You've decided on the perfect pup and you're ready to head out to pick up your new friend. Now comes the hard part: where's the best place to adopt or purchase your pet? Most owners contact breeders, adoption centers, or rescue organizations to find a new companion.
Breeders
If you're in the market for a purebred dog, this is the obvious place to go. Keep in mind that a Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registration does not guarantee quality and health. Instead, it simply shows who the parents of your pup are, and certifies that the dog is a prebred.
Not all breeders are the same. There are both legitimate breeders and "backyard" breeders. The challenge with many backyard operations is that they don't pay as much attention to lineage, and may not understand how to bring together pedigrees to get the best results. Simply breeding purebreds isn't enough.
If you're serious about obtaining a quality prebred dog, it's best to go to the professionals (i.e. one who belongs to a national association like the CKC).
There are a couple of ways to locate such breeders. One way is to check out dog magazines (Dog World, Dogs in Canada Annual , etc.).
Another way is to attend a local dog show. These exhibitions are a showcase for owners of purebreds who genuinely care about proper breeding, and will show you their lines, or can give you contact information for other professional breeders. We strongly recommend that you get references and thoroughly check out your prospective breeder.
Adoption Centres
One of the most popular ways to obtain a dog is to get one from the local animal shelter such as the BC SPCA. The selection may consist primarily of mutts, most of which are healthy, intelligent dogs that make an excellent choice for most homes. You may also find a surprising number of purebred dogs.
Besides gaining a pet, you're also providing a wonderful service. By getting a dog from an animal shelter you're essentially saving the life of an animal that would otherwise be put to sleep. Choosing to get a young mixed breed puppy from an animal shelter may be a bit of a risk since you don't exactly know what you're getting into. In most cases the rewards outweigh the risks.
Rescue Services
Rescue services are similar to animal shelters, except that they typically focus on specific breeds. For example, there is a Golden Retriever rescue service, a Collie service, etc.
If you have a particular dog in mind but don't want the hassle of going through a breeder - but want to have the satisfaction of knowing that you have rescued a dog -- this may be the way to go. Another incentive of using a rescue service is that most of the dogs are adults. If you happen to be someone without the time (or patience) to deal with a puppy, rescue services are a very viable option.