The Papers
When purchasing a pure bred dog, be certain that you are getting the dog's "papers." These are registration papers from one of the three major accrediting organizations, the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club, or the Field Dog Stud Book. The litter should be registered with one of these to qualify as pure bred, and each puppy should have his own certificate. When you purchase the dog, you will be given this certificate. As soon as you select a name, fill in the application certificate correctly, enclose the specified fee, and send it to the club. You will then be sent an official registration for your dog, which bears the registration number needed when showing and breeding your dog. Be sure to keep this certificate in a safe place.

The Pedigree
The pedigree is merely the dog's family tree which tells you the ancestry from both the mother's and father's side. It is nice to have and quite necessary should you decide to breed. A completed pedigree should be presented to you by the seller when you purchase the dog.

The Dog's Health
The dog you are selecting should appear healthy. Its eyes should be clear and clean, the nose wet, its coat shiny. The dog should be alert, and its body nicely filled out as a fat puppy is usually a healthy one. If you are observing an entire litter, you can get a general idea which pups are frisky, which are withdrawn, and which one is the friendliest. Check the dog's mouth and teeth; the teeth should be white and the gums pink. Examine his skin for patches which may mean eczema, mange, or ringworm, and be sure to test for deafness. Don't accept a dog that is obviously sick.

Make an agreement with the owner that you will have the dog checked by your veterinarian by the next day, and, if there is any problem, that he may be returned. Your vet can check the puppy for any congenital defects and for existing conditions. Of course, he can't tell if the dog has been exposed to anything or what illness may be incubating.
At the time of purchase, find out what shots the puppy has already received and which are still required.

The Panic Button
All too often, once the decision to get a dog is made, the prospective buyer rushes out too quickly to get his new "best friend." Take your time, look around, see a number of litters, find out what the price range is for the type of dog you are seeking. This can be a fun project for a few days or a few weeks. Don't feel you have to buy the first dog you see.

How to Purchase a Dog
After thoughtful and careful evaluation which included reading about, actually seeing, and being with the various breeds, you decided which one is right for your family. Hopefully, everyone who will be involved in caring for and living with this pet agrees with the selection. Now comes the question of where to get the dog. A dog can be purchased from a pet store, a large breeder, a "home" breeder, and through the mails. The proper steps for buying a dog are these: (1) you select the dog; (2) you and the seller agree on a purchase price; (3) you pay for the dog; (4) you receive the dog, the A.K.C. (American Kennel Club) registration and pedigree if it is pure bred.

The Small "At Home" Breeder
The name and location of small breeders can usually be found in the newspaper and in dog magazines. It may be a true dog enthusiast who shows, grooms, boards, and breeds dogs. Many of these small breeders are located all over the country. Very often they have litters available most times of the year, although there are times when you may have to wait a few weeks until puppies are available. These breeders are generally dog lovers and can be of real help to you in selecting a pup and starting his training at home.

The Large Breeder
Breeding the more popular dogs has become big business. Large breeders maintain their dogs in well kept kennels and often have a good-sized selection of dogs. Here you can usually choose from a very young puppy (8 weeks) to a more mature pup. Occasionally there has already been some training in terms of housebreaking and special training for the sporting dogs. These breeders can discuss the puppy quite thoroughly. They should be familiar with the bitch and stud and be able to give you interesting background information as to championships won, history of other litters, characteristics of these puppies, and specific details about this particular litter and this puppy. The large breeder of one or two breeds is often well-informed about happenings in the specialty clubs. They can tell you how to join and what the meetings are like. At this time you should inquire about the dog's diet, shots that may still be needed, and what terms have been used for training.

Since the large breeder is probably a good businessman, he will have all your papers ready for you when you purchase the dog and a written health guarantee. Perhaps even, time payments will also be possible. Breeders often provide other services, such as grooming and boarding.

Mail Order
More and more dogs are being bought in this manner. Write to the American Kennel Club and request information about the breed which interests you. Large breeders advertise in the dog magazines. In the ad, they will often describe the dogs and give you their prices. You can order by writing or calling and the dog will be sent to you, usually by air. If you have no direct access to a certain breed, this method can be a fine solution. The breeder will give you a few days to evaluate the dog and .the option to return it if it isn't suitable, but make sure these details are clearly spelled out. Most breeders who advertise in well-known dog magazines have fine reputations and will send exactly what you have requested. Since you do not have the advantage of seeing the dog in the flesh, try to be as specific as possible in your correspondence. Give exact details of what you want in your initial inquiry, such as, sex, age, size, coloring, pet or show quality, training desired, and all other useful information. Clarity will avoid disappointment. Pictures are also valuable in helping you select and they often will be provided upon request. Consider this method of buying if you can't find the breed you want in your community.

The Pet Shop
In most larger cities there are pet stores that offer puppies for sale. They usually only have a few litters at any one time and do not offer all breeds. There is a possibility that the one type you have selected may not be available. There are some pet shops that only offer dogs from the finest breeders. They will guarantee the puppy's health and will have all the necessary "papers." However, one should exercise a bit of care in buying a puppy from a shop puppy mills breeders producing puppies merely for large profit and not to maintain and better the breed occasionally use pet stores as their outlet. The price you pay for a given degree of quality can, sometimes, be higher in a pet store.

The Non-Professional
Thousands of non-professional breeders who have mated their bitches often wish to sell their pups. Newspaper ads, your local vet, or friends can help you locate these pups. Home raised dogs are fine, as they have often been handled more than kennel raised dogs and may already be used to children and to home living. These breeders are usually looking for good homes for their puppies and will give you much help and advice.

The Anti-Cruelty Society, Humane Society, or Dog Pound
Most communities have agencies offering dogs whose original owners, for some reason, were unable to keep them. It is possible to find a nice dog in this manner. Sometimes, even pure bred dogs are available. Sometimes for a very small fee or for a contribution, a good dog can be obtained. Having such a dog carefully checked by your veterinarian is of utmost importance. It is wise to see how the dog behaves and adjusts before getting attached. If unsatisfactory he can and should be returned.

Pedigrees for Pure Bred Dogs
A pedigree is the dog's "family tree." It will trace back the ancestry for several generations on both sides. The dog's owner should have this pedigree available for you at time of purchase. It is necessary for you to have this so that you can know your dog's background. This information is needed if you show your dog and if you should decide to breed. Do not forget it. A pedigree is important. However, if for some reason you have not received the pedigree and yours is an A.K.C. registered dog you can still get one. This is done by writing to the American Kennel Club and asking for the pedigree including the dog's full registered name, his registration number, and a check. At present, the fee is $2 for a three generation pedigree and $5 for a four generation pedigree.