Shopping for a puppy isn't rocket science. It takes a little bit of research, perhaps more driving than you had planned on, and PERHAPS spending more money than you expected, but, as the saying goes, "You get what you pay for".
The first thing you should do, is acquaint yourself with the Standard of the Breed. You have a right to a healthy puppy, and a healthy long time companion.
At this point, in Toy Poodles, we can (make this MUST) check annually for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Cataracts. This is done not by the "vet on the corner", but by a Certified Veterinary Opthalmologist. If the dogs have, indeed been checked, the breeder will be very happy to show you the certificates. (Remember, it is an ANNUAL procedure, so check the date on the certificate!) If, on the other hand, the Breeder expresses annoyance at the request, excuse yourself from the conversation, and hang up. There is no excuse for any ethical breeder breeding a female without having her eyes checked annually. None. Period.
Next question: MAY I MEET THE MOTHER? ABSOLUTELY! Is the only acceptable answer! Why, you might ask? Because the mother contributes 50% genetically to each of her babies, and then she raises them! An unacceptable personality in the mother is a monster-sized red flag! If the "Breeder" has some excuse as to why the mother is unavailable, don't even bother to see the puppy. You're either dealing with someone who is less than proud of mom's personality, condition, or appearance, or you're dealing with a resale puppy, no different than buying a puppy from a pet shop.
What kind of personality should you expect to see - friendly, forthright, inquisitive, active, cheerful. The tail should be UP! The tail is a barometer of a poodles attitude. If the tail is down, the dog is worried, shy or fearful. You are getting a Poodle because of it's intelligence and personality, not because you want a dog in a sissy haircut that you have to spend lots of time and money maintaining, right? So personality in the baby and in the mom is KEY. What you see is what you will get.
Sound knees are very important as well. Mother as well as the baby MUST have sound knees. A responsible breeder will NEVER breed a dog with unsound knees, no matter how fabulous the rest of the dog is. The puppy should have been examined by a vet prior to being sold, if not, have your own vet examine the puppy.
WHY NOT BUY FROM A PET STORE? You might ask? Well, for one thing, no matter what the pet store in question says, all pet store puppies are bred by people who don't give a rat's what happens to their puppies as long as they get their money. End of story. If they did care, they would keep those babies with their moms until they are AT LEAST eight or nine weeks old, and they would insist on meeting the families who will be caring for this baby. Good Breeders care about their puppies before AND after they leave home. A good Breeder will always be available to answer questions, and everybody has questions.
To sum it all up: Educate yourself, don't be afraid to ask questions, MEET THE MOTHER OF THE PUP! Look at those health clearances, ask to see certificates. If they aren't available for you to see, that means they haven't been done, or the breeder wasn't pleased with the results. In either circumstance, you are dealing with an unethical or commercial breeder; no better than a pet store! Fancy websites are only that: fancy websites. If you buy sight unseen, you're asking for trouble. If you buy without meeting the mother of the puppy, you're asking for trouble. If you don't INSIST ON seeing health clearances, well, you know what you,re asking for! And, remember: You Get What You Pay For! Oh, and the puppy of your dreams won't be 2 miles from you, you will probably have to spend some time in your car, but spread that time over all of the years you will be with your fabulous Poodle, and it will have been worth the trip!
