First I want a good breeder, (I"ll use my aussie Jynx as an example) with aussies, there are so many health issues, health is the most important to me, and a breeder who health tests and is upfront(you don't find to many of those but thank god I did!) about health problems they may have encountered in their lines..Second, what's that breeder's dogs doing? In my case, jynx's breeder's "thing" is conformation, however, 98% of the dogs she sells, are doing it all, so they are very versatile.
Third, I want a breeder who can really 'peg' their puppies, they are with them for the first 8 weeks, not me, so I am going to really rely on what THEY think would suit me. (actually this was the first time I relied on a breeder to pick the dog for me!)..I told her what I wanted, first and foremost a dog I could live with, (if you can't live with them, you are going to be VERY unhappy with whatever you end up doing with the dog!!!) and my main interest would be agility, and explained my lifestyle..
Jynx's breeder also temp tests her puppies (another important thing for me)
I lucked out, and got exactly what I told her I wanted. I have to admit, being my first aussie, and the stuff she was telling me about this little spitfire scared the living heck out of me! Could I LIVE with that?? At 4 wks she was the first puppy to climb a 48inch xpen and go look for HER thru the house!!! She was full of energy , the last one to "sak" out, the first one "up", but affectionate and loving to humans, and a "watcher"..Nothing seemed to phase her, and she was curious and daring..
Soooo even tho I've gone a tad off track,,the biggest thing to keep in mind is first finding that GOOD breeder who can "peg" their dogs and matches them to the correct lifestyle/ambitions/expectations of the owner. Second, a dog you can LIVE with 24/7 because your going to live with it MORE than compete with it,,health testing etc, goes without mention, if you have that, you'll end up with exactly what your looking for.
Diane