You have decided whether you want a purebred or not, and the age of dog you would prefer. Now you have to find that perfect dog.

There are a number of options to choose from when you are ready to add a dog to your home. Breeders, breed rescue associations, pet shops, humane societies, shelters, pounds, and breeding your own dog are the most common places people get their pets. Some sources are better than others, but all of the options deserve consideration and some homework before you decide where to get your pet.

Breeders

Buying from a breeder typically means you have decided to get a dog that is a purebred. If you have not already selected a breeder, you can find lists of breeders by breed in dog magazines, newspaper want ads, telephone books, veterinary clinics, grooming parlors, hunt clubs, Breeder Directories on the Internet, etc.

Probably the best method of selecting a breeder is through a referral that comes directly from friends or other acquaintances.

Dog breeders, just like dog breeds, come in all varieties, so it is very important you know what you are looking for and what to ask of breeders you contact. If you decide to use a breeder, we would suggest that you read our article, Choosing the 'Right' Dog Breeder.

Breed rescue associations

Another excellent source of dogs is the breed rescue associations. These are made up of members who have a strong interest in a specific breed. They are dedicated to ensuring that puppies and dogs of their breed find their way into good homes. They are constantly on the lookout for dogs that are up for adoption for various reasons. Large breeds may have outgrown the family's home, the owner may have died, a divorce may have split up a home, but usually the simple fact of the matter is that the dog is simply no longer wanted.

When rescue league members learn of these animals, they will typically take these pets into their homes and then work very, very hard to find them new owners. This is an excellent source of both puppies and adult dogs. You will probably be surprised at how diligent rescue members are at ensuring that you are qualified to take on one of their charges. Remember, their interests are totally with the animal and ensuring that this time it gets a good home.

To find a Breed Rescue organization near you, probably the best place to start is the Internet.

Pet shops

It is impossible for most people to walk through a mall and not stand and look at the puppies in the window of a pet shop. The puppies are usually at an age when they recognize people and are striving for attention. They either jump at you against the glass or cage or sleep in big adorable balls of fur. Let us face it, they are cute and therefore the natural impulse is to take one home.

While many pet shops diligently try to provide top-quality puppies, the main disadvantage for people buying their pet from these facilities is that it is almost impossible to learn anything about the breeder or the animal’s parents. You will know the breed, age, and sex, but that is about all the information you will have. You will not have any idea if the particular line of dogs has a high incidence of hip dysplasia, epilepsy, or other problems. Regretfully, a lot of puppies from the puppy mills end up in pet shops.

If you cannot resist, at least try to have the animal examined by your veterinarian before the purchase is made. This will give you an idea if the animal is currently in good health. However, the problem with an evaluation at this age is that it is impossible to diagnose or predict the occurrence of many serious medical or behavior disorders that are going to show up later in the animal's life.

Humane societies, shelters, and pounds

Today it is regretful, how many dogs start and end their lives in animal shelters. America produces more puppies than there are homes, especially good homes. There may be very little difference between the dog you get at a pound versus one selected at a breeding kennel. That pound dog could be a purebred, but unless the previous owners dropped off his papers, you will never know. And unless you intend to breed an animal, the registration papers have little meaning except to satisfy your curiosity about your pet’s parents and background.

Once you have decided to look in a shelter, you should still ask as many questions as possible about the prospective animal. Take your time and try to determine what you can about his personality and behavior. Most shelters vaccinate and worm all animals as they pass through the door. Find out what has been done with the dog you are interested in. Have your veterinarian give it a good examination as to his current health.

If it was dropped off by the previous owner, try to contact them to learn if there was any known behavioral problem or medical condition that influenced their decision. They may have given him up for adoption when confronted by a serious or expensive medical problem, or after it had bitten neighborhood children. These situations are fairly rare and humane society employees do not place dogs with new families without explaining everything they know. At most shelters, they have more good dogs than they will ever find homes for.

In the vast majority of cases, getting a puppy or adult dog from a shelter does not come with any perceivable disadvantages. You may even get a better puppy than some breeders would provide. And, you have given a home to an animal that may not have had that chance or been alive in seven days.

Breeding your own puppy

Many dog owners have a dog they love and think she is exactly what they want. She has a great personality, is excellent with children, easily trained, may be a fabulous field dog, and has had few or no serious medical problems. If they are going to get another dog, they want the dog to be as much like the one they already have as possible.

They decide to breed their current pet, get a puppy from that litter, and sell the other puppies for a profit. In their minds, this is as close as they can come to duplicating the dog they own. While this may seem logical, it would actually be better to repeat the breeding of their current dogs' parents and take a puppy from that litter. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.

Before you start off on this course, you should know that most first time breeders actually lose money, and there is a tremendous amount of time and work involved in breeding your pet. There are also ethical issues to consider, such as ensuring you are not passing on bad genetic/hereditary traits such as hip dysplasia or eye problems. The testing that should be done on all dogs to be bred can be expensive.

Take your time

Whether your choice is a puppy or an adult, from a breeder or rescue agency, do take your time when choosing your pet. Hopefully, this will be your best friend for many years to come, and all the time and effort you spend prior to the final selection will greatly increase the chances of you getting the dog that is right for you.