If you haven't already, PLEASE read the article, "Is the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Right For You?" You absolutely cannot do too much research before deciding to add a Swissy to your family, and you'll want to research every aspect, from whether the GSMD is well-suited to your lifestyle to the kind of breeder from whom you would ultimately like to get a dog. But as much as you read, there is no substitute for meeting and spending time with actual Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and people who live with them. I, and most reputable breeders, would NEVER place a Swissy with a family who has not made the effort to really know some Swissies.

Once you've done your research, and you know that you could live with the shedding, the barking (the kind that can be scary and rattle your windows at times), the interminable housebreaking, the potentially heartbreaking and expensive health issues, and are willing to accept the responsibilities that come with Swissy ownership, only then is it time to find a puppy...from the right breeder.

WHERE TO SEARCH FOR YOUR PUPPY:

• Always look for your puppy from an active GSMDCA Breeder, who is a CURRENT member in good standing. A list of GSMDCA breeders who comply with GSMDCA Breeder Guidelines is available at www.gsmdca.org.
• NEVER buy from a wholesaler or pet shop.
• Talk with as many breeders as possible and visit them if you can so you have the opportunity to meet them in person, see the types of dogs they have and the conditions in their home and kennel. It is very important to spend the time to look for a breeder with whom you feel comfortable.
• Don't settle for the first breeder you talk to just because they happen to have puppies available right now. Reputable breeders really should have homes lined up before they breed a dog, as this gives them the ability to carefully screen potential buyers, etc. and not find themselves in a desperate position of having to find homes in a hurry.
• Don't let your location or that of the breeder be an obstacle to getting a quality puppy. Many breeders will gladly send you photos or videotape of a litter you are interested in. When the time comes to pick up your puppy, do it in person even if it means a weekend drive or a plane trip. While it may mean a little more time and money invested in your puppy, if it means getting a better quality puppy from a breeder you like and trust, that cost in time and money is a mere drop in the bucket over the lifetime of your Swissy.
• A note about the Internet: Technology has made it much easier to research breeds of dogs and to locate breeders. Many breeders do, in fact, maintain excellent websites that not only promote their current litter(s) of puppies but also contain in-depth information about their dogs, pedigrees, health clearances, show records, etc. Some will even provide the most honest Good, Bad and Ugly information you need to know about Swissy ownership. Keep in mind though that a Swissy is not a commodity to be bought and sold via the Internet, but a living soul that will become a member of your family. There is no substitute for talking to your breeder and meeting them in person, as well as their dogs. Definitely BEWARE the numerous "puppy sites" that act as online classifieds or puppy clearing houses. These sites do NOT screen breeders and are common advertising vehicles for less-than-reputable breeders, wholesalers and brokers.
• Most of all, be patient! You may have to wait for a while before you actually find a litter from which pups are available. Be persistent in your search for a breeder. They are often very busy, are inundated with e-mails and phone calls, and it may take some time for them to get back to you. You will also be more likely to get a response if you tell the breeder something about yourself and why you're interested in one of their puppies, rather than merely asking, "Do you have puppies and how much do they cost?"

QUESTIONS TO ASK BREEDERS:

• Are both parents of the litter AKC registered?  Some breeders may tell you their dogs and puppies are registered with an alternate registry (a common practice among pet stores as well).  Lack of AKC registration is usually a sign that the breeder did not get their dogs from a reputable breeder.  There may be cases, as well, where the dog is AKC registered, but on a "Limited Registration"...which means the breeder who sold them the dog did not evaluate that dog as show/breeding quality, and therefore that dog should not have been bred.  It is important to note that if a dog has an AKC Limited Registration, and it produces puppies, those puppies cannot be registered with the AKC.
• Ask the breeder WHY they are breeding?  Is it to better the breed and improve upon their breeding stock?  Are they breeding to fit the GSMD Breed Standard, in structure, temperament and working ability?  Does the breeder show their dogs in conformation and have their breeding dogs finished their championships?  What are their GSMD club affiliations and do they actively participate?  Breeders should be showing their dogs in conformation and other events, where they can continuously test and evaluate their dogs in an effort to preserve and improve the breed.
• Do both parents of the litter have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) numbers, proving they are free from hip and elbow dysplasia? Ask to the see the documentation.  Be advised that a dog will not be issued an OFA number until it is 24 months of age. You can confirm whether a dog has an OFA number by calling OFA (1-800-442-0418) or visiting the OFA website at www.offa.org.  Make sure you have the dog's REGISTERED name and/or AKC registration number before calling.  Breeders may now use PennHip to evaluate their dog's hips, rather than OFA (note: PennHip only evaluates hips, NOT elbows).  PennHip is not a pass/fail method of grading hips, but rather a numerical evaluation of the hips' Distraction Index (DI), which measures joint laxity.  They will also note any presence of Degenerative Joint Disease.  For an explanation of Distraction Indices and their implication for breeding dogs, visit www.pennhip.org.  Since the PennHip database is CLOSED, the only ways interested parties have access to PennHip DIs on Swissies is to ask the OWNER for a photocopy of the report or for the OWNER to submit the PennHip results to the GSMDCA for inclusion in the GSMDCA Health Database, which is an OPEN database on the National Club's website, www.gsmdca.org . 

• Ask about the eyes of both parents.  Do they have a CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) number, indicating they have been cleared of eye problems?   Eye problems reported in our breed include Distichiasis, Entropian and Cataracts.  Some of these problems are not nearly as serious as others, and although a dog may have one of these problems, it may be possible for them to have a CERF number.  You can confirm whether a dog has a CERF number by visiting www.vmdb.org.  CERF information may also be found at the OFA site (www.offa.org) or the GSMDCA Health Database.  Breeding dogs should have their eyes checked and submitted to CERF annually if possible, as some eye problems can occur a bit later in life. 
• Ask if the sire or dam have produced puppies with any serious health problems, such as hip  or elbow dysplasia, OCD and epilepsy.  These are the main genetic health issues found in this breed, and ALL breeders should be forthcoming in discussing them with you.  Ask how many litters they have produced.  Be wary of any breeder who claims never to have produced ANY health problems (unless this is their first litter).  REGARDING EPILPESY:  It is my recommendation that puppy buyers ask breeders if either the sire, dam, or their parents have EVER suffered a seizure (as opposed to asking if any of these dogs have been diagnosed with epilepsy).  it's just a question of semantics, but some breeders are not willing to state that a dog has epilepsy, even if the dog has had seizures.  They may say things like, "well, he had a seizure, but we don't know what caused it."  Remember, seizure disorders without identifiable physiological or medical causes (such as a brain tumor, liver shunt, etc.) are by definition, idiopathic epilepsy.  The same goes for asking whether the dogs involved in the breeding have ever produced offspring who have had seizures, rather than asking if they've produced epilepsy. 
• Ask about the general health history of related dogs.  Have any relatives died at a young age?  If so, what was the cause.  Have there been spleen issues, cancers, etc. in their dogs' bloodlines? 
• How old are the parents of this litter?  How many litters has the dam produced?  The GSMDCA Breeder Guidelines recommend that breeders do not breed a dog until it's two.  They also recommend a maximum of four litters for a bitch.  Be especially wary of breeders who breed bitches past the age of six as they may be jeopardizing the life and health of their bitch.  The GSMDCA also recommends that stud dogs be limited to a maximum of three litters per year for their first two years breeding, which helps allow for any genetic issues or predisposition to come to light.
• Ask how the puppies are raised (in the home or in a kennel?)  It is important that a puppy get proper socialization from its mother and siblings for at least eight weeks, as well as regular exposure to humans and other animals.
• Does the breeder take ALL puppies to the vet and have them thoroughly examined?  Many breeders do their own vaccinations, worming. Some will even remove dew claws themselves.  HOWEVER, unless your breeder is a licensed veterinarian, there is no excuse for a breeder NOT to take their puppies to the vet to have them checked for any health problems before sending them home with their new owners.
• Does the breeder have a contract or health guarantee?  Breeders should guarantee against hip and elbow dysplasia and any other debilitating genetic disease.  At eight weeks, most problems have not surfaced.  A conscientious breeder will make a reasonable guarantee to the buyer and make the buyer fully aware of his responsibilities.  Guarantees on health should NOT depend on whether that dog was bought as a show dog or a pet.  Pets should also be guaranteed against any life threatening genetic disease.

The GSMDCA does have new Breeders Guidelines, as of 2007.  Please familiarize yourself with these new guidelines as they also give Puppy Buyers an idea of what to expect from a breeder.  You will notice that these new Guidelines put great emphasis on disclosure and honesty when it comes to health clearances.  
So please do not be fearful if a breeder discusses their dogs' health issues with you...be fearful if they DO NOT.