Good Morning

I have owned dogs for many years been around dogs all my life but never ventured down the KC Registered avenue before. I have a few breeds in mind varying from head to heart. Having a disabled child I have to be really careful what I choose. Finding this getting to know breeders really hard as there are so many out there and all my life have always gone with what feels right. I am in no real rush for a puppy but actively looking. Will admit my last dog was from a certain well known website

Always use your head when choosing a puppy.

You need to look at the breed traits and pick the breed that best suits your life and needs. That double coated longhair might look wonderful and pull on your heart strings but do you have hours a week spare just for brushing?

Do you need a breed that's more stubborn and assertive (which will require more training) or do you need a more laid back and eager to please breed?

How much excerise are you able to give everyday? Breeds can vary to being happy with 30 minutes to requiring 2 hours plus a day.

You're going to have to be 100% honest with yourself about your current lifestyle and pick the breed that best suits. Don't think with your heart and start thinking that you'll change your lifestyle significantly just to suit a particular breed because you love the look. The vast majority of the time people slip back into their old lifestyle and the dog ends up in the wrong home.

Breed selector quizzes (though they have their limits) can be useful here.

Good luck x

Head and heart is more about the breed I have always wanted but know it won't fit in with family life. I have 4 breeds I know will and have spent time with and around all those breeds.

Main question was really to find the best way to find breeders. Know they all have clubs but is there an accepted way to get to know people or is it ok to actually just approach some breeders to start a conversation? Always had cross breeds so far so all new this part.

At a show it's acceptable (some preferred even) to approach and talk to breeders at shows.

You can search breeders by breed on this site. You can also search for breeders using the kennel club website for assured breeders (scheme can its limits and criticism though).

On these pages they should have some contact information, email, phone number ext.

Some breeders only advertise on their own website.

Ensure that the parents have all the health testing relavent to their breed. Ask to see a copy of the contract to make sure you're happy with it. The puppy should be registered, no excuses. Not registering is likely to be hiding over/bad breeding practices.

When you make first contact, say what you're looking for, what experience you have and what you're current lifestyle is. Asking for the price should come towards the end of the conversation.

Good luck

In numerically small breeds most breeders belong to their national breed clubs and tend to rely on puppy enquiries via contacts from the breed club site/secretary or breeders own websites.

These days many breeds will have Facebook group communities.

My own breed has a breed club group, and an older GB group that is full of the whole breed community from pet owners to exhibitors and breeders. Our own groups have members who arrange to meet up for group walks.

Most breed enthusiasts and breeders are more than hapoy to have people meet their digs, and on the group pages share experiences and advice.

With advances in genetic knowledge most breeds now have some breed specufic health issues that there are DNA tests for, and of course there are the long established hip elbow and eye schemes.

Most breeds should at the very least be Hip Scored andd have clinical eye tests.

You can find out what tests shiuld be carried out priir to breeding through Kennel Club pages and the relevant breed clubs.

Avoid any breeder that does not health test.