[khyorkies]

It's from a Boston Terrier breeders website, but I think it really gives alot of great info. Some items will be more Boston Terrier specific, but it can be applied to any breed.
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To make for a happy, lifelong relationship with your Boston Terrier (or with ANY dog for that matter), I have listed below some key questions which should be asked of the breeder by someone searching for a nice pet for their family. Someone asked once if questions like this wouldn't offend the breeder. By all means OFFEND THEM! The only stupid question is an un-asked one! Reputable breeders are not offended by questions, they welcome them, and will be happy to answer any and all questions you can come up with. If they are offended by your questions, you should question them about their puppies and breeding practices all the more. Also, in my opinion, you should be asked just as many questions about yourself, if not more, by the breeder. To most breeders, you are not buying a dog, you are applying for the right to take one of their children home. Please remember that this is no guarantee of or for a puppy, and are just basic questions which in MY opinion should be asked. Please, by all means, add to this list.

A reputable breeder will only sell puppies from healthy (health tested) parents, and will offer a worthy health guarantee (not just a week or two either). Some good breeders offer a guarantee for the life of the dog, while others give a 2 year health guarantee (which is a time-frame by which most genetic defects appear).

PLEASE avoid Puppymills and Pet Stores at all costs!! NOTE: Most pet stores are notorious for buying their puppies from Puppymills!! It is difficult to leave a defenseless animal at these places, but if there are no buyers, then it becomes unprofitable and there is always hope they will quit breeding them. Reputable breeders do NOT sell puppies to pet stores!! Puppymill puppies frequently have health & temperament issues that far outweigh the initial savings you make at purchase, and more often than not, the pet store puppy is higher priced than the reputable breeders puppy. The long term health care for them can be very expensive both to your pocketbook and your heart. There is a very sad, and beautiful poem about Puppymills at the bottom of this page, and you can find out more about Puppymills at the No Puppymills website. I also highly recommend anyone searching for a puppy to thoroughly read the Boston Terrier Standard. A good breeder will only breed to the standard, and if you don't know and understand what that is, it will be all the easier for them to deceive you.