Trust can be good- and trust can be bad. If you trust the wrong person you are still gonna come up with crap.

Check references- lots of them- not just from people who have bought a dog recently- try and get references that have had time for the "new dog smell" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> to wear off. EVERYONE thinks their puppy is the most spectacular thing in the world- but check on that same dog at 5 and see what they think. Breeders/brokers who have a lot of repeat customers are a good indication too.

There are some VERY good salespeople in the dog world- and once the money has been sent you can end up with a lot of dissapointment.

Deanna,
I trusted the kennel that I purchased the pup from because I personally knew pups/dogs purchased from them and the agencie or Sar teams have been extremely happy. I would also say that some of these dogs are older and have been working in the field or retired. Yes I am happy with my pup which confirms how I feel and I am VERY difficult to please. I did a lot of research and talked to many people so I did not go into this blind. I am also LE so checked out a few agencies/depts that also received dogs from them. Deanna you are right that trusting can go wrong but if you've done your homework and talked to the right people and have seen their dogs then you do need to trust at some point. I am just offering Elizabeth information from my search and hopefully she will use what she wants and take it from there. Everyone has to make a judgment call and weigh all the objectives good/bad because every breeder has had their mistakes. But the difference with good breeders is that they learn from their mistakes and the not so reputable ones continue making them.
Karen

The comment was not necessarily in response directly to your post.

I am glad it worked out for you.

This particular dog is on the site of a dog broker- that is a whole different kettle of fish.

Definitely, and I don't think I'm going to buy the dog. The seller hasn't gotten back to me about shipping anyway so I am just going to let it go.
Thanks for your input <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Never met Brian and have read only a few of his posts but I gotta tell ya, I like the way the guy thinks. To take Sammy's idea a step further, what makes you so sure what you see is 1) what you are gonna get and 2) the dog you see is the dog to which the pedigree belongs? I am NOT making any acusatiions about this breeder / broker; frankly, for the purpose of objectivity, I did not visit the site. I did purchase a puppy, sight unseen, from kamakazi kennels (psuedonym) in Michigan for which I am eternally grateful(NOT!). Buy NOTHING from anyone over who you cannot exercise CIVIL contract law and the proximity and desire to execute it.

Sounds like you need a CJ puppy; did I ever mention that I have one? Bi-color bugger we call Junior.