for a pet puppy. The breeder will probably also be planning to keep a puppy or two. Sometimes there aren’t enough puppies to go around.

 

When you decide on which breed you prefer you should also be doing your homework about the breed. The more you learn, the better. Pay particular attention to the health problems in the breed. Regardless of what anyone tells you, nearly every breed of dog has some  health problems  associated with it. Dogs, in general, are subject to some 400 genetic health problems. That includes mixed breeds. Some of these problems crop up in virtually every breed. Be sure to ask breeders about the health problems in their breed. Ask them what health tests they have performed on their dogs. Ask them about the health problems they have encountered in the past. You should also ask them what kind of health guarantee they provide for the puppies they sell. Ask them about their contract and its terms.

 

By this time you should know what breed you want and, hopefully, you should know which breeder you may be getting a puppy from later. You may be on a waiting list for a nice puppy. Perhaps you have met some of the breeder’s dogs. If things are going well between you and the breeder, the breeder may ask for a deposit at some point. This is not unusual. Most breeders wait until the puppies are born and they believe that they have a puppy for you.

 

The breeder may invite you over to see the puppies when they are a little older but some breeders are very cautious and don’t like to take a chance on having any germs brought into the house. Breeders have lost litters from parvo when puppy buyers visited, so some don’t allow visitors. At some point the breeder will have you come to see “your” puppy. Some breeders choose a puppy for you; other breeders may allow you to choose a puppy from the puppies that they have decided are pet puppies. They may try to match you up based on personalities.

 

For most medium and large breed puppies breeders allow them to start going to their new homes when they are about eight weeks old. For Toy breeds breeders usually wait until they are about 12 weeks old.

 

When you arrive to pick up your puppy it’s a good idea to have a pet carrier with you. You can also take a small leash and collar, especially if you will be making stops to walk your puppy before you get home. Your breeder should provide you with a small supply of the puppy’s regular food. Take some bottled water for the puppy to drink so his stomach won’t be upset by a change in tap water.

 

The breeder should provide you with the puppy’s pedigree, the contract, registration paper (or application for registration), vaccination records and care instructions. Of course, one of the benefits of getting a puppy from this kind of hobby breeder is that he or she will be there to provide help for you, usually for the rest of the puppy’s life.

 

This is, without a doubt, the best way to buy a  purebred puppy  -- from a breeder who loves their dogs and cares about each and every puppy they sell. There are many breeders like this. Look for them and you can find a great purebred puppy.