Most people are keen on keeping an animal of some sort, usually a dog, for a pet. Often its for the sake of companionship around the house or apartment.

If your fancy is for a purebred dog, then you are going to need to find and contact a dog breeder. Like any other business there are dog breeders and there are dog breeders both good and bad.

As a prospective dog owner you obviously want to find a good one. One who looks after his animals and makes sure they are healthy and well cared for.

This article suggests ways you can make sure the dog breeder you choose is honest and reliable with a good reputation.

The easiest place to start is by looking through your local newspaper for the classified advertisement section. Equally easy would be to do a search on the internet with your region in the search keywords to find the nearest dog breeder for your breed.

If you know a friend who has the breed of dog you want ask him or her where they got the dog from and what the breeder was like.

A trip or phone call to places concerned with animals could also be worth trying. Pet shops, veterinary offices or local animal shelters would be likely to know the local dog breeders.

Perhaps the best option to find a really professional dog breeder would be to attend any local dog shows or exhibitions. Many of the exhibitors at these events are also breeders, showing off their dogs. One thing you can be sure of at these events is that if the dogs are being shown the owners are obviously proud of their dogs and their reputation.

This is only the first step however these results are just a short list of where to start. You now need to check the reputation and references of any breeder you select.

A good professional dog breeder will have references of people he has successfully placed dogs with before who are willing to vouch for him. Usually these people are only too willing to talk to prospective buyers and even allow them to visit and view their dog.

So steer clear of anyone who can not give you references or whose references seem reluctant to talk or always seem to be unavailable.

You should not be afraid to ask the breeder questions. If hes a professional breeder he is going to ask you questions as its in his interest to make sure his dogs are well housed.

Hes going to ask you details of your life financial questions, how many children you have, how big your house and garden are, what experience you have with dogs and dog training. Hes going to ask more questions than you do. He wants to make sure his dogs go to a good home.

If he does not ask these sorts of questions then be careful as hes probably not a good dog breeder. Hes possibly more interested in your money than the welfare of the dogs and this begs the question of whether he has looked after them properly.

The professional dog breeder will also have had all his dogs and puppies medically examined before selling them to make sure they are in good health. This should include checking for hereditary problems such as canine hip dysplasia or other hereditary conditions particular to the breed of dog.

Some of these problems however can slip through the net as the symptoms may not reveal themselves until several months or years later. Under these circumstances, the professional breeder would normally have no problem with returning your money. Though it has to be said he would probably also ask, if not insist, that the dog be neutered to prevent the spread of such hereditary problems.

Choosing a professional dog breeder can be a challenge but if you follow the guidelines above you should not go too far wrong. But the best guarantee is to follow your gut instinct. If something feels wrong then there probably is something wrong. In that case get out and find another breeder.