If you have decided that a dog is for you and a puppy is what you are looking for, there are some fundamental rules you should adhere to.

• Rule 1. Unless there is a real, believable reason, never ever buy a Puppy from anywhere or anyone without being able to see at least one or preferably both the parents. These places called ‘Puppy Farms’ and puppies from these farms normally have major problems throughout their lives. The reason for this is mainly due to poor breeding, bad sanitation, cheap food etc, and are generally taken from their mother and siblings far too early causing socialisation problems with people and other dogs.
  Puppy ‘farms’ are often clear, airy, and bright, and on the face of it look like a professional establishment. A general rule is - if you cannot meet at least one parent or there are lots of different breeds of pups available for sale then walk away.  A good breeder will specialise in one or two breeds of dog, not have lots or different breeds available.  Do not buy a puppy from a farm ‘because you felt sorry for it’ – you will be enabling the person to continue in business and will not help future puppies. 
• Rule 2. Do not buy a puppy from a pet shop or similar outlet. You could be supporting the trade in puppy-farmed dogs.
  
• Rule 3. Never buy on impulse or because you feel sorry for a frightened or timid puppy

• Rule 4. Never take the word of a breeder or any seller who says you cannot meet any of the parents, or they skirt your questions re the parents. The excuses commonly used are the mothers ill or not available or at friends or they are selling a pup for someone else.
• Rule 5. Unless you are an experienced handler/dog owner then do not pick the puppy that bounds up to you and pushes all the others out the way in it's haste to get at you. This is normally the most dominant of the litter. Do not also go to the other end of the scale and pick the runt or the frightened one, because you feel sorry for it, you are taking on a whole heap of problems if you do, the majority of all dog attacks are based on fear not aggression. You are far better off picking a pup from the middle rankings.
• Rule 6. If you looking for puppies the Kennel Club Puppy Sales Register (www.thekennelclub.org.uk) is a good place to start to find names of registered breeders as they have rules that the breeders on their books have to adhere to.  However, they do not have the facilities or the time to check the credentials and facilities of all the breeders on their books.  When you arrange to visit a breeder, it is vitally important that you stick to the above rules however you got to hear about them. As well as the Kennel Club, you can go to the individual breed clubs of the type of dog you are looking for.  These are smaller organisations than the Kennel Club and they often know the individual professional breeder.  Do still stick to the above rules, even if the breeder is personally recommended to you by the secretary of the club..