You want a carefully bred, well cared for pup - a pup who spent his impressionable youth with someone who knew a bit about dogs. I can t stress enough what a huge difference it makes. Puppies raised right grow into confident adults with a lot less work and heartache on your part. Pet shops capitalize on ignorance. There are many adorable mixed breed puppies available at your local shelter.
Rescue groups find foster homes for abandoned pets until permanent homes can be found.
Find a shelter that is clean and offers the puppies a chance to play with other pups and socialize with people on a regular basis. Ask if anything is known about the parents of the litter. If you don t mind surprises and are ready to love this pup, no matter how he ends up, a shelter pup can be a joy. As a teenager, I brought home a darling black and white puppy from a shelter. He looked just like a cocker spaniel pup with a white blaze down his chest.