Can I Buy A Dog NOW?

YES......NOT! 
So your mind is set of the right dog. You know the size, the hair type and chances are, your mind is set on a specific breed.
This is where the work begins.  Choosing the right breeder is so important.  It is crucial in every aspect of ensuring you pick both a reputable breeder but also one who is willing to mentor you in maintaining the ultimate health of your investment, the dog of your choosing.
We all know that pet shops are the last choice....I mean they should never, ever be considered.  The bulk of the puppy mills produce solely for pet stores.  It is cruel and unusual punishment where the females breed consistently from cradle to grave.  They never see daylight and know only the confines of a cage.
You are not doing the pup any good by supporting the puppy mills simply by purchasing that dog.  If there is no profit in it for the store, they will stop supporting the puppy mills.
Go online and shop for your specific breed.  Contact first by email then follow-up by telephone and if at all possible choose a breeder close to you so that you can physically visit them.
I made the mistake of purchasing a Shih-Tzu from a person, who delivered it to me in a parking lot.  we took the pup home and she was great.  She was great right up to her first heat.  Then all hell broke out.  She became hypersensitive to all foods, lost all her hair, was put on drugs, had her food altered to home made and the day after she turned 2, our Vet recommended we have her euthanized as she was suffering.  We were obviously heart broken. 
Had we visited the site we would have discovered a puppy mill environment and would have turned and run from that site.  So to save the cost of a ferry boat ride we were dealt an inbred dog that as beautiful as she was, suffered because of our poor choice. We reported the breeder to the S.P.C.A.
Now if you cannot go to their facility, ask the breeder for references.  You want to call the buyers as well as any other breeder they may be associated with.  Breeders always breed their dogs with well researched breeders ensuring that they avoid specific ailments that may be found in that specific breed.
By knowing the caliber of the breeder, you will be saving yourself some possible grief later on.
The purebred breeder will have registered dogs.  They will have contracts you must sign.  They will have a guarantee in place.In my next Blog I will cover what questions you should ask the breeder.