The person you select should be just as interested about you as you are about them and the puppies. If you are asked a lot of questions about your past experience as a dog owner, what you know of the breed and your home environment, this is a good sign. The seller cares about their puppies and wants to make sure that they go to good and loving homes. Look for the following:
* Do not fall in love with a photo of a pup and base everything off of that. There are lots of other things to look into first.
* When you locate a breeder that you think you may want to work with, do not be afraid to ask for references from past puppy buyers. If a breeder acts as if she has so many pending sales she doesn't have time for such things or otherwise acts as if it's a bother, walk away.
* A health guarantee for genetic disease is very important. Typically, these are for at least the first year, and sometimes two. In most cases, to have the health contract honored, you will be asked to bring your new puppy to your own veterinarian to confirm their health status; this usually has to be done within the first 48 to 72 hours.
* While no one wants to "make a return", sometimes events lead to this such as a sudden move to an apartment that does not allow dogs, etc. It is a plus if you are asked to make any return to them; this ensures that dog is never surrendered to a shelter.
* You will be looking for a safe, clean and happy environment. This may be, and commonly is, a part of their home. They will have gated areas for the dogs to exercise and socialize with each other, they will have clean facilities, dogs will be inside the home to receive hands-on care and socialization skills, they will have stocks of a high-quality dog food and all that is needed to properly care for them in an environment that is healthy and happy.
* Think about the type of registration you wish to have for your dog. In the States, AKC is considered the optimal registration. But, if you are not planning on showing your dog, you may not need AKC registration. Those with AKC are inspected each year and follow strict guidelines to ensure the health of the dogs. However, for family pets, APRI or CKC registration may be just fine.
* Health screening done for both sire and dam before allowing the dogs to mate and have puppies. These tests check for certain hereditary issues; a dog can be healthy but carry genes for genetic diseases that can be passed down to litters. Ask if testing was done and ask to see the paper work for this.
* A Pomeranian breeder should have the experience and knowledge to fully understand the complex colors and carefully select the pairing of dogs that will best produce a healthy litter. But, keep in mind that with so many possible color combinations with Poms and the fact that most Poms change color as they mature, color can almost never be guaranteed.
* 1st shots and de-worming is vital. You should be provided with full health records.
* There should be full support after the sale... a great breeder will be happy to answer questions should any issues arise.