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Ask to see the pedigree of any puppy you are considering purchasing.
Look at the pedigree carefully, and see if you see names that appear
more than once on the pedigree this will be a sign of inbreeding or
line breeding.
 Beware of dogs whose pedigree shows animals that have
been bred to relatives. One of the reasons that the Cocker Spaniel
has as many health problems as it does today is because of all
the inbreeding that has happened in the past.
Beware of dog-breeders that will not allow you to look around their
kennels. Some won't ever let you see where the dogs are
kept. If they brings a puppy out to you, but won't let you
see where the rest of the dogs are, this is a red flag. They may
have something to hide, such as dogs being kept in dirty or cramped
conditions. Some people go so far as to offer to meet you in a
neutral location away from their home so that you never see the
conditions the dogs are kept in.
Best age to buy.
Buy an 8-10 week old puppy. Don't
buy a puppy younger than 8 weeks of age, no matter what the breeder
tells you. 5-6 week old puppies may very well be eating plenty of
solid food, but this alone does not mean they are ready to be on
their own. There is a difference between when a puppy is physically
able to leave its mum, and when it is emotionally able to. Be
extremely wary of anyone willing to sell a puppy less than 8
weeks old, this is usually a good indication that this person is
more interested in quick turnover than in the welfare of the puppy.
Just as important as not buying a dog that is too young, be sure not
buy a dog that is too old. There are extremely important things
going on in the pup's mental development from 2 - 4 months of age.
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