[QUOTE=Countrywood;8221538]
Steering people toward reputable breeders is a solution but only a minor one. They charge too much money for many folks to buy from and face competition from the less responsible breeders who charge less. To the avg person, one cute puppy looks similar to another and even if they are dimly aware of puppy mills they convince themselves their purchase is not the one feeding it.[/QUOTE]
This is where education comes in.
The high initial purchase price of a puppy from a reputable breeder is “paid back” over the life of the dog in better temperament, fewer vet bills, and easier training/fewer training bills. That initial purchase price also “buys you” the ongoing support and knowledge of the puppy’s breeder, who will continue to support you for the life of the dog.
I have helped many, many friends find dogs, and I universally recommend against getting puppies of poor or unknown breeding simply because temperament is very difficult to evaluate. My standard recommendation is a young adult re-home from a good breeder, followed by an adult rescue, followed by a puppy from a responsible breeder.
I’ve found that when you show someone the cost of a femoral osteotomy or prevalence and mortality rates for things like bleeding disorders, they understand quickly the long-term value of a good breeder.
Unless you’re looking for a super duper rare breed, long waiting lists can be avoided by asking for recommendations and litters that the good breeders are aware of. I own a dog whose breed is quite rare (~300 dogs born each year in the US), and I was able to find and put a deposit down on an exceptionally well bred puppy within a week of starting to look. I had to be willing to fly the puppy to me, but it was worth it to get a dog in the time frame I was looking for.
