At petfinder.com, you can plug in your zipcode, type of dog, gender, even age – at it will locate dogs at your local humane societies and shelters, all the way to nationwide if you request it. We just got a great Border Collie 1 1/2 months ago. It had a few problems, but we think it was just smarter than it’s last owners :^) She is doing great now, and we love her a LOT! I am going to sign her up for agility courses.

And Shelters will take a dog back if there are problems you can’t handle. Save a dog that needs a home! We even got a purebred miniature poodle years ago. That dog was strong-willed, but we worked with him and grieved a lot when he died 2 years ago.

I have had both great and disasterous results having a pup shipped to me. If you are close enough or prefer a road trip to go pick up a pup, by all means, do so. If they won’t allow you to pick the pup/dog up and insist on shipping it to you……. I wouldn’t bother dealing with them at all.