When finding a reputable breeder there are certain questions that you will need to ask. There will also be questions that you will need to expect from the breeder. Remember the breeders want to find the best home possible for their puppies, so please do not think of these questions as being an invasion of your privacy, because the breeders are only trying to make a good match between puppy and family.

1. What type of home do you live in? Knowing what type of home you live in will give the breeder a good idea of whether this particular breed will be a good fit.

2. Describe your family’s lifestyle. Are you active? Do you travel a lot? These types of questions will give the breeder a better indication of a character fit.

3. Are there children in the home? Some breeds do real well with children, and some breeds should not be around children. Some breeds may be ok with older children.

4. Do you own any pets at present? Some breeds do just fine with other animals around and do not have to be the centre of attention. Some have to have all the attention. Not only that but some breeds will likely hurt a smaller animal.

5. What other dogs have you owned in the past and if you no longer own them, what happened to them? This allows the breeder to determine how responsible you are as a dog owner. They want to know that their puppy will be in a loving stable home, and are properly cared for.

6. How much do you know about the breed? The breeder wants to know that you are serious about this breed. They want to know that you have done a little research, and have some knowledge of what to expect from this breed.

7. What kind of training are you planning to do with the puppy? Dogs need to have some obedience training to be able to have a good relationship with the family. This is particularly important for the “protector” breeds; they will need a lot of training to stop them from being too aggressive.

8. What are the leash laws and the confinement laws in your area? The breeder will want to know that you know how to keep your puppy safe. You will also want to know this so you do not break any laws and incur any unnecessary fines.

9. Do you plan to breed your dog? A responsible breeder will want to know about your plans to breed in the future. The majority of responsible breeders will require you to have the dog spayed or neutered if you are not planning to breed. This is to prevent unplanned breeding.

10. Are you aware of the costs involved in caring for a dog? If you are aware of the approximate yearly cost of caring for a dog, the breeder knows you have at least done your homework and not going to have an enormous shock.

Finally, the breeder is looking for the best possible match between the puppy and a new family, so they will ask some probing questions just to ensure that you are not walking into a situation you are not ready for.

The breeder wants to know that the puppy is going to be cared for and truly loved.

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Primary, you most first think about your existing space. If you live in a small apartment you will want to rule out large dogs. Look for dogs in the Toy group, such as Yorkshire Terriers, or some of the smaller dogs in the Terrier group, like the Miniature Schnauzer.

If you have kids, you will want to think about the size of your dog. Very small dogs, such as Chihuahuas or Maltese, can be very delicate and are often inadvertently injured by children. On the other hand, very large dogs, such as Boxers or Saint Bernards, can be too boisterous as puppies and can accidentally knock over your child. Consider medium sized breeds, such as Fox Terriers or Lhasa Apsos, instead.

After that, consider how much exercise you can give your dog. If you have a home with a fenced yard, your dog will be able to get a little exercise on his own. On the other hand, dog breeds in the Sporting, Hound, and Herding groups are of high energy, so you will need to have adequate time to provide them with more demanding exercise. Plan to take a lot of long walks with your dog. These dog breeds were bred to work hard and don’t do well unless they have a job to do or a way to burn off surplus energy.

Finally, don’t forget to think about grooming needs. Some dog breeds only need a half hour or so of grooming a week, while others need to be groomed for an hour a day. If you have very little time, don’t buy a Standard Poodle or a Maltese, unless you plan on taking your dog to a groom. Breeds like Boston Terriers or Whippets are good choices for individuals who don’t have time to do a lot of grooming.

Once you have made your mind up which breed of dog you want, you will need to think about the age of the dog. A lot of people go for a cuddly little puppy instead of an older dog. Although puppies have not developed any bad habits, it will be up to the new owner to be sure that the puppy becomes housebroken and obedience trained. Older dogs are normally already housebroken and more often than not have some obedience training. Still, they can have behavioural problems or health problems that pressed the former owner to find them a new home.

Are you interested in buying a puppy? If so, you will need to find an honest dog breeder who has a litter of the breed you are interested in. A good breeder will often have a waiting list for puppies, so you may be tempted to buy a puppy from a pet store instead. However, many pet store puppies come from puppy mills and have inherent health defects, bad temperaments, or other problem. It is usually safest to buy a puppy straight from the breeder.

If you are interested in an older dog, you should visit a local animal shelter or call a breed rescue. These groups assess the dogs’ health and temperament before adopting them out.

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Lionel Estridge, publisher of “1 Health” newsletter, subscription is FREE. Sign up here http://www.lionel1.com/1health.htm for all of the latest and up to date information on health! or visit: -  http://www.lionel1.com/fat_burners/

For pet lovers visit: -  http://www.dogbreeder1.com

If you enjoy music I’ve lots of music videos, visit: -  http://www.xfactor-leona.com