Visit the kennel and observe their dogs. What is the condition of the kennel? Does it appear to be clean? How do the dogs look? Clean? Well-cared for? Happy? You should meet the prospective parents of the puppies but if that is not possible, you should at least see the mother. If the father is from another kennel, he may only be brought in briefly for mating. A good breeder will only breed registered dogs, and will be able to tell you the pedigree of the puppies. They should have full information about the puppies' parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. Spend time with the mother and other dogs in the kennel. Beware of animals that seem aggressive or overly nervous or shy. Temperament problems are the number one reason people give up their dogs. If there are puppies already on the ground, ask to see where they are being raised. A good breeder will be proud and happy to show you their facilities. 

                Ask about the dogs' socialization. The first 8 to 12 weeks of your new puppy's life will be spent with the breeder. Find out how the breeder plans to socialize the new puppy and what early training is planned. After the puppies are born you should visit a couple more times to see their development. A good breeder will be able to tell you the personality traits of the individual dogs from their observations of them, even at this early stage.

                Ask about the health issues for the breed you have chosen. Every breed of dog has certain health problems. A good breeder will be familiar with the breed standard and the health problems that may be present in your chosen breed. They should be willing to discuss health issues openly, and tell you what they have done to minimize hereditary problems in their line. Many genetic health defects can be tested for and a good breeder will be able to show you test results proving that the parents of their puppies have been tested clear of these defects. Ask what vaccinations the puppy will receive before you pick it up and make sure you have a copy of them. Within 24-48 hours of picking up your puppy, you should see your veterinarian and have the animal thoroughly examined.

                Ask about the sales contract. Everything should be in writing. The contract should have listed the breed of dog, confirmation that it is purebred, and confirmation that it is eligible for registration by the American or United  Kennel Club. It should also list the individual registration number of your puppy or the names of the sire and dam of your puppy, the date the puppy was born, and the AKC litter registration number. The refund/return policy should be clearly laid out. Under what conditions would you be eligible for a refund? There should be a health guarantee against genetic health problems. A good breeder will not hesitate to provide such a guarantee. Make sure you understand the difference between Limited Registration option (which forbids the Limited dog from winning any championship points at shows) and Full Registration. Only the "breeder of record" can change the status of an AKC Limited dog to Full Registration. 

                Repeat all of the above. You should always visit several kennels before making a choice. This should not be an impulse buy or a whim. This animal expects to be part of your family for the duration of its life - usually more than 10 years. You owe it to this little soul to do all your homework to ensure that you have made the right choice in a thoughtful, clear-headed manner. You would not choose to adopt a child lightly. You should not choose to adopt a dog lightly either.

How do I know someone is an ethical breeder?
      An ethical breeder:
                ...breeds only registered dogs and only allows his dogs to be bred to registered dogs.
                ...is concerned with hereditary diseases within the breed and is working towards
                    elimination of these diseases.
                ...tests all breeding stock to ensure the individual dogs are healthy.
                ...provides a written health guarantee against hereditary defects.
                ...takes all his puppies to his veterinarian for examination and vaccinations prior
                    to their sale.
                ...never sells puppies less than 7 weeks old.
                ...never knowingly sells a sick puppy.
                ...never sells to pet stores, animal wholesalers, brokers, or other people buying
                    in quantity to sell or breed.
                ...screens prospective purchasers
                ...happily answers any and all questions you have about his breed and his dogs.
                ...will always try to take back any unwanted dog he bred at any time in its life.
                ...stays with you for the life of your dog, providing guidance and support 
                   when needed.

How do I know I'm buying from a puppy mill?
     This can be difficult. Some legitimate breeders are understandably concerned about letting members of the public tromp all over their facilities especially when puppies are brand new. Until they have had all their shots, they are still vulnerable to bacteria and diseases easily brought in by visitors. In addition, some of these puppy farms are very sleek.  Here is some general advice:  

       Puppy farms always offer variety.  There are often multiple unrelated breeds, all kinds of color choices or coat types, or many different sizes (standard, miniature, toy, teacup,etc.) especially in dog breeds that don't have these sizes. For example, offering miniature Labrador Retrievers or teacup Chinese Shar-peis should put up a red flag. A puppy mill wants to cover all the bases.  

       Puppy farms don't do health testing.  They never waste money on genetic screening, DNA testing, etc. Remember, they're not in it to better the breed. They just want to make a sale. Usually they don't know what testing is (however they are becoming wiser in this regard and ready, willing, and able to lie) or they'll tell you they just sell to "pet homes" and it's not necessary. Red flag! These people will not be paying your veterinarian bills nor will they care that you've had to put down a beloved family pet, except that it makes you a potential repeat customer.