Buyer Beware

One of the major pitfalls buyers run into when buying that new puppy from a breeder is having to put down a non-refundable deposit for their puppy. Never ever do this! The only time you should have to put down a deposit is if your asking the breeder to hold a ready to sell puppy for you.

Be aware that it is illegal for importers to sell imported puppies that are less than 5 months old (4 months outside of California).

Never buy a puppy site unseen as this is just asking for trouble. No two dogs are a like and you need to know what you are getting before putting down your hard earned money.

Ask the breeder what type of warranty they provide and get it in writing.

Be wary of puppy importers, they can usually be seen as always having puppies available and requiring deposits before delivery of the puppy. Importers buy their dogs from overseas resellers who buy up liters of dogs from other breeders sometimes sight unseen.

Research

Don't fall for clean facilities and professional looking websites do some research by typing the breeders name into Google, or another search engine to see what others have to say about them. Pay with a credit card where available so you have the added protection of disputing the charge should the deal go sour.

For more information check out http://www.thewrongpuppy.org.