[deonk1]

There's some good advice on here, I'm a "broke" student and I thought a rescue was the best alternative for me, because the initial price would be cheaper, I couldn't find a rescue that was smaller than 40lb and I live in an apartment, so that was out. When I started looking at a breeder, I found a breeder who gave me a ton of stuff included, plus the dog and a health guarentee. It sounds really expensive to pay so much for a dog, but in the end you get a healthier dog and you don't need to pay all the vet bills, insurance covers any and all mishaps that Harley has. With a rescue they often have issues that require attention (not all cases), and well as those above me have said pet stores = HUGE VET BILLS and LOTS of PROBLEMS

I would avoid the store because any reputable breeder would not sell their dogs that way. When I bought Harley I was questioned in detail before I had a chance to ask my own questions. My breeder wasn't even going to waste my time talking to me unless she knew she was comfortable selling me the dog.

Hope this helps. If you do decide to go the rescue route (which I also think is great if you can afford the care) go to local dog expos etc to find the small dog rescues. There are tons out there, they are just hard to find sometime. Many rescues you can get pre-approved so that when something comes in you're good to go.

Good luck, keep us posted.