Every hunter has browsed the advertisement board at his local outfitters store. Invariably there are at least a few, sometimes more, ads for hunting dog puppies for sale. While answering an ad may work out for some hunters, it's imperative that you know your P's and Q's about the breed and the specific dog's history. Just because the owner says the dog has champion bloodlines, doesn't mean he does.



So you've seen an ad in the local classifieds for hunting puppies for sale and your interest has been peeked. A potential buyer really has to be warned; a hunter just doesn't know what they're getting when they purchase from a private citizen. These sellers are not bound by any breeder's code and oftentimes their dogs aren't registered, which means they may not be purebred.

But the seller is a friend of a friend and you trust their word? Then research, research, research. Don't let the thrill of next season's hunt with your brand new dog take over; know the breed you're looking into. Research their origins, know what they were used for throughout history; hear what other hunter's have to say about that kind of dog. Know the pros and the cons of the breed. Maybe he's a top notch hunting dog but tends to be aggressive towards strangers; is that something you're willing to put up with? And lastly, if you've decided it may in fact be the breed for you, go check them out.

Assuming the seller still has your pup's parents, go see them in action. Don't take the seller's word for it that the parents are champions, see for your own eyes that they really are. Also talk to the seller about vaccinations; any dog owner worth anything has done all they can to protect their dogs against illness.

So you're a little concerned about buying from Joe Blow then? Well, there's another option for the cautious hunter. Go to a breeder. While breeders can be more expensive, they are well worth their money to get a quality hunting dog that is registered, has records of all of it's shots and immunizations, and more than likely, if the breeder doesn't still have the parents or grandparents of your dog, they know a lot about them.

Whether the hunter decides to take his chances on buying a hunting dog from an ad, or prefers to have complete control over the situation at the breeder's, the hunter should do what's right for him. When picking your dog regardless of where you go, make sure you have a bond with the dog; get down to his level and see how he responds to you. The dog that shows a natural affinity towards you will be the right one for the job.