This is part 2 of a 4 part series by Dog Trainer Ty Brown. You can find Part 1 here.

At this point it is important to note there is typically one place where you don’t want to get a new puppy… the pet store. It’s not always the case, but dogs from pet stores often come from puppy mills.

A puppy mill is a business someone has set up to basically manufacture dogs. Puppy mills are notorious for overcrowding, lack of sanitation, health problems both from external causes and from poor breeding practices. Female dogs in a puppy mill will give litter after litter until their body is no longer capable. Owners of puppy mills give no thought to what makes a good dog, both structurally and mentally.

The sole desire of a puppy mill is to make money, not to maintain and improve the gene pool of a certain breed. Don’t be drawn in by the cute puppy in the pet store window. It is very likely that behind that cute puppy exterior lurks genes that will make an unbalanced and unhealthy dog.

So where should you go about choosing a puppy? The answer is simple:
from a reputable breeder. However, while the answer is simple, they aren’t always easy to find. Here are some tips for finding the right breeder:

Don’t start out in the classifieds.

Too often the classifieds section is full of  ‘backyard breeders’. A backyard breeder is often just as dangerous as a puppy miller. The backyard breeder breeds his dog because ‘We wanted her to have a litter before we got her fixed,’ or ‘We wanted the kids to see the miracle of birth,’ or ‘Well, we had a German Shepherd and so did the neighbor, so it just made sense.’

Shelters nationwide are filled with dogs resulting from these breedings. If you want your dog to have a litter ‘just because,’ don’t do it. If you want your kids to witness the miracle of birth, rent a documentary. If you breed your dog because your neighbor has a similar one, have you considered the temperament, genetics of the parents, etc.? Probably not. Choosing a puppy from a backyard breeder can have regretful consequences. Avoid backyard breeders.

Talk to a breed association.

Nearly every dog breed has an affiliated association. Some of the more popular breeds have several national, regional, and local associations. These associations should be able to provide you with guidance on where to find reputable breeders. Many even specialize in helping new owners in choosing a puppy.

Talk to local dog trainers and veterinarians.

These professionals will often have contacts that may be able to help in choosing a puppy.

Look in the back of the large dog magazines.

There will often be many breeders. You will have to perform due diligence because any breeder can make it in the back of a magazine if they have the money to spend. It can be a useful resource for finding several breeders, though.

Use the Internet as a way to find breeders.

Don’t be ‘sold’ on their website alone. Make sure you to do your due diligence.

We’ll discuss what to do once you’ve found your breeder in Part 3.