As a normal person having taken the decision to buy a puppy after a lot of thought, tears in pet shops etc having been ignored until child responsible enough to have a dog - I can't believe how hard it is to buy a puppy! I don't need a perfect puppy, I need a healthy, happy dog who I am willing to pay for having been bred in a decent environment. I don't approve of puppy farms or anyother intensive breeding/ rearing of animals but I can appreciate now having started to look for a puppy why people end up in pet shops and answering ads in newspapers because its a bit of a lottery finding the breeder you want in the area you live in who is going to have a puppy when you want it.

Welcome to the forum David.

Your not wrong there ! Maybe you should look on it as an investment :-) You wouldn't rush out and buy the first house you looked at would you? Well I wouldn't ....lol. It is worth shopping around, taking your time and waiting until the right puppy for your needs and lifestyle becomes available. I had a 3 years wait for the right puppy to become available and now I have him, he was worth every minute. I also had to travel (to europe infact) but again, it was worth the effort to get the right dog.

I am sure that in the end your patience will be rewarded. In the mean time, you can continue your research into the breed.

Leigh

Puppy buying should never be rushed into. Do you know what health problems the breed you are hoping to get has? If not your vet should be able to tell you. Is there anything else you need to know before you buy the puppy, will it's temperament suit you and your family?
You sound as though you know what you want, so I would suggest you contact a breed club to find out more.
The Kennel Club keeps a list of breed clubs,and it is a good idea to contact one of these which will know the breeders of the breed you are looking for and will give you lots of help and advice. Most breed clubs will know which breeders live near you and which have puppies for sale.
A few years ago Pedigree had advert for their food, it showed a breeder cuddling a weimaraner puppy. At Crufts I was on the veterinary stand, when a member of the public came up and asked where she might find one of those nice cuddly grey dogs ? I asked if she had seen the dogs before and had she been in touch with a breed club. She answered "no, but as I can see from the advert, it is a small dog it would suit my flat perfectly!" I sent her to the breed club and she did change her mind when she saw an adult.
What breed are you looking for? Perhaps the members here can help you find a good puppy, they certainly have a great deal of knowledge and experience between them all.

As has been said contacting a breed club is a good idea. I quite often have people to see my dogs if they have never had hands on experience of my breed. as this is usually when I do not have pups for sale they can feel comfortable in the knowledge that I am not trying to sell them one. I will ha ve them round to the house, and then suggest a walk in the country park near me so they can se what they are like off lead with other dogs, their energy levels etc. Also whether they will find the inevitable hair offputting. It is amazing how many people fail to realise that a thick double coat is replaced from time to time,leving the old one all over the house, in the cooker in cutlery and crockery, etc, lol!! You should also read all you can about your chosen breed, and if it is a fairly popular one visit your local dog training club where you may be able to find out the most common training problems encountered. It is more like a dating Agency than buying a house.

If you've never eat dog hair you've never lived!

With 4 Elkhound bitches it becomes a staple component,lol!!! :)

The coat is only replaced from time to time? TH sheds constantly and her hair gets into places she's never been, like my keyboard in the office, my chair, the glove box in the car.