The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (Link) recommends the following tips for people trying to purchase a dog from a breeder.

1. Take Your Time

Don't rush into purchasing a pet, it could be your worst mistake. Spend at least as much time researching your next dog as you would a car or refrigerator.

2. Study The Breed You're Buying

There are a number of ways study dog breeds, including Internet searches, reading books at the public library and asking questions at dog shows. You need to learn about the breed's needs, size, disposition and what it was bred to do.

• Herding breeds will herd, and if you do not let them herd sheep, they may herd children or joggers with the same nips to the heels.
• Hunting dogs will hunt, whether it is running rabbits or cats, behaving as a "catch dog" with large breeds that hunt boar, etc., making a lot of noise like "bay dogs" that hunt raccoons, bear and moose, doing a lot of digging such as ratters, etc.
• Guardian breeds will guard, but without proper training, they may take it upon themselves to guard a bed from its owner or a favored child from a parent.
• Breeds that are bred for fighting may be dog aggressive and may exhibit a tenacity that may have saved their lives in the fighting ring but may inflict tremendous damage to the next-door neighbor's pet.

Not all of these breeds will exhibit all of these instincts but people should be prepared to deal with what their genetics indicate may happen.

3. Potential for Genetic Problems

All dogs have some genetic predisposition for health problems. You need to become familiar with which ones there are for the breed of puppy you are buying. There are many tests that certify the puppy's parents and other ancestors are clear of the problems.

You should ask for the following tests from the breeder:

• Hip Dysplasia: A problem that can be found in most large-breed dogs, like St. Bernards, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Labradors, Rottweilers as well as in medium- and even small-sized dogs.
• Ask for a certificate of testing of the parent or even all siblings, ancestors, etc., from the Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals (Link) or University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP; Link). If the dog is foreign born, ask for that country's equivalent certification.
• Eye problems: May occur in almost every breed; ask for a certificate of testing from the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (Link). These tests are done by board-certified canine ophthalmologists.
• Heart problems: May occur in every breed; ask for a certificate of testing from a board-certified canine cardiologist.
• Elbow/Knee problems: Many larger breeds are testing for degenerative joint disease in the elbows and many of the smaller toy-type breeds are seeing problems with the knees (subluxated patellas, etc.) in those breeds. When in doubt, ask for a certificate of testing from Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals (Link).
• Von Willebrand's Disease: A form of canine hemophilia common with Doberman Pinschers and many other breeds; ask for a certificate clearing the parents of VWD.
• Thyroid problems: Ask for certification of a total thyroid screen of the parents and DO NOT take anyone's word for certification. Demand a copy of the actual certificate stating that the animal is cleared of these problems.

4. How To Find A Breeder

Contact the National Breed Club to get a recommendation. When you contact the breeder, make sure the breeder is just as interested in learning your background as you are in learning about his/hers.