• Do Puppies from Responsible Breeders cost more?
  Answer: Not Usually. Conscientious Breeders are generally more concerned that their puppies go to good and loving homes, than about how much money thay make. On the other hand, good breeders are sometimes ruluctant to place a puppy with someone whose primary concern is price.

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• What kind of assurances to Responsible Breeders want from puppy buyers?
  Answer: They general want to qualify potential homes so that the puppies will be well cared for and safe.
  - Its best to have a well-fenced yard.
  - Its best to have prior experience as a dog owner.
  - Its best to have a living and work situation that doesn't require the dog to be left alone for excessive times.
  - You should have the means and the commitment to handle unforseen expenses that might arise.

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• What if I have small children?
  Answer: Whether this is a problem depends much on the breed, the experience of the breeder and the ages of your children. Some breeders prefer not to place dogs with children under five. Consult with the breeder, and please follow the advice of the breeder about this.

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• What about breeding puppies from Responsible Breeders?
  Answer: Generally speaking, responsible breeders feel that only very special dogs should be bred, and that usually means dogs who have fared well in competition of one kind or another. Most commonly, responsible breeders will want to place puppies with the understanding that they not be bred. This is often called a "spay/neuter contract" or "limited registration".

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• What is "Limited Registration"?
  Answer: Limited Registration means that the dog you get is or can be registered, but if the dog is bred the puppies cannot be registered. Many responsible breeders prefer this form of registration for puppies that are not sold with breeding rights.

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• Will they want my dog to be shown?
  Answer: Generally not. In each litter, there are a very few puppies who are promising as show prospects. The other dogs are usually excellent specimens in every respect, much better than you would find in a pet store or similar. Sometimes a good breeder will offer the possibility of taking a puppy which is to be shown. This is a special commitment not to be taken lightly.

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• Why are some puppies rated as show puppies and others are not?
  Answer: There are many reasons. Sometimes it has to do with a cosmetic characteristic or a "mis-mark". Sometimes it has to do with conformation of structural analysis - ear set, tail set, topline, size, front or rear angulation, color pattern, teeth, and much more. All breeders have had the experience of making the wrong decision about which puppies to show and which ones to let go as pets. Ask the breeder to tell you why this puppy is considered not a show prospect.

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• If I later decide I want to show the puppy, will that be a problem?
  Answer: Possibly not. If you develop an interest in showing, please consult with your breeder about the advisability of showing this dog. Showing will be much more fun with a dog worthy of winning - at either conformation of performance. Most dogs, with enough loving care and training can do well at obedience competition, and other performance events like Agility and Rally.

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• How do I get started in showing?
  Answer: If you have this interest, talk to your breeder. it is important to have a worthy dog, and to have a mentor.

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