Originally Posted by Martian

I am the lone voice of dissent. Contrary to popular opinion, you can know exactly what you're getting from a breeder. The trick is to know how to tell a good breeder from a bad one.

A good breeder will ask a lot of questions about your home life and your situation. A good breeder wants to make sure that his or her dogs are going to the right home. A good breeder will send you photos of the litter. A good breeder will advise you on common health problems with the breed, and will also be able to tell you all about the dog's pedigree. And a good breeder will never let a pup go earlier than eight weeks. A lot of them will not let a pup go before twelve.

With the right breeder, you have the advantage of knowing exactly what kind of dog you're getting. There's a random element to pound dogs that I'm personally not a fan of.